Planned trip to Omsk

[Faux Pas]

Whisky

This is the deal: Unless you are going back many times (8-10) in the next three years a business visa "might" pay dividends. If that is the case, cost is of no concern to you anyway. Otherwise go with the tourist visa.
With the tourist visa, Travisa will handle it completely. It doesn't matter if you are staying in a hotel or not. Let them do what they do. They get the invitation and handle it from cradle to grave. It's what you are paying them for.

I suggest going the tourist visa route and yes you will need to register your visa after you arrive. You also have to register a business visa as well. You'll have 3 days to do so. You, by yourself cannot register the visa. It will require the help of your lady or, you can drop it off at a local hotel and for a fee they will register it. Likely about $40-50 bucks. Your lady can register it and you'll pay about 150 rubles IIRC about 4 bucks.

You can also get by without registering it. I have once in the past. Just simply forgot. There was no problem as a result. I wasn't given any hassle upon leaving. Nothing ever came about that time of me not registering. Where a small incidental thing such as not registering can turn into a big problem is getting checked by the militia/police being over your 3 days and not being registered. Then come the hassles from the cops and likely fines and bribes. Don't get caught not being registered. You must also register in any city that you visit 3 days or more.

I strongly advise, go the tourist visa, forget business and homestay.

[Anotherkiwi]

Whisky

This is the deal: Unless you are going back many times (8-10) in the next three years a business visa "might" pay dividends. If that is the case, cost is of no concern to you anyway. Otherwise go with the tourist visa.
...
I suggest going the tourist visa route and yes you will need to register your visa after you arrive. You also have to register a business visa as well. You'll have 3 days to do so. You, by yourself cannot register the visa. It will require the help of your lady or, you can drop it off at a local hotel and for a fee they will register it. Likely about $40-50 bucks. Your lady can register it and you'll pay about 150 rubles IIRC about 4 bucks.

You can also get by without registering it. I have once in the past. Just simply forgot. There was no problem as a result. I wasn't given any hassle upon leaving. Nothing ever came about that time of me not registering. Where a small incidental thing such as not registering can turn into a big problem is getting checked by the militia/police being over your 3 days and not being registered. Then come the hassles from the cops and likely fines and bribes. Don't get caught not being registered. You must also register in any city that you visit 3 days or more.

I strongly advise, go the tourist visa, forget business and homestay.

Totally agree with the sentiments, but didn't the lead time get changed to 7 days a few months ago?

[Faux Pas]

Totally agree with the sentiments, but didn't the lead time get changed to 7 days a few months ago?

That may be true. It was 3 days my last trip. I heard a rumor of 7 days but not since I've been there

[noelscot]

since you'll probably want to visit more than once you may want to apply for a business visa. it's good for 1 year and you can visit as many times as you want.

he doesn't need a business visa. a 3 year multiple-entry Russian tourist visa has been available since September 2012 per an agreement between the American and Russian governments
 
http://www.russianembassy.org/embassy_eng/consulate/tourist_visa.html
 
Re: the homestay visa. don't do it. it's a major pain for your Lady. she'll have to go to the OVIR office, fill out a form, wait for WEEKS to get it back, lest she bribe the clerks, THEN DHL the original to you. you mentioned you only have until Dekabr to get your visa completed. homestay is therefore too long of a process.
 
get the tourist 30 day visa. get the name and address of a hotel in Omsk. MAKE SURE it is on travisa's list by contacting them first or else there will be all sorts of hassles. fill in the name and address of the hotel where you *think* you will be staying on travisa's online invitation form. there will be no ramifications if you do not actually stay in the hotel you *think* you are staying at and no reservation documentation will be asked of you. once you get all your stuff back from the Russian embassy, they will give you a migration card with two halves and the visa. make sure to carry the invitation copy with you. you only need the telex number from the invitation to satisfy the Russian consulate or embassy. travisa will answer all your questions.
 
in the main, have fun and respect the culture and people.

