USA -> Russia - Which visa is most likely to be approved?

[scafidi454]

If I want to go to Russia, which visa is easier and more likely to be approved: Tourist or Homestay? Also, what steps are necessary to get this visa?

[Faux Pas]

If I want to go to Russia, which visa is easier and more likely to be approved: Tourist or Homestay? Also, what steps are necessary to get this visa?

Tourist visa is most generally, your easiest, quickest and cheapest. You can buy an invitation letter online, fill out the application and send it to a visa processor along with your passport and appropriate fees and voila, returned with the visa affixed in the passport. Not a big deal really and unless you have something in your background they frown upon it's just a rubber stamp ordeal.

[GoodOlBoy]

Forget the Homestay Visa.
FP is right, the Tourist Visa is easier to get.
However, if you are going multiple times to Russia you may want to look at a Business Visa, it will be cheaper in the long run.
There are several places who can help you with this.
I used TRAVISA for my travels.
They are VERY reliable.
http://www.travisa.com/
 
Good luck!
 
GOB
 
PS...Just curious Scafidi454, is your girl from Siberia?

[scafidi454]

I was talking to Travisa today, actually. I am thinking that if I will go in December, then I don't have much time to save money for a trip in July as well. So, I think I am going to go to the Czech Republic or Finland. Both are easy countries of entry, and she can get a Shengen visa for this.

[Faux Pas]

Jeeze dude. I read that twice and still don't get what it is you are trying to say. You're going to Finland or the Czech Republic in July? You can afford to go there but not to Russia? Such a plan will incur more expense for her to travel and meet you in a 3rd country, no? Your expense there as opposed to Russia will not be much different.


IIRC, the total expense for a Russian visa is about $160 bucks. A word to the wise, if money is that tight you'd be much better off waiting until you have more solid cash flow before going at all. There is some serious expense in dating women from the other side of the world. Just food for thought.

[scafidi454]

The Russian visa costs about $250 for double or single entry. Then, you have to add the processing fee, sponsorship letter fee, and airfare. Furthermore, I have to have more money to pay for my hotel in Moscow and activities while I'm there. I have enough to afford the trip, but if I can avoid waiting on approval for a visa I think I'd be better off. I have some criminal history that would most likely cause me to be required to fly to a consul to have an interview (more $$$), or would completely deem me ineligible for the trip. I already spend enough money for gifts, postage, calling cards, sending flowers, etc. I am trying to save all of the money that I can. Also, didn't I say I'm in college? I'm a self paying college student.


Anyway, I have a cousin who lives in Prague, and airfare to Finland for me round trip is about $1k, for her it's about 350 dollars round trip. How can $1300.00 be more expensive than about $400 for a chance on a visa, $1500 for the flight, and additional monies for that time? Where is the cheapest place to fly over there (that isn't infested with terrorism).

[Faux Pas]

The Russian visa costs about $250 for double or single entry. Then, you have to add the processing fee, sponsorship letter fee, and airfare. Furthermore, I have to have more money to pay for my hotel in Moscow and activities while I'm there. I have enough to afford the trip, but if I can avoid waiting on approval for a visa I think I'd be better off. I have some criminal history that would most likely cause me to be required to fly to a consul to have an interview (more $$$), or would completely deem me ineligible for the trip. I already spend enough money for gifts, postage, calling cards, sending flowers, etc. I am trying to save all of the money that I can. Also, didn't I say I'm in college? I'm a self paying college student.


Anyway, I have a cousin who lives in Prague, and airfare to Finland for me round trip is about $1k, for her it's about 350 dollars round trip. How can $1300.00 be more expensive than about $400 for a chance on a visa, $1500 for the flight, and additional monies for that time? Where is the cheapest place to fly over there (that isn't infested with terrorism).

Relax Francis. I posted up thread a 30 day tourist visa is about $160 and that includes the invitation letter and Travisa walking it into the embassy for you. It takes generally 10 days or so to get that process completed withh priority mail through the US postal service. It is a single entry visa. If you expect to leave and return inside of 30 days you'd better go for the double.


Depending on your criminal history and how available it is would determine if you were denied or not. One guy on here not to long ago was denied because of work he did in the Air Force. It can happen but, most generally, most do get approved (without interview).


Listen, I'm not making up the costs of dating a woman in Russia. You can speak in all the generalities you want but, it doesn't change this fact, the costs are huge and constant. Ask anyone who's done it and I speak from a position of experience. $3500 per trip could easily be considered "on the cheap" but doable. The costs of the trip do not discriminate between struggling college student and wealthy business man. That fiddler will be paid if you choose to dance.


