Receipt for visa, but no visa stamp

[roykirk]

I had recently applied for my fourth tourist visa to Russia this year.  Today I received my passport back, along with a receipt for payment (like I had previously), except there is no stamp!  They've also noted on my receipt that my visa was for 5 days, when it was actually for 14.  I don't know if I've been refused, or if this just means they want me to come to the embassy to get my visa stamp, or if they simply forgot to stamp it.  I'm also going to have to have them address the incorrect number of days.  Anyone ever have this happen before?

Btw, in looking at the Russian Embassy website, they say that beginning September 8, they will no longer process tourist visas by mail, everyone will have to come to a consulate in person.     It looks like Putin and his merry band of goose-steppers are starting to put the screws to us visiting Russia.  I have a feeling this is just the first step.     This will basically add $100 on to every visa I apply for in the future, due to the distance I am from the nearest consulate.  $50 in gas to drive to the consulate to drop off the application, another $50 in gas to drive back up a few days later to pick it up.

[Phil dAmore]

BTW, in looking at the Russian Embassy website, they say that beginning September 8, they will no longer process tourist visas by mail, everyone will have to come to a consulate in person.

Which site roy?  I'm not surprised at this in any way.  By doing this Russia does not violate their own constitution which specifically prohibits them from barring foreigners.

However their constitution  says nothing about making it as time consuming, difficult and expensive as possible for the express purpose of discouraging all but the most determined traveler.

Most tourist agencies here in Petersburg are complaining that tourism is down significantly this year.

FYI, you should have just applied for the 30 day visa.  The price is the same and you can always leave early. If circumstances beyond your control cause you to overstay the visa that will cause you problems upon exit from Russia

Good luck

[wxman]

I see on their web site you will still be able to use a private company to submit visa request if you can not travel to consulate.
Fromt the consulate site:

1. In order to streamline and improve the visa obtaining process as well as for security concerns the Russian visa section will abandon the practice of processing the visa applications by mail starting September 8, 2008.

In the meanwhile the applicants unable to be present in our visa section in person are strongly recommended to rely on the services provided by the followiing visa & passport agencies:

 

CIBT, Inc. PVS International Travisa Visa Service, Inc.
Tel:(800) 929-2428

Web: www.cibt.com/russianvisa
 Tel.  (800) 556-9990

        (703)908-0330

Fax: (703) 908-0332

Web: www.pvsinternational.org
 Tel:(800) 222-2589

Web: www.travisa.com
 

[roykirk]

Which site roy?  I'm not surprised at this in any way.  By doing this Russia does not violate their own constitution which specifically prohibits them from barring foreigners.

However their constitution  says nothing about making it as time consuming, difficult and expensive as possible for the express purpose of discouraging all but the most determined traveler.

Most tourist agencies here in Petersburg are complaining that tourism is down significantly this year.

FYI, you should have just applied for the 30 day visa.  The price is the same and you can always leave early. If circumstances beyond your control cause you to overstay the visa that will cause you problems upon exit from Russia

Good luck

Yeah, my bad on the dates of only 14 days.  I need to make sure I just go for the 30 days in the future.  It seems so counter-intuitive to try to make it difficult for tourists to visit.  Your economy and people basically suffer from the loss of tourism dollars.  About the only time it would make sense (from a strictly logical viewpoint) to keep people out would be if you're conducting some sort of human rights violations or something or simply have a paranoia about outsiders.