Letter for Russia

[teflon]

Hi, Just spoke to a lady at the Russian Embassy (UK) about a double entry business visa. She told me that I need a letter from my employer. Seeing that I'm self-employed, she said I would need a letter from myself. Funny that - what if I was a plumber?
Anyway, to the best of my belief, do I just write what I intend to do?

I'm a photographer planning to drive from UK to St Petersburg and then across to Vladivostok with a detour to Mongolia along the way - a working holiday shooting stock photos of people, places and things. Are there any photographers here who've shot in Russia and had problems at the visa stage regarding this? I also understand I need -

Application form with photo
Original passport
Health Insurance (even though UK has an agreement)
Letter of invitation (Stantours/WaytoRussia?)
Letter from myself (???)
...and visa money

Incidentally, I read on their site that I would need to show my last three bank statements if I'm self-employed, but she didn't mention any of this.

Thanks for reading. Look forward to any replies.

[Jake]

All sounds about right, funny thing beaurocracy in Russia, but as long as the bits of paper all add up no one seems to give a stuff so writing your own letter is no bad thing maybe get it countersigned by someone in authority as witness Police/Bank manager or similar must have a official looking date stamp on cos thats what they like. I found using the Edinburgh Russian consulate quicker than the England one, I would also send three copies of all your forms and three photos as sometimes they want one sometimes three !. When you get to the border make sure you get your migration card fill it in and get it stamped - no one tells you to get one once your in if you aint got one can be Troublesome !, If your staying independent there is an office in St Petersburg can for a fee validate your visa (within three working daysof arriving) however if your in a decent hotel or similar they should sort that out for you. Have a great trip The Russians are really nice people - once you get into the flow of there peculiar ways.

[MotoEdde]

You can't take what these people say literally....you sorta have to hear the meaning of their words, to quote Shakespeare!

What she meant is that you need a Letter of Invitation to apply for the visa.
This letter and invitation is orchestrated by a shell organization in the USSR that sells them to tour agencies, etc.

Contact David at StanTours he'll square you and your visa worries away...goolge StanTours on the web.

HTH

[Jake]

Eddy I think you may find when its a business visa your applying for you do need a letter from your business to confirm you are going there on business, normal tourist visas obviously dont need the letter. Only the invitation as you state. Mind you its all about money as you say and all this invitation stuff and verifying the visa after arrival is nothing more than a money spinner for some big wig. Shame they still have not got over some of the soviet ways of thinking when it comes to getting in there.

[tomwest]

Hi.

The easyest way to get your visa is to go trough a travel agency, you do need a invitation letter. And as stated above the agency will obtain that letter from an agency they cooperate with in Russia. If you bring your own letter it will have to be stamped at OVIR (the russian goverment migration organ) and belive me dealing with those guys takes forever.
Further more if you do get a visa trough OVIR you will have to go an register to one of their offices yourself,and they are usualy crowded places where you spend hours waiting.
Get it trough a travel agency and you just go to the office of their partner agency in Russia when you arrive (or if you are staying in a hotel they will do it for you) But remember within 3days after entering russia, come later and you will have problems.
My girlfriend is russian,and I´ve had multiple entrence buisness visa for 3 years now. No problems what so ever.

Good luck.