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lyriCal
Just Starting
Joined: 15 May 2010
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:44 am Post subject: Private Visa Question(s) :) |
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Hi all, I am a complete newbie but hoping you can answer a few questions for me.
I have a friend in Russia who has invited me to visit her for a 10 day holiday. She has asked me to stay at her flat.
Since the planned date of the trip isn't for another 2 and a half months, I was pondering whether I should ask her to apply for a letter of invitation for a Private Visa (I have read these are a hassle, but we have time).
Just have a few questions I hope you can answer on this issue:
1) What is the chances of a letter of invitation being declined? I heard that she will have to wait 30 days or so for the invitation to be issued, but whats the chances of them not producing an invitation at the end of it? 30 days is long to wait just to be declined 
2) When specifying the dates I wish to visit, if I put 2 or 3 days either side of the actual dates, will this cause a problem? I know this is fine for a tourist visa, is it the same for a private?
For example: 25/09/2010 - 07/10/2010, but actually I will enter on the 27/09 and leave on the 05/10. Just so my visa doesn't expire because of airport delays, etc.?
3) I have heard a tourist visa is a lot easier, but if I want to stay at her flat then I don't see the tourist visa as an option? I can't really lie about my place of stay, surely thats fraud and if I am questioned on it I could be denied entry to Russia altogether?
Any other advice you can give on Private Visas (and/or Tourist Visa's) is much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance. |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:55 am Post subject: |
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In answer to your questions.
1. I have had 4 of these visas and never had one declined. If there is no good reason to not issue a visa to you I can't see you having a problem.
The wait time is 30 days from application and in my experience this is very consistent. Even if the invitation is ready before that time they will not ring your friend and tell her to to come and get it.
2. Tell them you are coming for a month. That gives you plenty of time either side of you visit.
3. Its quicker to get a tourist visa but you have plenty of time and you won't have any worries with registration.
Start the ball rolling by sending a copy of the photo page in your passport to your friend by fax or email. She will then take it to MID (I think), fill in all the forms, and all being well, in a month she will go and collect the tiny bit of fancy paper that she will mail to you so that you can apply for a visa.
Once in the country you have to register within 3 business days by going to OVIR, presenting your passport and filling in more forms. Take a Russian speaker with you for this or just give them your passport, you don't even need to be there. They will give you a bill which you take to Sberbank and pay, get a receipt which you take back to OVIR and they stamp your card. Done! |
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lyriCal
Just Starting
Joined: 15 May 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your quick and informative reply nikir. Much appreciated.
One further question which I hope you or someone else can help me with:
If you are on a tourist visa and have applied using a tourist voucher/invitation obtained from this site for example, if you then plan to stay at a friends house what are the potential pitfalls of this?
The way I see it is the visa is issued no problem when using these vouchers, but what about when you get to the border in Russia. Aren't questions asked about where you are going to stay, surely they know if its a legit voucher or not, are questions even asked? Would I even need to produce this voucher? I guess it depends on the official at the time 
I guess there is also a potential issue with visa registration.
A tourist visa would be a lot easier but I don't think I am comfortable with the potential risk it brings, or am I just being paranoid?
Many thanks in advance. |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| lyriCal wrote: |
If you are on a tourist visa and have applied using a tourist voucher/invitation obtained from this site for example, if you then plan to stay at a friends house what are the potential pitfalls of this?
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No pitfalls, your arrangements can change between the time you get your visa and take your trip. I've noticed though that the Russian consulate here has been advising to take your invitation with you now, but have not heard of anyone being asked to produce it on arrival.
Registration is done at the post office by your host and the host must be registered at the address you are going to stay at. After you leave the host has to de register you.
It all sounds rather complex to an outsider but Russians are well used to many cumbersome procedures and your friend will take it in her stride. |
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lyriCal
Just Starting
Joined: 15 May 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks again nikir, you have been a great help so far and I really appreciate the effort you have made to reassure and help me out.
So if I opt for a tourist visa (means I can get it done quicker and book my flights further in advance, less stress for me and her), I will apply to a company (a registered tourist agency) for support documents. I will pay a small fee for these and they will send me the document which consists of two sheets.
On these support documents, amongst other things, will be the address of the company (tourist agency), their registered company number and also a name of a hotel which I have a "reservation" at.
I think I understand exactly what information I need to put in my visa application, but just need a bit of clarity on what to put in the migration card.
There is a section of the migration card for an address. Is this meant to be populated with the address of the company (tourist agency) which issued my support documents or the hotel I have a "reservation" at? From what I have read, I understand it to be the former rather than the latter.
Many thanks once again. |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| lyriCal wrote: | | I will apply to a company (a registered tourist agency) for support documents. I will pay a small fee for these and they will send me the document which consists of two sheets. |
Basically yes, you will get your documents by email or fax. Sometimes it is on two sheets sometimes one. WTR can do this for you.
| lyriCal wrote: | | On these support documents, amongst other things, will be the address of the company (tourist agency), their registered company number and also a name of a hotel which I have a "reservation" at. |
Correct. Make sure you mirror this information on your visa application.
| lyriCal wrote: | I think I understand exactly what information I need to put in my visa application, but just need a bit of clarity on what to put in the migration card.
There is a section of the migration card for an address. Is this meant to be populated with the address of the company (tourist agency) which issued my support documents or the hotel I have a "reservation" at? From what I have read, I understand it to be the former rather than the latter. |
Questions on the visa application vary depending on the country you are a citizen of. As a general rule answer all questions or write not applicable if this is the case. Don't leave questions blank.
Put the address of the hotel on your voucher on the migration card. |
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lyriCal
Just Starting
Joined: 15 May 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Ok, I received my visa support earlier today.
Its pretty much all in Russian, so fairly difficult to decipher but I will ask my friend for help with that.
Under accomodation it has just a hotel name, no address.
The hotel is called "SALYUT". Guess I should just get the address off of google?
If I may, I might bump this topic if I run into any other problems when filling in my visa application or if I think of any other questions before my departure date.
Many thanks once again for all the help, you are a credit to these forums. |
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Rabidweevil
Just Starting
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:03 am Post subject: Hotel name |
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LyriCal,
Google is your friend on that one.
HTH
Rabidweevil aka Usualsuspect |
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lyriCal
Just Starting
Joined: 15 May 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:22 am Post subject: Re: Hotel name |
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| Rabidweevil wrote: | LyriCal,
Google is your friend on that one. |
Hehe, yes - I am not sure why I even asked the question, it was a pretty obvious one at that
I applied for my visa on Monday, the UK consulate seems to stick to its 5 day wait time and so I am hoping to hear something on Monday. I am confident that I filled in the visa form in the correct way and that I will get my visa issued.
Again, if I think of any further questions before my departure I will be sure to ask them here. I hope this topic can be as helpful to others as it has been to myself. |
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hugo
Just Starting
Joined: 22 Oct 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject: russian invite |
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hi
just lookin for some help am looking to apply for the russian invitation so i can apply for my visa in the russiian consulate. I see its possible to do this online on this website and its $30. But there are 3 of us going so i need to apply for the 3. Do i need to apply for each individual at $30 per person or is there a group rate i can apply for the 3. Any help greatly appreciated. |
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