Visa fees - geeze louise - Olympics in Russia

[akdiver 3]

Russia Visa Fee: $131

Outbound Postage (fedex): $21

Return Postage (USPS): $5

Money Order: $1

Invitation (GotoRussia): $30

Total fees: $188

Plus of course, the time and hassle involved in the invitation and visa registration, both now and once I get there.

I can't believe the IOC gave Russia the next Winter Olympics. They should have insisted that, at least for 2 years before and after, this whole complicated visa scheme be suspended, if Russia wanted any chance of being considered. Just imagine all the foreign workers involved in facility construction and related things, all the sports people, the media people, and other such people, all going through this hassle. I feel sorry for anyone trying to get marriage-related stuff done during this time period. I predict that as we get closer to those winter olympics, there is going to be a huge slowdown in and/or increase in BS factor with this stuff.

If they had any capitalism brains in them at all, they would offer something in the way of a "Hassle-Free Visa" - for a $500 fee, there is no requirement for an invitation or registration. You just pay your money, get your visa, and go there and leave like any other country. I'd gladly pay such a fee. They could even limit such visa to particular nations, if they wanted to avoid people from former CIS countries getting in. Ah well, makes too much sense I guess.

Getting a visa, even for a country like Egypt, or Tanzania is way less hassle - and costs a lot less too (:

OK, enough bitchin' (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Jason-Sasha 1]

You can save 30 bucks by using Russiavisa.com

Just a thought. I've used them several times and they are always reliable and delivery is usually ahead of schedule.

Edited February 22, 2008 by Jason-Sasha

[mox 298]

You can save 30 bucks by using Russiavisa.com

Just a thought. I've used them several times and they are always reliable and delivery is usually ahead of schedule.

You're up late Jason. Whatsamatter...neighbors keeping you awake?

Ohhhhhh....never mind!

Edited February 22, 2008 by mox

[Satellite 1]

Russia Visa Fee: $131

Outbound Postage (fedex): $21

Return Postage (USPS): $5

Money Order: $1

Invitation (GotoRussia): $30

Total fees: $188

It's all about reciprocity. It's an even a bigger hassle getting a visa to the US and so the Russians try to recreate it as well as possible.

US Visa Fee: $131

Pony Express Fees: $25 - $75

Document Gathering (Proof of ties to Russia) Expenses: $5-50

In Person Interview Traveling Expenses: $0 - $1000

Total Fees: Way too Much!

[slim 1,525]

Yeah, and can you imagine the headaches for foreign workers coming here to build stadiums for an olympics hosted in the U.S.?

Oh wait.... they're already standing by out front at your local Home Depot. No visa issues at all!