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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: Getting US Visa vs Getting Russian visa - No US for WTR! |
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Today I had a great experience: tried to get a US visa at the US consulate in Berlin and was refused. They said I don't have enough ties to any country. Weird... According to the US immigration officials if you're busy traveling around a lot you're automatically a threat to their security. They thought the owner of a travel guide to Russia will go to America and will love it so much that he'll want to stay. Ironic...
They also gave me this paper where it says that according to the US law any person seeking to enter US is automatically an "immigrant". So I have to prove them I'm not. It's as if when you meet a person you automatically think "threat" and then they have to prove you it's not true. No wonder that America (as a country) has a lot of enemies around. I have to admit I went through some America hatred when I left the embassy, just because I wasted a few hours of my time, had to get up early, and was basically treated like shit.
You may be wondering: why I'm posting it here? Well, because many people complain here about Russian consulates. But I should say that having traveled to more than 20 countries, the experience of getting an American visa was by far the worst.
Just to compare I went right after to the Russian consulate to check out the atmosphere there. Seemed much more friendlier, to my own surprise. Here's my observations:
MOBILE PHONES & LAPTOPS
In the US consulate, you can't bring them in, they don't offer any facilities to store them anywhere. So what you have to do is to run to the nearest subway station and leave them to some shop, making sure you don't miss your place in the queue, and hoping that your phone won't be stolen.
In the Russian consulate, they just check what you've got, and let you in, no problem.
APPOINTMENT TIMES
If you want to get a US visa, you make an appointment, which is usually as early as 7 - 7.30am but it doesn't mean you have the interview at that time. You simply wait in a queue under CCTV cameras. Oh yes, add to it waiting in the cold for 20 minutes outside.
For a Russian visa you come any time you want from 8 to 11 and after waiting 5 minutes, they let you in. You've got a room, which is quite crowded and chaotic, but there's more facilities there: toilets, photo booths (if you forgot to take a picture), payment point. I mean, it's still not ideal though, cause you'll probably end up waiting the same if not more. But it's definitely not worse than the US one.
VISA PRICE
For the US I had to pay 95 EUR for an application (had to do it a week before inconveniently through a bank) plus 10 EUR for a PIN to make an appointment.
For a Russian visa you can pay on the spot and I think at the moment it's $100 US for US citizens and about 35-50 EUR for EU nationals.
FRIENDLINESS
At the US consulate I was greeted by a woman who thought she's speaking to a combat squad, rather than visa applicants. She quickly gave out orders, conducted a search, and then we were let in another room where they searched us through, sent a few people away cause they didn't have a change to buy post stamps, etc.
When I had an interview with an immigration office I felt I was the enemy of the state and was just about to blow the whole place up.
The Russian consulate is not famous for its friendliness, grumpy people are common, but at least I can see humans there, not robots. Seems like it's easier to arrange something if you haven't got all the docs needed, etc. And I personally was treated much much better.
PRIVACY
In the US embassy because they treat you like a terrorist since the 1st second, they take your fingerprints.
In the Russian embassy nobody does it.
PAPERWORK
Believe it or not, but to get a US visa one needs much more documents. You need to prove the purpose of your trip, how much money you have, your ties to the country you live in etc.
For Russian consulate, you just show the invitation and application form. In some cases insurance. That's it. No proofs of income, no demonstrating ties, nothing. So I was surprised that actually it's easier to get a Russian visa. Get your invitation online and go to the consulate, that's it.
On the bright side the hot chocolate from the coffee machine in the American embassy was quite good and the waiting room had a cooler design.
If you have your own experiences, please, let us know in this post.
For myself, I can say I'm not going to the US until the government there changes and they stop treating people like enemies. No wonder there's so many anti-America sentiments going on now, if you only saw how people are being treated in some consulates... I've been to 20 |
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Paul-Holmes
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 1073
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| Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:30 am Post subject: |
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If you want, I will gladly invite you to Canada. I am not sure how the visa process works, but I might be in Moscow soon if you are there, maybe other stop overs. I owe you a bottle of Rye.
Canadians are gettiing hassled to go to the US. My ancestors are American, but yet I am crinimal. I went with one American who was an American working in Canada and they got hassled.
But the truth is that I heard getting a visa to Canada is worse. Too many just land here claim refugee status and stay for at least two years if they are unsuccessful. So they have become defensive. |
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David
Frequent Guest
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Houston Texas
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: Canada |
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| There are several places in Canada you can cross the border with out being checked. Sounds like it would be easier for you to go to Canada and cross the border. My ex was Asian and if you think you got treated bad trying to get a visa to the states you should see how the immigration service treats you. Have to say the treatment I got there was rude at best and I am a citizen. Dave |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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FYI, from the Russian Consulate in Washington...
| Quote: | ATTENTION!
As of January 1, 2008 the U.S. State Department raises the fee for American visa from 100 USD to 131 USD.
On the basis of reciprocity the fee for Russian visa (standard processing time 6-10 business days) is also raised to 131 USD, effective from January 14, 2008. The fees for expedited visa processing will however remain unchanged. |
So one finds again, that most of the annoying things about getting a Russian visa in the US are a direct result of the hoops the US makes Russians jump through to get a US visa.
I just returned from my eighth trip to Russia, and the only time I ever had any trouble getting a visa was when I failed to properly complete the application. I was allowed to correct the error over the phone without any problem or additional fees.
It saddens me that many of my Russian friends have been unable to visit the US because of visa problems similar to those experienced by Dimitri. As a US taxpayer, it also annoys me that my money is being wasted on supperficial efforts for the appearance of protecting me (but that actually do nothing of the sort). |
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european
Frequent Guest
Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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For unclear reasons the Americans ask from Russians a 'reciprocity fee' of $100 in addition to the normal visa costs. However this $100 fee is not mentioned on the website of e.g. the Russian Consulate in San Francisco.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3656.html
About the treatment at consulates - No Russian consulates have been bombed so far (I think) so they have some reason to be afraid. But that is no reason to treat all visitors as criminals. |
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krasatulya
VIP
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: |
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| All i have to say is the people at the Spanish consulates are the epitome of incompetence! I have always had good experiences with the Russian consulate but getting a Spanish visa...dear lord, now that was an experience! |
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