tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?

Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.

http://www.visatorussia.com

are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.

Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
Most do now I believe.

They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.

Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
the Consulate.

Good luck.
---
DFM

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    > >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    > >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    > >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    > >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    > >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    > >
    > >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    >
    > http://www.visatorussia.com
    >
    > are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    > and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    > advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    >
    > Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    > Most do now I believe.
    >
    > They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    > Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    > was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    > all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    > Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    >
    > Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    > everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    > the Consulate.
    >
    > Good luck.
    > ---
    > DFM


Thanks for that, they seem good from the website. Quite cheap compared
to the others. I'm going to St Petersburg, so I assume they must have
an office there where I can register the visa. I don't want to go to
Moscow, as this will be too far to go to register. I will give them a
call and probably get it through them. Such a silly rule these
invitations, it's a pure scam to make money.

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    > >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    > >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    > >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    > >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    > >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    > >
    > >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    >
    > http://www.visatorussia.com
    >
    > are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    > and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    > advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    >
    > Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    > Most do now I believe.
    >
    > They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    > Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    > was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    > all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    > Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    >
    > Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    > everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    > the Consulate.
    >
    > Good luck.
    > ---
    > DFM


Thanks! Just a quick question, when I get a tourist visa invite from
them saying I will be staying at some hotel, which obviously I wont as
i will be staying at my friends place. To register or process (not
sure the correct term) that visa when I'm in St Petersburg, will they
make me pay for the hotel when I am there? Or will it be a
straightforward stamp with no cost?

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

On 25 Oct 2004 16:03:13 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    >Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    >> On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >>
    >> >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    >> >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    >> >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    >> >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    >> >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    >> >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    >> >
    >> >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    >>
    >> http://www.visatorussia.com
    >>
    >> are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    >> and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    >> advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    >>
    >> Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    >> Most do now I believe.
    >>
    >> They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    >> Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    >> was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    >> all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    >> Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    >>
    >> Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    >> everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    >> the Consulate.
    >>
    >> Good luck.
    >> ---
    >> DFM
    >Thanks for that, they seem good from the website. Quite cheap compared
    >to the others. I'm going to St Petersburg, so I assume they must have
    >an office there where I can register the visa. I don't want to go to
    >Moscow, as this will be too far to go to register. I will give them a
    >call and probably get it through them. Such a silly rule these
    >invitations, it's a pure scam to make money.

It's definitely a scam alright, but it's completely counter productive
in bringing money to Russia, as the visa system simply makes people
want to go elsewhere, or to Russia for less time. Dumb, but then you
will realise when you go to Russia that their values are a world away
from ours in the west (or Asia for that matter).
---
DFM

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

On 25 Oct 2004 16:26:16 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    >Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    >> On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >>
    >> >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    >> >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    >> >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    >> >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    >> >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    >> >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    >> >
    >> >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    >>
    >> http://www.visatorussia.com
    >>
    >> are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    >> and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    >> advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    >>
    >> Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    >> Most do now I believe.
    >>
    >> They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    >> Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    >> was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    >> all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    >> Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    >>
    >> Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    >> everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    >> the Consulate.
    >>
    >> Good luck.
    >> ---
    >> DFM
    >Thanks! Just a quick question, when I get a tourist visa invite from
    >them saying I will be staying at some hotel, which obviously I wont as
    >i will be staying at my friends place. To register or process (not
    >sure the correct term) that visa when I'm in St Petersburg, will they
    >make me pay for the hotel when I am there? Or will it be a
    >straightforward stamp with no cost?

A good question. You MAY be required to pay more to register your visa
when you are there, something in the realm of US$50. I think
Intelservice have some sort of hotel that they vouch that you are
staying at if you are not in an actual hotel. That's what I did when I
was there, because I was staying at private residences.

I believe (don't quote me though) that if you can provide Intelservice
with a letter from the person you are staying with, the registration
is free. Check this.

Either way, this will probably be a cheaper and easier way that having
to book through a hotel.
---
DFM

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

[email protected] (Kokinho) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > > On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    > >
    > > >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    > > >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    > > >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    > > >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    > > >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    > > >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    > > >
    > > >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    > >
    > > http://www.visatorussia.com
    > >
    > > are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    > > and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    > > advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    > >
    > > Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    > > Most do now I believe.
    > >
    > > They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    > > Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    > > was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    > > all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    > > Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    > >
    > > Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    > > everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    > > the Consulate.
    > >
    > > Good luck.
    > > ---
    > > DFM
    >
    >
    > Thanks! Just a quick question, when I get a tourist visa invite from
    > them saying I will be staying at some hotel, which obviously I wont as
    > i will be staying at my friends place. To register or process (not
    > sure the correct term) that visa when I'm in St Petersburg, will they
    > make me pay for the hotel when I am there? Or will it be a
    > straightforward stamp with no cost?

There's a nominal/symbolic fee (I think it was 20 roubles last time I
did it). Ask your friend to take you to the local OVIR (immigration
office), to help with filling in the right forms, to go to the bank to
pay the correct visa processing fee, etc. Set aside a few hours for
the procedure and plan to do it within three days of arrival.

