Confusion re. procedure for obtaining Russian Tourist Visa (from Aus, for June)

[Andrew James]

Finally traveling to Russia in June, attending a week long dance camp (I am a recreational dancer) in Saint Petersburg as my preferred strategy for meeting local women (some of whom I have gotten to know online, through the camp's Facebook forum.)

I am, however, having headaches understanding or obtaining the various supporting documentation for a Tourist Visa. The camp organizers have offered to send me a "touristic [sic] invitation" or a "letter from their organization". However, from what I can gather from the Russian Consulate in Sydney, I need a Visa Support AKA invitation letter, accommodation vouchers and a cover letter from a Registered Agency or hotel - and can't ascertain if the camp meets this criteria.

One poster on another forum suggested I would be better going through an agent like nevsky88.com, and paying for Visa Support, fake accom. vouchers, (fake since I won't use them, as I already have accommodation at the camp) and Visa Rego. - all up around $AU100 on top of my VISA, which will be $AU110.

If anyone here can provide any clarification on this I would be extremely grateful.

[Ade]

Finally traveling to Russia in June, attending a week long dance camp (I am a recreational dancer) in Saint Petersburg as my preferred strategy for meeting local women (some of whom I have gotten to know online, through the camp's Facebook forum.)

I am, however, having headaches understanding or obtaining the various supporting documentation for a Tourist Visa. The camp organizers have offered to send me a "touristic [sic] invitation" or a "letter from their organization". However, from what I can gather from the Russian Consulate in Sydney, I need a Visa Support AKA invitation letter, accommodation vouchers and a cover letter from a Registered Agency or hotel - and can't ascertain if the camp meets this criteria.

One poster on another forum suggested I would be better going through an agent like nevsky88.com, and paying for Visa Support, fake accom. vouchers, (fake since I won't use them, as I already have accommodation at the camp) and Visa Rego. - all up around $AU100 on top of my VISA, which will be $AU110.

If anyone here can provide any clarification on this I would be extremely grateful.

There are plenty of companies that will do the invitation for you out there - and yes, you really do need one. The fake accommodation "voucher" seems to be the accepted way of doing things too - I know, I was a little sceptical at first too but hey, when in Rome.

Anyway, if I were you, go through a proper agent it'll save you a lot of hassle n the long run and you won't have to worry about getting your visa.

[Kuna]

Andrew,

Just going/been through this myself.

Even if you're getting your accommodation from the dance group you will not be able to use them for the TOURIST invitation unless they are a registered company with authority to issue TOURIST invitations.

There are numerous companies providing tourist Visa Support (invitations) online for about US$30.

The embassy will accept emailed or faxed tourist support letters.


If the invitation comes form the dance group and they are NOT an authorised company for issuing tourist visas they may still arrange a private invitation but then your visa will be a Private Visa not a Tourist visa.  To the best of my knowledge the private invitation must be an original, and the visa costs extra.


My advice is to take the tourist route... even though the "fake" accom vouchers seems dodgy.

[GoodOlBoy]

Hello Andrew James.

Do yourself a favor and listen to Kuna.

He knows what he is talking about.

I wanted to say a little something  .

I don't know about the rest of you married guy's, BUT...It really ticks me off that I still have to go through this same "TOURIST" visa cr*p when I go back to Omsk with my wife every year.

I mean, geeez, can't they come up with something different for married spouse's?

BTW....What kind of "dancing" does your group do Andrew?

Gaelic by any chance? 




GOB

[Andrew James]

Much appreciated guys. A real relief to get some straight advice. (I think the camp organizer will be relieved as well, as I'm one of the few non Russians coming, and it is very unlikely the are 'registered'.)

Kuna: Any agencies in Australia you would recommend, or are they all online type setups? (eg. nevsky88.com, the agency I have been advised to go through).

GOB: Celtic Dancing? Um...not quite, though I do love those Irish fillies and their demure little high-kicks. Few can match Russian follows (women) for elegance, grace and sensuality however - well their Swing/Jazz/Blues dancers anyway, the scene I'm part of.

