Job Discussion Forums

Bobby Fischer · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:19 pm Post subject: Off to Omsk! (visa question)

My first ever online post, and it's a damned important one. I just received this e-mail from the company I'll work for in Omsk fall 2011:

Hello, John.

My name is_____, I'm working for _____ at Omsk, Russia, and
I'm in charge of arranging your invitation letter. In this regard I
have a couple of questions: I need to know the city where you're going
to apply for a Russian visa. And the second question - when do you plan to come to Russia?
I'll get your invitation presumably in the beginning of August, send it to you and then you apply for a visa.
How long does it usually take - to get a visa? And when are you
planning to come to Russia? This date is for the
invitation application form.

I'd highly appreciate your quick response.

My questions:

1. I live in a suburb of Philadelphia. I thought I had to apply in person at an embassy, but I just read that as of July 1st, 2011, "all applications for Russian visas submitted in the United States now need to be completed online?". I'm reading conflicting information online - can someone please confirm this for me?

Guys, I hate asking questions when answers could be obtained through further research, but I'm reading conflicting information online. I should just call a Russian embassy...

2. How long will it take to obtain the visa after applying to an embassy in the U.S.? I've read anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Bobby Fischer

http://www.russianembassy.org/Embassy_eng/Embassy/index.html:

"Pursuant to the directive from the Russian Foreign Ministry, effective July 1, 2011, the Russian Embassy and all Russian Consulates General in the U.S.A. will require that all applications for Russian visas submitted in the United States be prepared using the Electronic Visa Application Form which is a web-based application, available online at http://evisa.kdmid.ru "

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject:

As far as I know, all applicants need to fill in the online questionaire, as well as print it off. Then you go in person to the embassy with all the relevant docs, photos and certs, and payment - usually not a cash payment. However, as with all embassies, the info online is never up-to-date enough, so yes, phone the embassy and get direct information from them. It may even differ from Russian embassy to embassy.

And good luck in Omsk!

Bobby Fischer · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:36 am Post subject: resolved

Thanks, Sashadroogie! I actually attempted to contact you directly, but needed five posts. Finally got through to the D.C. Embassy earlier and they confirmed what you've written here. I suppose this thread should be closed (or left to die), but here's a final tip that I, at least, haven't seen before: An acquaintance told me she had her visa expedited by contacting her federal representative. Worth a shot, I suppose.

Thanks again.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:51 am Post subject:

You're very welcome. Wouldn't know anything about federal representatives myself. But try it anyway, I suppose.

Great online name, BTW. Fancy a game of chess when you're in Russia?

Bobby Fischer · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:11 am Post subject:

If I do contact 'my' Representative, I'll be sure not to mention my online name =)

Absolutely: perhaps we'll play by Patriarch Pond if I'm Moscow next, but online should be an option for me too; the best place to play, BTW, is the Playchess server based in Germany.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject:

Cool! Patriarch Ponds it is then. But you have to let me win.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Winner buys the vodka, right? Surprised

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:55 am Post subject:

Not quite. Have you read 'Our Man in Havana'?