Dates of entry/exit question for visa application
Replies: 27 - Last Post: Dec 21, 2012 10:20 PM Last Post By: anmarsaddi75
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Dates of entry/exit question for visa application
Hi there, I am so impressed with how helpful some of you are on this site. I have gathered some great info for my tourist visa process to Russia. Thank you! I am heading to Krasnoyarsk and then will spend a day or so in Moscow on my way back. I am Canadian and will be applying in Toronto embassy.1.My first question is: when applying for your tourist visa, for the "Entry date" and "Exit date"... do I put the actual entry/exit dates that are on my itinerary or the dates I provided for the LOI (I added a few days extra on both ends just to be safe as was advised on this site.)
For example:
Actual travel dates: Feb.4/13 - Feb-26/13
Dates on LOI: Feb.1/13 - Mar.1/13
2.Another quick question: I don't have any accommodations booked, however, on the site I obtained my LOI from (Real Russia) they stated that i can choose any hotel; If I choose to stay at another hotel, will I have any problems with registration at that hotel being that that wouldn't be the original hotel listed on my LOI and visa?
Thanks in advance!!
1
1, List the dates on your LOI, your itinerary doesn't need to give specific dates, just the places you intend on visiting.2, No, you can stay wherever you want, your visa will just name East West Link as your inviting organisation, no hotels or even cities are listed on the visa its self so the hotel won't know what hotel you named on your app, not that they're likely to care in any case.
2
#1:I am planning a trip to Russia in June and so I will begin the LOI and visa process in early Spring (Feb/Mar timeframe). However, based on the original post and your response, I have two follow up questions:
1. What is East West Link? The original poster stated that the LOI was obtained from Real Russia. Is East West link the name of the company that operates the Real Russia website?
2. In my case, I am planning to obtain my LOI through visa to Russia (www.visatorussia.com). Any recommendations as to how they compare to Real Russia?
Thanks.
3
Since this thread is about visas in general, I have one more question:U.S. citizens can apply for single entry visas 90 days in advance at the Russian embassy in DC. However, is that 90 days prior to date of entry or date of exit? In other words, if my entry/exit dates are June 1st to June 20th, can I apply for my visa on March 1st or do I have to wait until March 20th to apply?
The exact date on which a visa application can be submitted is not clearly stated on the embassy website.
Thanks.
4
@2 East West Link is simply the Moscow based partner to Real Russia, only approved Russian companies can issue tourist invitations.There's very little difference between the two, Real Russia is slightly cheaper and don't charge extra for the same day service.
There's been a recent change though for Americans, where a LOI is no longer required, just a hotel booking, at least that's the case for the new multiple entry visa.
5
@ 3 It would be prior to entry. In the US visa processing has been taken over by a company called ILS, they at least state that they don't except applications more than 60 working days beforehand.http://www.ils-usa.com/
6
Yes, I was aware that ILS has taken over the visa processing in the U.S., but this is the first I am hearing about the LOI. Nowhere does it say that on any of the instructions either on the website of the embassy itself or on the ILS website. It does mention a recent 3 year multiple entry visa.I believe visa to Russia is operated by a company called Intel Service based in Moscow. Hence, if I use them, I presume that would be listed on the visa as the legal Russian sponsor, right?
7
Thank you for your response.I also have another question:
I have a friend who had previously visited Russia and ended up staying there for about 8 years (staying not with the proper legal process I believe). She has since came back to Canada but would like to go back just for a visit, coming back on the expected date this time. She returned to Canada about 3 years ago and I am not too sure what the process was she had to go through to get back to Canada being that she overstayed her original visa, but I believe she didn't have any issues.
My question is, when applying for the visa, for the countries visited in the last ten years, do we enter the date that she was leaving Russia last? Will there be any issues for her obtaining another visa?
8
@6 Yes the ILS website isn't the clearest source of information, it was really bad when it first launched but it has improved a little. It looks like you still require a LOI for the standard 30 day tourist visa, it's what they refer to as a "confirmation".Yes on your visa Intel Service will listed as your host/inviting organisation.
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@7 You would but the date she entered in that section, but the application form should also ask when did she last enter Russia and then leave, it also asks if you have ever overstayed a visa. Overstaying in its self would mean an automatic refusal, but if she there illegally for 8 years I'd be surprised if a visa was granted again.You need a visa to both enter and exit Russia so unless she was some how smuggled out of the country, she would have had to apply for an exit visa and pay a fine.
10
@9- yes she did apply for a visa upon exit as well as a canadian passport (as hers expired during her stay there). She seemed to have no problems and did not have to pay a fine nor did she get deported. She entered Russia as a minor at age 11 under her mothers visa apparently and believe never actually had a visa under her name. Not sure how to go about this situation when applying for her visa. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!ONE more question: on the visa application it asks for your passport type, It seems that none of the answers are fitting if im just a regular canadian citizen.. what would be the correct answer? I entered official passport but I dont think that is correct as it skipped a bunch of questions that I know I would otherwise need to answer.
Thanks again for all of your help!!
11
She'll have to apply for a visa in exactly the same way as anyone else, if she was never fined I'd say that's a good sign and the authorities don't think she broke any Russian law. The consulate will most likely want your friend to explain why she was there for so long, but since she was a minor for most of this time and was taken there by her mother she'll probably be OK.Your passport type assuming it is just a regular one would be a tourist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passport#Types
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#11:I haven't seen the online visa application yet since my trip is only in June. However, based on the comments in this post, I am guessing that the form asks us to list countries visited in the last 10 years. In addition to leisure travel, I travel quite a bit for business and I don't think I can recall every single trip I have taken in the past 10 years let alone exact dates of trips. Does this list have to be complete and accurate?
13
@12 No, there not going to be checking with every government to see if you've travelled there but I'd include those that are visible in your current passport just on the off chance that they spot a visa stamp for a country you have not listed. That said its highly unlikely they'd refuse a visa for that reason in any case, most of the questions now asked are rather pointless and are only there on a tit for tat bases because Russian citizens are asked similar questions when applying for visas to certain countries. The majority of those applying for a Russian visa still only fill out a simple one page document.ADVERTISEMENT
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