[Kuna]

Kuna: Any agencies in Australia you would recommend, or are they all online type setups? (eg. nevsky88.com, the agency I have been advised to go through).

PM sent.

[Sculler]

Andrew,

Another issue you need to ask the camp about is getting your visa registered when you are there. If the camp is at a hotel, the hotel will do it for you, but if the camp has their own facilities, someone will need to have your registration done at the local OVIR. This is another annoying quirk of Russia. Enjoy St. Pete.

1x

[Andrew James]

Thanks for that Sculler. I'll add that one to the list of things to follow up!

Incidently, a poster on Lonely Planet's forum claimed that if you are staying only two week nights and a weekend, you are not legally required to register your visa. Can anyone verify if this is true?

[Ade]

Thanks for that Sculler. I'll add that one to the list!

To my surprise, the camp is actually arranging Visa support and fake accommodation vouchers for me through their own travel agency in Russia, so it seems I may be covered there. Whether they will have organized registration as well is something is something I will need to follow up.

Incidently, a poster on Lonely Planet's forum claimed that if you are staying only two week nights and a weekend, you are not legally required to register your visa. Can anyone verify if this is true?

I think the legal requirement is that you register within 72 hours excluding weekends and holidays.

[Ooooops]

Incidently, a poster on Lonely Planet's forum claimed that if you are staying only two week nights and a weekend, you are not legally required to register your visa. Can anyone verify if this is true?

You are staying in St Pet for a week, right?  Then you have to register your visa.   If you after that decide to travel somewhere else for no more than 3 days, then registration is not necessary. 

[Andrew James]

Ooooops: camp forms part of a week long dance festival in St.Pete and there is the option of attending Fri-Sun workshops only. Was considering this, especially when thinking I'd have to get visa support from more than one place (for the days I wasn't doing the workshops).

Of course that would be rather wasteful - staying there four nights; even if I am doing this as part of a larger tour through the FSU I still want more time in Russia than that. And fortunately, such options appear more viable now. (Like most newbies, no doubt, I have found this to be a rather challenging process, with this fear that each hurdle is going to be bigger than the last, like say $80 to register on top of all the other things.)

[Ooooops]

like say another $80 to register on top of all the other things.)

That sounds really strange.    We've used www.visahouse.com/ few times - they charge ~ US $50 for visa invitation, but registration is free at their office.   I know that some hostles in St Pet provide the same service.    Why don't you search Thorn Tree forum on Lonely Planet website for that info?

[Andrew James]

Ooooops: Just quoting $80 to register as an imagined scenario in my own Russian Visa Red Tape nightmare - i.e. after learning there is a registration requirement on top of all the other paperwork, one could find themselves overwhelmed by the whole process, imagining this endless succession of procedures and costs. Doesn't need to be like this however (it would seem) if someone is doing the work for you, like an agent (or the place of accommodation, who in my case are using their own agent).

[Faux Pas]

Ooooops: Just quoting $80 to register as an imagined scenario in my own Russian Visa Red Tape nightmare - i.e. after learning there is a registration requirement on top of all the other paperwork, one could find themselves overwhelmed by the whole process, imagining this endless succession of procedures and costs. Doesn't need to be like this however (it would seem) if someone is doing the work for you, like an agent (or the place of accommodation, who in my case are using their own agent).

Some quotes on this thread has confused me. I think there is confusion of the invitation, the visa and registering the visa. All of which is a must do.

For my last several trips the invitation letter was $30 usd. The visa application required $130 usd fee. An approved visa services fee (also required unless you can walk the visa application in the embassy in person yourself)was another $50 usd. Total cost to have visa in hand at Russian passport control was $210 usd.

After arriving and within 3 days registering the visa I believe was about 200 rubles or roughly 8 bucks usd.

