Hello,

I have been planning a trip for some time and all the information pointed to the russian visa being fairly easy. However when I went through the hoops to get the visa support today I was told that its now very difficult to get a business visa in the UK for Russia.

Has anyone recently had any issues? We are looking to apply for a 1 year multi-entry business visa so that we can do our trip over the next year (leaving this summer returning late winter next year via a different route).

Are these stories true? What are other peoples experience of the existing russian business visa situation in the UK?

Regards,

Jimmy.

Basically, unless you have contacts within Russia, go to one of the Visa specialists. They know what can be done, how it is done, will organise the necessary Invitation from a Russian organisation, and handle the Application for you. For a fee of course - but it is a fairly competitive marketplace.

To get an idea of what's involved look at the Russian Embassy Russian Consulate and their handling agent
Russia Visa


The increasing difficulties over the last few years are a direct result of deteriorating relationships between the two governments and diplomatic 'tit for tat'.

One fairly new obstacle is a year multi entry visas no longer mean a year but have a restriction of 90 days in 180, giving the whole thing a 360 day lifespan.

A 'tit for tat' example - last year the British Embassy in Moscow stopped accepting personal Visa Applications and said they must be channelled through a handling agent - who charge a fee! In response, the Russian Embassy in London has now done the same - adding £25 to the already high cost for 5 day (actually a full week!) service or £32 for next day service.

And when protesting to your MP for a change in relationships and mutual easing of the Visa regieme, point out that the Russian Embassy charges a £30 fee for (for example) a 1 year multi-entry business visa, next day service to EU citizens. Unless that EU citizen also happens to be a UK citizen, when the Embassy fee for the same work/document increases 10 fold to £300 - plus the £32 for their Handling agents!

Rant over.

__________________
Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Hi, I found it virtually impossible to get a Russian business visa without having a used tourist visa in my passport first. I used Realrussia.com to get the tourist visa (£125 30 day validity!!) I,m going to get the business visa I need in Almaty when (if?) I get there. Already paid for a LOI for this visa thru Stantours (135 euro!). Terribly expensive but if you,ve gotta go... Good luck chief.