... in response to Anyone have any experience with Russia v..., posted by Ryan on Oct 20, 2003I tried going direct for a visa from the Russian embassy about 1.5 years ago. Had an invitation from the Ukraina Hotel in Moscow for a couple of the days, then planned staying with my fiancee. Didn't have any paperwork for the home stay. Sent the visa application in.
About a week later I got a phone call from the Russian embassy. They wondered where I was staying when I wasn't in the Ukraina Hotel and where the paperwork was. They were polite and indicated my fiancee would need to get some paperwork from the OVIR in her city. At the end of the conversation they asked whether I wanted the application back. I said yes and received it (along with application fees) about 10 days later. (And they say the Russians are inefficient -- try getting the US INS/BCIS or State Dept to get that short of timeline on anything!!)
Anyway, because I had plenty of time, I applied for a visa thru the normal channels (GOTORussia, etc) and got it in plenty of time. I don't know how GOTORussia and other get around the home stay invitation/OVIR deal but it was no problem and I didn't have to furnish any info about the homestay. Of course, the downside is that it cost any extra $50 to go through them.
Good luck!
