anybody from russia here?
Apr 8th 2003, 9:18 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
anybody from russia here?
Are there people from russia reading this forum?
We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
If anybody from russia is reading this, please send me an email.
regards
Dietmar (from Germany, nearby Frankfurt/Main)
We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
If anybody from russia is reading this, please send me an email.
regards
Dietmar (from Germany, nearby Frankfurt/Main)
Apr 8th 2003, 10:08 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: anybody from russia here?
[email protected] (Dietmar Kirchner) writes:
>Are there people from russia reading this forum?
>We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
Speaking of which, why does Russia persist with archaic entry requirements
such as these?
It's one thing to require visas from potential visitors, but it's downright
inconvenient to require an invitation.
Don't they want tourists?
--
Paul Dwerryhouse
Amsterdam, The Netherlands (X) Melbourne, Australia ( )
>Are there people from russia reading this forum?
>We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
Speaking of which, why does Russia persist with archaic entry requirements
such as these?
It's one thing to require visas from potential visitors, but it's downright
inconvenient to require an invitation.
Don't they want tourists?
--
Paul Dwerryhouse
Amsterdam, The Netherlands (X) Melbourne, Australia ( )
Apr 9th 2003, 6:29 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: anybody from russia here?
Paul Dwerryhouse schrieb:
>
> [email protected] (Dietmar Kirchner) writes:
>
> >Are there people from russia reading this forum?
> >We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
>
> Speaking of which, why does Russia persist with archaic entry requirements
> such as these?
>
> It's one thing to require visas from potential visitors, but it's downright
> inconvenient to require an invitation.
>
> Don't they want tourists?
>
> --
> Paul Dwerryhouse
> Amsterdam, The Netherlands (X) Melbourne, Australia ( )
AFAIK visa requirements are reciprocal agreements, so if you think
Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
Tom
>
> [email protected] (Dietmar Kirchner) writes:
>
> >Are there people from russia reading this forum?
> >We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
>
> Speaking of which, why does Russia persist with archaic entry requirements
> such as these?
>
> It's one thing to require visas from potential visitors, but it's downright
> inconvenient to require an invitation.
>
> Don't they want tourists?
>
> --
> Paul Dwerryhouse
> Amsterdam, The Netherlands (X) Melbourne, Australia ( )
AFAIK visa requirements are reciprocal agreements, so if you think
Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
Tom
Apr 9th 2003, 8:36 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: anybody from russia here?
On Wed, 09 Apr 2003 20:29:27 +0200 tandp said...
> AFAIK visa requirements are reciprocal agreements, so if you think
> Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
> visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
But I wonder how many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on,
say compared with the Netherlands or Australia for example?
--
Phil Richards
London, N4
> AFAIK visa requirements are reciprocal agreements, so if you think
> Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
> visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
But I wonder how many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on,
say compared with the Netherlands or Australia for example?
--
Phil Richards
London, N4
Apr 9th 2003, 9:39 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: anybody from russia here?
Dietmar Kirchner wrote:
> Are there people from russia reading this forum?
> We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
> If anybody from russia is reading this, please send me an email.
> regards
> Dietmar (from Germany, nearby Frankfurt/Main)
I went to Russia with a former Soviet citizen whose parents arranged for
her invitation. They had to spend a day at the police station to do the
paperwork, and she was going to have to spend another day at the police
station to register herself. She decided next time to do what we did.
Pay $US25 to http://www.ryh.ru and get an invitation from them - only
works if you are starting in St Petersburg. We only had to drop our
passports with them, and pick them up later in the week.
It's a pretty big imposition to ask someone to get a visa invite for
you, and any hotel will do it with accomodation. The Youth Hostel will
do it without accomodation.
joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org
> Are there people from russia reading this forum?
> We would like to visit russia and need therefor an invitation.
> If anybody from russia is reading this, please send me an email.
> regards
> Dietmar (from Germany, nearby Frankfurt/Main)
I went to Russia with a former Soviet citizen whose parents arranged for
her invitation. They had to spend a day at the police station to do the
paperwork, and she was going to have to spend another day at the police
station to register herself. She decided next time to do what we did.
