Russian Visas

[ASB]

On the offchance that somebody has been through the same (or similar) I thought I'd try here since I can (as is usual) get no sense out of the embassy.

Middle of next month I have to go to Moscow again. So I am in the process of getting an invite sent to support the business Visa. Trying for 6 months multiple entry this time. This will be the usual debacle without a doubt.

Question is, how can I get a tourist visa to cover part of the period (one of the trips I make during this period) for my wife.

Embassy say "you'll have to get here an invite to coincide with yours and she'll have to do the whole business visa thing" (I can't get her an invite). Only other suggestion is "give us details of the booked trip and we'll do a tourist visa". That doesn't work too well given I'll be going at extremely short notice.

Anybody got any other suggestions?? All I want to do is get her a visa so she can accompany me if it happens to be convenient.

[AtW]

There should be loads of agencies in Moscow that specialise in making such invites, you could also ask your employer - or whoever gave you info necessary to get business visa: wrap it up as that you want your wife to come to Russia and learn how to be a good wife (ie: cook, clean, look after kids etc)...

[Central-Scrutiniser]

Kinder, Küche, Kirche

Doubleplusgood

[sunnysan]

Russian Wives

I am in Eastern europe atm.

Was at dinner last night with wifes cousin and hubby came home, and she got up and took his coat and hung it up.

Never seen an English girl do that...

[ASB]

There should be loads of agencies in Moscow that specialise in making such invites, you could also ask your employer - or whoever gave you info necessary to get business visa: wrap it up as that you want your wife to come to Russia and learn how to be a good wife (ie: cook, clean, look after kids etc)...

Cheers Alexei. Problem is trying to get the Russian Co to issue the invite to her as well. We're negotiating about that. Problem with business visas as well is the cost, since the embassy continually change the bloody rules. Last one cost about 400 quid (to be fair the agent made 5 trips to the con sulate).

Maybe you could send me your passport and I'll stick the wifes photo in it, neatly attached to a 100 dollar bill. That would probably work.

[HankWangford]

try these

I have always used this lot based in edinburgh
RussianGateway
They have russians working for them who understand the best ways to beat their stupid visa system. Or try asking the question here, plenty of guys in the same boat russian meeting place

[AtW]

HankWangford is right - best to pay some people who know inside out (ie they know who to bride and for how much) than try to understand the freaking system - Russian Embassy is the worst place that I had to visit in the UK, and I was in "privileged" position of being able to bypass the queue in front going directly inside! Fkers should sell posh building in Kensington and buy cheaper one on outskirts of London, but on money saved hire lots more people to process all tasks quickly.

My sister was getting UK visa few days ago in Moscow and even though its now outsourced job to some Indian company they did all quickly in like one day no problems at all.

[Clog II The Avenger]

I did a similar thing without problems, the business invitation coat about £25 and it went straight to the Consulates’ computer system. I obtained a multiple entry visa then afterwards I got a three month holiday visa with a faxed invitation and hotel voucher.

There was no problem changing the schedule once I was in Russia, I worked for Gazprom (unknown in the West at that time). The important thing is to register your stay either in the hotel or with the local office.

The only minor problems I had was in the Siberian Republics as they reluctant recognise Moscow’s’ authority in issuing a visa for all of the CIS, but in the end they gave way and they stamped my passport after I paid the local Council Tax for the duration of my stay ( about £4.50)

I will dig up the details of the agency in Moscow and post it on the site for you.

[darmstadt]

Not Russia but Kuwait

I have to go to Kuwait to build and install a system shortly but I cannot find any information about visas. The website (UK) looks a bit dodgy and being resident in Germany I'm not too sure that what is on the German website applies to me. Looking on the FCO website it states that I might not get entry or a visa anyway as I have Israeli stamps in my passport but it doesn't say what to do in this case. I presume that getting a second passport is possible except the embassy in Germany has replied to me. Anyone been through this carp before?

[AtW]

You might have to change passport to not have those Israeli stamps in it - it could get rough: remember they have Sharia laws here and I think they still cut hands and heads there. And one more hint - for your own sake dont wear your tight bikini in public there...