| Author |
Message |
elenibor
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject: Please need some help; visa incomplete ?? |
 |
|
Hi everyone,
by means of this question I hope some of you could help me and put my mind a bit at ease.
The thing is that I've just obtained a private visa for a visit to my girlfriend in December. However, when looking at the visa more carefully after I had left the embassy, I noticed that one box hasn't been filled in. This is box # 13; "Invited by, reference and group no."
So, I presume this isn't the way it should be. All what's there is a "-". And when I compare this visa to the private visa that I got last year, you can see that last year they put all the data there about OVIR and my reference number for registration.
I'm kind of worried now that this visa is worthless for two reasons:
- Will the customs let me pass without knowing what organ (OVIR) actually invited me?
- Will OVIR still be able to complete the registration procedure now?
Very fortunately I've made a copy of the invitation before handing it in to the consulate. At this invitation the name of my girlfriend and the number of OVIR that issued my invitation are written, as well as the reference number for registration.
Will this copy be enough to pass the border and complete the registration procedure?
And in general, don't you think that they should have filled in box #13 at the visa in all cases? Maybe they've skipped it because it concerns a private visit? Though at last year's visa they didn't do so of course...
Please help me with your thoughts... could this incomplete (?) visa lead to some troubles?
Thank you all very much for your help in advance,
Elenibor |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
DITTRICH
WayToRussified
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 429
Location: London UK
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
You don't specify where you got your visa (city, country) and how (apply in person, postal) so its difficult to say exactly what to do. You are supposed to check your visa WHEN you get it to see if they made any mistakes. That's why I ALWAYS get my private invitation visas in person at the embassy (London, UK). Having said that, I've just checked all of my visas for the last 4 years and under section 13 (which is the one you are interested in) they ARE ALL BLANK. Section 12 always should say 'chastnaya' for a private visa. Following this word should be a 'comma'=',' and 3 numbers.
Rgds
Les |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
elenibor
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject: visa incomplete |
|
|
| DITTRICH wrote: | You don't specify where you got your visa (city, country) and how (apply in person, postal) so its difficult to say exactly what to do. You are supposed to check your visa WHEN you get it to see if they made any mistakes. That's why I ALWAYS get my private invitation visas in person at the embassy (London, UK). Having said that, I've just checked all of my visas for the last 4 years and under section 13 (which is the one you are interested in) they ARE ALL BLANK. Section 12 always should say 'chastnaya' for a private visa. Following this word should be a 'comma'=',' and 3 numbers.
Rgds
Les |
Hi Dittrich, thanks a lot for your reply.
I've obtained my visa in the Netherlands, and checked the visa right after I got it in person... that is; I checked the dates, assuming all the rest would be fine. Now I know I should have checked it all of course, so that's a good lesson for next time.
You're saying that from all of your visa of the last 4 years not a single one had data specified under box 13. Only in that case I'm wondering how you've managed to register your visa at OVIR in person then? I mean, didn't they need some information that should be written in box 13?
For this is what I've found at another website, about registering the visa:
"Simply take your passport and migration card to the local OVIR office when you arrive in the town or city that issued the invitation and they will register the visa for you. You do not need to take a copy of the invitation document or anything else, all information is encoded on the visa.
That's partly true then; the invitation number is at the visa (box 11), but under box 13 at my last private visa there was the number of OVIR (who issued the invitation) and a unique registration number as well. And these I'm missing now. So, how have you been able to register your visa without having these data? It wasn't a problem at all?
I'm hoping that you can help me a bit further with this, and also other readers of course 
Maybe there are more people who've had a visa for a private visit with a blank box # 13?
Anyway, thanks a lot again!
Elenibor |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DITTRICH
WayToRussified
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 429
Location: London UK
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, I just go along to OVIR with my passport/visa and migration card (which I got at the border - filled out address where staying plus passport details/visa details - stamped migration card by passport control (I think from memory) - keep migration card. Note you must register at the OVIR office from where your invitation was issued from. Be sure to get your migration card when you arrive in Russia. I think your getting overly worried. Provided your visa is okay for dates, passport okay for dates and you have a migration card stamped by passport control you're in the clear. Possession of the documents is more important than the details and if its their document and the details are wrong - blame it on them and cause a fuss. ie if OVIR complain about box 13 (they won't - trust me on this) then blame it on the embassy that issued the visa! Hell I arrived in Moscow from Finland without ANY migration card, but managed to 'get' one within a day - and without bribing anyone.
Rgds
Les
NB Just cos something is written on a website doesn't make it true. Maybe it WAS true for THAT person at THAT time in THAT situation but...
My advice is based on my personal experience from 2000 - 2005 (august) so I think that's okay. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
elenibor
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Your answers are truly helping me a lot, thanks!! It just remains strange that last year they put there all the data, but now they didn't. This is something which confuses me and makes me overworry a bit indeed. But if everything went fine in exactly the same case with you, then I guess it should all be okay And besides I've got a copy of my invitation which can serve as a support document.
And well, I'll definitely write here how everything went when I'm back of course, so that other people in the same situation can learn from it.
Maybe one last question I may ask you?... Did you never have problems when entering Russia with your visa? I mean, I can imagine that the customs may have suspiciously asked you where you intended to go, as box # 13 was empty everytime. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UsualSuspect
WayToRussified
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 324
Location: The Land of Oz
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:46 am Post subject: my visa's |
|
|
Hi,
This must be a "Euro" thing since you are both there. My section 13 on all my private visa's has always been filled in with details from the Priglashenie I hand in to the embassy....
I'm in Oz however and it may be just what goes on down here..I'd certainly go with Dittrich's advice...
Enjoy
Usualsuspect |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swp4lfe
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 94
Location: Philadelphia PA
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I got my private homestay visa just today and it has 3 numbers where #13 is but im in USA so i dunno what the problem is |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DITTRICH
WayToRussified
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 429
Location: London UK
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have never had any problems with my visas to russia over the years.
Don't worry! Just make sure to travel in on or after the visa start date and leave on or before the end date!!! Dates are important - all the other numbers are... just numbers!!!
Rgds
Les
Immigration/passport control ask the questions about the visas. If asked, I said visiting 'visiting my family in Russia' - my family fly out before me for 2 months each summer. No-one ever ASKED where I was staying, addresses etc. The only time I was seriously asked any questions was when I took the car to Russia from the UK - you can imagine this is a pretty **rare** event for them and they were probably just curious. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
elenibor
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Dittrich, swp4lfe, UsualSuspect and many others,
just wanted to let you know that a few days ago I've returned from Ekaterinburg, with no problems at the border at all!
Both when entering and leaving Russia no questions were asked about this blank box at my visa. And also when registering it at OVIR everything went as smoothly as possible. I really start liking OVIR in Ekaterinburg; no queues at all, ready within 10 minutes, not a single problem (out of 2 registrations)... it's very good there, and I don't recognize those bad stories about OVIR at all in E'burg.
But anyway, thanks again for all of your help back then. Now let's hope other people may use this topic one day too
Greetings!, Elenibor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| There are more relaxed OVIR offices.. I guess it depends much on the city and the people working there. Maybe we should collect the data on the various offices and present it in a sorted way.. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
