Two articles from "The Economist," for those interested in the 2nd, : Russia's Travellers, No Place Like Home," there is an Internet address given at the end.

Travel to Russia

Tear down that wall

Aug 4th 2005

Ukraine is now easier to visit than Russia

THE art collections, the ballet, the romance of a cruise down the Volga. All these and more are good reasons to visit Russia. Yet getting there is no easy thing for residents of western countries. To obtain a visa, they must be officially invited to Russia by an individual or organisation; the invitation must then be taken to a Russian embassy or consulate where the would-be traveller has to cough up at least $25, often more.

A thriving business has been spawned by these procedures: lots of firms offer to sort out the paperwork—for a handsome fee. At the Russian end, this inevitably leads to a black market in issuing invitations.

Things used to be similar in Ukraine—but after a trial arrangement brought in for the Eurovision Song Contest, it was decided that things should be made easier permanently: from now on, European Union citizens can fly straight to Kiev and admire the cathedrals without getting a visa in advance.

Ukrainian officials hope this will prompt art-loving Brits, French honeymooners and German backpackers to visit their country in much greater numbers. Any lost income from visas should be more than offset by extra tourist spending. Alan Steel from Russia Gateway, a travel business, is sure that if Russia followed suit, there would be a “tangible increase in tourism”.

Russia does have a couple of reasons for maintaining its current rules, namely pride and the principle of reciprocity. Russians travelling to the west face stringent visa requirements, including interviews which some find humiliating. But then, very few western tourists are likely to try to start a new life in Russia, illegally—and the days when a few eccentric westerners settled in Russia for ideological reasons are gone. The Russians could lighten up on the rules and do themselves a favour.

http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=4254464

... in response to Now if they would only lift ALL visa req..., posted by Frank O on Aug 4, 2005

Unfortunately, it is a game of nationalistic "tit for tat."
When "Homeland Security" puts their nationals thru "hoops" to visit the USA, national pride requires that they retaliate.  
Despite the fact that it inhibits "big spendor" tourists from showering relatively "hard currency" $s in their lands.  
Not sure I feel any safer.

... in response to If they have money....., posted by LP on Aug 5, 2005

Yo LP, how you doing?

LP, current time for K-1's are way down from where they used to be. On average now we are seeing 4 to 5 months as quite mormal. One client about three months ago got his lady here 3.5 months from start to finish and no one did anything special to quicken it.

Over the past 9 months I have really not seen any K-1's taking longer than 5.5 months.

... in response to Doing ok JB...., posted by LP on Aug 8, 2005

mad scientist professor from Peoria takes the cake for hooking up with a chick 40 years his junior.  Now that's cause for concern (for him) and I'll be surprised if he's still alive 2 years from now!

... in response to Canada is cheaper, posted by WillMc on Aug 6, 2005


...the scam was they were getting into the US for only $125K.

In all fairness, additional research shows that there have been very few takers since 1990. (One could argue that's not the point however). Seems the vast majority of wealthy foreigners have no interest in emigrating to the US. They'd rather just buy our land and corporations while residing abroad. Can't say I blame them.

Nope, no cream of the crop for us. All we get are the tired, poor, huddled masses, the wretched refuse of their teeming shores, yearning to...build a little piece of their home country once they arrive.