[Faux Pas]

The 3 year tourist multiple entry visa is apparently effective and seems to me would be the way to go. Cost a little more.  What I've read makes no mention of registering but I would imagine it is still required

[noelscot]

The 3 year tourist multiple entry visa is apparently effective and seems to me would be the way to go. Cost a little more.  What I've read makes no mention of registering but I would imagine it is still required

migrant registration at the local post office is still required on arrival and departure. he can get his lady to fill the paperwork for him when he arrives and the day he departs. not doing so can get him banned from Russia for up to 5 years. if he needs to go back, that could be problematic.
 
here is the site in Russian: http://www.fmsmoscow.ru/docs/migration_registration/registration.html
 
this is the U.S. embassy web site: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/russian-visas.html#Migration

[WhiskyNiner]

get the tourist 30 day visa. get the name and address of a hotel in Omsk. MAKE SURE it is on travisa's list by contacting them first or else there will be all sorts of hassles. fill in the name and address of the hotel where you *think* you will be staying on travisa's online invitation form. there will be no ramifications if you do not actually stay in the hotel you *think* you are staying at and no reservation documentation will be asked of you. once you get all your stuff back from the Russian embassy, they will give you a migration card with two halves and the visa. make sure to carry the invitation copy with you. you only need the telex number from the invitation to satisfy the Russian consulate or embassy. travisa will answer all your questions.

This is basically what I needed to know, thank you by the way. I was not sure if a hotel would register me if I was not actually going to be staying there. I figured they would but I did not want to be stuck and get into a huge hassle if not.

I am not sure I will do the multiple entry this time. If I go back again (which yes I probably will, I love other cultures and traveling to other parts of the world) then yes for sure. I will go the tourist visa route then, thanks everybody for the advice. I sure would hate to learn all of this the hard way.

So registering at the local post office is only if I had the multiple entry right? For the one time I can just go to the hotel and then I am good to go for duration of my stay?

A sincere thanks to everyone, this information is going to make everything much easier.

[Faux Pas]

Are you staying at a hotel?

[noelscot]

This is basically what I needed to know, thank you by the way. I was not sure if a hotel would register me if I was not actually going to be staying there. I figured they would but I did not want to be stuck and get into a huge hassle if not.

I am not sure I will do the multiple entry this time. If I go back again (which yes I probably will, I love other cultures and traveling to other parts of the world) then yes for sure. I will go the tourist visa route then, thanks everybody for the advice. I sure would hate to learn all of this the hard way.

So registering at the local post office is only if I had the multiple entry right? For the one time I can just go to the hotel and then I am good to go for duration of my stay?

A sincere thanks to everyone, this information is going to make everything much easier.

you must register your migration status for ANY type of visit to Russia. Send the Russian link I posted to your lady. Then have her get the info from your migration card when you are in country. Then file at post office the day you arrive in Omsk and the day you depart.

[Faux Pas]

you must register your migration status for ANY type of visit to Russia. Send the Russian link I posted to your lady. Then have her get the info from your migration card when you are in country. Then file at post office the day you arrive in Omsk and the day you depart.

He doesn't need to register but once. They will take his migration card and give him another stamped card, actually it looks like some type of form. It's all in cyrillic so I don't know what it states. But, you are correct noelscot otherwise. He only needs to go to the PO with his lady, his PP, migration card and 150 rubles. Doesn't matter which visa he enters with, all have to be registered. Only once in each city you stay more than 3 days. It's not a big deal at all just the fact that a foreigner can't do it alone unless they can read/speak Russian

[WhiskyNiner]

So I will need to register my visa at the hotel AND have my lady go to the post office with the form filled out with the migration information when I arrive?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

And no, I am not staying at a hotel. My lady is helping me by finding a flat for me.

[noelscot]

So I will need to register my visa at the hotel AND have my lady go to the post office with the form filled out with the migration information when I arrive?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

And no, I am not staying at a hotel. My lady is helping me by finding a flat for me.

