Azerbaijan LOI - new procedure?
 

Anyone know what's happening with this?

We got our LOI through Stantours weeks ago, now our visa agency (travcour) is telling us that the procedure changed last week and we need new LOIs with foreign ministry approval number.

Anyone else run into this problem?

Got my visa through Scotsvisas a few weeks back, and they told me I was lucky to have my visa when I did because the procedure with the LOI was about to change and it would become more difficult.

I thought this sounded like a load of rubbish to try and make me feel better about shelling out 80 quid or whatever it was it cost me. However it sounds like they were telling the truth!


Is it not possible to get a visa on-route in either Istanbul or Ankara?

Don't know. HUBB search doesn't seem to be working.

I'd really like to know if there is a way to get it en-route, cos if it takes time to get a new LOI we're screwed.

We're due to leave in 4 weeks....

I've been pointed towards the lonely planet forum in the past for specific country/travel info. Their Azerbaijan section seems to have a few people asking the same questions as you:
Europe - Eastern Europe and the Caucasus - Thorn Tree travel forum - Lonely Planet

Looks like you might have to shell out a bit of cash as the word seems to be all the Azeri embasseys will start requiring the new LOI at some point :( Unless you fancy chancing it, but then you could end up stranded for a fourtnight waiting for a LOI and then a visa.

Heard back from Stantours and yes, they now require LOIs to be issued by MFA (whatever that is - foreign ministry or something) and it is going to be more expensive (by about $100).

I can live with the expense as long as we get the visa in time....

PS Stantours are very good people to deal with. For example they are discounting the cost of the new LOI by more than we already paid them for the first one.

Get it en route...some consulates are easier than others...Istanbul is historically an easy place to pick up visas....plus while waiting, you can travel Turkey to Cappadochia, etc...by bus.

HTH

Hi,

Services of Stantour are very expensive....I got my azeri, tajik and mongol LOIs through TRAVELAZERBAIJAN - RENA SALMANOVA - ALLA RAKHMANINA (20 $ per country). I followed the advice of one tourist, here is his web-page: Travel information for Azerbaijan & Baku