Way to Russia Talk Lounge

xpat · Just Starting Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

Someone, please help! I am currently on a business visa in Russia which is going to end next week. Thus, I am leaving the country, but would like to return within two weeks on a tourist visa if possible. Does anyone know if it is possible? My Business visa states that I can only be in the country for 90 days every 180 days. So, I'm wondering if this would restrict me from getting a tourist visa if I wanted to come back to Russia earlier? Will it be possible for me to get a tourist visa this quickly? Are there any legal restrictions agains me obtainig a tourist visa if I already have a business visa for a year? Does anyone know a reliable agancy in moscow that does tourist invitations? Thank you so much for any information.

greg222 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

Get in touch with these people to find out their opinion on whether it is possible:

http://www.english.rusvisa.org/

Please post back here what they say.

If it is possible, then the invitation through WayToRussia.net will work fine.

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 773

visaconnections is another organization that can help also.
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If it is too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.

Steve W · Just Starting Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

I am currently coming up to 2 months out of the country after having to leave to comply with the 90 day in 90 day out law. My visa did NOT have this restriction on it as it was issued (Sept 2007) before the law came into effect last year but they insisted that it applied to me as well.

According to the Voronezh OVIR office, if you try and re-enter Russia during those 90 days when you are supposed to be out of the country your original business visa is then null and void. they will see this as an attempt to get round the new law. I was warned specially against doing this and told that I would be in serious trouble if I did this. Voronezh OVIR are total gits and enforced the restriction on me even though it doesn't apply. But as you know, in Russia the law is whatever one official says it is, regardless of the facts.

I had to get a new passport courtesy of the OVIR virtually destroying all the security features on my UK passport the last time they had it so in my case my annual business visa was cancelled when my old passport was replaced. Wanting to get back to my Russian family we asked about applying for a 3 month private visa only to be FORCIBLY told that the 30 day issuing time was going to be at least 90 days for me as I am a British citizen and they don't want to let us in their country !!!!!!

We applied for a working visa in December which I should of has in mid January (that was the chosen option of getting round this new 90 day in - 90 day out law) ....again they have said that there is no way they can tell me IF they will issue the invitation as I am British and they have been ordered NOT to issue such visas to British citizens due to the political row between the UK and Russia.

So the only option is wait for the work visa and in the mean time either stay in the UK or return to Russia on a tourist visa and keep leaving the country every 30 days for a new tourist visa.

Don't you just love Russia ???

Steve