Your visa, letter of invitation, migration card and passport will be required at the port of entry (probably Moscow). From that point, you only need to register your migration card at the post office in Omsk, because you will be there more than 3 days. I do not think you need to go to a hotel for any reason.

[Anotherkiwi]

Your visa, letter of invitation, migration card and passport will be required at the port of entry (probably Moscow). From that point, you only need to register your migration card at the post office in Omsk, because you will be there more than 3 days. I do not think you need to go to a hotel for any reason.

I've never had to show my letter of invitation, although I had a copy with me.  You can't get a visa without one, so it's logical that, if you have a valid visa, you must have had a letter which fulfilled the necessary criteria.

[noelscot]

I've never had to show my letter of invitation, although I had a copy with me.  You can't get a visa without one, so it's logical that, if you have a valid visa, you must have had a letter which fulfilled the necessary criteria.

the invitation letter is needed to fill in the migration card in Russia. He'll be T-totally screwed if he doesn't have the invitation in hand, unless he has memorized the information. I would carry it.

[Faux Pas]

the invitation letter is needed to fill in the migration card in Russia. He'll be T-totally screwed if he doesn't have the invitation in hand, unless he has memorized the information. I would carry it.

Noel, this post is further proof to not believe everything you think you read

So I will need to register my visa at the hotel AND have my lady go to the post office with the form filled out with the migration information when I arrive?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

And no, I am not staying at a hotel. My lady is helping me by finding a flat for me.

Whisky,
No, you'll not need to have your visa registered through a hotel if your lady will take you down to the post office and do it for you. That would be registering it twice.

You'll receive the migration card at the Russian customs when you enter. You won't need an invitation letter to fill out the migration card. There is little to fill out. Keep it in your passport. You won't need the invitation letter.

Travisa will obtain an invitation letter for you when they get your visa. You only need an invitation letter for applying for the visa. Travisa will handle all of this (of course for a fee) Travisa has a number of sources that they obtain invitation letters. Don't worry if it has the name of a hotel or a tour company. It doesn't matter. Your visa will be affixed to your passport. You will need your passport (with affixed said visa) and your migration card when you register the visa.

It's not as big of a deal as it appears. Just a hassle to avoid other hassles

[noelscot]

Noel, this post is further proof to not believe everything you think you read

He'll need the following information for the migration card from the invitation letter:

[Faux Pas]

He'll need the following information for the migration card from the invitation letter:

No, he doesn't.

There isn't any point in trying to make this a point Noelscot. Russian customs don't know nor care where he is staying or who sent the invitation letter. It has no meaning. You can write in the reference numbers or not. You can write in the address of the hotel or tour company or not. They won't check and likely have nothing to check it against. I would advise to write in the actual address where you are going. Your trying to make this a bigger deal than it is. It isn't.

edit to add: that migration card form is a 2 piece perforated form and about the size of a quarter size of 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper

[mendeleyev]

The cheapest day of the year to fly anywhere, International or domestic is typically 25 December and we're doing that for a daughter this holiday. She'll return the day after Christmas in Russia, 8 January. That way she'll spend the New Year 31st/1st and then stay for Christmas on 7 January before returning.

To the OP, I hope this gives you some idea on Omsk apartments:

http://omsksutki.ru/flats.php?rooms=1&lang=en


http://www1.iha.com/Vacation-rental/12%29S/Omsk-Apartment-flat-Rental_1.htm


Mrs M and I often use www.airbnb.com when traveling. They're an international short term apartment service putting owners and tourists together and based in San Francisco. They do a lot of business in Russia.

[mendeleyev]

The 3 year tourist multiple entry visa is apparently effective and seems to me would be the way to go. Cost a little more.  What I've read makes no mention of registering but I would imagine it is still required

FP, I'm hearing that the "dual" option is still most often being issued by the Russians, meaning the old 30 day visas which the Consulate has the option to issue instead of the new 3 year. Yes, registration is still required.

