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REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS TO OBTAIN VISA TO ENTER RUSSIA

Private Visit or Homestay Visit

• Passport, signed, (valid for further 3 months) required to be submitted, not a photocopy
• 1 Visa Application Form, fully completed and signed
  
  

  Application Form (for US, UK and Georgian citizens)

  Application Form (for NON-US citizens)

  The Application Form must be completed in CAPITALS
  
  

• 1 Passport-type photograph. Please do not attach photo to the application, TDS will do this for you.
• Non-U.S. citizens: Should submit a photocopy of your medical insurance card and also provide proof of legal status in the USA (Permanent Resident Card, or I-94 etc.,)
• Completed Cover Page and Credit Card Authorization forms (print from browser)
• 1 Completed itinerary form (This form prints in ADOBE PDF format, on TDS letterhead and addressed to the "Embassy of the Russian Federation).
• Visa entitlement certificate (IZVESHENIYE) from the local OVIR in Russia. Your host must obtain this certificate for you and send the original certificate to you.
  
  Your host will need to know all of the following:
• Your Full Name; Address;
• Nationality;
• Passport Number and Date of Birth;
• Your Date of Arrival/Departure in Russia.
• (The cost of OVIR application is about USD35. Allow 4-6 weeks for OVIR's approval).

Please forward the completed requirements detailed above to:

TRAVEL DOCUMENT SYSTEMS, INC.,
925 Fifteenth Street N.W. Suite 300
Washington D.C. 20005

Processing time commences when all correct documents have been received by the Consulate. Your application will be checked and hand carried to the Russian Federation Consulate; normal processing time is approximately 6 to 7 days.

Fees

Include credit card authorization, a check or money order payable to "Travel Document Systems, Inc." for TDS Handling Fee, Embassy Consular Fee, and return Shipping Fee.

Review Application form for Common Problems:

• Question 1-7 must be answered by all applicants
• Question 8 is to be answered if you knowwhat kind of visa you're requesting
• Question 12 is to be answered if you've already visited Russia
• Question 15 is to be answered if you have Medical Insurance valid in Russia. You should put the policy number and insurance company name.
• Question 16 is to be answered if you are traveling with children included in your passport. A child having their own passport must apply for a visa separately.
• Question 18-21 must be answered by all applicants

Visa Notes

• The above visa requirements apply to the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC.
• It is recommended that you carry copies of your visa support with you to Russia. You must register your visa at a local OVIR or Police Station within 72 hours of arrival in Russia.
• If the visa support invitation or telex has been sent by Interior Ministry telex directly to the Russian Consular office in Washington DC, please note that no processing begins on the application until the Embassy confirms receipt.
• Visas valid for more than 90 days must be confirmed through the Ministry of Interior in Moscow. higher visa fees and longer processing time usually apply in these cases.
• Passport must have at least three months remaining validity and contain at least one blank visa page for visa to be issued. TDS can assist with obtaining U.S. Passports, whether new issue, renewal, or obtaining additional visa pages for a valid passport.
• Special requirements exist for U.S. Official and Diplomatic Passport Holders

REGISTER YOUR TRIP:

The U.S. Department of State encourages all American travelers to register with their local Embassy or Consulate when arriving in a foreign country. Registration helps the Embassy to provide important services for American citizens residing or traveling abroad. Some of these services include:

• Locating individuals in cases of family or personal emergencies,
• Relaying important travel and safety information about the region,
• Arranging evacuation transportation in cases of natural disaster or civil unrest,
• Issuing replacement passports when originals are lost, and
• A number of other administrative services relating to personal documentation.

Without the information provided through registration, the Embassy is severely hindered in its ability to provide these services. Many of these services involve emergency situations and time constraints, therefore failure to register will almost certainly lead to delays at moments when you can least afford them.

Register Online with U.S. Embassy in this Country

INFORMATION AND FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
REVISED 0

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