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

[Andrew James]

One last thing on Visa Registration:

Apparently the camp is set up to do this too. So I have gotten good service from them so far, without shelling out a single kopek. The trouble is, the camp organizer seems to be laboring under the pressure now; Lately, I have only been getting Russian language group emails (no replies), the most recent informing that their group booking at a pension in Komarova - the camp proper - has been canceled, meaning everyone has to fight with the general public for limited places...which is either a bad sign, or just a different way of doing this from what I am used to.

In any case, I have a plan B: Russia on my own. If if I take this option I will have to register my Visa myself. I am booked at a hotel the first night and presume they can/will do, though it is a real budget affair and have read on Thorntree.com that some places couldn't be bothered registering you? Also heard you can do it yourself at a Russian post office quite easily now? Any truth to these two claims.

[Sculpto]

Andrew.. you may not want to follow my advice on this.. but i have been twice to Moscow in the last 7 months and did not register either time.  No issues at all on departure.. no one even asked to see anything.. they just took my passport and stamped it and sent me on my way.

[Faux Pas]

.

In any case, I have a plan B: Russia on my own. If if I take this option I will have to register my Visa myself. I am booked at a hotel the first night and presume they can/will do, though it is a real budget affair and have read on Thorntree.com that some places couldn't be bothered registering you? Also heard you can do it yourself at a Russian post office quite easily now? Any truth to these two claims.

Have the hotel do it immediately as you check in. Most hotels provide this service, for a fee of course and it is damn well worth it. You cannot do it yourself if you can't read cyrillic. It is all in Russian and it is a pain in the a$$. I recommend to do it and be done with it. Don't take unnecessary risks while in a foreign country.

Sculpto has been lucky. He may be lucky a dozen more times but then again he may not. There is no problem not registering your visa if you don't have your papers check by the militia while you are in country. If you are past the deadline to register and you are checked, prepare for fines, major hassle and possible jail. It could affect a visa on a return trip but probably not. Passport control on exiting doesn't care about your registered visa this is true

[Kuna]

You can't register your visa yourself once in Russia but your inviter, sponsor, host, friend, family member, landlord or just about anyone else can.

My SIL downloaded the forms online, took copies of our passports (and hers) and went off to the post office alone (we were drinking vodka in a very cool little cafe near the Kremlin that day).

I don't think anyone really looked at the registration forms on the way out but I wouldn't risk it... why go throught he hassles if you do get caught when it's really not a big deal to register anyway?

When do you leave???  I'll send a PM in the next day or two!

[Andrew James]

Cheers guys. Looks like the camp is going to register my Visa after all. And if not, will get the hotel to do it. (If I were only going to be there a few nights, I might take the risk Sculpto, but given I could be extending this one into a Moscow stay as well, I might as well do it by-the-book.)

Leaving for Europe Monday 1st. Fly to StP from London June 10th.

[Snowwww1980]

I know this topic is expired, but in case others read this thread in future, I was in Russia in July. Only stayed at hotels and assumed the registration process had been followed.  However, on return to Moscow we were taken aside by the militia because part of our trip was not registered.  A fine was coming.  Fortuneately the officer consulted his superior when my FSU girlfriend began crying hysterically and saying it was the hotel at fault, and they relented.  Lesson: make sure your visa gets registered.

[UTRO]

I know this topic is expired, but in case others read this thread in future, I was in Russia in July. Only stayed at hotels and assumed the registration process had been followed.  However, on return to Moscow we were taken aside by the militia because part of our trip was not registered.  A fine was coming.  Fortuneately the officer consulted his superior when my FSU girlfriend began crying hysterically and saying it was the hotel at fault, and they relented.  Lesson: make sure your visa gets registered.

Or get a Girlfriend who will cry Hysterically to save your ass