You'll only need an apartment in Moscow. Most decent hotels are out of your budget but and apartment is better anyway. Consider her transportation, your accommodations, to and fro Prague and your expenses are climbing. Doing your homework on the internet for an affordable flight to Moscow (I'd recommend Petersburg but thats just me) I feel confident you could find one in the same neighborhood as one to Prague or Finland

[Rubicon]

Relax Francis. I posted up thread a 30 day tourist visa is about $160 and that includes the invitation letter and Travisa walking it into the embassy for you. It takes generally 10 days or so to get that process completed withh priority mail through the US postal service. It is a single entry visa. If you expect to leave and return inside of 30 days you'd better go for the double.


Depending on your criminal history and how available it is would determine if you were denied or not. One guy on here not to long ago was denied because of work he did in the Air Force. It can happen but, most generally, most do get approved (without interview).


Listen, I'm not making up the costs of dating a woman in Russia. You can speak in all the generalities you want but, it doesn't change this fact, the costs are huge and constant. Ask anyone who's done it and I speak from a position of experience. $3500 per trip could easily be considered "on the cheap" but doable. The costs of the trip do not discriminate between struggling college student and wealthy business man. That fiddler will be paid if you choose to dance.


You'll only need an apartment in Moscow. Most decent hotels are out of your budget but and apartment is better anyway. Consider her transportation, your accommodations, to and fro Prague and your expenses are climbing. Doing your homework on the internet for an affordable flight to Moscow (I'd recommend Petersburg but thats just me) I feel confident you could find one in the same neighborhood as one to Prague or Finland

I did 2.5 weeks in Ukraine for about $3,300.00

In the long run this whole process can easily cost 20 to 30K

[scafidi454]

I still think that if I can rent an apartment and pay for both of our trips to Finland for the same price as going to Russia, I'd rather do that. I wouldn't have to risk the additional $160.00 - Also, if I go to Russia this time, I plan to get double entry so that I can return in December without further application.

[Faux Pas]

I did 2.5 weeks in Ukraine for about $3,300.00

In the long run this whole process can easily cost 20 to 30K

Thanks. I'll write that down for future reference 

I still think that if I can rent an apartment and pay for both of our trips to Finland for the same price as going to Russia, I'd rather do that. I wouldn't have to risk the additional $160.00 - Also, if I go to Russia this time, I plan to get double entry so that I can return in December without further application.

You can check with Travisa or any other visa company but IIRC a single or double entry tourist visa is only valid for 30 days max. Longer than that would be a Business visa. It comes with a different set of implications and more thoroughly checked than a tourist. I believe the business visa is $250 and valid for 6 months and multiple entry.


If you wish to go the Finland route do it. You don't need anyones approval but your justifications don't seem very valid IMO

[Rubicon]

Thanks. I'll write that down for future reference 



You can check with Travisa or any other visa company but IIRC a single or double entry tourist visa is only valid for 30 days max. Longer than that would be a Business visa. It comes with a different set of implications and more thoroughly checked than a tourist. I believe the business visa is $250 and valid for 6 months and multiple entry.


If you wish to go the Finland route do it. You don't need anyones approval but your justifications don't seem very valid IMO

you have never been to Ukraine...so why the need to be sarcastic??

[Faux Pas]

you have never been to Ukraine...so why the need to be sarcastic??

You don't know where I've been Rube but please do try to stay on topic?

If I want to go to Russia, which visa is easier and more likely to be approved: Tourist or Homestay? Also, what steps are necessary to get this visa?

[nicknick]

I still think that if I can rent an apartment and pay for both of our trips to Finland for the same price as going to Russia, I'd rather do that. I wouldn't have to risk the additional $160.00 - Also, if I go to Russia this time, I plan to get double entry so that I can return in December without further application.

scafidi,

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?


First of all, have you met this woman before and/or have you spoken to her about how she feels about meeting in a different country?

She may well have her own feelings about meeting in a different country - and have you told her the reasons why you don't want to meet in Russia?


Secondly, can I ask why you think that Finland is particularly cheap? 

Helsinki is a great place to visit and you can go and visit Tallinn as well quite easily from there.  However, it is actually quite an expensive place to stay.  I assume that you will not be sharing the same bed and so will require a 2 bed apartment.  If that is the case then you'll be paying out upwards of 200 Euro a night for a 2 bed apartment in Helsinki.

Also, decent hotels will cost upwards of 100 Euro per night per room.

Eating out in Helsinki is also not particularly cheap either.


