VISA for entry to Russia for citizen of USA

[planetusa]

I read an article recently that said VISA requirements for citizens of the USA travelling to Russia have been lifted. However, I am hearing 2 stories on this, and US Embassy web site says otherwise, but that this could change and to check with Russian Embassy. I am calling Russian Embassy to verify and will post as soon as I receive official word. My marriage agency in Russia says no VISA is needed for citizen of USA for visit to Russia of less than 90 days. Does anyone know the answer to this offhand? Thanks.

[Rvrwind]

I just did some checking here & your source of information is totally wacked. You are deffinitely still required to obtain a Visa no matter the length of your stay.

There has been no changes to the Visa regime in travelling to Russia.

RVR-Canadian Cowboy/Agency Owner

[Jet]

Your marriage agency is WRONG. Perhaps they have confused Russia with Ukraine.

[martums]

Wait, if you're going to Ukraine under a tourist visa, don't you still have to get a visa?

http://www.ukremb.com/consular/visas.html

[BC]

http://www.ukraineinfo.us/consular/visas.html

[al-c]

You, the U.S. citizen, do not need a visa to go to the Ukraine.  It has joined the U.S. visa waiver list for tourism purposes.  All you need to present in Ukraine customs is a U.S. passport.

Not so for Russia.  You need a visa to go there, absolutely.  If you don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a fast and easy way to get it, check out this web site:   www.passportexpress.com.  They got me my visa in less than a week.  Just navigate to the Russian visa page on their site, print out and fill in the forms they give you, and follow the mailing and fee instructions.  If you have questions, their operators are knowledgeable and happy to help you.

 

[Vaughn]

from Passport Express' site:

• The Russian Home Stay visa is designed for travellers staying with individuals in Russia, rather than staying at a hotel. Your host in Russia will need to apply for an official invitation (IZVESHCHENIE) on your behalf from local authorities (OVIR).
[/*]

• Once obtained, your host will need to send you the original invitation (not fax), as the consulate only accepts original documents for this visa type.

[/*]
I've never gone the Homestay route, always Tourist - even though I stayed at my wife's apartment on trips #2 and 3. I applied directly to the Russian Embassy in DC with a faxed invitation from a travel agent in my wife's hometown. Aside from them acting on your behalf and checking for errors - what's the advantage to mailing your paperwork and passport to a visa-procural agent when you could send everything yourself directly to the Embassy? (ie, does the Embassy prioritize the former scenario?)

 Anyone familiar with the timeframe for this ИЗВЕЩЕНИЕ (which translates to "notification", not invitation) from local OVIR's?

Any thoughts on having one's invitation issued by a stateside agency vs. an FSU-based concern? Visa support issues?

Vaughn 

 

[al-c]

• The Russian Home Stay visa is designed for travellers staying with individuals in Russia, rather than staying at a hotel. Your host in Russia will need to apply for an official invitation (IZVESHCHENIE) on your behalf from local authorities (OVIR).
[/*]

• Once obtained, your host will need to send you the original invitation (not fax), as the consulate only accepts original documents for this visa type.

I've never gone the Homestay route, always Tourist - even though I stayed at my wife's apartment on trips #2 and 3. I applied directly to the Russian Embassy in DC with a faxed invitation from a travel agent in my wife's hometown. Aside from them acting on your behalf and checking for errors - what's the advantage to mailing your paperwork and passport to a visa-procural agent when you could send everything yourself directly to the Embassy? (ie, does the Embassy prioritize the former scenario?)

 Anyone familiar with the timeframe for this ИЗВЕЩЕНИЕ (which translates to "notification", not invitation) from local OVIR's?

Any thoughts on having one's invitation issued by a stateside agency vs. an FSU-based concern? Visa support issues?

Vaughn 

 
[/quote][/*]
I don't know what troubles you would have doing it yourself since I never did it.  I just look at it logically:  You mail your ONE visa application to the Russian consulate. The same Passport Express employee walks in to the consulate every day with a stack of them.  Which one is more likely to be checked for errors and irregularities?

 

[Vaughn]

al-c,

Point well-taken, but if you're referring to the Consulate checking for errors, I have no trouble with that whatsoever. So far, my eye for detail has seen me through three tourist visas, a K-1/K-2, a MIL visit and a full-boat AOS package.

I don't know what troubles you would have doing it yourself since I never did it.

Basically you did - gathered all your documents and sent them to someone who merely turned them over to the Consulate, no? I'm not knocking the method, just trying to see the advantages of that. I would buy the "peace of mind" reason if that's legitimate.

Man, you're gonna love that ballet just around the corner....

 

[dorogoyroberto]

Mr. martums,

You posted the old, outdated link which the consulate should have disabled...Mr. BC posted the new, current link.

Roberto
Kiev, Ukraine

[Ste]

Nadia and I tried the Russian 'private' visa, when we were young and innocent. After she'd endured 8 visits to OVIR with:

1. the wrong form

2. the right form but filled in wrongly

3. the right form but but not notarised

4. Proof of salary of anyone who's every lived in the flat since it was built.

5. the right form notarised but notarised wrongly

6. my inside leg measurement

7. my inside leg measurement in metric not imperial

8 my inside leg measurement in metric and notarised

God, we were both so innocent!!!

Or fukin stupid.....

Ste

[dwfunk]

• The Russian Home Stay visa is designed for travellers staying with individuals in Russia, rather than staying at a hotel. Your host in Russia will need to apply for an official invitation (IZVESHCHENIE) on your behalf from local authorities (OVIR).
[/*]
• Once obtained, your host will need to send you the original invitation (not fax), as the consulate only accepts original documents for this visa type.
[/*]

I've never gone the Homestay route, always Tourist - even though I stayed at my wife's apartment on trips #2 and 3. I applied directly to the Russian Embassy in DC with a faxed invitation from a travel agent in my wife's hometown. Aside from them acting on your behalf and checking for errors - what's the advantage to mailing your paperwork and passport to a visa-procural agent when you could send everything yourself directly to the Embassy? (ie, does the Embassy prioritize the former scenario?)

 Anyone familiar with the timeframe for this ИЗВЕЩЕНИЕ (which translates to "notification", not invitation) from local OVIR's?

Any thoughts on having one's invitation issued by a stateside agency vs. an FSU-based concern? Visa support issues?

Vaughn 

 
[/quote]
First, I've gone on the "Homestay route" and will do so again. It's not a bad way to go, but your lady must know the process and be willing to stand in "queue."  I went with my Natasha to the local OVIR to register once I arrived.  Interesting experience.  The clerk at the OVIR said they had never processed an American before.  It takes 6 weeks to the dot for the OVIR to process once she files her papers and produces the documents. The longest time delay is for the Security Police to return their findings.

I didn't know that any stateside agency could issue an invitation?  Are they affiliated with a registered travel agency in Russia?  Most of the visa support you would need would be over there, so working with a good agency helps.

My observation of folks getting visa's at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston is that the couriers definitely got preference.  I saw one courier pull back an application package because he found something wrong or missing or something.  I saw another pull one back because something wasn't correct on the paperwork and the guy behind the counter asked to see the papers and told him, that's alright, we'll go ahead and take that one.  So yes, if you are not comfortable with doing it yourself, then by all means pay the "peace of mind" and have a service do it for you.

-david
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