Way to Russia Talk Lounge

simon1959 · Just Starting Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

I probably have to many questions for one post, but I will try to be short. This is the plan:
6 adults (3 couples), USA citizens planing the following journey for next summer:
1. Flying from NYC to Moscow, spending 3-4 days there.
We need information on obtaining the VISA (invitations, registrations, etc.). We will need private driver for a few days; we do not need translations (two people from our group are fluent in Russian).
2. We will need to fly from Moscow to Kiev. We need information on obtaining the VISA (invitations, registrations, etc.) with exception that two of us were born there and need some special handling VISA.

init6 · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:27 am Post subject:

The bulk of the information you're looking for can be found on the WayToRussia main site. I've scoured it the past few months and learned a LOT, and I am moving to Moscow in August.

Are the Russians in your party still citizens of the Russian Federation? If so, they will not need a visa (but dual citizenship is recognized by neither the US nor Russia) if they have a Russian passport. If they are US citizens and have renounced their Russian citizenship, they will have to get an entry visa like everyone else.

If they still have their Russian passports, but are US citizens, it becomes a bigger problem but more experienced travellers than I can help with it. WayToRussia offers visa support and booking of drivers for reasonable rates. Just go to the main page (http://www.waytorussia.net) and ferret around in there for information. Anything else, just post here again!

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

I recommend using one of the web sites to obtain your visas to russia - you can use this web site or many others (I used www.russia-visa.com)

They will process the invitation and all the other formalities.

You will just send in your passport and a couple of passport-size photos and get back your passport with visa.

Don't go to Russian consulate/embassy yourself, that's for sure - waste of time.

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

I actually would go to a Russian consulate and Embassy. They usually are on top of things provided that you have all of your papers and documentation in order.

Commerical visa providers that Spice mentioned tend to be more expensive and don't particualry speed things up. If you have the extra cash ready go for it. If you don't, then the embassy and consulate is sufficient.

Private drivers are plenty there. They can be arranged by your hotel if you ask, and there are also private driver services that you can find in a phone book. Just make sure you don't just grab a random one off of the street. They could be theives.

init6 · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:15 am Post subject:

Going to a consulate may cost less, but it's a much larger hassle, E, and there are very few of them. I live in Florida and the closest "official" embassy/consulate to me was the actual embassy in Washington, DC. Needless to say, I'm glad what I'm paying SRAS includes visa support. If you want to streamline, use a visa support firm, if you want to save a few bucks, then do it yourself.

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

If this person has an embassy or consulate in their area, good for them, they should go there. You could've still done it by mail, and it would been fast.

I was in Helsinki when I went, and I wanted to go into Russia purely by impulse and I was able to do so. I just walked into the Embassy, paid extra for the rush service and they did so fast and efficiently.

The Russian government isn't as bad as everyone makes it look. Plus a Visa service wont make it any more quicker either. You'll just pay more.

simon1959 · Just Starting Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

Actually, two people that I have mentioned, were born in Kiev (Ukraine), so they will required normal Russian VISA like everybody else. They do not hold Ukrainian citizenship or the passport. (when they left – it was Soviet Union), Thank you all for your advise. We actually have Russian and Ukrainian embassies in NYC (we are from upstate).

deskware7 · Frequent Guest Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 67

For private drivers in Moscow, try http://www.moscowdrivers.net .