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Lars & Sasha

Tourist Visa for Russia

By Lars & Sasha in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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Lars & Sasha Contributor

Lars & Sasha   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Hello friends! I am working on getting a tourist visa for Russia and was using G3Visa.com...however, they are very expensive. They are charging $330 plus an additional $225 concierge service because they say the Russian Visa is more difficult and needs special hands-on attention. On top of that they wanted to charge $80 for the Invitation! I already have the Invitation though, just need the Tourist Visa. Can anyone recommend a better option?

 

I am traveling December 26 to January 4th.

 

Thanks in advance!

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debbiedoo Experienced

debbiedoo   2,339

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted

do the paperwork yourself.

 

dont hire a service.

i 485, 130, EAD and AP

04/09/2019    NOA1 received/check cashed i 485 and 130 (direct adjustment)

11/7/2019      Interview- Norfolk

11/10/2019    APPROVED (notification rec'd 11/10, approval dated 11/8)

DONE FOR TWO YEARS!!! ;)

 

Filed everything ourselves with no RFE's or delays.

 

CR1 for Child under 21 (20 at time of filing)- Filed by LPR Spouse for his son

4/4/20     Mailed packet

4/12/20   NOA1 rec'd

10/14/21 (havent heard anything... when do i start to get worried?)

9/15/22 APPROVED! Now to wait for NVC and interview....

 

ROC

10/14/21 Mailed to AZ PO Box. Let the waiting begin. Again.

10/16/21 Received at PO Box

10/19/21 Received Text NOA1

10/23/21 Received Mailed NOA1

 

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Roel Experienced

Roel   7,192

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Waste of money.

You can file an application by yourself, easy.

 

Using a third party does NOT increase your chances of visa whatsoever.

 

I hope that those dates you mentioned are just.. uh, a plan. I hope you did NOT bought plane tickets yet. Embassies will always advise you to WAIT until you have a visa in hand. Sorry to say also, but whatever invitation you have is also useless.

Edited by Roel

K1

29.11.2013 - NoA1

06.02.2014 - NoA2

01.04.2014 - Interview. 

AoS

03.2015 - AoS started.

09.2015 - Green Card received.  

RoC

24.07.2017 - NoA1.

01.08.2018 - RoC approved. 

 

 

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Lars & Sasha Contributor

Lars & Sasha   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
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Posted
12 minutes ago, Roel said:

Waste of money.

You can file an application by yourself, easy.

 

Using a third party does NOT increase your chances of visa whatsoever.

 

I hope that those dates you mentioned are just.. uh, a plan. I hope you did NOT bought plane tickets yet. Embassies will always advise you to WAIT until you have a visa in hand. Sorry to say also, but whatever invitation you have is also useless.

Why is the invitation I have useless?

And yes I purchased my tickets already. 

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Roel Experienced

Roel   7,192

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
2 minutes ago, Lars & Sasha said:

Why is the invitation I have useless?

And yes I purchased my tickets already. 

1.  Embassy doesn't care about invitation. It cares about all the reasons you have to come back to Russia.

2. Hope its refundable.

3. Pending K1 visa means even less chances of approval, especially for country like Russia.

4. You might not even get an interview anytime before Christmas.

Edited by Roel

K1

29.11.2013 - NoA1

06.02.2014 - NoA2

01.04.2014 - Interview. 

AoS

03.2015 - AoS started.

09.2015 - Green Card received.  

RoC

24.07.2017 - NoA1.

01.08.2018 - RoC approved. 

 

 

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TM92 Proficient

TM92   527

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: El Salvador
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Posted (edited)
2 minutes ago, Roel said:

1.  Embassy doesn't care about invitation. It cares about all the reasons you have to come back to Russia.

OP is a US Citizen applying for a Russian Tourist Visa. Invitation letters are mandatory: https://russiable.com/getting-russian-visa-usa-canada/

Edited by TM92

Your Input Is Appreciated On This VJ Guide Proposal: 

 

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Roel Experienced

Roel   7,192

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted
1 minute ago, TM92 said:

OP is a US Citizen applying for a Russian Tourist Visa. Invitation letters are mandatory: https://russiable.com/getting-russian-visa-usa-canada/

Oh. Well, my mistake. Thought its US visa.

