Way to Russia Talk Lounge

vt

Hello,

First of all, congratulations for you website, clear and complete Smile

I've never been in Russia. I tried to go in St-Petersburg in April, but the OVIR refused to make the invitation, because my friend who have been living in St-Petersburg for 10 years and issued the invitation is Ukrainian. I gave up.

My question is about my second try to visit Russia :
I applied for courses of Russian language in MSU(МГУ) at the Russian Cultural Centre in France. The courses take place from the 1st of August to the 31st of the same month, in Moscow. I obtained the invitation to start the 25th Juily, but they cannot deliver invitation valid for more than 5 days before the beginning of the courses. But I wanted to visit St-Petersburg (I have family, Russian nationality, in both Moscow and St-Petersburg who can issue an invitation for private visas) before the beginning of the courses and then to take a train to Moscow when they will began.
If I apply for a private visa from 10th Juily to 25 Juily, will I need to get out of the country before the end of my private visa and then re-enter the 25th Juily ? For example going to Helsinki, or I will can to directly to Moscow ?
How about registration ?

Thanks a lot,

WayToRussia · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject:

The easiest would be to get a tourist visa, it's no problem and you can travel where you want.

However, you should ask in the Russian consulate first if they will be ok making a tourist visa for you if you already have a student visa.

vt · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

[quote="WayToRussia"]The easiest would be to get a tourist visa, it's no problem and you can travel where you want.[/quote]

But will I have to get out of Russia, and then re-enter Russia to begin my studies, or I need to ask a Russian tourist visa for the full duration of my stay (about 2 months), having 2 visas at the same time ?