Don't try doing this yourself, as you'd likely just get bewildered,
frustrated and lost (unless you speak russian quite well).

I would presume your friend knows the location of the local OVIR. In
case not, there is a list of addresses and opening times at:

http://www.cityvision2000.com/formal...i.htm#District

Bjorn

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

[email protected] (Kokinho) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > > On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    > Thanks! Just a quick question, when I get a tourist visa invite from
    > them saying I will be staying at some hotel, which obviously I wont as
    > i will be staying at my friends place.

Btw, why not get a private visa? If your friend files an invitation
for you at Ovir, you can obtain a private visa and won't need any
hotel bookings and such. It takes longer, though.

Bjorn

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

Deep Frayed Morgues <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 25 Oct 2004 16:26:16 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > >Deep Frayed Morgues <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > >> On 25 Oct 2004 10:06:40 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    > >>
    > >> >want to get a tourist Visa invitation asap from one of these tourist
    > >> >agencies. I don't know if the rules have changed now since I last went
    > >> >in April, but I know you could pay around £30 and get an invite. The
    > >> >agency will fax you a document with the receipt of the hotel you are
    > >> >"staying" and an invite to the consulate and one to you. Does anyone
    > >> >know a good agency that could do such a thing quite fast and reliable?
    > >> >
    > >> >Thanks in advance for any help you maybe able to offer.
    > >>
    > >> http://www.visatorussia.com
    > >>
    > >> are fast. They can get one to you in 24 (US$45) or 48 hours (US$30),
    > >> and have good customer service. You don't need to book accomodation in
    > >> advance, but do need to provide a fax number for them.
    > >>
    > >> Make certain with the Russian Consulate that they accept faxed copies.
    > >> Most do now I believe.
    > >>
    > >> They will send you both the invitation, and the tour voucher.
    > >> Everything you need. I did this a few months back from Australia, and
    > >> was quite impressed. They have good customer support, and their staff
    > >> all speak good english. They are supported by a company called
    > >> Intelservice, that ARE an official Russian tour company.
    > >>
    > >> Make sure you enter your details EXTREMELY carefully, and check
    > >> everything about 3 times over, especially after you get your visa from
    > >> the Consulate.
    > >>
    > >> Good luck.
    > >> ---
    > >> DFM
    > >
    > >
    > >Thanks! Just a quick question, when I get a tourist visa invite from
    > >them saying I will be staying at some hotel, which obviously I wont as
    > >i will be staying at my friends place. To register or process (not
    > >sure the correct term) that visa when I'm in St Petersburg, will they
    > >make me pay for the hotel when I am there? Or will it be a
    > >straightforward stamp with no cost?
    >
    > A good question. You MAY be required to pay more to register your visa
    > when you are there, something in the realm of US$50. I think
    > Intelservice have some sort of hotel that they vouch that you are
    > staying at if you are not in an actual hotel. That's what I did when I
    > was there, because I was staying at private residences.
    >
    > I believe (don't quote me though) that if you can provide Intelservice
    > with a letter from the person you are staying with, the registration
    > is free. Check this.
    >
    > Either way, this will probably be a cheaper and easier way that having
    > to book through a hotel.
    > ---
    > DFM

Cheers once again!! I noticed they are a Moscow based company. I heard
from somebody www.hofa.ru are good. Almost like a charity, you can
stay with families and they give some money to the families you stay
with (about 50%). They are based in St Petersburg. Prices are similar,
around 50 Euros for the invitation and 5 Euros to register. I called
the guy up and seems to be genuine. My biggest fear with these visa's
is getting stuck in Russia.

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

On 27 Oct 2004 06:33:10 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    >Cheers once again!! I noticed they are a Moscow based company. I heard
    >from somebody www.hofa.ru are good. Almost like a charity, you can
    >stay with families and they give some money to the families you stay
    >with (about 50%). They are based in St Petersburg. Prices are similar,
    >around 50 Euros for the invitation and 5 Euros to register. I called
    >the guy up and seems to be genuine. My biggest fear with these visa's
    >is getting stuck in Russia.

Realistically, the worst that is likely to happen is that you will
have to pay a large fine, and that will be it. Make sure you keep the
little bit of paper that gets attached to your passport though, as you
need this to exit! Apparently now you do not need to exit on the date
of your visa expiry either, but I would just to be on the safe side.
Basically check everything. The consulate stuffed up the tour company
code on my visa (which was of course written in cyrillic, so I could
not check it), and I managed to get it sorted out for about US$50. The
consulate will always take the maximum amount of time they quote you
to get the visa too.
---
DFM

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

Deep Frayed Morgues <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 27 Oct 2004 06:33:10 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > >Cheers once again!! I noticed they are a Moscow based company. I heard
    > >from somebody www.hofa.ru are good. Almost like a charity, you can
    > >stay with families and they give some money to the families you stay
    > >with (about 50%). They are based in St Petersburg. Prices are similar,
    > >around 50 Euros for the invitation and 5 Euros to register. I called
    > >the guy up and seems to be genuine. My biggest fear with these visa's
    > >is getting stuck in Russia.
    >
    > Realistically, the worst that is likely to happen is that you will
    > have to pay a large fine, and that will be it. Make sure you keep the
    > little bit of paper that gets attached to your passport though, as you
    > need this to exit! Apparently now you do not need to exit on the date
    > of your visa expiry either,

What do you mean? Of course you can't overstay your visa, and of
course you can leave before your visa expires. How could t be
otherwise?

