Russia Visa Suggestions

[drsecu]

I've read through a couple sites and blogs, and most contradicted each other:

Health/Travel Insurance: Everyone must have, or one said not required for American's only.

You can do it by mail to one of the 5 consulates, or you have to do in person or use a company that does the physical part of for you.

Also it is somewhat conflicting if you have to have an itinerary or not, I think most said yes, but how can you have an itinerary for a 3 year open visa?  Should you use one of the services that for around $25 say they can give you the open letter, or if your staying with someone there they can do?  Is it even worth the risk rather than having a 3rd party if you need help later.

Any recommendations on the companies that provide the service?  I kind of wanted to see her home (I met her in Ukraine last time) and go snowboarding there.  I'd feel a lot better about it if I had a visa in hand before buying airfare.

[LAman]

Many places around you can use to file for a Russian visa. I used Visahq, I liked the ease for filling (their) form and if any questions email or call you to make sure application form(which they fill out for you) was/is correct. Most places are similar in price. The cheapest is ILS which you do most of legwork. With new fees, it doesn't always make sense to apply for 3 year visa( American).

BTW- don't need an itinerary but you do need an entrance date on form. You need a invitation letter( visa support) from 3rd party or agency applying for your visa.


http://russia.visahq.com/

http://ils-usa.com

[Anotherkiwi]

I've read through a couple sites and blogs, and most contradicted each other:

Health/Travel Insurance: Everyone must have, or one said not required for American's only.

This is something which always attracts comments because of such different attitudes in different parts of the world.  EVERYONE from New Zealand and Australia will tell you - YES, you MUST have travel insurance, and you would be an idiot to go anywhere overseas without it.  Those who've claimed successfully (me included) would bear them out.  It may only be small(ish) (e.g. I had my phone stolen in China, and I dropped my wallet in Odesa, with the equivalent of about $60 in it), but the peace of mind is worth the relatively insignificant portion of the total cost of the trip.

However, many Americans have some sort of health insurance paid for by their workplace and, from past comments on here, some of those policies do include a form of travel insurance.  If the inclusions are enough to cover the more common types of mishap which may be incurred on an overseas trip, then you may feel that separate travel insurance is not necessary.  Some people, of course, are quite prepared to risk travelling without any sort of insurance, trusting that no harm will come to them or that, if it does, it will be small and be able to be repaired/replaced from within their own resources.  Those are the type that should never visit the USA, or they might find themselves trying to sell their own body parts to pay for the surgery on their broken leg. 

As for the rest, the system for obtaining a Russian visa in the USA is completely different (and far more cumbersome and expensive) than that which applies in other western countries.

[drsecu]

Many places around you can use to file for a Russian visa. I used Visahq, I liked the ease for filling (their) form and if any questions email or call you to make sure application form(which they fill out for you) was/is correct. Most places are similar in price. The cheapest is ILS which you do most of legwork. With new fees, it doesn't always make sense to apply for 3 year visa( American).

BTW- don't need an itinerary but you do need an entrance date on form. You need a invitation letter( visa support) from 3rd party or agency applying for your visa.


http://russia.visahq.com/

http://ils-usa.com

I'm searching today to clarify the "entrance date", are you fine if  are just coming after the date.  A week difference for me could be airfare of $750 vs $2500.  Thanks for the personal feedback I'll read through those sites.

[BillyB]

Cost of getting medical treatment is very cheap in the FSU. $200 is a month's salary for some doctors over there.

[LAman]

I'm searching today to clarify the "entrance date", are you fine if  are just coming after the date.  A week difference for me could be airfare of $750 vs $2500.  Thanks for the personal feedback I'll read through those sites.

Don't worry so much about entrance date. Just put a date that is earliest you would visit. If 3 year visa, you can put few weeks before , doesn't really matter because you DON"T have to be there on date specified. In fact, once visa is granted, you can completely change all plans.

[Madlen]

Cost of getting medical treatment is very cheap in the FSU. $200 is a month's salary for some doctors over there.

BillyB, russian medicine is not cheep and is not good. And if they understand, that man from US, price can be more. An exception: doctor is sister of your girlfriend or somebody else, who is close to her.
It is very big topic about our mentality.

1. Really, we have no medicine today. We have corrupt concern, which pumps out money of people.

2. Each traveler must have insurance. So he (she) will protect himself (her...) from unpleasant consequences.

[mhr7]

BillyB, russian medicine is not cheep and is not good. And if they understand, that man from US, price can be more. An exception: doctor is sister of your girlfriend or somebody else, who is close to her.
It is very big topic about our mentality.

