Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iselynjenniep]

Has anyone gotten a tourist visa for Russia at their consulate in Seoul? What is the visa fee for Americans? I can't find it on their website and I've emailed them but no response.

[Jake_Kim]

Of all the nationalities out there, US passport holders get special treatment (read: higher fees and more red tapes) by the Russian consulate, much like the cases with Chinese embassy.

First off, you need an 'invitation letter', even for a tourist visa. This can be easily obtained through a travel agency - there are only a handful doing this for a fee, though. Even the biggest travel groups with brand names usually outsource this paperwork to those agencies specializing in Russia/CIS. Anyway, invitation letter usually costs 20~30 dollars.

Actual visa application has to be done in person since you're a US citizen, visa fee for single-entry with less than 3 months stay through the slowest processing time (2 weeks) is known to cost you 95,000 Korean Won, 50% higher for 1-week processing, twice the fee for expedited 2-day processing.
Add up some 10 dollars on each category if single-entry for longer than 3 months is applied for.
Multiple entry visa will cost 75~100% higher than single-entry with the same processing speed.

[iselynjenniep]

yeah, i already have an invitation but thanks for the info. i'll plan on around 100,000 won then. i just need a single entry visa and i don't need it in a hurry as i'm not going 'til june. thanks again!

[iselynjenniep]

just posting in case anyone else needs the info:

went to the russian consulate in seoul today! it was a bit complicated to find using the map from their website. it's on the same street as the seoul art museum. we waited about an hour because there was a guy in front of us (must have been a travel agent) who had like 200 passports to submit at once. annoying!
if you are an american citizen, you must submit:
-one visa application
-one photo
-invitation form agency/hotel
-passport
-144,000 won
my boyfriend has an ARC and he could get his back the same day (but we didn't want to wait, so he's going back next week). i don't, i am only here on a tourist visa right now, so mine won't be ready for two weeks.