[WhiskyNiner]

Alright so just to make sure I am clear, for a tourist visa I just need to give travisa the hotel that I am staying at (wink wink nudge nudge) and then when I arrive I just need to go to the post office with my lady and have her fill that form in for me and I am good to go? It just seems like the fee to do it at a hotel is way more than a post office. Maybe that is for the people that don't know any locals so they have to use the hotel...

I don't think and of that will be a problem to handle 

Thanks everyone!

[Faux Pas]

Alright so just to make sure I am clear, for a tourist visa I just need to give travisa the hotel that I am staying at (wink wink nudge nudge) and then when I arrive I just need to go to the post office with my lady and have her fill that form in for me and I am good to go? It just seems like the fee to do it at a hotel is way more than a post office. Maybe that is for the people that don't know any locals so they have to use the hotel...

I don't think and of that will be a problem to handle 

Thanks everyone!

You don't need to give the name of a hotel. They'll need you to fill out the visa application, your passport, and your credit card.

The hotel would simply take it to the PO and register it just as you'll do with your lady. It is worth 40-50 to them to do it. You'll see why. Hotels do it regularly as a convenience for their guest. It's not as complicated or conspiracy related as you wish to think

[mendeleyev]

The hotel would simply take it to the PO and register it just as you'll do with your lady. It is worth 40-50 to them to do it. You'll see why. Hotels do it regularly as a convenience for their guest. It's not as complicated or conspiracy related as you wish to think

Exactly.

In the past I've had PO employees refuse because I didn't have the right ______(fill in the blank). Some of them are really lazy. It is easy to rent a cheap hotel room for a night and you don't have to sleep there but they do register your visa for you. Russian hotels in Moscow can get this done for you in less than 30-45 minutes while you wait at the counter. Sometimes that is less time than it takes a lazy postal employee.

[Faux Pas]

FP, I'm hearing that the "dual" option is still most often being issued by the Russians, meaning the old 30 day visas which the Consulate has the option to issue instead of the new 3 year. Yes, registration is still required.

I thought it was a bit odd that it supposedly was in effect Sept 1 but nobody anywhere I have seen has mentioned getting one. I wonder if it requires a deeper background check or why nobody seems to have one. On my next trip I will apply for the new 3 year. It'll save me some hassle

[Anotherkiwi]

...Russian hotels in Moscow can get this done for you in less than 30-45 minutes while you wait at the counter. Sometimes that is less time than it takes a lazy postal employee.

On my first trip I arrived at my hotel in Moscow about 8.45 pm.  This was a very basic 2 star minus on the 6th floor of a multi-use building.  It took about 15 minutes to get the formalities of booking in completed (the clerk did not speak English, but was a very pleasant guy).  At 9 o'clock I was directed to my room, and told to leave my passport and migration card for registration, and he would give them back to me in the morning.  Less than 15 minutes later there was a knock on the door, and my passport and stamped card were handed over with a flourish.  In some places in Russia service really does exist!
 
Sidebar your Honour...when I was ready to travel to Russia again, I looked all over the internet to find this hotel again, without any luck.  Because it was a bit out of the way (near Vladykino metro in the north) I wasn't going to bother physically checking that it still existed, so ended up in a place with absolutely @#$%^%%# Soviet-style service instead.  Woe was me - and this was a much higher-class hotel with a supposedly good reputation!

[CanadaMan]

You don't need to give the name of a hotel. They'll need you to fill out the visa application, your passport, and your credit card.

The hotel would simply take it to the PO and register it just as you'll do with your lady. It is worth 40-50 to them to do it. You'll see why. Hotels do it regularly as a convenience for their guest. It's not as complicated or conspiracy related as you wish to think

Correct, you don't need to give the name of the hotel.
It's not complicated or conspiracy-related, but it is an additional layer of red tape that the Russian government uses to make more money for themselves, the agent in Russia and the agent you use in your country.