Pay $US25 to http://www.ryh.ru and get an invitation from them - only
works if you are starting in St Petersburg. We only had to drop our
passports with them, and pick them up later in the week.
It's a pretty big imposition to ask someone to get a visa invite for
you, and any hotel will do it with accomodation. The Youth Hostel will
do it without accomodation.
joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org
Apr 12th 2003, 6:50 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
How many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on....
> > AFAIK visa requirements are reciprocal agreements, so if you think
> > Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
> > visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
>
> But I wonder how many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on,
> say compared with the Netherlands or Australia for example?
As far as I understand, Russia does all its entry/exit requirements on
the so-called 'quid pro quo' basis (in other words, if another country
tightens entry requirements for Russians, then Russia does the same).
If any particular country want to stablish visa-free entry/exit reqime
with Russia, it can be arranged quite easily provided there is some
political will out there. However, the recent trend among reasonably
developed countries is to tighten entry restrictions and NOT to lift
them. This does not make our world a more pleasent place, but it is
the current tendency, which cannot be ignored...
Naturally, the United States are leading this trend. If you are not a
citizen of an EU country, then you are in trouble at gettign your US
visa. For example, I read that the percentage of declined visa
appications at the US Embassy in Moscow is about 25%, compared to a
normal 3-4% for other countries...
A little over a year ago, the USA have introduced an additional
questionaire with some of the world's most stupid questions (have you
ever served in the military? where were you stationed?
blah-blah-blah). The Russians had immediately introduced a similar
form for the Americans. So if you have to fill our a ridiculous form
in addition to the application, please blame Mr. Bush. If you write to
your Senator and the American form is sxcrapped, than Russians will
get rid of their form ASAP. Just think how much money (on paper,
printing, distribution, etc) would be saved if this is ever done...
As for the EU countries, the official position of the Russian
government is that it favors the visa-free entry/exit regime with the
EU. However the policy of the EU is to create a 'protective' visa
barrier for non-EU citizens. All the EU-hopefuls in Central and
Eastern Europe are expected to introduce visas for non-EU travellers
as a prerequisite for their admission in the EU. Even the visa-free
travel between the mainland Russia and the Russian enclave of
Kalinigrad became a major problem last year. Lithuania (as a EU
hopeful) and it EU patrons/advisers declined to compromise and now
Russians need a visa to travel from Russia... to Russia. Naturally,
this had hardenned the hearts of Russian officials responsible to
visa/entry regime... A few months ago President Putin had suggested
that Russia and EU should arrange for visa-free travel, but to the
best of my knowledge he never got a reply (on the diplomatic-speak its
sounds like 'political consulatations are under way' ).
In fact Russia DOES discriminate against some foreigners, but those
are not Europeans, Americans or Australians. Russian entry regime is
much stricter for citizens of Southern and Eastern Asia, than it is
for other foreigners. This is mostly due to the fact that citizens of
the countruies like (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, etc) are
several times more likely to violate the Rusisan entry /exit
regulations (proven fact). This is very unfortunate, but it is not
going to change soon especially in light of all the turmoil around
Afganistan, Irak, etc.
As to the citizens of the 'Western World', Russian tourist visas are
rather easy to get, provided you wish to pay the visa processing fee
and obey certain basic rules and regulations. In order to appreciate
this, you ought to spend some time in the humiliating lines at western
embassies/consulate in Moscow and St. Petersburg and take part in
those interviews conducted by some arrogant consular staff.
Have a nice trip to Russia, everyone! See you there!
--Victor Varganov
> > Russia is restrictive, consider how it might be for Russians
> > visiting the Netherlands or Australia...
>
> But I wonder how many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on,
> say compared with the Netherlands or Australia for example?
As far as I understand, Russia does all its entry/exit requirements on
the so-called 'quid pro quo' basis (in other words, if another country
tightens entry requirements for Russians, then Russia does the same).
