Job Discussion Forums

[xplosiv]

Hi everyone,


I live quite near to the Russian border up in Heilongjiang, and a trip to HK seems a bit of a long way to go. As Russia is so near, surely this is an option???
I'm also wondering if anyone has ever done a 'visa-run' to Russia. I'd like to know how easy/difficult it is. What experiences have people had?


Xplosiv

[Roger]

Gee - a visa-run to Russia!!! You must be out of your mind! Why are you working on a tourist or illegal 'fF' visa? Ah, I know - silly question!

But so is your question!

FIrst thing: where the hell would you get your Russian visa? There are two Russian representatives: the consulate in Shanghai, and the embassy in Peking!
Last time I got a Russian visa in Peking I had to book a prepaid trip to Moscow and plan my itinerary in detail! It was hellishly expensive!

Last time I applied for a Russian visa at their Shanghai consulate they were cooperative but thoroughly inefficient and sloppy! Can you imagine it - they issued me with a visa that was expired before I actually got it? When I arrived at the border I had to return my passport by EMS to their consulate with U.S> 90 and buy a new one!!! FYI: the visa was a loose-leaf written entirely in Russian with the questions translated into English; the Russian (cyrillic lettewrs) look similar to Greek ones!(.

Next hurdle: do the Chinese issue you with a tourist visa for 6 months? I doubt it! In Moscow they don't have the right sort of applicants for this sort of visa!

But I may be wrong, or they might have reformed; it's a long way to Moscow though - Hong Kong and Seoul are nearer.

In any case, we have some Russians among us teachers here; someone might come forward and give you better advice than I can offer!

[Voldermort]

I agree. You would only be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Just get a sleeper train down to HK. I once did a visa run from Changchun, Jilin province, I also went through the whole "well Russia and South Korea are closer" but HongKong is by far the easiest route.

[shenyanggerry]

FYI Roger, there's a Russian consulate in Shenyang.

[pc-pocket]

[Roger]

Interesting - a Russian consulate in SHENYANG!

It still leaves the guy to cut through an endless supply of red tape: you don't go to Russia like you do to Thailand or France! In the end, he will have to choose between two cities to visit a Chinese representation: Moscow or Hong KOng. I don't think a TEFLer could get an 'F' visa in Khabarovsk or Vladiwostok - providced there is a CHinese consulate in either (which probably is the case).
It would be a logistical nightmare, and failure to secure his visa on the appointed day would result in severe consequences! He must also buy a ticket out of Russia - what if he has no Chinese visa? Then he cannot apply for a Russian visa for a round trip China/Russia/China!

[Regular_Guy]

If you were working in Xinjiang you would have so many countries to make a visa run. Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afganistan, Pakistan, and India. Forget Hong Kong why not go to these places.

[Spiderman Too]

A Russian visa? Man, what a hassle! Check out this website:-
http://www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/HowToApply.html

[Louras]

I take it Peking is near Formosa, northeast of Siam, Burma and Bombay?

[hemlokk]

[vikdk]

nawwww - a swiss army of south african native english speakers has just launched a full frontal attack

[rocketboy]

GO straight to Hong Kong, it's cheaper and quicker than messing about with Russian visas. You can have your visa processed all in one day, maybe even in 4 hours through one of those trading companies or travel agencies.

-The Russian Consulate in Shenyany doesn't issue tourist visas to anyone(maybe only to the Chinese, but not to sure on that).