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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
-
- 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.,)
-
-
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).
Processing
Instructions
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
- TDS Service Fee:
- $50.00 Visa Issued in 6 to 7 Days
- $75.00 Visa Issued in 3 to 4 Business Days
- Embassy/Consular Fee: ( Single Entry Visa )
- $131.00 Per Visa - 6 to 7 Days
- $250.00 Per Visa - 3 to 4 Business Days
-
- Embassy/Consular Fee: ( Double Entry Visa )
- $131.00 Per Visa - 6 to 7 Days
- $250.00 Per Visa - 3 to 4 Business Days
-
Return Postage
Continental USA Only -
$23.00 FedEx (Next Business Day - up to 3 passports)
$26.00 FedEx (Next Business Day - 4 or more passports)
$39.00 FedEx (Saturday Delivery)
Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, USVI -
$39.00 FedEx Next Day Letter (No Saturday Delivery)
Note: The visa processing times above are estimates only and may be extended by the Embassy without notice during busy periods.
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.
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