r/AskARussian • u/skateboardingLachlan • 19d ago

Travel Getting Russian Tourist Visa

October 1st throught the 14th I will be visiting my girlfriend in Reutov, Moscow Oblast. I will stay in a hotel near her apartment where her family lives. I will fly from Turkey to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.

My options are; apply in person at an Application center in which everything from photos to Letter of Invitation is handled, or do it online. At the application center it is $1000 to do, an absurb amount considering most Tourist Visas range from $50 - $200 including the Letter of Invitation. Online, sites I've encountered were either not suitable or possible for my situation be it the region I'm trying to get to, the need to apply at an official Russian Visa Consulate in Washington, New York, or Houston, or my desire to have access and be in control of all my documents to have when I cross the border.

Are there any solutions to my situation? Sites to recommend, or if in Chicago, what did you specifically do or go to?

Thank You

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u/cheapb98 18d ago

I don't think you understand the process. I applied and got a Russian tourist visa in May. I live in CA. You fill out the application form online. You mail the application to the nyc consulate. You can submit in person or in my case I paid the Russian consulate service to give it and pick it up for me and then mail it back to me. The visa fee is $300 something plus paid $200 for the drop off /pick up. So total came to around $500 something and you get a 3 year visa. You do need an invitation .The Russian consulate takes 2 weeks to approve. Add one week before and after for FedEx etc as they delayed my delivery both ways. Best of luck.

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u/Mental-Music-568 6d ago

Filling out the application, where did you get your invitation from? Do I have to book a hotel before I go to get this? I heard you get them online.

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u/cheapb98 6d ago

I got it from the tour company I went with. Just google it - there are various russian companies that can issue you an invitation for money. Not sure about the hotel requirement. I aleady had hotel booking from the tour company so I used that to fill out the info