Obtaining Russian visa in South East Asia

I will be in SEA for several months before taking the Trans Siberian Railroad from Beijing and into Russia (through Mongolia). What would be the most logical hassle-free way of getting a Russian and Chinese Visa? I most likely will be visiting Thailand, Indonesia,and the Phillipines (China and Mongolia too of course)...

What is your passport?

Recent reports indicate that it is increasingly difficult to get a Chinese visa this summer unless you are traveling on a package tour to the Olympics. Reportedly only 30 day tourist visas are being issued but they can be obtained in Bangkok and in Hong Kong.

The Russian visa appears to be possible for most passport holders in Bangkok and in Cambodia but the latter only if you enter Cambodia with a 90 day visa. I can't guarantee that the situation in Bangkok will remain easy as the situation throughout the rest of SEAsia has recently tightened up so that it is not so easy.

Russian visas can no longer be obtained easily in Shanghai and for the past several years have been difficult to obtain in Beijing unless you had a residency permit for China. Russian visas have always been difficult and time consuming to obtain in UB whether this will become more difficult this summer, I don't know but in generally it has become more difficult to obtain a Russian visa outside the country of your passport or official residence.

I would NOT count on being able to take the train from China through Mongolia to Russia. Travel agencies that used to take reservations for this trip are reporting that they can no longer obtain the tickets or reservations for tickets.

Personally, I would NOT plan to take this trip this summer. The Chinese visa situation, possibility of extensions and the ease of obtaining train tickets make this trip much more complicated han in past years.

Ruth

Sorry, I wasn't clear. My trip will be in 09. It sounds like Russia is a hassle. Maybe I should stay on the beach, head south to Australia. It's just that I have had a crush on her for so long...You're info is a grade A. Thank you!

2009 is too far off for me to provide reasonably accurate information.

The Russian visa is always a hassle, but not impossible to obtain. Please read the New RU Sticky for some details.

Ruth