Russian Visa application

[jrm]

I am shocked and irritated at how complex and involved the Russian visa application form has gotten in the last year. I consider it intrusive and a real pain in the ass! I am considering cancelling my trip. It's worse than a friggin' job application!

[RickM]

... in response to Russian Visa application, posted by jrm on Apr 8, 2004

Even CIS "former" Russian citizens as well as new Euro citizens now who used to be visa-exempt are now having to pay for and obtain Russian visas for things like cruise port entrys to places that never required it before like Saint Petersburg.

ONE WORD OF CAUTION...Whoever prepares your visa for you...Make sure they explain All CLEARLY and when they prepare this so-called "VOUCHER" for you that it list ALL the places you'll be going to and realize that in some out-of the-way places in Russia outside Moscow the airport police have not ever even seen these new types of documents before...

THE NEW VOUCHER DOES "NOT" TAKE THE PLACE OF HAVING TO HAVE YOUR RUSSIAN VISA REGISTERED WITH-IN 72 HOURS OF ARRIVAL.YOU MUST "STILL" FIND AN OVIR OFFICE OR USE A HOTEL YOU STAY AT TO HAVE YOUR VISA REGISTERED WHEN YOU ARRIVE...

[Rags]

... in response to And Money-Making Also...And One CAUTION...., posted by RickM on Apr 9, 2004

Oh DA! I got a voucher once online and when I went to have my visa registered at the local police station I was told that the company listed on the voucher did not exist. I thought that my @ss was going to be put on the next plane out of there (and in retrospect that probably wouldn't have hurt as things didn't work out but that's another wild and crazy story). Luckily my driver was a smooth talker (with a PHD as I later found out) and I got off with a bribe and a scare.

Go with a reputable company even if it costs a little more like Russia House. I wish that I could remember the name of the company that hosed me but I can't. (It had an English name like Andrew's or something).

[CFonde]

... in response to Russian Visa application, posted by jrm on Apr 8, 2004

I just received my Russian visa this week from GOTORUSSIA.COM. This is my 4th trip, and I remember my last visa over a year ago being what you called "intrusive" and "complex". I'll admit, it IS involved and a pain in the ass, but I'd suggest just playing along with the game. I seriously doubt they'll pay THAT much attention to all the details that we must provide. I don't remember all the specifics, but for those interested in knowing, they want you to document:

* Employers names, addresses, phone #'s, your position held, etc., for something like the last 10+ years.

* All educational institutions you have ever attended (except elementary schools), and addresses, etc. (I listed all the way back to high school)

* Whether or not you have any special weapons training, etc.

* Dates of all previous visits to Russia AND ALL other countries visited in the past 10 years.

* A flight itinerary for your arrival and departure.

* All cities you will visit while in Russia. I hear that visitors to Moscow must now have some type of additional "invitation" now, if staying in a private apartment.

I'm sure there's other intrusions that I have forgotten, but probably the most nerve-wracking intrusion, in my opinion, is having to mail your actual passport now, instead of just a photocopy, like before. They now paste your entry visa inside a whole page in your passport. I'll admit I was a bit uneasy not having physical possession of my passport for the 2 weeks it took to get my visa processed and returned to me.

  Overall, these are just minor inconveniences for a trip to Russia again. You can partially blame Sept. 11th, and the heightened security procedures that the United States has implemented on many foreigners now coming into this country. These are just tit-for-tat measures that countries are now implementing on Americans traveling abroad. I even hear that some South American country (Brazil?) is now photographing and fingerprinting Americans who enter that country. It's purely retaliatory, and probably will not get better in the foreseeable future. It's all a game in my opinion, but I'm willing to play along.

~~ Chris

[Philb]

... in response to Re: Russian Visa application, posted by CFonde on Apr 9, 2004

Last year my passport disappeared for 2 weeks enroute from the Ukrainian Embassy to my home.  This was the work of USPS Express Mail.  At the time the Ukrainian Embassy site listed only Express Mail as the method for which to mail in visa applications.

They now list both FedEx and Express Mail.  So I have sent my application via FedEx the last few times.

Just so every one doesn't think FedEx is perfect a friend of mine works for them and he has told me that as a total percentage the occurance of lost and misplaced letters and packages is very low, but if you saw the total number you would be scared to death.

One thing you can do with FedEx is insure your documents for there replacement costs.  This means you can ensure them for what an expedited replacement would cost.  This is a fairly new policy for them (they used to have a limit of $100.00 for documents)and all of their clerks are not always aware of this.  So, you may have to push the issue with them.  Also, this is not automatic you must declare the amount of insurance you require when you send your letter.  Otherwise, the default insurance value of $100.00 applies.

[jrm]

... in response to Mailing a passport makes me nervous too...., posted by Philb on Apr 9, 2004

I once mailed my passport to the Ukraine Embassy in Chi town, panic hit me after 3 1/2 weeks and no passport. I started cancelling my trip, hotel, etc. Then I received the "final notice" from the post office to pick up my express mail. This was two days before I was to depart. I never received the first two notices.

[jrm]

... in response to Re: Russian Visa application, posted by CFonde on Apr 9, 2004

ago, we implemented a similar procedure for Russians acquiring visa' for a visit to the U.S. Again, we are the losers, in the war against Islam extremists! Which is another story...
I am told know one will pay attention to the "pain in the ass" questions. So, I will "play along" as you say.