[UTRO]

Russian Law states that Foreigners must Register within 72 hours of arriving in Russia and Every Time they change Residency Address......
Example, if you go on a two week Trip and you visit Moscow for the first 3 days, you must Legally Register there before the 3rd 'working day' is over. If you then proceed to St.Petersburg and stay there for another 3 working days, you must Register there....... and so on. Okay nobody ever does, at least I haven't. I Register once.
But, it is the Law. It somewhat applies to Russians who are Living in Russia too. Any Russian who leaves their Region, for another, for more than 90 days is supposed to Register their Internal Passport with the Interior Ministry. It is a throwback from the Soviet times that virtually everyone ignores. However, if you are a resident from the Russian Far East and you look Asian, you'd better Register!
Sorry AJ, I'm not trying to confuse you. Just letting you in on things. I can't Tell you on what to do about Registering, but I can Advise you from my own Personal Experience what I have done

[Ooooops]

Just quoting $80 to register as an imagined scenario in my own Russian Visa Red Tape nightmare - i.e. after learning there is a registration requirement on top of all the other paperwork, one could find themselves overwhelmed by the whole process, imagining this endless succession of procedures and costs.

Is it your first time overseas in developing countries?   

[Andrew James]

Utrobina & SeriouslyJaded: Thanks for the heads-up regarding the 72 hour registration requirement. Certainly clarifies things.

Faux Pas: I see the registration is only a small fee on top of the other requirements (invitation letter and accommodation vouchers), which is good to know.

Ooooops: Recently traveled to Vietnam. I thought their Visa application was finicky, but it pales in comparison to Russia's. Of course it is all worth it, given the country I will be in. 

[GoodOlBoy]

Is it your first time overseas in developing countries?   

Ooooops talk about being a "spin" doctor, BUT...I guess "Developing Countries" is the PC phrase used now.

Sounds better than 3rd World Countries!  :evil:


GOB

[Ooooops]

Ooooops: Recently traveled to Vietnam. I thought their Visa application was finicky, but it pales in comparison to Russia's.   

Oh, we just got back from Vietnam as well!   Things changed a lot since our first visit in 1994.   Then you'd have to jump not only through hoops, but through hoops lit on fire to get the Vietnam visa   

Don't worry, everything will be fine.

[Ooooops]

...I guess "Developing Countries" is the PC phrase used now.

Sounds better than 3rd World Countries!  :evil:

That's right.   Lives them a shred of dignity.   

[Andrew James]

Got my passport back today, with Russian tourist Visa inside. Was starting to believe that articles like the following, which rate Russian visas as the most frustrating to obtain of all, were perhaps a little over-hyped:

http://blogs.theage.com.au/travel/archives/2009/03/the_nightmare_of_visas.html

Then I checked my passport. Now I'm not that experienced with such things, but all the other Tourist Visas I have obtained follow the format of M1234567, as it appears on my passport (OK, so I changed the numbers here). Yet the Russian sticker reads MУЖ under "Sex", immediately followed by the numbers ONLY under "Visa ID".

Now is this just a peculiarly Russian way of typing Visas, or does a mistake appear to have been made? Will I need to send it back, or should I just play dumb (given its close to illegible to those who can't decipher Cyrillic).

You see, with less than two weeks left, the other alternative is joining the apparently long (if you read the article), Soviet-era like line of Australians whinging about nearly missing their deadline, sometimes having to fly 1000KS and back to fix errors like these.

PS I would have called the consulate today, but for the fact that they are not open Fridays.

[Ooooops]

Yet the Russian sticker reads MУЖ under "Sex", immediately followed by the numbers ONLY under "Visa ID".

МУЖ under "Sex" means "male".      Stop twitching and go pack your bags!   

[Ade]

МУЖ under "Sex" means "male".      Stop twitching and go pack your bags!   

Maybe he expected it to say, "Yes Please"?

[Ooooops]

Maybe he expected it to say, "Yes Please"?

I know...  I'm always tempted to do it...   

[Andrew James]