Another visa application question

[russ 1]

Can she email an invitation to me. What does it have to say and look like. I am planning on staying in a hotel. Probably in July. Flying into Kazan and going with her to Volzsk.

Like Satallite said, it is really an invitation from OVIR. There is more to this, though. Like most things in Russia, you probably can't just go to OVIR and ask for it. They will want a few things from you (depending on what office and their mood). For my mother in law, they asked for: Written proof of employment, proof of criminal record, proof of assets, proof of citizenship, proof of propiska (internal passport registration), proof of relationship to me, copies and translations of all my documents, and a few bribes to get all of the above.

She gave up after about 2 days standing in line. (Most of the things she would need in Russia would each involve a whole day in line).

Your experience may be much different - Satellite reports having little trouble obtaining these invitations.