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#11
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Visa Russia - some questions
As I understand it, to get a visa I need to pre-book a hotel and get a
letter from the hotel as evidence. Is this correct? If so, is it possible to book hotels on-line and use confirmation e-mails as evidence that I have accommodation? Bruce |
#12
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Visa Russia - some questions
Björn Olsson wrote in message ...
I'm not experienced with travelling through Russia but I trevelled through Ukraine twice, so I know about the problems and complications that can happen on journeys through such regions. Naturally, Ukraine and Russia are not the same, especially concerning visa matters. Hmmm.. I thought they were more or less the same. What differs? There are lots of differences; especially for EU-citizens getting Ukraine visa is very easy. The thing is that you can get a private visa without an invitation. You only have to write an adress in the Ukraine on the visa form. This is the guy who "invites" you. Nobody will ever check out if this is true or false. The second thing is that the registration thing is "dead law" in Ukraine. Formally you have to register, but nobody does and nobody cares. So, Ukraine is much easier than Russia! |
#13
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Visa Russia - some questions
bruce phipps wrote:
As I understand it, to get a visa I need to pre-book a hotel and get a letter from the hotel as evidence. Is this correct? If so, is it possible to book hotels on-line and use confirmation e-mails as evidence that I have accommodation? I used St Petersberg YH for this. I had to pay a fee and a night's accomodation, so it wasn't cheap, but worth it. They understood I wasn't staying there, but provided me with the invitation and registration when I arrived. There were hotels that would take a booking and not charge you and send you an invitation, but I got the impression that whoever invited you had to register you, so that could be a mistake. joan -- Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org |
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Visa Russia - some questions
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#15
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Visa Russia - some questions
(Joan McGalliard) wrote in message ...
bruce phipps wrote: As I understand it, to get a visa I need to pre-book a hotel and get a letter from the hotel as evidence. Is this correct? If so, is it possible to book hotels on-line and use confirmation e-mails as evidence that I have accommodation? I used St Petersberg YH for this. I had to pay a fee and a night's accomodation, so it wasn't cheap, but worth it. They understood I wasn't staying there, but provided me with the invitation and registration when I arrived. There were hotels that would take a booking and not charge you and send you an invitation, but I got the impression that whoever invited you had to register you, so that could be a mistake. I have once (about a year ago) done this, and it worked just fine. My invitation letter for a private visa arrived too late, so the travel agent helped me out by booking a hotel for a night without a charge, and I later registered by myself at the local immigrations office. Self-registration like that is not recommended if you don't speak russian, but whatever hotel you actually stay at can do the registration for you (i.e. they can bring your passport to the immigrations office for registration for you). Bjorn |
#16
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Visa Russia - some questions
And if you move around get each hotel to register you withing 72 hours of
your arrival. Show your card complete with all the stamps to customs on leaving the country and you should be fine. The problems start when you haven't been stamped (i.e there is a gap where your wherabouts were 'unaccounted' for). There are still some unscrupulous officers who will try to fine you (rip you off). "Bjorn Olsson" wrote in message om... (bruce phipps) wrote in message . com... As I understand it, to get a visa I need to pre-book a hotel and get a letter from the hotel as evidence. Is this correct? Yep. If so, is it possible to book hotels on-line and use confirmation e-mails as evidence that I have accommodation? I don't think so, but the hotel will know exactly what you need and send that to you. Bjorn |
#17
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Visa Russia - some questions
Björn Olsson wrote in message ...