Can I ask what part of Russia the woman you are going to see comes from?

Outside of Moscow and St Petersburg, accomodation is quite cheap in Russia.  Even in Moscow you can find accomodation relatively cheaply.  For example, you can get quite nice 2 bed apartments for around $120 - 150 per night.



May I ask why you have chosen Finland?  If the reason is that you want to visit this country for a holiday anyway and combine your holiday with meeting a woman then Finland is a nice place to go for a holiday. 
 
 However, if you're choosing Finalnd based on price then, unfortunately, Finalnd is not a particularly cheap place to visit.
 
Just a couple of observations based on a short break I had in Helsinki.

ps If you do decide on Helsinki then I can recommend some nice places to see and eat at, but I went a couple of years ago so my knowledge may well be out of date.

[nicknick]

However, if you really don't want to go to Russia then maybe I can suggest some other places to go to meet in July?

One suggestion that I would recommend that you seriously consider is Cyprus.

You can fly with Aeroflot from New York to Larnaca via Moscow for around $1,150 in July. 

My understanding is that you won't even need to get a Russian transit visa as you won't be leaving the airport - however you should just check that yourself.

So you can fly to Moscow, meet this woman, then both fly off to Cyprus together.

Cyprus is a really nice holiday destination - I learnt how to scuba dive there one year.

You can rent anything from cheap little apartments to luxurious villas on the edge of the beach and everything in between.

One other thing that you might like is that both English and Russian are widely spoken on the island.

Cyprus used to belong to Britain and there are still a couple of British military bases there.  Lots of Brits have holiday homes there and many live there permanently as well.

Lots of Russians also go on holiday there as well and quite a few live and work there as well.

So, all in all, Cyprus is somewhere to seriously consider, especially as she won't even need a Schengen visa - just a Cyprus visa.



If you want somewhere in the Schengen area then I would suggest that Spain - either mainland or one of the islands - would be a good place to go.

Brits have been going there on holiday for decades so English is widely spoken and more and more Russians are going as well so you may well find some Russian being spoken as well.

Again, you can stay in anything from cheap little apartments to luxurious villas and everything in between.

Flights to Barcelona are around $1,100 in July or to Palma, Mallorca are around $1,300.


Just a couple of options to Finland.

[chivo]

If some of you would have read his other thread (and I believe some of you did because you posted there) you would know that he wants her to get a Schengen visa so she can have some history of travelling the next time she applies for an American visa.
 
Yes he has met this girl already to answer your other quesion.
 
As far as a visa for him, I would go with the 6-month multi entry business visa. It's by far your best value if you're planning on visiting Russia a few times over the course of the visa. The 1 year multi entry business visa is the next best value option depending on your schedule.

[Faux Pas]

If some of you would have read his other thread (and I believe some of you did because you posted there) you would know that he wants her to get a Schengen visa so she can have some history of travelling the next time she applies for an American visa.

Maybe if you had read his OP you might conclude that his other thread doesn't really apply to his question here.



 

As far as a visa for him, I would go with the 6-month multi entry business visa. It's by far your best value if you're planning on visiting Russia a few times over the course of the visa. The 1 year multi entry business visa is the next best value option depending on your schedule.

No doubt. Absolutely the best deal going for those with plans for multiple entry. However, for a stretched budget a simple tourist visa might be an option. For those with a questionable background or a record perhaps a multi or a business visa isn't such a good idea? 

[Wayne]

In order to get a home stay visa for Russia, your girl would need to get the official invitation from OVIR (I think, it was a long time ago for me.) This might take a month or two. She would have to mail this orginal invitation to you; you would fill out an application and send it with your passport to the nearest Russian Consulate in USA.
 
I doubt if the consulate would check into your back ground. Anyway, you said in your other thread that you are planning on living and working in Russia. If you have trouble getting a visa, those plans would be nearly impossible.
 
You don't need a visa for Ukraine. Depending upon where she lives, she could meet you there someplace. A smaller city would cost much less to visit. Even in December, Crimea is relatively warm near the Black Sea. It would be off-season and rents would be cheap.
 
Turkey would be another good place to meet.

[Jumper]

Outside of Moscow and St Petersburg, accomodation is quite cheap in Russia.  Even in Moscow you can find accomodation relatively cheaply.  For example, you can get quite nice 2 bed apartments for around $120 - 150 per night.

From his other thread, he knows the girl well from her time in the states?
and they are an  *item*
So I'm assuming he could stay with her in Russia, or that was "their" plan.

With costs are a big part of it, then it seems confusing that this wouldn't be the preferred situation ,and least expensive, with a  known girlfriend.