K1

29.11.2013 - NoA1

06.02.2014 - NoA2

01.04.2014 - Interview. 

AoS

03.2015 - AoS started.

09.2015 - Green Card received.  

RoC

24.07.2017 - NoA1.

01.08.2018 - RoC approved. 

 

 

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Lars & Sasha Contributor

Lars & Sasha   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
Just now, TM92 said:

OP is a US Citizen applying for a Russian Tourist Visa. Invitation letters are mandatory: https://russiable.com/getting-russian-visa-usa-canada/

Thank you! That is what I thought. 

 

I appreciate everyone's response. I am working right now on doing it on my one. A couple friends who have been to Russia in the past couple years recommended this Visa Service, but I will give it a shot on my own. Stay tuned for questions! Ha :)

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gregcrs2 Proficient

gregcrs2   1,778

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
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Posted
40 minutes ago, Lars & Sasha said:

Thank you! That is what I thought. 

 

I appreciate everyone's response. I am working right now on doing it on my one. A couple friends who have been to Russia in the past couple years recommended this Visa Service, but I will give it a shot on my own. Stay tuned for questions! Ha :)

You should have started this earlier.  You are cutting it very close time wise.

 

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Lars & Sasha Contributor

Lars & Sasha   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, gregcrs2 said:

You should have started this earlier.  You are cutting it very close time wise.

 

Totally agree. I recently sold my condo and purchased a house. I moved out of the condo and in with family for a week or two until I close on our house next week. Life just has taken over. There is always an excuse, right? :) But I did purchase my flights this week and just submitted my Visa Application to the Russian Visa Center. I will expedite it as much as I can to ensure I am all set and ready to fly to Russia the day after Christmas!

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DaveAndAnastasia Experienced

DaveAndAnastasia   2,092

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I used a service when I went in May, but in retrospect I think it would have been fine applying directly myself. That's what I'll do next time. 

K-1                             AOS                            
NOA1 Notice Date: 2018-05-31    NOA1 Notice Date: 2019-04-11   
NOA2 Date: 2018-11-16           Biometrics Date: 2019-05-10    
Arrived at NVC:  2018-12-03     EAD/AP In Hand: 2019-09-16     
Arrived in Moscow: 2018-12-28   GC Interview Date: 2019-09-25      
Interview date: 2019-02-14      GC In Hand: 2019-10-02
Visa issued: 2019-02-28
POE: 2019-03-11
Wedding: 2019-03-14

ROC                             Naturalization
NOA1 Notice Date: 2021-07-16    Applied Online: 2022-07-09 (biometrics waived)
Approval Date: 2022-04-06       Interview was Scheduled: 2023-01-06
10-year GC In Hand: 2022-04-14  Interview date: 2023-02-13 (passed)
                            	Oath: 2023-02-13

 

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Neonred Experienced

Neonred   3,564

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I haven't needed a visa to Russia in many years, but I used a company that is now www.visahq.com.  

 

Price varies depending on single vs double vs multiple entry and how quick you need it.

 

Month in advance was never a problem.

If at first you don't succeed, then sky diving is not for you.

Someone stole my dictionary. Now I am at a loss for words.

If Apple made a car, would it have windows?

Ban shredded cheese. Make America Grate Again .

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.  Deport him and you never have to feed him again.

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

I went bald but I kept my comb.  I just couldn't part with it.

My name is not Richard Edward but my friends still call me DickEd

If your pet has a bladder infection, urine trouble.

"Watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow."

I fired myself from cleaning the house. I didn't like my attitude and I got caught drinking on the job.

My kid has A.D.D... and a couple of F's

Carrots improve your vision.  Alcohol doubles it.

A dung beetle walks into a bar and asks " Is this stool taken?"

Breaking news.  They're not making yardsticks any longer.

Hemorrhoids?  Shouldn't they be called Assteroids?

If life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic.

If you suck at playing the trumpet, that may be why.

Dogs can't take MRI's but Cat scan.

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Lars & Sasha Contributor

Lars & Sasha   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thank you everybody! I canceled with G3visa.com. It cost me $30 to cancel but that beats paying $525 for everything. I was able to submit the application along with the additional documents, money order, and passport via FedEx to the Russian Visa Center in Houston, TX. Fingers crossed I did everything correctly. :)

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,303

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Good going!

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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