Russia Visa
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK
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3 visas since summer 2016. A little more paperwork than ideal but smooth admin. Relax and go with it. Points:
A letter of invitation is important but easy. All hotels or tour operators will provide, often by return email. Get them to confirm which ref to use on the visa application. If you have not booked a hotel before applying for the visa a local company will send a generic invite to the city. Google will find one. A little leap of faith required. We did that for a white nights week in St Petersburg.
I used the Manchester office. In and out the building inside 15 minutes. Passport and visa by registered mail inside 7 days. London is busier but very well organised; have used them for my two work visas.
On arrival you need to register with the local immigration office. Sounds daunting but hotels, even the small lodging houses will do this for you. Check with them before you go.
One note of caution if you plan to tour independently ; you should reregister in each town.
I also only gave details of current plus last expired passport and only listed visits with passport stamps plus a couple of Euro holidays with approximate dates.
I declared full mil history including Kosovo. No problems or follow up questions.
They now also want more family details and info about social media accounts. That I refused to give with suitable selection of the 'correct' drop down option.
St Petersburg is a great city. We were there the week of the England vs Russia football but despite all the anti-Russian media frenzy the locals were without exception friendly and good humoured. Expensive by Russian standards but still very reasonable if you avoid the trendy clubs with black mercs parked nearby. Food and drink superb, everywhere immaculate and enough culture for an Activia addict. Have fun.
A letter of invitation is important but easy. All hotels or tour operators will provide, often by return email. Get them to confirm which ref to use on the visa application. If you have not booked a hotel before applying for the visa a local company will send a generic invite to the city. Google will find one. A little leap of faith required. We did that for a white nights week in St Petersburg.
I used the Manchester office. In and out the building inside 15 minutes. Passport and visa by registered mail inside 7 days. London is busier but very well organised; have used them for my two work visas.
On arrival you need to register with the local immigration office. Sounds daunting but hotels, even the small lodging houses will do this for you. Check with them before you go.
One note of caution if you plan to tour independently ; you should reregister in each town.
I also only gave details of current plus last expired passport and only listed visits with passport stamps plus a couple of Euro holidays with approximate dates.
I declared full mil history including Kosovo. No problems or follow up questions.
They now also want more family details and info about social media accounts. That I refused to give with suitable selection of the 'correct' drop down option.
St Petersburg is a great city. We were there the week of the England vs Russia football but despite all the anti-Russian media frenzy the locals were without exception friendly and good humoured. Expensive by Russian standards but still very reasonable if you avoid the trendy clubs with black mercs parked nearby. Food and drink superb, everywhere immaculate and enough culture for an Activia addict. Have fun.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: South of France
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ORAC, my mother was Irish, how do I go from there?
2. Send nauseating amount of documents to Irish Embassy
3. Wait ten months for receipt of FBR
4. Fill in forms for passport online. Pay €80.
5. Send all the documents you sent before plus FBR to Irish Embassy
6. Wait two months for receipt of passport.
Above based on getting my daughter her FBR/passport (applied December 2016 received passport last week) - and I am an Irish Citizen.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
That’s the problem with the current rush of applications. They had to set up and man a new department just to handle the new applicants. Thankfully I got mine about 40 years ago when it cheaper - and faster.
ITAR/ dual nationality issues did cause hassle though - and a role in more than one project.
ITAR/ dual nationality issues did cause hassle though - and a role in more than one project.
OXENOS, Go for it, Mrs. F and I had a great trip two years ago on a river cruise from Moscow to St P. You do need to have the trip booked first but there is no problem with the visas, we used CIBT for the visas and we didn't need to go to the embassy, just their office. The whole holiday was marvellous, the russians are so friendly and keen to show thier country, warts and all.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Age: 87
Posts: 1,329
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This could be a problem for dual passport holders, who have used different passports at different times to avoid Israeli visas in passports used for Arab countries, etc.
