Planning my 3rd trip to Russia since January

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Russian guest visa takes very long to arrange-about 2 months and then it costs bunch of money and efforts such as quing up for hours...

This is not true. I have never waited more than 2 weeks for my visitor visas to Russia. And never paid more than 160 dollars. I order mine online and simply send the passport to DC. I get it back ready to go within 2 weeks.

[Turboguy 6]

Russian guest visa takes very long to arrange-about 2 months and then it costs bunch of money and efforts such as quing up for hours...

This is not true. I have never waited more than 2 weeks for my visitor visas to Russia. And never paid more than 160 dollars. I order mine online and simply send the passport to DC. I get it back ready to go within 2 weeks.

I do the same and have the same results. If I wanted to pay a little extra I could get 24 hour service (plus shipping time) I use www.russia-visa.com but another good one is GoToRussia. Russia-visa is great on communicaton, has online tracking and when FedEx goofed up a visa for a friend at the last minute they busted their tail to make sure he had it in time.

[Satellite 1]

I am the only the one on here apparently who has has a lot of success with the private visa. My fiancee would pay about 400 rubles, fill out some papers, stand in line, wait about 2 months and then send me the invitation. I filled out the basic application form, took my passport, and her invitation, plus $100 to the Russian consulate and got the visa. Since all my trips were planned at least 6 months in advance this was not an issue. But the biggest benefit for me was that the visa was easy to register (no need to pay a company or a hotel), was good for 90 days, and I didn't pay any company anything extra.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Satellite

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Russia-visa is by far the best, in my opinion. They are located only blocks from the Russian Embassy in DC. Takes them only about 5 or 6 business days to complete. Plus, they will provide you with an invitation for only a few extra bucks. You just cant beat it. I've used them many times. And now my orders are complete with just a click of the mouse. Their system allows you to save your personal information, email your application and payment. Simply drop your passport in the mail and in a couple weeks ready to fly.

[slim 1,530]

I am the only the one on here apparently who has has a lot of success with the private visa. My fiancee would pay about 400 rubles, fill out some papers, stand in line, wait about 2 months and then send me the invitation. I filled out the basic application form, took my passport, and her invitation, plus $100 to the Russian consulate and got the visa. Since all my trips were planned at least 6 months in advance this was not an issue. But the biggest benefit for me was that the visa was easy to register (no need to pay a company or a hotel), was good for 90 days, and I didn't pay any company anything extra.

This is definitely the cheapest way to do it, but there's also a lot of "leg work" involved here. Remember, you're talking to a society of people who build special windows on the side of buildings to enable high school flunkies to pass greasy burgers and fries to rich people too lazy to exit their vehicles because they don't want the "inconvenience" of getting out, walking in, standing in line, then walking back out to their cars every time they order fast food.

Plus, your fiancee had to pay money (roughly $16) then go somewhere and wait in line. She had to send it to you, again go somewhere, maybe wait in line, pay money (only an international stamp... maybe $1). Then, after patiently waiting on post office mail, you had to go somewhere (not all of us live close enough for a "personal visit" to a Russian consulate.... or speak fluent Russian for that matter) wait in line, and then paid $100 for the visa. So, all in all, both of you had to leave home, wait in lines, pay $117, and you end up with a visa that you again have to wait in line to register, albeit, for free.

So, in reality, with the home-stay visa, you're saving yourself $50-100 but you're waiting in line and doing all the "leg work" yourself. I know very few Americans willing to do "leg work" over the course of a few months to simply save themselves $50. Hell, they won't even do "leg work" to get a greasy cheeseburger with a side of fries.

I side with you on this one, Satellite, but you're not going to get too many takers. Just the nature of the game. I will be contacting you prior to my next trip to Russia for more detailed instructions. Now that my fiancee is here and has become my wife, I've been doing a whole lot more "leg work"!!!! (Not being mischievious, she's just encouraged me to quit being so lazy all the time.)

[visceral image 0]

I have been to Russia ten times in the past year, it will be no problem; although I would advise you get a one year business visa with multiple entry. I used to do single visas for Russia entry but that gets expensive very fast.

Business visa is not hard to get, only need an AIDS test (HIV), letter from Russian business, etc and a little time to get the visa. Like I said, I have been 10 times in past year with no problems. They even know my by face I have been though Moscow so many times; the waiters at TGIF restaurant know me by name.

No worries mate; go and see her; this is your life together.

[Satellite 1]

I have been to Russia ten times in the past year, it will be no problem; although I would advise you get a one year business visa with multiple entry. I used to do single visas for Russia entry but that gets expensive very fast.

This is the best way to go if you are frequent visitor.

In my situation my fiancée was a full time student / part time worker. She had time to stand in line, although she says it was less than 30 minutes. We were in no hurry. And more importantly I was there for 9 weeks and 12 weeks respectively. Too long for a tourist visa and with only one visit a year, not enough to justify a business visa. Best part was the ease of registration during the days when bribing some hotel official seemed like a pain in the butt. Tourist visa holders under Russian law at least in up til 2004 were expected to live in hotels and even living in rented apartments was iffy.

I agree with you Slim, that for someone whose time is better spent elsewhere the extra $50-$100 is nothing.