Way to Russia Talk Lounge

eager_traveller · Frequent Guest Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

i'm planning on visiting a friend in russia so i was looking into getting a tourist visa as i heard its the quickest to get. i want to stay for 1 month.

i just have a few questions though.

1. how long before my travel can i apply for the russian visa itself?

Once i get there i am confused as to how to register.
2. does the invitation supplied by WTR provide hotel reservations for my entire stay? will the hotel provided by WTR on my invitation register me?

3. considering that the hotel registers me, can i just leave and stay with my friend or will that cause me problems if i get stopped and they ring the hotel to find out if i really have been staying there? or can the hotel make problems for me by calling the authorities and tell them that i actually haven't been there?

sorry if i sound paranoid but i'm new to this and just want to cover my all bases.

eager_traveller · Frequent Guest Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

please anyone????

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 423

Nikir needs to post an answer for all this. Nikir? Smile

nikir · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 4:19 am Post subject:

I haven't gone there on a tourist visa for years so am probably not the best person to ask as the registration process has changed recently. We will be going on one over New Year though and have been doing some research.

From what I read though, it seems that you can stay at a private home and your host has the responsibility of your registration and deregistration after you leave. All this is now done at the post office and is supposedly quite simple.

As far as I am aware you can apply for a tourist visa 90 days in advance.

Hope this helps.