Way to Russia Talk Lounge

swp4lfe · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:11 am Post subject: Help With Private Stay Visa

Hello I been to Moscow two times before using a Private HomeStay Visa. Well the last time I was there was in Jan 2006. And i see some rules have changed like sumplement form to say male visitors are not spies. And also It says I cannot mail my visa to the consulate anymore. Is this true? Do i have to go through some company and pay them more money to mail my papers for me? Can someone clairfy this. Can someone help me, who has gone through a private homestay visa in 2008/2009.

I recieved my "invitation" from my russian family this week and now me & my family are going to visit them and im not 100% sure what to do. thank you!

Listvianka · Frequent Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 46

I thought spies were supposed to work under cover! Do they want spies to have their proffession plasterred on their name badge? Why the obsession? What would a spy be doing in Russia today? Are girls not able to be spies? This is quite stupid. Rolling Eyes

nikir · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:15 am Post subject:

I went on a private visa in December and January. The same family had invited me previously in 02 and 06. This time they got a call from the FSB asking if I had any connections with the military or government in Australia. A cousin (female) who came with me had no such interest expressed. Nonetheless the invitation came through exactly one month after the application was lodged. To my knowledge there is no form attesting that you are not a spy.

I have read that in the US it is no longer possible to send a passport to the embassy by mail, seems to be part of the ongoing retaliatory game being played between the two countries.

swp4lfe · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:16 am Post subject:

By spy form, I am talking about what is posted on this website from the general visa information where it stats

Effective from not so long ago, American male citizens also need to fill in a very strange paper (called "a supplement to visa application form) to make sure they will not be spying in Russia. It should be presented along with the other documents to paranoid consulate officials. You can see it here (Adobe Acrobat format). See what one person posted to us in response to this sentence in the end of this page.

I never had to fill that form out again. Also I dont like how I have to pay extra because I cant mail my own papers to the Russian Embassy. SO now I have to go through a third party or go to New York and hand deliver them.

european · Frequent Guest Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 48

I guess that form is made especially for US citizens because the US asks a similar form from people to fill out when visiting (or applying for a visa to) the US (DS157). Countries are like children. If one teases the other one, they do do the same back.