tourist or home stay visa?

[V and A 1]

Planning a trip to vist the in-law in Russia. Has anybody had much experience with the new 3 year homestay visa? Ive been to russia several time but have always used a service to take care of my visa. Thought I might try the homestay this time.

[san diego 407]

Homestay visa is a pain in the butt since you would have to always travel with your wife. I prefer regular 3 year visa. I use service too. Basically, you have to travel to consulate for homestay visa..

[V and A 1]

Homestay visa is a pain in the butt since you would have to always travel with your wife. I prefer regular 3 year visa. I use service too. Basically, you have to travel to consulate for homestay visa..

From what Im reading on the consulate site, it has been simplified. It very similar to the invitation letter that i gave to her mom to visit here. I didnt read anything about only being able to travel with my wife. The invite would be from my mother or father in-law. How long ago did you get your visa?

[san diego 407]

Homestay visa is only for spouses as far as I know and you have to travel with your spouse on the same plane AND you have to physically visit consulate (which is a pain ion the butt for me since I live in San Diego and have to travel to SFO). On the other hand, for regular (business or visitor) 3 year visa you just do it through the agent. Trust me on this I checked.

[V and A 1]

Homestay visa is only for spouses as far as I know and you have to travel with your spouse on the same plane AND you have to physically visit consulate (which is a pain ion the butt for me since I live in San Diego and have to travel to SFO). On the other hand, for regular (business or visitor) 3 year visa you just do it through the agent. Trust me on this I checked.

Here is what it says about the new type 3 homestay. But hell i may just get a tourist visa for 3 years

New Private (homestay) visa (type 3)

New Private (homestay) visa (type 3) can be issued for the US citizens only traveling to Russia private purposes.

An invitation for this type of visa can only be provided by a private sponsor - either a Russian citizen with permanent residence stamp of the Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) in his Internal Russian passport or by a Foreign citizen who has long stay immigration status in the Russian Federation (a residence permit, work permit, long term student visa, diplomatic\consular card).

Visas issued according to the Russia-US 2012 Visa Agreement are valid for up to 36 months period and allow you to stay in Russia for up to six months from the date of your entry. After it you have to leave Russia and may entry again for new six months period.

Documents required:

1. A personal Letter of Invitation either from a Russian citizen - private sponsor with permanent residence stamp of the Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) in his Internal Russian passport or from a Foreign citizen who has long stay immigration status in the Russian Federation (residence permit, work permit, long stay student visa, diplomatic\consular card). Requirements for the Invitation letter can be found here - "Letter of Invitation (type 3)"

2. The applicant's Passport (original only!). Passport should contain no less than two blank pages marked for visas, otherwise the passport and documents can not be accepted. Passport must still be valid no less than six months after visa expiration date. IMPORTANT: Applicant's passport will be in the Consulate's possession during the whole visa processing period .

3. Copies of the passport's vital pages (personal data and photo pages).

4. Copy (public notarization is not required) of the Russian citizen - private sponsor's Internal Russian Passport with permanent residence stamp of the Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) or copy of the residence permit, work permit, long stay student visa, diplomatic\consular card of the Foreign citizen - private sponsor who has long stay immigration status in the Russian Federation.

5. Standard Visa Application form with one passport-sized b\w or color photo glued or stapled to the designated place for photo on the application form.

[Dave&Roza 748]

After reading all that I am glad that Kazakhstan will issue a private visa, for $240, to anybody that can write a letter to the Consulate requesting one. Granted it is good for the number of entries you request and for 30 days for each entry, but much easier than what Russia requires. Kazakhstan requires proof of a hotel stay or tourist company if you try for the $160 tourist visa. The only thing that makes me mad is that they raised the price from $40 for the private visa nad $60 for the tourist visa. Now the price is in line with what the US charges Kazakhstani citizens for a US visa. Maybe this is what Russia is trying to do, but they missed the mark a little.

Dave