Phil: How recent is your experience, what was cost of visa (and type), and did you need insurance? Charles
On 11/25/08 4:03 PM, "Philip Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > To all the folks who need to renew/secure the Russian visa - try Belgrade, > Serbia. Americans don't need a visa. Just go to the Russian consulate. They > use a short form, and after waiting in line for your turn, it only takes a few > moments if your have your invitation in order. Then you go to the bank and > pay, return with the receipt and get the visa. The office is only open a > couple of days a week and only in the morning. Get there early for a place in > line - say 8:30 or even earlier - and don't forget to get a number from the > gentleman guarding the gate. > > I use a service in Moscow to get the invitation properly done - Dave's. > Reasonable and no hassle. > > Phil Smith > > > > > > Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:40:10 +0300 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Expat List Belarus visa... > > Hmmm... > > I would never attempt traveling to Belarus without a visa, as an American. > > One fine day, five years ago, when some chap named Alexander was returning to > Moscow with his fiancee from a romantic week in Prague, he thought he could > get through Belarus without a visa. He thought is "incoming" transit visa was > good enough, though expired. What ensued? Alexander got a free escort to > Warsaw. No chances for bribes, negotiations, nothing. "Off to Warshava for > you, Amerikanski." > > Yes, I was coming in from Europe that time. Yes, if you get denied at the > border, you'll simply get stuck in Russia (until your Russian visa runs out. > :) > > I mean, why not just pay the $40 for a Belarus visa?!? > > It simply boggles my mind how many "cool visa shortcuts" I hear from expats. > I get the impression that some people have very little to lose. And I've > heard literally dozens of bad-luck stories from people trying to cut corners. > > To Americans in Russia, needing a new Russian visa, I say: > * If you need a visa FAST: fly to NYC. > * If you need a visa CHEAP, and you can wait a week or two, pick a town in > Europe where you have friends/a place to stay. (Belarus is fine -- but get a > damn visa.) > I simply see NO point in cutting a $40 corner. The Belorussians CAN mess with > you for not having a visa. The Belorussians also CAN demand a 10-day waiting > period at the Russian consulate there. Maybe they WON'T, but -- Hell Yes, > They CAN. > > I don't care if it's been done successfully a billion times. This > seat-of-the-pants "wonder-solution" is NOT something I'd recommend to any > American with a family who they love, or an important job, waiting for them > back in Russia. > > I've been living in Moscow for 6 years, as an independent. I don't take > chances anymore. > > REGISTRATION: > > About the registration, I have to agree 100% there. No need to use a > "service." However, the Registering Party MUST submit paperwork (mail a > letter) when your visa expires, or whenever you leave the city for 3+ days. > If you violate this rule, the fines can be disastrous to the party who > registered you. (Never happened to me, but the Codex stipulates fines in the > tens of thousands of bucks -- even to private parties.) > > All the best, and good luck! > > -Alexander > > > _______________________________________________ > Expat mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.lists.ru/mailman/listinfo/expat > http://www.expat.ru/forum/
_______________________________________________ Expat mailing list [email protected] http://www.lists.ru/mailman/listinfo/expat http://www.expat.ru/forum/
