Post: #1

I'm planning to do a trip to meet some friends in Russia next week. I'm just not sure how to go about arranging a visa on such short notice. Can somebody tell me how fast I can get an invitation?

I can stay at a friend's place so I don't need a hotel. I remember some people book a hotel just to get a letter of invitation (LOI) and they then cancelled their booking 24 hours before departing to Russia. Is this the best way to get a LOI real fast. I also heard you can just go to a random hostel and pay like 1000 rubles to get yourself registered. Anyone experience with this?

Some help would be appreciated.

Post: #2

are you travelling from the UK?

Post: #3

You can get LOI's within 24 hours, shorter if you pay more. This is the easy part. Just pick some hostel/hotel in Russia and make sure you use the same one on your Russian visa application form.

Russian visa in US takes 10 days for normal processing. You can pay more to get it done fast but it is twice as much. Get it on ASAP.

Post: #4

Use http://www.realrussia.co.uk they have a 2 day turn around time if you order the express option. Absolute money company. I will always use them.

No hassle with the consulates. Affordable prices. Quick turn around.

Post: #5

^^^ Pretty sure that's who I used as well. No problems.

Post: #6

(08-07-2013 03:18 PM)Menace Wrote:  You can get LOI's within 24 hours, shorter if you pay more. This is the easy part. Just pick some hostel/hotel in Russia and make sure you use the same one on your Russian visa application form.

Russian visa in US takes 10 days for normal processing. You can pay more to get it done fast but it is twice as much. Get it on ASAP.

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. I'll be traveling from the Netherlands, so I suppose the UK visa service is not an option, but we've got similar agencies here.

Anyway, if picking the hostel is the easy part to get a LOI, what's the hard part? Has anybody experience with cancelling a hotel/hostel without getting into trouble?

Post: #7

There is no hard part for LOI. From what I have read it was originally intended to control the migration of people around Russia so that everyone doesn't just move to Moscow, or something like that. I could be wrong. You also need the Russian visa, and they can be very picky.

Post: #8

Is it the same process if I got an apartment through airbnb? I have a certain date I want to visit, but do they (the renter) need to fill something out on the visa or can I just fill their information out for them and call it good.

Post: #9

Ramacher I'm using AirbBnb and did that. Of course I haven't entered Russia and registered yet.

Post: #10

(08-08-2013 06:47 AM)Menace Wrote:  Ramacher I'm using AirbBnb and did that. Of course I haven't entered Russia and registered yet.

If you are going down the airbnb route, make sure you get written confirmation that your host will register you with the authorities. This can be done at the local post office. If however you are staying at a hotel or apartment rental agency, they will automatically do it so no need to worry.

What ever you do, dont lose your white registration slip, the one you fill out coming into the country and gets stamped by immigration.

Post: #11

Thanks Partizan. I pre-paid for registration/de-registration with the agency that got me my LOI. Could you tell me what exactly I have to fill out on the immigration form? Do I have to indicate where I'm staying?

Post: #12

(08-07-2013 04:43 PM)DQA Wrote:  

(08-07-2013 03:18 PM)Menace Wrote:  You can get LOI's within 24 hours, shorter if you pay more. This is the easy part. Just pick some hostel/hotel in Russia and make sure you use the same one on your Russian visa application form.

Russian visa in US takes 10 days for normal processing. You can pay more to get it done fast but it is twice as much. Get it on ASAP.

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. I'll be traveling from the Netherlands, so I suppose the UK visa service is not an option, but we've got similar agencies here.

Anyway, if picking the hostel is the easy part to get a LOI, what's the hard part? Has anybody experience with cancelling a hotel/hostel without getting into trouble?

Bro, you can use the link I posted above. Even if you are in the Netherlands. All you have to do is mail in your passport with express postage (make sure you have tracking on it). Then they will ship it back to you with express post.

Post: #13

(08-08-2013 10:03 AM)gandt Wrote:  Bro, you can use the link I posted above. Even if you are in the Netherlands. All you have to do is mail in your passport with express postage (make sure you have tracking on it). Then they will ship it back to you with express post.

It doesn't look like it:

he Russian consulate require that Netherlands nationals demonstrate that they have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 90 days before they will accept applications for visas from them. To provide proof of residency / address in the UK you should provide ONE the following documents listed below...

Anyway, I have called an agency that I used before in NL and they told me it can't be done in the time frame I require so I'm going to postpone my trip.

Good thing is: I'm moving to London next month, so eventually I can use this service

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.

Post: #14

BTW, US citizens can now get 5-year tourist visas for Kazakhstan for $160. Though I'm not sure how long each trip can be, and I'm not sure if a simple border hop will reset it.

http://www.kazakhembus.com/article/new-f...ting-aug-1