Tourist Visa Questions

[Koluji Ezhik]

I am getting ready for my 2nd trip to Russia. I went about 1.5 years ago, and to get the visa was cheap and easy. I think i paid about $140 to russianvisa.com and sent my passport. In like a week i had the visa. It is apparent that laws have changed since then. I am going to Moscow on Aug14 and I will stay with 2 very good Russian guy friends. They were here in America for several years as students, and I helpd them very much in my city. I visited Denis on my last trip to Russia. I will stay in thier flat in Moscow, and then go to St. Pet on the 16th to meet my Belarussian Baby. We will stay at Hotel vera in St Pet until Aug 21, and then i go back to Moscow and return to USA on 24th.

Last time i went i didn't need and invitation letter or maybe it was included in the price. This time i understand this letter is important. I booked my hotel room on expedia.com, and hotel only does free visa support if you book through them. Maybe thats why room was $200 cheaper on expedia? Now they say it will be 40euros for them to make invitation, because i didnt book room directly and my stay is for longer than time at their hotel.

Does this seem a fair price? Is there a site that does invitation and applies for visa for you? I live about 35min from Washington DC, so maybe i can make visa application myself at Russian Consulate. When I obtain invitation letter. I understand it is about $139 for consular fee. So on my own it would be 40euro for letter and $139 for fees, also a trip to DC. Can you guys advise me what is the best way to go about obtaining tourist visa for travels in less than 4 weeks from now? Any sites you can recommend? Maybe it is just easier to pay an angency instead of going to Consulate myself? Of course I have many travel expenses, but if it would be easier, more effective, then i guess it would be worth it to pay some to avoid hassle. Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give.

[GoodOlBoy]

Hello Koluji Ezhik.

Less than 4 weeks?......Contact these guy's (Travisa) ASAP.

http://www.travisa.com/contactinfo.htm

They will take good care of you.


GOB

[Koluji Ezhik]

*($%#%@$!^ Man, monday will be 19 buisness days until i leave and the fee for 4-20 days is $189 but if i want to be sure to get it i need to do a 3day rush for $350! its an extra $170 because i dont have one more day. Damn, it might be less to move my flight one day back.

[Phil dAmore]

I just ordered mine from gotorussia.com, the whole thing came to $205.00 and that includes the invitation, visa, shipping and pre-paid registration. 

Russia: Home of the most expensive visas in the world!

[Chris59]

As Phil stated, "gotorussia.com" has been reliable for me. Although, I haven't been to Russia in 5 years, so things may have changed since my last visa. I remember that they always provided my visa to me, in much less than the quoted timeframe.

[Faux Pas]

*($%#%@$!^ Man, monday will be 19 buisness days until i leave and the fee for 4-20 days is $189 but if i want to be sure to get it i need to do a 3day rush for $350! its an extra $170 because i dont have one more day. Damn, it might be less to move my flight one day back.

If you are that close to D.C. I'm pretty sure you can walk it in yourself. Check for their hours of operation that they accept them visa apps. It will be some funky hours on certain days. You can buy your invitation letter and have it emailed and then print it out. Personally, I wouldn't wait another day. Your window opportunity is closing and they will not let you board without a visa

[Chillidog]

I always have used http://www.russia-visa.com/ they work the same as "gotorussia.com" just apply for a "tourist visa" cost is $189 and you can save money on the return "FedEx" charge by just enclosing with your passport a "USPS next day" mailer return. I leave on August 3 and sent my passport to them (they recived it on) the 15th and I will have it back in my hands on July 24.

so it takes about 10 days for turn around to get the Visa Stamp in your passport using russia-visa.com  They (russia-visa) always on your application state the full 30 days allowed so even if you do not stay thirty days your Visa will be good for 30 days from the time of your entry

so if you still have a few weeks you can still do it for the $189 -8 buisness day processing (this is the processing time for the Russian consulate) 

[GoodOlBoy]

Another thing Koluji Ezhik.

When you get your passport back, check the dates on your Russian Visa.

IT IS IMPORTANT!


GOB