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taijibasset
Just Starting
Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
Location: the world
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 Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:03 am Post subject: Visa Application & Prior Military Service |
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Hello again,
I'm amidst the vagaries of filling out the visa application form for US citizens. I have a few questions (again):
1. I served 5 years in the military. One of the questions asks if you have prior military service. If I answer honestly, will I significantly delay my visa processing time? Does anyone know if they check this?
2. Route of Journey: On my form 95 ( from http://www.russianvisas.org/visa_download.htm ) it asks for the entry and departure points from Russia. If I put one city (e.g., novosibirsk) but decide to leave from another (e.g., Irkutsk) will I run into difficulties?
3. I bought my letter of invitation through your website. I don't see a hotel address on it. Where is it? Do I simply put the IntelService address?
4. Also the supplement to form 95 (for US citizens) asks whether you have a detailed itinerary. Is this where I list all my cities? There's not enough room for hotel addresses on the form ... should I try to include them there, too?
5. The information sheet from the IntelService says that Barnaul and Irkutsk are restricted cities, yet in various posts on this site, I've seen these cities are open to tourists. Which is correct? If I stay less than three days there, am I OK not to register?
Thanks again for the help.
Chris |
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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, I will answer what I can:
2) No, no problem. Just put there exactly the same information as in your invitation. If your invitation lists the cities in some order, e.g. Moscow, St. petersburg, Novosibirsk, then put Moscow as your entry point and either Moscow or the last city as your departure point. This will make it clearer for the consulate.
If you later leave from another city, it's not a problem. Anyway, in your visa it's not written which cities you're going to visit, so nobody will know.
3) If the form asks you where you will be staying, put the hotel's names (they are on your form). If it asks you for the address of the inviting organization, put IntelService address.
4) Yes, you are OK not to register if you stay less than 3 days. It's not a problem really to travel there, even if you stay more than 3 days you can register either at a hotel or at one of the agency's representatives, see http://waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/Registration.html for more info.
Hope this helps. |
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taijibasset
Just Starting
Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
Location: the world
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| Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 4:33 pm Post subject: Got answers |
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Thanks for the quick response. At the risk of repeating your answers, I'll post information that we (girlfriend and I) gleaned from a phone call to IntelService and their online chat support.
As an aside before I answer, I found the chat room really helpful (i.e., the information from the chat room corresponded to the information my girlfriend got on the phone) and it was much cheaper than the phone call. I would recommend using their service if you have questions that you need answered in an instant like we did. (P.S. The Russian Consulate {55 Manas} in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan does visa work Tuesday and Thursday from 14:30 to 15:30).
What we learned:
0.5: If you apply for your visa to Russia in Bishkek, don't bother with the form 95 A and supplement you can download from http://www.russianvisas.org/visa_download.htm. The embassy made us fill out the form that looks like the one from http://www.gotorussia.com/visa_services_russia_visa_to_russia.htm
1. Military Service: IntelService said, we're not sure, but we don't think it ought to be a problem. I'll post more on this when we actually go to pick up our visas on the 10th or so of September.
2. Route of Journey: They said it's not a problem to leave from a different city that what you listed on your visa application.
3. WayToRussia Visa Support Service: My Russian language skills are only one month old, so I didn't realize that the Marshrut entry listed the cities and the Raz... lists the hotel names corresponding to those cities. I needed a hotel address for my first night, so I simply put the name of the hotel and the address of the IntelService Center in Moscow. During the Internet chat with Marina, she said that this should be sufficient.
4. Detailed Itinerary: The woman who talked to Natasha, my girlfriend, said if you don't know, then mark no. If anyone asks, simply explain what you want to do. It shouldn't be a problem.
5. Barnaul & Irkutsk Registration: I actually didn't ask this question, so thanks for the answer.
Chris |
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taijibasset
Just Starting
Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
Location: the world
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:44 pm Post subject: got the visa!!! |
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Natasha and I received our Russian visas today. I worry a lot about nothing.
A few notes about our experience:
It appears, at least in bishkek, that prior military service does not affect getting your visa.
When we dropped off our application, the clerk said we needed to bring proof of medical insurance the day we picked up our visa. When we showed up to get our visa, no one asked to see proof of medical insurance. This is not to say you don't need it, just that we didn't need to prove we had it.
Finally, if you get your visa in bishkek, go to 55 Manas. That's where the consulate that processes visas is. If you go to the other address on Razakova, you'll be directed to Manas. Also, open hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 1430 - 1530 .... so plan appropriately.
Thanks for all the help. If we actually find some English language books in Novosibirsk, we'll post that info, too.
Off to the Altai and some fall wandering ...
Chris |
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