I need a Russian visa-Help
 

I want to ride Russia,Mongolia,Kazakhstan,Georgia........ this summer.I am a US citizen.I am not understanding the process for getting a visa for Russia.I need a minimum of 3 entrys.Which means I need a business visa.But I read that "you can only apply for the multiple-entry visa if you obtained a Russian visa before." But I believe others have done it.

On the Russian business visa support application,do I leave the spaces blank which ask -Your company name,phone number in Russia,and place of stay in Russia?

I know I read threads about visa "How to" before.But I can't find them now that I need them.Does anyone have a Visa Compass to point me in thr right direction?

Have a look in the North Asia section there are multiple threads about this there. But in short you can get a Multi-Entry Visa without previously having a visa.

Hello
Try also this site:
Russia - Lonely Planet travel forum
It's for Backpackers but they need the same visa.
sushi

I have read a lot of LP forum info.I have learned a lot.Maybe I will eventually come across my specifics.

Thanks

Depending on how long you want to stay each time you could opt for a transit visa. Much less of a headache but only valid for 10 days from entry each time.
Good luck

Having a US passport makes applying for a Russian Visa a little more complicated and expensive, as does the multiple entry aspect. You should be able to get a multiple entry visa without having gotten a Russian visa before though. Depending on your route you might be able to get a single entry visa and two (newly introduced) transit visas (10 days) for the two other legs. The stretch through the Altai from Mongolia to Kazakhstan can easily be done in ten days. It starts getting complicated if you are applying for a visa without the aid of a agent, especially a business visa. We had to fabricate two fictional companies to apply for ours. Basically the whole process is a bit of a farce and frustrating. Hope that info helps a little at least.

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Forget Lonely Planet

Craig above has the right answer.

vette

I found this recently. "Starting September 9,2012 Russian and American travelers for business or tourism will be eligible to receive visas valid for multiple entries during a period of 36 months." "Thanks to the agreement, three-year, multiple-entry visas will become the standard “default” terms for U.S. citizens visiting Russia and Russian citizens visiting the United States. No formal invitation will be required to apply for a business or tourism visa, although applicants seeking Russian tourist visas must continue to hold advance lodging reservations and arrangements with a tour operator."

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Hi Doogle,

Do you have the link you can post, so we can refer to it?

vette

It on the US embassy website - note it only applies to US citizens.

I am in the process of getting the 3 year, multiple entry visa for Russia. My Passport is actually with the Russian councelet in Seattle right now. The company Rainier World Travel Inc. Is very helpful. they even got my invite letter.

The cost was about $450 for everything.

I use gotorussia.com out of atlanta georgia. They have gotten my RU visa 4 times now, & will get it for me again this year. helpful, no BS, & they do what they say they will do.

Doug

This is where I found it:
Embassy of Russia to the USA, Washington

That sounds a bit high.This is what I got off the Russian Embassy site:


Visa fee - $ 160.00

The visa processing fees are:

For a single and double entry visa:
$140 for 4-15 business days processing;
$250 for 3 business days processing;

For a multiple-entry visa up to 3 years:
$160 for 4-15 calendar days processing;
$450 for 3 business days processing;





If it costs $160 for the visa and $160 for processing,what are the other costs to get to $450? Or am I missing something?

I have another question about "What first?"

I only have 4 clear pages left in my passport.I need to have pages added to allow for all the countrys I will travel through.Do I need to have pages added before I send it off for the visa? I have no idea what changes take place when pages are added.Do they remove the old ones? Would the Russian visa still be good after the changes are made?

Although it has been a while since I have done it,
adding pages to a US passport did not involve removing anything.
20 extra pages or so were affixed between pages 18 and 19 with a notice that a supplement was added stamped on the first of the extra pages.
Extra pages were numbered A to X to differentiate from the other pages with numbers on them.
The pages were taped in, so there was clear tape over some old visas. Clearly visible, but I don't know how it would affect the validity of any new ones. You may want to have the extra pages put in first so they don't put any tape over a valid visa. A less scrupulous border official would use that as an excuse for an extra "fee" (of course, those type would find an excuse no matter what you did:eek3:).

This was 1997, however, so the situation may be different now...

Thanks Chris.

Of additional concern is the time-length your passport is good. If your passport is going to expire in a couple of years, and you want to go to a lot of places, perhaps it would be wise just to get a new passport before getting visas, etc.

It is something to consider...

YMMV

I just renewed 3 years ago.I thought about renewing. But adding pages is "just" $82.I am hoping it is a faster turn around also.

Russian & other visas
 

Last year I needed visas for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia plus a guide in Turkmenistan. All was organised expertly and painlessly by David Berghof of Stantours contactable via STANTOURS - Central Asia Travel Resources. He guided me through the process; arranged the on-line submission of the application forms and all I had to do was send my passport and pay the fees. He is highly recommended.