Getting my Privet VISA

[Ryan]

My girlfriend has filled out all the paperwork for my privet VISA and has given it all to the VISA office in Togliatti Russia.  It is the first time that I am going over on this type if VISA as I usally go on a tourist Visa.  When I went to Russia in the past on the tourist Visa I just go directly to the Visa office in Russian and have them give me the stamp and all the proper forms.  I never had to go and get a hotel room and play all that game.  Anyway it was funny because when my Girlfriend went to registar our paperwork she told her that everything would be fine, as she remembers us from the time we were in before.  Just wnated to share with you some of this info.  Getting a Visa is not all that hard, don't let those middle men scare you into paying high dollar...

Ryan

[RickM]

... in response to Getting my Privet VISA, posted by Ryan on Jun 20, 2003

I once read on a post somewhere where a peson had a hotel inside Russia fax them an invitation letter after calling or faxing the hotel for reservations and then the person took the faxed reservation and mailed it with his visa,money order,photos,return stamped envelope and other necessary forms to the N.Y.Embassy of Russian Consular.
He had his private visa in about 2 weeks and never even stayed at the hotel when he arrived to Russia.He had wrote that he was able to get his visa registered right at Shermtvo-2 airport.

Couple of questions...
1)Anyone ever heard about getting Russian visas registered right at the airport in Moscow?
2)Does anyone who traveled lately to Russia understand anything about these new so-called "vouchers" that seem to be getting issued by travel agencies specializing in travel to Russia that are supposed to eliminate the need to have your Russian visa registered upon arrival?
It's my understanding these vouchers are supposed to act as a "pre-registeration"

[SteveM]

... in response to Getting my Privet VISA, posted by Ryan on Jun 20, 2003

Ryan,

My son and I have gone over on private visas every time since my first, and I agree with not paying someone else to do it, but it should be mentioned that every local OVIR office is different.  We have had no trouble in the past, but this time there were new forms, an office that was moving, and a six week fight to get the invitation letters out of them.

Steve M.