Visa help

[JR]

Can anyone reccommend an agency for obtaining a Visa to Russia. It has been a long time since I have gone. What I have found online is anywhere from $18 to $180 for a Visa.
Thanks in advance

[Vaughn]

$180 is a deal, $18 is a hook, simply put.

WayToRussia is one agent I've heard much good about. Travista is another.

I suggest you stay away from any that make you submit your own invitation;
use one that handles the whole deal, A to Z.

[TwoBitBandit]

I have gotten my last 2-3 visas from gotorussia.net, they've done a great job.

[acrzybear]

I use http://www.russia-visa.com/ , What I like is that whenever I return to Russia I just log on and change the dates of travel and possibly the locations-you only have to fill the application out one time.

 I like this service, the send you e-mail updates during each stage of the process, so you know when they get it, when the embassy gets it and when it is on it's way back to you.  I have only had good experiences with this agency.

[Ronnie]

I have a travel agency and occasionally get clients who want to visit Russia (even after I discourage the idea).  I usually use one of the visa services to get only the invitation letter <$50 and then download the visa application and instructions from the Embassy website and have them complete it and send it in with the photos and  visa app fee($100).  Never had one returned....but then it's not rocket science.

PS Don't go for the fast service...just extra money and they all get processed in a couple days anyway.

[Faux Pas]

If they put a visa in your hand for $180 and no other costs, thats a pretty good deal. Not so long ago there was only a requirement of an invitation letter and passport to obtain the visa by mail from the embassy. The latest protocol is you must hand deliver it to the embassy or pay an agent to do so. They no longer issue visas by mail. My last trip last month I got an invitation from waytorussia.com and used Travisa to obtain the visa. Total cost was $210. It should be noted Travisa charges $250 for invitation and visa. Travisa did some excellent follow up and customer service however, they did mess up the translation which caused a minor problem when I tried to register the visa in Tomsk.

[Faux Pas]

I have a travel agency and occasionally get clients who want to visit Russia (even after I discourage the idea).  I usually use one of the visa services to get only the invitation letter <$50 and then download the visa application and instructions from the Embassy website and have them complete it and send it in with the photos and  visa app fee($100).  Never had one returned....but then it's not rocket science.

PS Don't go for the fast service...just extra money and they all get processed in a couple days anyway.

I've gotten 3 in the last 12 months by different avenues and the application fee all three times was $130 to the embassy. What visa service did you use?

[ConnerVT]

I've used Russian National Group in NYC several times without a problem.

http://www.russia-travel.com/pages/visas.htm

[Ronnie]

My first and only experience with getting a Russian visa through a service was with the Russian National Group that Conner refers to.  I'm glad he had good experiences.  Mine was not.

I went to Russia with plans to spend a month in Russia, then a month in Ukraine and then back to Russia for another month.  For this I needed a "Business Visa" that was longer in duration, allowed more than one entry and cost more to obtain.  I sent all the appropriate forms, photos and fees to RNG.  Just before my departure RNG sent me a single entry tourist visa.

When I called and asked what happened, the lady (Russian) who handled it never apologized or offered a solution.  She just stated the obvious, that I had been sent the wrong visa (in those days it was a separate document not affixed to your passport).  Since there was no time for them to correct the problem even if they had offered, I did ask that they return the excess money I sent them.  The Russian lady's reply was, "what do you want, that I should pay you from my salary?" 

Further emails to management went unanswered and I finally gave up.

[viking]

I have used www.visahq.com 4 times with zero problems. You can do an online application.

[ConnerVT]

When I called and asked what happened, the lady (Russian) who handled it never apologized or offered a solution.  She just stated the obvious, that I had been sent the wrong visa (in those days it was a separate document not affixed to your passport).  Since there was no time for them to correct the problem even if they had offered, I did ask that they return the excess money I sent them.  The Russian lady's reply was, "what do you want, that I should pay you from my salary?" 

Well, what did you expect.  Admittance of guilt?  Not only did you deal with a Russian, but one from New York!   

[Ronnie]

Well, what did you expect.  Admittance of guilt?  Not only did you deal with a Russian, but one from New York!   

If I could find a smiley to convey a "sigh" I would paste it here. 

[Sculpto]

Jolly I used gotorussia on my last trip and they were fine.  I can't remember the exact cost but it was fast and there is an office in SF so I liked the fact I could just go in and personally hand my stuff over.  They handled the invitation and visa.  They offer a service in Moscow to register for another 45 but I didn't use it because I didn't feel like trying to find their office.  I never registered either trip and was not asked on my way out for anything.. just stamped and on to security.. though I have been informed that it is not wise to not register even though "A" thought it wasn't needed.

[Faux Pas]

Jolly I used gotorussia on my last trip and they were fine.  I can't remember the exact cost but it was fast and there is an office in SF so I liked the fact I could just go in and personally hand my stuff over.  They handled the invitation and visa.  They offer a service in Moscow to register for another 45 but I didn't use it because I didn't feel like trying to find their office.  I never registered either trip and was not asked on my way out for anything.. just stamped and on to security.. though I have been informed that it is not wise to not register even though "A" thought it wasn't needed.

I didn't register on one trip either and there were no repercussions. I found out later that there probably never will be unless you get stopped by the militia while in-country, then it's lots of hassle and heavy bribe. I can't confirm that as I haven't been stopped or checked.

[Chicagoguy]

The first times I went I stayed at hotels and they were probably doing it for me. Then I started using apartments and forgot about registering. Nothing happened. But later on I started paying services to register it for me just to be safe.

If you are using an apartment you will save some $ by not registering and maybe only a small fine [ bribe ? ] when leaving.