Finally, we have got Russian visa and I have to congratulate ourselves for this recognisable achievement.
If I knew how complicated it would be to get Russian visa, I would not even give a slight thought on the option when my husband offered me as a brilliant idea to stopover for five nights in Moscow on the way to Prague from Bangkok. However it was too late to pull out or change the decision when I realised that getting Russian visa is not easy ( Simply a pain!) because I had already booked flights and hotel for the memorable five nights. I had to admit that I have made a mistake to decide staying in Russia before checking visa requirements but I knew that I can’t change anything by complaining or regretting about our decision. All I could do is ‘face the problem and get over it!’.
From now I will write about our journey for getting Russian Visa and some tips for ‘ How to get Russian visa’ based on our live experience. I truly hope this will make your journey bit easier if you want/need to get Russian Visa.
At the beginning, I had to persuade myself to think about preparing stuff for Russian visa would be a good experience. I came to Australia from South Korea in 2001 and it took me 3 years to get a permanent resident status so I do know how hard to get visas and how complicated preparations are required to get the appropriate visas. So I personally have bit of allergic reaction on getting visas but I pushed myself to give a try. I browsed Russian Embassy Website (http://www.australia.mid.ru/11_e.html) and easily found 'visa on-line application' link ((http://visa.kdmid.ru<http://visa.kdmid.ru/>). The site advised that they will not accept any manual applications from 15 June 2013 and encouraged using on-line application form. It was absolutely no problem to use on-line form as I am a fan of no-paper working environment so I was happy for filling on-line application UNTIL it showed error message without any explanation. Technical error? It could happen as nothing is perfect so I patiently tried it again and again but it stopped exactly same page with same error message, “Error”. What would you do then? I rang the embassy for some help but no one picked up the phone. Next day, I tried it again and again, and the annoying error happened again and again, and I tried to ring them again and again. Suddenly and finally, someone picked up the phone and started speaking Russian. When I tried to explain why I rang in English, he shortened my question by saying in English (Thank God.) and ended the conversation.“ Ring between 3pm and 5 pm”. I tried many times to catch anyone between the time, I could only get the endless sound, “tototototototototototo....”.
When you don’t know where to find information you need, what you can do is help yourself. I searched internet again and lucky enough that I found PDF application form to fill-in manually. Bravo!! Still May 2013, so I thought the form would be fine to be accepted as they announced on their website the effective date will be the 15th of June 2013. I proudly, carefully and properly completed the form and attached all the supporting document such as flight confirmation, hotel booking vouchers and travel insurance details with our valid passport. I congratulated myself for the perfect preparation and organised a date to visit the Russian embassy in Sydney. It was not too bad (than I expected).
First time, my husband and I drove to Russian Embassy with well prepared visa requirements, I was sure that I would get the visa without problem as I was sure about my preparation. However, when we tried to enter the gate of the embassy, a guy who seemed to be on a same boat stopped and let us know that embassy was closed due to a public holiday in Russia. It was the 8th of May which is 'Victory day' in Russia. OMG...
Second visit, I was lucky enough that I could enter the embassy and get in a que. When I handed my application forms with supporting document, the officer looked at me and rejected my applications with two reasons. The first one was they don't accept manual form any longer and second reason was I needed to submit ' A copy of high quality or original standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher from a hosting Russian travel agency or hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorised to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation. Confirmation carries a REFERENCE-NUMBER of the hosting company (which confirms that this company is allowed to receive foreign tourists), personal data of each tourist, dates of trip, itinerary in Russia, services as paid. Confirmation and voucher must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company.' I couldn't understand what he really meant but there was no chance to get more details from him.
OMG.... I felt like that I came back to the spot where I started without any clue but all I could do was 'start again!'
Sorry for the long story but I want you to feel how frustrated I was at that time so I would like to share some practical tips from my live experience with you which can help you to get Russian visa easier.
Step 1. Take a deep breath. You will need this all the way.
Step 2. Get a list of what you need to submit to obtain a visa:
Step 3. Complete all travel booking, flights and hotels and travel insurance as you will need all the details to complete the on-line application form.
Step 4. Contact the hotels where you will stay in Russia to get the original standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher.Make sure the confirmation carries a REFERENCE-NUMBER of the hosting company (which confirms that this company is allowed to receive foreign tourists), personal data of each tourist, dates of trip, itinerary in Russia, services as paid. Confirmation and voucher must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company. It sounds more complicated than actual it is so do not worry too much.You can use some companies such as 'GotoRussia (www.gotorussia.com) that offers visa service and charge you $30 per person but your hotel would have own agency to issue them cheaper (about $15 per person). This visa requirement seems to me that they try to create a business to rip-off travellers but there is simply no way to avoid it so you have got to pay to have them.
Step 5. Prepare the information to complete the on-line application.
If I knew how complicated it would be to get Russian visa, I would not even give a slight thought on the option when my husband offered me as a brilliant idea to stopover for five nights in Moscow on the way to Prague from Bangkok. However it was too late to pull out or change the decision when I realised that getting Russian visa is not easy ( Simply a pain!) because I had already booked flights and hotel for the memorable five nights. I had to admit that I have made a mistake to decide staying in Russia before checking visa requirements but I knew that I can’t change anything by complaining or regretting about our decision. All I could do is ‘face the problem and get over it!’.
From now I will write about our journey for getting Russian Visa and some tips for ‘ How to get Russian visa’ based on our live experience. I truly hope this will make your journey bit easier if you want/need to get Russian Visa.
