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Personal invitation inadequate for visa nowadays?

 
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Yurisgirl
Frequent Guest


Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:27 pm    Post subject: Personal invitation inadequate for visa nowadays? Reply with quote

Hi there everyone Very Happy I have just read the worrying news in my subject line on the following site -
http://www.russiadirect.net/Visas/Regulations/
Does anyone here know if this is, in fact the truth of the situation? I am going to Moscow in Spring 2007 to stay with relatives of my Russian friend. I had thought that a letter of invitation from his relatives would suffice for visa purposes...
Can anyone shed some light on the subject for me?
Cheers Very Happy
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know what the worry should be--all those are run-of-the-mill regulations for Business or Tourist visas--it seems you are describing stuff needed for a Private Visa which should be avoided whenever possible as it is the most inflexible of all visas. (This is the only visa I know of that requires a letter/document that is obtaitned by any Russian citizen)

If you are staying for less than 30 days, go Tourist. More than 30 days, go Business and have the invitations handled by a reliable visa support company (like WTR--just click on the visa support link.)

Let us know which visa you choose and we can offer more advice.
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dutchdragon
Frequent Guest


Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A private invitation is not just a letter, but an official document made by the police (Moscow) or by the PVU (formerly OVIR). This can take up to 45 days, and then the original needs to be sent to your home country.
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Yurisgirl
Frequent Guest


Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:35 pm    Post subject: Thank you :) Reply with quote

Thanx, Mediashark and Dutchdragon, for your help Smile I'm gonna go for the ordinary Tourist Visa and will sign up with Way to Russia as soon as I have the cash Smile This is an excellent site and forum, by the way and on the personal side, I am making great progress with my Cyrillic! Russian is such a beautiful language Smile Thanx again Smile
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599

PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's great to see such a positive attitude about learning Russian! Smile

Just remember--you need to register the tourist visa within 3 working days (this excludes saturday, sunday and public holidays). Please ask the visa provider directly (it's best to give them a call and ask for the specific email that connects you with the person in charge of handling your visa type) how to get your visa registered. I recently heard there were some changes regarding registration procedures and the WTR site can't list all of them. Of course it is easiest to stay in a hotel... but personally I've never had a tourist visa so I don't know how it goes. I had a business visa registering at a private apartment is very easy (it only requires a standard landlord letter which is easy to get provided the apartment owner agrees to do it, and the visa sponsor will handle the rest).

Anyway I hope that hasn't intimidated you Smile It is easy if you plan ahead, as it is true in travelling to any part of the world...
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Yurisgirl
Frequent Guest


Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 13
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:40 am    Post subject: Cheers, mediashark! Reply with quote

Thanks for the info Smile Well, have picked up quite a few phrases now and managed to learn 20 letters of the Cyrillic alphabet during my lunch break Smile I am a swot Very Happy
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