If overstaying, you have to arrange an extension. For which there is a
fee.

Bjorn

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

Deep Frayed Morgues <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 27 Oct 2004 06:33:10 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:

    > Realistically, the worst that is likely to happen is that you will
    > have to pay a large fine, and that will be it. Make sure you keep the
    > little bit of paper that gets attached to your passport though, as you
    > need this to exit! Apparently now you do not need to exit on the date
    > of your visa expiry either, but I would just to be on the safe side.
    > Basically check everything. The consulate stuffed up the tour company
    > code on my visa (which was of course written in cyrillic, so I could
    > not check it), and I managed to get it sorted out for about US$50. The
    > consulate will always take the maximum amount of time they quote you
    > to get the visa too.

"the little bit of paper" or the immigration card a it is called, is
also important through your travel in Russia. Make sure you have
stamped at registration within 3 days after arival and in every new
town you stay the night. It is only the initial registration that
needs to be done at the immigration office. The registration in new
towns where you arrive is only a stamp from the hotel where you stay,
it is done in a minute. If you are stopped by the police during your
stay they are probably interested in this card. If you are stopped in
say Yekaterinburg (personaly I have only been stopped in Moscow and St
Petersburg) and your registraion on arival was done in say St
Petersburg, what they do is checking that the immigration card is
stamped in a city (say 4 days in St Petersburg, 3 in Moscow and
another 2 in Yekaterinburg) for the entire period you have stayed in
Russia and that the registration on arrival are fullfilled according
to the rules.

Jan

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

[email protected] (?ystein) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > Deep Frayed Morgues <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > > On 27 Oct 2004 06:33:10 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > > Realistically, the worst that is likely to happen is that you will
    > > have to pay a large fine, and that will be it. Make sure you keep the
    > > little bit of paper that gets attached to your passport though, as you
    > > need this to exit! Apparently now you do not need to exit on the date
    > > of your visa expiry either, but I would just to be on the safe side.
    > > Basically check everything. The consulate stuffed up the tour company
    > > code on my visa (which was of course written in cyrillic, so I could
    > > not check it), and I managed to get it sorted out for about US$50. The
    > > consulate will always take the maximum amount of time they quote you
    > > to get the visa too.
    >
    > "the little bit of paper" or the immigration card a it is called, is
    > also important through your travel in Russia. Make sure you have
    > stamped at registration within 3 days after arival and in every new
    > town you stay the night. It is only the initial registration that
    > needs to be done at the immigration office. The registration in new
    > towns where you arrive is only a stamp from the hotel where you stay,
    > it is done in a minute. If you are stopped by the police during your
    > stay they are probably interested in this card. If you are stopped in
    > say Yekaterinburg

You seem obsessed by this idea of being stopped by the police. Some
kind of repressed sexual fantasy, perhaps?

Sigmund

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

[email protected] (Bjorn Olsson) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > [email protected] (?ystein) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > Deep Frayed Morgues <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > > > On 27 Oct 2004 06:33:10 -0700, [email protected] (Kokinho) wrote:
    >
    > > > Realistically, the worst that is likely to happen is that you will
    > > > have to pay a large fine, and that will be it. Make sure you keep the
    > > > little bit of paper that gets attached to your passport though, as you
    > > > need this to exit! Apparently now you do not need to exit on the date
    > > > of your visa expiry either, but I would just to be on the safe side.
    > > > Basically check everything. The consulate stuffed up the tour company
    > > > code on my visa (which was of course written in cyrillic, so I could
    > > > not check it), and I managed to get it sorted out for about US$50. The
    > > > consulate will always take the maximum amount of time they quote you
    > > > to get the visa too.
    > >
    > > "the little bit of paper" or the immigration card a it is called, is
    > > also important through your travel in Russia. Make sure you have
    > > stamped at registration within 3 days after arival and in every new
    > > town you stay the night. It is only the initial registration that
    > > needs to be done at the immigration office. The registration in new
    > > towns where you arrive is only a stamp from the hotel where you stay,
    > > it is done in a minute. If you are stopped by the police during your
    > > stay they are probably interested in this card. If you are stopped in
    > > say Yekaterinburg
    >
    > You seem obsessed by this idea of being stopped by the police. Some
    > kind of repressed sexual fantasy, perhaps?

If you are stopped by the police, the entry and exit date on the visa
and the regitration on the immigrationcard is what they look for.
Everybody knows it.

Jan

Re: tourist VISA to Russia from the UK
 

?ystein <[email protected]> wrote:

    > If you are stopped by the police, the entry and exit date on the visa
    > and the regitration on the immigrationcard is what they look for.
    > Everybody knows it.

I handed my passport to my accomodation when I arrived, and reclaimed it
on my last day. If I'd been stopped by the police they would have had
to escort me to the hostel.

joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org