At the beginning, I had to persuade myself to think about preparing stuff for Russian visa would be a good experience. I came to Australia from South Korea in 2001 and it took me 3 years to get a permanent resident status so I do know how hard to get visas and how complicated preparations are required to get the appropriate visas. So I personally have bit of allergic reaction on getting visas but I pushed myself to give a try. I browsed Russian Embassy Website (http://www.australia.mid.ru/11_e.html) and easily found 'visa on-line application' link ((http://visa.kdmid.ru<http://visa.kdmid.ru/>). The site advised that they will not accept any manual applications from 15 June 2013 and encouraged using on-line application form. It was absolutely no problem to use on-line form as I am a fan of no-paper working environment so I was happy for filling on-line application UNTIL it showed error message without any explanation. Technical error? It could happen as nothing is perfect so I patiently tried it again and again but it stopped exactly same page with same error message, “Error”. What would you do then? I rang the embassy for some help but no one picked up the phone. Next day, I tried it again and again, and the annoying error happened again and again, and I tried to ring them again and again. Suddenly and finally, someone picked up the phone and started speaking Russian. When I tried to explain why I rang in English, he shortened my question by saying in English (Thank God.) and ended the conversation.“ Ring between 3pm and 5 pm”. I tried many times to catch anyone between the time, I could only get the endless sound, “tototototototototototo....”.
When you don’t know where to find information you need, what you can do is help yourself. I searched internet again and lucky enough that I found PDF application form to fill-in manually. Bravo!! Still May 2013, so I thought the form would be fine to be accepted as they announced on their website the effective date will be the 15th of June 2013. I proudly, carefully and properly completed the form and attached all the supporting document such as flight confirmation, hotel booking vouchers and travel insurance details with our valid passport. I congratulated myself for the perfect preparation and organised a date to visit the Russian embassy in Sydney. It was not too bad (than I expected).
First time, my husband and I drove to Russian Embassy with well prepared visa requirements, I was sure that I would get the visa without problem as I was sure about my preparation. However, when we tried to enter the gate of the embassy, a guy who seemed to be on a same boat stopped and let us know that embassy was closed due to a public holiday in Russia. It was the 8th of May which is 'Victory day' in Russia. OMG...
Second visit, I was lucky enough that I could enter the embassy and get in a que. When I handed my application forms with supporting document, the officer looked at me and rejected my applications with two reasons. The first one was they don't accept manual form any longer and second reason was I needed to submit ' A copy of high quality or original standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher from a hosting Russian travel agency or hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorised to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation. Confirmation carries a REFERENCE-NUMBER of the hosting company (which confirms that this company is allowed to receive foreign tourists), personal data of each tourist, dates of trip, itinerary in Russia, services as paid. Confirmation and voucher must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company.' I couldn't understand what he really meant but there was no chance to get more details from him.
OMG.... I felt like that I came back to the spot where I started without any clue but all I could do was 'start again!'
Sorry for the long story but I want you to feel how frustrated I was at that time so I would like to share some practical tips from my live experience with you which can help you to get Russian visa easier.
Step 1. Take a deep breath. You will need this all the way.
Step 2. Get a list of what you need to submit to obtain a visa:
- A completed application form (http://visa.kdmid.ru<http://visa.kdmid.ru/>), one per person.
- National passport (original) valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia. At least one page of the passport should be free from notes.
- One professional passport sized (3,5 x 4.5 cm) The photo should be attached to the specially marked place of the application form.
- A copy of high quality or original standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher from a hosting Russian travel agency or hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorised to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation.
- Copy of itinerary (flight details).
Step 3. Complete all travel booking, flights and hotels and travel insurance as you will need all the details to complete the on-line application form.
Step 4. Contact the hotels where you will stay in Russia to get the original standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher.Make sure the confirmation carries a REFERENCE-NUMBER of the hosting company (which confirms that this company is allowed to receive foreign tourists), personal data of each tourist, dates of trip, itinerary in Russia, services as paid. Confirmation and voucher must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company. It sounds more complicated than actual it is so do not worry too much.You can use some companies such as 'GotoRussia (www.gotorussia.com) that offers visa service and charge you $30 per person but your hotel would have own agency to issue them cheaper (about $15 per person). This visa requirement seems to me that they try to create a business to rip-off travellers but there is simply no way to avoid it so you have got to pay to have them.
Step 5. Prepare the information to complete the on-line application.
- The last three places of work, including the current one (Name, Address, Phone Number, Chief's surname and date of joining-dismissal)
- List of all educational institutions, except high schools (Name, Address, Phone number, Course of study and date of admission and graduation)
- List of all countries you have visited in the last ten years and indicate the year of visit
Step 6. Take a deep breath again.
Step 7. Complete the on-line form. If you prepared the things I mentioned earlier, it wouldn't be too hard to complete.
Step 8. Print out the form and attach passport photo.
Step 9. Attach supporting document to the application form.
- Application form with passport photo.
- Flight itineraries
- Hotel vouchers
- A copy of travel insurance voucher
- A copy of marriage certificate (If you have different surname with your partner)
Step 10. Go to the Embassy (Check opening time before you go. They open only short time in the morning for only 4 days (in sydney). Also, check Russian Public Holidays).
Step 11. Submit and pay.
Finally,
Step 12. You can get the visa!!! ( After waiting 7 working days.)
I am so glad that we have got the visa and ready to enjoy the unforgettable time there. I hope my tips can help you out from the confusion I have experience at the beginning.
пойти удачи -"go luck" in Russian
Sample of Russian Visa Tourist Confirmation
Sample of Russian Visa Tourist Voucher
1 comment:
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