Is a russian private visa hard to get?

[Sous02]

Is a russia private visa hard to get approved? Yes I will have an invitation, just wondering if they are as difficult to get approved as a canadian or US tourist Visa?
Thank You

[Larry1]

It's quick and easy to get a tourist visa to visit Russia.  I'm told getting the newish three-year multi-entry visas requires a bit more paperwork.

I suggest using a visa service. It makes the process very easy and it doesn't cost much.

[Slumba]

I got the 3 year and it was easier than I expected. I used VisaHQ.com - you fill out everything on their site, and they internally generate all the paperwork needed for the Russian Embassy. 

[Sous02]

Are these tourist visas or private visas?

[Boethius]

http://www.rusembassy.ca/node/58

[LAman]

It's quick and easy to get a tourist visa to visit Russia.  I'm told getting the newish three-year multi-entry visas requires a bit more paperwork.

Is that the same as 'I heard'? Or any facts??     Just hearing the X-files music playing.......

I suggest using a visa service. It makes the process very easy and it doesn't cost much.

Doesn't cost much? Quick and easy? Well, can be a little PITA but service does make it easier. Do you call  $350-$400.....not much??? My airfare LAX-MOS is $560.

[Larry1]

Is that the same as 'I heard'? Or any facts??     Just hearing the X-files music playing.......


Doesn't cost much? Quick and easy? Well, can be a little PITA but service does make it easier. Do you call  $350-$400.....not much??? My airfare LAX-MOS is $560.

1. the two phrases are similar in meaning.

I know two guys who have gone with the 3 year multi-entry visa. I will PM them and ask them to post about it on this thread.

2. I've used this agency for all my Russian and Belarusian visas. Its website shows the cost of a 30 day Russian tourist visa to be $255, which isn't much more than they charged when I began my search.

http://cinderellatravel.com/russian-travel-visas

This fee is the total amount you pay.

[LAman]

1. the two phrases are similar in meaning.

I know two guys who have gone with the 3 year multi-entry visa. I will PM them and ask them to post about it on this thread.

2. I've used this agency for all my Russian and Belarusian visas. Its website shows the cost of a 30 day Russian tourist visa to be $255, which isn't much more than they charged when I began my search.

http://cinderellatravel.com/russian-travel-visas

This fee is the total amount you pay.

Larry, would be interesting to hear their story/ease to get visa.

The $255, is that for consular fees, service fees, invitation letter, and all fedex fees??? I was quoting total price for everything to obtain visa. I noticed on site you gave link, there was no 3 year visa option. I do remember my visa fee ~$200 ( 7yrs ago?). To be honest, why would someone NOT apply for 3 year visa?

[Larry1]

Larry, would be interesting to hear their story/ease to get visa.

The $255, is that for consular fees, service fees, invitation letter, and all fedex fees??? I was quoting total price for everything to obtain visa. I noticed on site you gave link, there was no 3 year visa option. I do remember my visa fee ~$200 ( 7yrs ago?). To be honest, why would someone NOT apply for 3 year visa?

Their fee covers everything except the amount it costs to send them your application and sending the visa back to you. I typically send it via UPS and include a return UPS envelope so that they can send it back to me. I send it via UPS because USPS in my area has pretty spotty service. UPS always delivers it exactly when they promise to. I know they had a problem two Christmases ago but that was extremely rare.

[Slumba]

Are these tourist visas or private visas?

In my case it was a tourist visa, I believe.   A private visa requires a letter or other communication from the person inviting you, I think.

You can call whichever service you decide to use and ask them...

[Chicagoguy]

I got a 3 year visa last March from gotorussia.com.. I have used them many times with no problem. At the time the price for 3 year was the same a 1 year. Go figure.

[abashka]

Is a russia private visa hard to get approved? Yes I will have an invitation, just wondering if they are as difficult to get approved as a canadian or US tourist Visa?
Thank You

Sous, so they refused a Canadian visa even with your invitation?
USA visa is easier to get now than it was 3 years before, some people from my team have it..

[mendeleyev]

A tourist visa is very easy to obtain for travel to Russia, and the 3 year option is now standard. There doesn't seem to be an advantage for a private visa, which by definition is simply a "homestay" visa.

[ML]

I would think the private or homestay visa would NOT be a good route to go . . . thinking of the current and future welfare of the person on the Russian end.

[Sous02]

What do you mean with this comment? "thinking of the current and future welfare of the person on the Russian end"

[Sous02]

With a tourist visa do you not have to have hotel reservations? Is it hard to get approved to stay at with your fiances family?

[Slumba]

What do you mean with this comment? "thinking of the current and future welfare of the person on the Russian end"

If Russia turns further inward and becomes more hostile to the West, they might give that person "problems" as they are suspect, possibly tainted ideologically.

[Chicagoguy]

With a tourist visa do you not have to have hotel reservations? Is it hard to get approved to stay at with your fiances family?

GoToRussia for a little extra $$ will make it a Business Visa so no hotel needed.

[mendeleyev]

Sous, so you get a tourist visa. Then one afternoon during the first 7 days you stop by a Russian hotel and register for one night. They complete the registration of your presence in Russia in just minutes. So, for somewhere between $20 and $40 you can simply walk out of the lobby and never bother to stay in the room, or for the experience of saying that you have stayed in a Russian hotel--enjoy the room for that one night. Either way, you are now legal.

Given your listed status, my concern frankly is that it appears that you are on a trip to marry a person that you've never met. Is that the case?

[Sous02]

Thanks for the tips. Mendelev. We have met, been on holidays together etc. both of us are older so this is not one of those crazy young persons relationships.