I know this is on many threads, but just simply put in sequece, is it correct to say, that one must have the passport first , then send a copy of the passport to the lady in order for her to obtain the invitation from the Russian goverment. After this I must obtain the Visa for my visit to Russia,and must purchase the plane ticket before applying for the visa. On one of the threads one member refered to an agency I think ( Pasports Plus) in which they will help you obtain the visa to visit the lady. I am on the right path? Bob
yes. obtain your passport and airplane tickets. then go to Passport Plus and they will obtain your invitation and visa for you. $104.00 total, inc. shipping. 2 wek turn around or for more $ they can do it in 3 days.
Rrlinders,
I used russian-visa.com
Great service, but more expensive. Also included the invitation which I beleive allows you to move freely within the russian federation and my passport + visa was delivered via fed-ex overnite.
Like yourself, I also thought my Lena had t osend me an invitation. But no, it's all part of the friendly service.
Compare services before you decide.
This weird thing is maybe a remnant of the olden times, but still is required these days. Just about anyone can sign it, and with doing so apparently some responsibility is involved - but this latter is a formality only.
These days the Invite is just there to generate revenue in Russia, and I'd be inclined to say ditto for the Visa. Pay & Get it, that is all redtape involved, and of course this can be done via the net these days.
If one books into a hotel then the 'service' of the latter includes having the visa validated by means of a stamp, and it could be that doing this is regulated by law i.e. they must do this, dunno.
Just pay the dues and have fun, don't worry too much about what's behind it. However one word of caution, and that is use a reputable site if done via the net. Fake's do exist, and these will fall though upon arrival, with a concequential forced return. I have flown back with a group of about 15 visitors, all with a russian heritage, who had invalid paperwork purchased from a travel agent. They were forced to leave and tried to stop the plane from taking off, much to the dismay of all other passengers, but of course to no avail other than wasting lots of time.
Your local Embassy or Consulate will check your papers, and I always visit in person instead of using couriers.
Thunder - I know you are well traveled including visits to FSU. We hear suggestions obviously given by someone of experience but we never hear exactly which countries you have been to (FSU) and when. So how often do you go? When was the last time? And is there anyone "special" for you right now in the FSU? (Or elsewhere?)
This is good news. I will try out that service next time. Like Toad I used russian visa .com. Expensive I thought. Between pictures and the visa $190 total. They couldn't even spring for a return envelope and stamp. I thought that was really cheap. I am sure Jack Benny would have been proud of them :)))
Izi,
Once they issued it, I never let the snail mailman touch my passport...no way, jose.
I paid the extra $10 to have it fed-exed. Worth the peace of mind.
What I liked the most about russia-visa.com was the 4-5 e-mails updating the different stages of processing.
I'll use them again, I'm sure.
If it ain't broke....
You won't get a Russian visa and invitation and return shipping for much less than $170. The Russian consular fee alone is $100 even if you already have the invitation and do it all yourself direct. Of course they will charge you $30 to $45 for their work, and then some more for the invitation or they may just include the cost of the invitation in the total price. Remember visa costs vary by country depending on how much that country's consulate charges for issuing the visa.
I use Russia-visa.com and have not had any problems.
I wanted the fedex service so that I could track the packet. I did not feel comfortable with my passport bouncing around the US postal service....just in case they lost it, but US mail never gets lost or misplaced, right?
I have a fedex account so I sent a return mailer along so I had the tracking number even before the stuck it in the mail to return it to me. But you don't have to have an account to do it that way. It was a little cheaper to provide my own return service also.
I just came back from Kiev Ukranie and I had to get my passport and visa before I left. It is really very easy. It does cost a little extra to have a company get it for you but I will tell you that it was so easy and they did it all. i needed mine very quickly and they had my passport and visa all handled and in my had a week before I left. I did have to make my plane reservations and send them a copy of that with my offical birth certificate but they handled all the rest. I am so glad i used them and i had a great time with mt lady freind and it worked out very good for us. We are now planning a trip to Amsterdam or somewhere that she will be able to experience the difference in culture. I will tell you that if you have never visited a country like Ukraine or Russia, and like myself have never been out of the USA you are in for a real culture shock. But the people are great and if your lady speaks english and russian maybe you will even be able to find a place to eat. HA HA! Antway I would contact this passport and visa company they were great and their price was the best. go to http://www.visa4you.net/index.htm I think they will hepl you and they are very good to deal with. I will use them again. They even have a toll free number if you are from the US. Hope this helps you
I have a question if anyone can help. My girlfreind and I wish to meet in a country that she will be able to see the difference in culture. We would like to go to Amsterdame but we understand that a visa to this country is hadr to get if at all. Can anyone tell us which country will be the most easy for her to get a visa to. Maybe Germany or France or any other country it will be easy for her to get a visa. We would like to meet on about the 30th of April. Anyone out there have any ideas! we hope someone can save us some time and help.
Turkey, China, Egypt, Cyprus, Thailand, Vietnam, India...few if any western euro countries will let her waltz in with a tourist visa and give her the chance to become and illegal inmigrant.
Good luck,
But are any of the western countries easier then others to get a visa for her from, since she does have a family, and job and actually will be returning to Ukraine after our 10 day trip together.
Mexico....that's one of the potential places where we plan to meet next.
Easy for russians to get a visa to good 'ol chichimecaland, don't know about ukraine, though...
As far as as I know, none of the western industrialized countries will grant tourist visas to FSU young people.
I know this isnt a western country, but my fiance got a visa for Cyprus very easy. It was a journey for me to get there but it was worth it. I didnt need a visa there, they just stamp your passport good for a 3 month stay. The coast was beautiful, the people there spoke English and Russian,excellent restaurants and the people were friendly. Most of all we both found it to be a very romantic place to spend time with eachother. We had a great time.