Russian visa - single or dual entry?

[groovlstk]

I'm leaving for Moscow on Monday evening for a two-week stay. While I'm there my girl and I might head to Turkey or Crimea for a week, and then return to Moscow for a few days. It just dawned on me that I will be denied re-entry into Russia if I don't have a double-entry visa. Can anyone shed any light on this?

If this is the case, we'll likely go to Sochi but I'd like to be able to plan in advance.

[Ste]

I'm leaving for Moscow on Monday evening for a two-week stay. While I'm there my girl and I might head to Turkey or Crimea for a week, and then return to Moscow for a few days. It just dawned on me that I will be denied re-entry into Russia if I don't have a double-entry visa. Can anyone shed any light on this?

If this is the case, we'll likely go to Sochi but I'd like to be able to plan in advance.

Look for the word 'odnokratnaya' on the visa, means 'single-entry' which is prolly what you've got if you didn't ask for multiple entry.

I dunno about checks and how rigorous they are on Russian borders but wrong visa or no visa and Russia is too risky for me!

Ste

[Turboguy]

If you are leaving the country and coming back you need a double entry visa.  I am guessing you already have your visa since you are leaving on Monday.   For future reference a double entry one is no harder to get than a single entry and I believe the price is the same. 

If you were going to be a week later in your trip I would offer to buy you a beer in Moscow.   Hope you have a good trip.  I am sure you will.  Sochi is supposed to be nice.

[Bruce]

Go to Sochi.

[DonAz]

If this is the case, we'll likely go to Sochi but I'd like to be able to plan in advance.

Can't help you on the visa issue but I'm curious; where will you be staying in Sochi? If you are going to use a Hotel I recommend Valentine. Rates aren't too bad ( about 2000 rub per night IIRC ). The staff is  wonderful and they will let you use their office computer at no charge.

If you would like to get an apartment to stay let me know and I'll send you my sister in laws phone number and have your Lady call her.  She makes all of our arrangements for us whenever we go to Sochi and can chisel a price better then most. If your lady books an apartment herself and has a Moscow accent the price goes up, and forget about the price if they know an American is going to be booking  it. You do know this is high season in Sochi, yes? So having an intermediary can be a blessing there.

If you do go to Sochi DO NOT  miss out on the Red Valley! That is a must see in the Sochi area. I proposed to Yulia on top of a mountain in the Red Valley...great memories.

Oh and I can't forget to mention the Banya in Riviera park. Best one in Sochi!

Try to stay away from the Calypso restaurant  along the shore. They have a bad rep for trying to rip off gringos

If we can help you at all, don't hesitate to ask!

Don

[Michelangelo]

Back in the days when Ukriaine required a visa, I had to have a double-entry visa if I flew from Ukraine to Turkey and then back to Ukraine.  I suppose the same is true of Russia today...

You might call the Russian Embassy in New York and ask?

Hey Groov...get a Ukranian girl!  They are more beautiful and easier to visit! 

[jb]

Hey Groov...get a Ukranian girl!  They are more beautiful and easier to visit!

They are not more beautiful, just easier...........to visit

[groovlstk]

Thanks for all the good advice, guys.

I have a call into the visa agency I used to see if it's not too late to upgrade, but I'm not sure if I can force myself to pay them extra $$. I sent my application to them via overnight 7 days ago and they phoned me yesterday because they had a "question" about some dates on my app. Of course, since they had to delay sending it to the embassy, I must pay an extra $65 for expedited service  There's not much I can do at this point as they've got me by the cajones, but when I return from my trip I'm going to file a complaint with the BBB.

My gf is also having problems getting her "abroad passport," as she calls it. She's paid an agency $550 for expedited service and when she phones them to see if her passport is ready, they always have some new excuse. She thinks they're either trying to extort additional $$ from her or want her to book her trip abroad through their office.

Ay yi yi...

Regardless, I'm not sweating it too much since I could care less where we go, as long as we're together.

[Turboguy]

When this is over you should post who you used for your visa so we can avoid them.  I usually use russia-visa.com and have had great results with them.  Never a problem, online tracking, great communications and resonalbe prices.   Actually I just did an ap with them two minutes ago.  As a repeat customer, all I had to do was enter my e-mail address and it pulled up all the old data and I just needt to change the dates and cities.  I will be speding the biggest part of the month of July in Urkaine and Russia.

[Bruce]

The only one I ever deal with is Russian National Group.  One time I did have to pay them again when I mistakenly put in the wrong dates - but in retrospect, it was my fault.  I forgot how much I recently paid - but they are on 30th street between 7 and 8.

[viking]

Groovlstk,

Have a great trip!! Enjoy your lady and come back with some good news.

[catzenmouse]

They are not more beautiful, just easier...........to visit

Amen Brother jb Amen!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful Time Groov! Hope things continue to go in the right direction for you both!!!

Ken

[wiz]

My gf is also having problems getting her "abroad passport," as she calls it. She's paid an agency $550 for expedited service and when she phones them to see if her passport is ready, they always have some new excuse. She thinks they're either trying to extort additional $$ from her or want her to book her trip abroad through their office.

Oh dear.....

The same problems like Olga, the woman I met in Greece earlier in June.

Agency took the money......1000's excuses, ........made her to book a very expensive package (1200 USD) and after all that.......she only got her passport and visa JUST 4 days before departure!

The Day before departure she was advised flight times changes from afternnon departure to very early morning one....hasty travel arrangements to the airport and nearly missed the flight because she was given the wrong times!

She arrived in Greece (Kos) a bundle of nerves and she could not believe that she was there for a couple of days!

Now she is trying to arrange another visit there and she is having problems finding a flight only. They will not sell a charter flight to her, so we have to book a schedule flight on aeroflot!....if she manages to go to Moscow and get the Visa first!

Wish you all the best!

[wiz]

They are not more beautiful, just easier...........to visit

I have to agree with Michael.........and much easier to visit!