1. Really, we have no medicine today. We have corrupt concern, which pumps out money of people.

2. Each traveler must have insurance. So he (she) will protect himself (her...) from unpleasant consequences.

My experience has been quite different. I've received good health care at little to no cost and have had no problems getting the care I've needed. Medication is dirt cheap here, usually less than 1/10th the cost it is in the US. Granted, most of my problems have been routine so it might be a different story if I needed some major work done.

[Madlen]

Yes, of cource. We can say a lot, but for travel insurance is obligatory.

[BillyB]

BillyB, russian medicine is not cheep and is not good.

It is much cheaper than American medicine. I have heard doctors are either good or bad in the FSU depending on who you ask. Regardless if a man buys insurance while travelling in Russia, he must use Russian doctors to take care of his medical needs.

[Madlen]

BillyB, yes, of cource, he will use russians, but if he has insurance, he will not pay.

To understand Russian situation, person need be russian and live here.
You know the top of the tree. I know all from the top to the roots:).

So we say different things, but we are both right:).

[msmob]

It is much cheaper than American medicine.

NO - if we are talking meds here - you are TOTALLY wrong

A good friend of ours had a heart attack in May '17 and he has to take medication for a year - FAR cheaper to buy it from reputable suppliers in the US than Russia.

[whynotme]

BillyB, russian medicine is not cheep and is not good.

Just because, you didn't have the opportunity to compare  . I had negative experience with US medicine (I have a good insurance).
As for medical help in Russia, the attitude towards a foreigner might be better than to a local.

[BillyB]

NO - if we are talking meds here - you are TOTALLY wrong

A good friend of ours had a heart attack in May '17 and he has to take medication for a year - FAR cheaper to buy it from reputable suppliers in the US than Russia.

A child in elementary school can Google to learn Americans, on average, pay much more than citizens in other nations. You chose to take somebody's word on one situation and tell us that is the way the world works. Try Google sometime.

[mhr7]

As for medical help in Russia, the attitude towards a foreigner might be better than to a local.

It is.

[JayH]

Just because, you didn't have the opportunity to compare  . I had negative experience with US medicine (I have a good insurance).
As for medical help in Russia, the attitude towards a foreigner might be better than to a local.

How do you see the level of expertise  & competence of the medical profession? How would you compare?

[Anotherkiwi]

How do you see the level of expertise  & competence of the medical profession? How would you compare?

I would imagine that, just as with every country, there will be good and bad doctors.  The problem that arises will be realising, as you go under the anesthetic, that the one holding the scalpel is one who bought his degree from Misha Mouski University in Onlinograd. 

[whynotme]

How do you see the level of expertise  & competence of the medical profession? How would you compare?

As I wrote above,  it is MY experience.  The only thing they can do is to measure your blood pressure, weight and height,  and send bills.  .  You should tell them what kind of tests should be done and what treatment should be in the prescription. I also have to wait months for appointment. Looking forward to solve healf problems in Russia.

[Boethius]

It appears you need to find a better HMO, and a better physician.

I live in one of the last two countries in the world with socialized medicine.  No issues with medical care here.  My father has fallen seriously ill in the US, and had excellent, though expensive, medical care.  The American physician diagnosed an extremely complicated illness immediately. 

[Anotherkiwi]

I live in one of the last two countries in the world with socialized medicine. 

The other being the UK?

[Boethius]

Cuba.  The UK also has private healthcare.  Canada does not.

[whynotme]

It appears you need to find a better HMO, and a better physician.

I live in one of the last two countries in the world with socialized medicine.  No issues with medical care here.  My father has fallen seriously ill in the US, and had excellent, though expensive, medical care.  The American physician diagnosed an extremely complicated illness immediately.

Am I asking for your advise?  Visited 3 physicians and 5 dentists in 3 years. In fact, I have minor health problems which can be fixed with a competent approach.

[Boethius]

I’m not giving you advice. Just noting your experience likely is not the norm.

[drsecu]

I'm not concerned about the quality or cost of medical care (or medicine) in Russia, just the requirement that I have health/travel insurance that is valid in Russia.  Some of the sites said it is required, others said not for USA Citizens.

[mhr7]

I'm not concerned about the quality or cost of medical care (or medicine) in Russia, just the requirement that I have health/travel insurance that is valid in Russia.  Some of the sites said it is required, others said not for USA Citizens.

Citizens of all other countries, including USA, Canada, EU states, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan will need to buy a travel insurance that has medical and health coverage valid for the duration of their visa validity. This insurance can be bought through any insurance agency directly or online and usually costs about €30-€50 per week.

http://waytorussia.net/Services/Travel-Insurance-Russia.html