Family visit back to Russia this summer

[Goombah]

Hi all.

Its time for my family (meaning mostly me) to start the planning process and paperwork for us to return to Russia this summer.  We plan on flying from the USA to Moscow, take a train from Moscow to Omsk, spend 2+ weeks in Omsk, then fly home from Omsk->Moscow->USA.  All total, I have three weeks of vacation time I'll be using up.

I recall from my first visit that I really should have a "Stay at home" Visa, since I will in fact be staying at my inlaws house.  In turn, I believe that requires some special invitation letter marked by the local OVIR office in Omsk.  Does that ring true?

Kevin

[Wayne]

I did a home stay visit in 2001 in Ukraine.  Svetlana went to the OVIR office and filled out an application.  It took two months to get the invitation, which she then mailed to me by express mail.  The cost was about $100.  The invitation was completely in Ukrainian or Russian, I don't know because I could not read it.  Of course, you do not need a visa for Ukraine anymore. I stayed at Svetlana's house.

Why don't you just get a tourist visa with a letter from an hotel.  You can get this from GO TO RUSSIA.  Then when you get to her city, go to OVIR office and register, or pay the hotel a small amount to register you. 

[Goombah]

The good news is that registration is trivial in Omsk.  They are actually quite friendly - all we needed to do last time was visit the office.  They asked for my passport and Evia's, then stamped everything and waved us on.  No cost.  No hassle.

Kevin

[Moonlight]

Ask your inlaws to go to local OVIR and apply for your invitation.
They will need:
- copy of your passport
- all info about your name. dob, your job name, etc
- they will also need their sberknizhka (ask your wife about it, this is Russian reality) with a amout of money about 4000roubles per each person (like if they invite only you, they will need to have aboout 4000rub on their account, if more people, then 4*2,3).
- they pay for fees and then - about a month or two and then your invitation will be issued - a yellow piece of paper with all info.
- then use UPS to receive it
- then fax it or send to Russian Embassy - either Washington or SF, whever you live, and enjoy your vacation time:D

Btw, when you are in your wife's home town, you must have your visa registered again in famous OVIR, so the person who is going to invite you, must go with you there and stamp a special immigration form with you. Not too expensive, about 20rubs for a day.

Good luck!

 

[Bruce]

Any of you married guys try to do this in Tver?  I heard you have to start the process six months in advance.  Is this true?  I also heard the stamp / Ovir is really easy once you are approved after the six month or so wait?  I always thought its easier to get a 30 day tourist visa each time, which is what I have done.

[jb]

Yep,  if I were going to spend just 3 weeks in Russia, I'd save the kinfolks the hassle.  I've done this in the past and all I do is stop into almost any small hotel in town and pay the price of a night's lodging and let them register my visa.  I think the last time I did it, the cost was about $30.00

If you were going to stay 3-6 months it might be worth it to do the "Home Stay", but I wouldn't do it for 3 weeks.

Disclaimer:  I'm not advising you to break any laws, I'm simply telling you what I would do.

[Goombah]

Thanks.  Again, the registration when I get there is easy, and FREE - they didn't charge us a single ruble when I visited before.

The cost of the stay-at-home Visa invitation is similar to what I'd need to pay Moscow Rick for a semi-legal one (one that implies I'm staying at a particular hotel, even though I wouldn't be).

Thanks for the feedback.

Kevin