 If attempting to build a shengren visa portfolio for her, having already been in the USA it seem any country would work ?
Yes Finland would seem an expensive choice..
Prague however not really, I was just there last month, a very nice clean hotel,bi grooms/suite style with breakfast included was $70 USD  a night.
Probably 30 or more blocks from the old downtown area ,but only a block from the bus station (or subway) and a  very short one street  direct ride to the national republicy square (downtown) from there  a vast majority of the cities sights are walking distance,
 and inexpensive cafes plentiful,or markets,  if you walk more than  a block from the main tourist pathways.*(where even there restaurant or cafe's  are still quite reasonable)

While i think as *a couple* simply trying to be together on a budget,
 they could easily save money by meeting in her home city, (Moscow or wherever it is)
Prague would be  fairly reasonable , for two people on a budget wanting to substantiate more visa stamps and do some touristy things.
(Cyprus and Turkey as well.but if truly on a budget , i'd think more Prague, Budapest or Bucharest,or even Krakow?)

Overall her flight,his flight,  and apt or hotel in another city, wherever it might be,  would run more than staying with her in her city,
but we dont know the specifics, maybe she lives at home with parents and staying there isn't an option. Then perhaps Moscow could be more, than some of the other options overall?

Just hard to say with vague info.
Also thinking of relocating there and living there as he mentioned before,
might be a problem if a simple background check would make him sweat a tourist visa.


 

[GoodOlBoy]

I have some criminal history that would most likely cause me to be required to fly to a consul to have an interview (more $$$), or would completely deem me ineligible for the trip.

Ok, I guess GOB has to be the one to ask about the 800lb. gorilla standing in the room.
 
Are we talking about a misdemeanor here Scafidi454 or a felony?
 
If it is a felony, you may have other problems on the horizon besides a visa.
 
GOB
 

[tfcrew]

Misdemeanor or felony?

Doesn't seem to matter....

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/227365.html

 

[Faux Pas]

Doesn't seem to matter....

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/227365.html

Securing a passport is not usually the issue relating to a criminal history in obtaining a visa. Many places/countries will run a quick search and background check and sometimes a thorough one when warranted. They will also deny visas based on the information obtained in the background check.


We had a member here a few months ago looking to accept a job in Russia and turns out he couldn't. He was denied a visa based on his military service. That in of itself likely wasn't enough reason but his work while in the military was. How did they know?

[GoodOlBoy]

Given the circumstances described here I don't think IMBRA applies, but anyway:
 
IMBRA provides that a petitioner for a K nonimmigrant visa for an alien fiance(e) (K-1) or alien spouse (K-3) must submit with his or her Form I-129F information on any criminal convictions of the petitioner for any of the following "specified crimes":

* Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, dating violence, elder abuse, and stalking.1

* Homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment, or an attempt to commit any of these crimes.

* Crimes relating to a controlled substance or alcohol where the petitioner has been convicted on at least three occasions and where such crimes did not arise from a single act.

If the petitioner indicates that he or she has been convicted by a court or by a military tribunal for one of the specified crimes by checking one or more of the boxes in Part C., question 2 of Form I-129F, or USCIS ascertains through relevant background checks that the petitioner has been convicted, the petitioner will be required to submit certified copies of all court and police records showing the charges and dispositions for every such conviction. This is required even if the petitioner's records were sealed or otherwise cleared. Such information shall become part of the petitioner's Form I-129F. If the petition is approved, the petitioner's Form I-129F (including all criminal background information submitted by the petitioner and any related criminal conviction information that USCIS discovers during the course of conducting its routine background check) must be provided to the Department of State. The Department of State will disclose this information to the beneficiary during the consular interview.

GOB

[GoodOlBoy]

Also Scafidi454, make sure that your RW knows everything about your criminal history.
 
She will definitely be asked about it during the K1 interview in Moscow.
 
GOB

[tfcrew]

Securing a passport is not usually the issue relating to a criminal history in obtaining a visa. Many places/countries will run a quick search and background check and sometimes a thorough one when warranted. They will also  deny visas based on the information obtained in the background check.

However, 'most places/countries'  do not require a visa at all from the USA. 



 
 

[GoodOlBoy]

Many places/countries will run a quick search and background check and sometimes a thorough one when warranted. They will also deny visas based on the information obtained in the background check.

And sometimes they turn you away at the airport (even if you are famous  ):
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11387822

http://www.rushpassport.com/blog/2010/09/passport-problems-for-celebrity-paris-hilton-en-route-to-japan/
 
GOB