tom wrote: If somehow possible i don't want to book accomodation in advance because I don't really know how long I will stay in different places. So, a business visa should be the right thing. But it requires an invitation letter from a company or organisation, so you'd need to know someone working there who could make up some excuse for inviting you. As far as I know this is only a matter of paying the proper price for this invitation. There is no need what so ever, to be on business in order to get a business visa. Alternatively, in case you know someone living in Russia, he/she could make a private invitation for you. That type of visa is as flexible as the business visa (no accomodation bookings required). Takes a couple of months to arrange, though. A privat visa / ordinar visa is as far as I know more or less just like a tourist visa exept from that you stay with friends in a priveate home, and therefore don't need any hotel bookings. If I have got it right such a visa also tells where you are supposted to stay. Jan |
#18
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Visa Russia - some questions
?ystein wrote:
Björn Olsson wrote in message ... tom wrote: If somehow possible i don't want to book accomodation in advance because I don't really know how long I will stay in different places. So, a business visa should be the right thing. But it requires an invitation letter from a company or organisation, so you'd need to know someone working there who could make up some excuse for inviting you. As far as I know this is only a matter of paying the proper price for this invitation. Sure, but there must be someone to pay this price to. There is no need what so ever, to be on business in order to get a business visa. AFAIK the invitation must "explain the nature of the business to be performed". One can of course make something up, but you'd still need a company or organisation to write it for you. I've done this through a university once, with help of personal contacts, but I don't really see how the average tourist could arrange the same. Alternatively, in case you know someone living in Russia, he/she could make a private invitation for you. That type of visa is as flexible as the business visa (no accomodation bookings required). Takes a couple of months to arrange, though. A privat visa / ordinar visa is as far as I know more or less just like a tourist visa exept from that you stay with friends in a priveate home, and therefore don't need any hotel bookings. If I have got it right such a visa also tells where you are supposted to stay. Maybe. I haven't really paid attention to it. They ask about itinieray on the application form, but they don't seem to care much what you write or where you stay. I once spent a week in St Petersburg before arriving at my supposed destination, and there were no problems whatsoever. I've done numerous other unplanned deviations from the planned itineary, and never has even an eyebrow been raised. Bjorn |
#19
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Visa Russia - some questions
Björn Olsson wrote in message ...
?ystein wrote: Björn Olsson wrote in message ... tom wrote: If somehow possible i don't want to book accomodation in advance because I don't really know how long I will stay in different places. So, a business visa should be the right thing. But it requires an invitation letter from a company or organisation, so you'd need to know someone working there who could make up some excuse for inviting you. As far as I know this is only a matter of paying the proper price for this invitation. Sure, but there must be someone to pay this price to. In 2000 Lonely Planet reccommends 3 reliable organizations (st Petersburg, Moscow and Helsinki), that issue business visas for 2-4 weeks for 35-90$. Proceeding time is 1 to 3 weeks. I think the price exsamples are for US citizens. If true all other nationalities pay less. There is no need what so ever, to be on business in order to get a business visa. AFAIK the invitation must "explain the nature of the business to be performed". One can of course make something up, but you'd still need a company or organisation to write it for you. I've done this through a university once, with help of personal contacts, but I don't really see how the average tourist could arrange the same. According to Loenely Planet the formal point of the invitation is that the inviting organization guarantee to support you during your stay. They don't mention any need for documantation on that you visit Russia on Business Another interesting alternative is a student visa. To get one you have to enroll on a Russian university or other kind of school. A summer school in Russian for a couple of weeks fulfill this need. In adition to be more flexible than tourist visas, you get reduced prices on domestic flights and other places that have a reduced price for student. I am not sure if a student visa gives you the right to reduced prices on museums with a higher price for foreigners. Alternatively, in case you know someone living in Russia, he/she could make a private invitation for you. That type of visa is as flexible as the business visa (no accomodation bookings required). Takes a couple of months to arrange, though. A privat visa / ordinar visa is as far as I know more or less just like a tourist visa exept from that you stay with friends in a priveate home, and therefore don't need any hotel bookings. If I have got it right such a visa also tells where you are supposted to stay. Maybe. I haven't really paid attention to it. They ask about itinieray on the application form, but they don't seem to care much what you write or where you stay. I once spent a week in St Petersburg before arriving at my supposed destination, and there were no problems whatsoever. I've done numerous other unplanned deviations from the planned itineary, and never has even an eyebrow been raised. In according to Lonely Planet this usually works out fine in the big cities, but ccan be a problem in rural areas. Jan |
#20
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Visa Russia - some questions
Hi there,
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