If any particular country want to stablish visa-free entry/exit reqime
with Russia, it can be arranged quite easily provided there is some
political will out there. However, the recent trend among reasonably
developed countries is to tighten entry restrictions and NOT to lift
them. This does not make our world a more pleasent place, but it is
the current tendency, which cannot be ignored...
Naturally, the United States are leading this trend. If you are not a
citizen of an EU country, then you are in trouble at gettign your US
visa. For example, I read that the percentage of declined visa
appications at the US Embassy in Moscow is about 25%, compared to a
normal 3-4% for other countries...
A little over a year ago, the USA have introduced an additional
questionaire with some of the world's most stupid questions (have you
ever served in the military? where were you stationed?
blah-blah-blah). The Russians had immediately introduced a similar
form for the Americans. So if you have to fill our a ridiculous form
in addition to the application, please blame Mr. Bush. If you write to
your Senator and the American form is sxcrapped, than Russians will
get rid of their form ASAP. Just think how much money (on paper,
printing, distribution, etc) would be saved if this is ever done...
As for the EU countries, the official position of the Russian
government is that it favors the visa-free entry/exit regime with the
EU. However the policy of the EU is to create a 'protective' visa
barrier for non-EU citizens. All the EU-hopefuls in Central and
Eastern Europe are expected to introduce visas for non-EU travellers
as a prerequisite for their admission in the EU. Even the visa-free
travel between the mainland Russia and the Russian enclave of
Kalinigrad became a major problem last year. Lithuania (as a EU
hopeful) and it EU patrons/advisers declined to compromise and now
Russians need a visa to travel from Russia... to Russia. Naturally,
this had hardenned the hearts of Russian officials responsible to
visa/entry regime... A few months ago President Putin had suggested
that Russia and EU should arrange for visa-free travel, but to the
best of my knowledge he never got a reply (on the diplomatic-speak its
sounds like 'political consulatations are under way' ).
In fact Russia DOES discriminate against some foreigners, but those
are not Europeans, Americans or Australians. Russian entry regime is
much stricter for citizens of Southern and Eastern Asia, than it is
for other foreigners. This is mostly due to the fact that citizens of
the countruies like (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, etc) are
several times more likely to violate the Rusisan entry /exit
regulations (proven fact). This is very unfortunate, but it is not
going to change soon especially in light of all the turmoil around
Afganistan, Irak, etc.
As to the citizens of the 'Western World', Russian tourist visas are
rather easy to get, provided you wish to pay the visa processing fee
and obey certain basic rules and regulations. In order to appreciate
this, you ought to spend some time in the humiliating lines at western
embassies/consulate in Moscow and St. Petersburg and take part in
those interviews conducted by some arrogant consular staff.
Have a nice trip to Russia, everyone! See you there!
--Victor Varganov
Apr 12th 2003, 9:09 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: idiotic bureaucracy - How many countries Russia forces entry restrictions on....
Years ago, and for all I know still, US immigration required one to
fill in a series of tick-boxes, including whether one's purpose in
entering the US was to overthrow the constitution by force. I believe
some wag once wrote 'Sole purpose of visit' and was still allowed in.
For what it's worth, the form one has to fill in before security
clearance for certain UK government jobs also has a similar list of
yes/no tickboxes as to, e.g., whether one has ever belonged to an
organisation that engaged in terrorism...
PJW
On 12 Apr 2003 11:50:29 -0700, [email protected] (Victor) wrote:
>A little over a year ago, the USA have introduced an additional
>questionaire with some of the world's most stupid questions
fill in a series of tick-boxes, including whether one's purpose in
entering the US was to overthrow the constitution by force. I believe
some wag once wrote 'Sole purpose of visit' and was still allowed in.
For what it's worth, the form one has to fill in before security
clearance for certain UK government jobs also has a similar list of
yes/no tickboxes as to, e.g., whether one has ever belonged to an
organisation that engaged in terrorism...
PJW
On 12 Apr 2003 11:50:29 -0700, [email protected] (Victor) wrote:
>A little over a year ago, the USA have introduced an additional
>questionaire with some of the world's most stupid questions
