今天是大年夜，打開信箱，拿到了俄羅斯簽證。畢竟是兩個多星期一直有點擔心的事，心裏預想過各種可能，一旦真拿到了，還是比較高興。
俄羅斯簽證的申請真的有點煩，辦的時候好幾次想，早知道有這麽麻煩，可能就先去別的地方了。俄羅斯之前對我來說最麻煩的是中國簽證，但因為對那個程序很熟悉，就沒覺得太頭痛。
這裏好幾個人都說過他們的俄羅斯簽證經驗，我剛辦完，有些手續有改變，就與大家分享一下吧。
１。邀請信。我推薦http://www.expresstorussia.com/russian_visas.html。這也是LP與DK推薦的俄國簽證邀請信辦理網站。價格每人$18，一家四口就要四份邀請信。這網站的好處是有美國的聯係電話，打上去有人接，能解答一些簽證方麵的問題，態度不錯。我把女兒的生日填錯了，拿到邀請信才看到，給他們發了郵件很快就給我改過寄了回來。後來又看到他們把我兒子的名與姓弄倒了（都是俄文，還不容易發現這麽個錯誤），提出後很快就給我重寄了份。
２。簽證申請。去俄領館、使館的網站你會發現他們已不再接收郵寄申請了，隻有http://www.expresstorussia.com/在給我邀請信的郵件裏提到西雅圖俄領館還接收郵寄申請（見下麵英文部分），我去西雅圖俄領館網站都看不到這條信息。如果自己去紐約領館申請，則要跑兩次，一次遞申請，一次取護照。取護照可以讓別人去，但也夠麻煩人的。我因為時間還多，決定賭一把，如果西雅圖俄領館不肯受理郵寄再跑紐約去簽證。當然寄來寄去還是有一點點風險，這還是我第一次讓護照飛呢。
３。申請過程。俄領館、使館的網站，各代辦機構包括http://www.expresstorussia.com/所說的需要遞交的材料都略有不同，我老老實實地取了個最大值（http://www.expresstorussia.com/所說的差不多就是最大值）。有代辦機構說申請應該在出發的四十五天之前寄出，因為俄領館發出的簽證必須在一個月內入境（俄領館自己的網站都說他們隻會在簽證的起始日期的一個月內簽發簽證），隻有http://www.expresstorussia.com/對我說越早寄越好，我照辦了。事實證明他們是對的，俄領館在我們出發的兩個半月前發出了簽證。
網友有色眼睛說紐約領館隻收Money Order，我付的是Bank Check，西雅圖俄領館是收的。一人一百四十美金，我辦的是兩次入境，兩次入境與一次入境同價，這些都與中國簽證一樣。
我每人的申請書都交了兩份，其中一份是彩色複印件（連照片一起複印），看來是可行的。
我寄申請的信裏放了回信的信封，那天大雪，郵局裏因上班的人少而非常忙，那郵局工作人員忙中忘了在回信信封上貼郵票（也不排除我沒說清楚的可能性），結果俄領館居然自己貼了四塊多的郵票給我寄回了護照簽證，讓我有點感動，一下子對俄國人增加了一堆的好感。
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Please remember that what we are sending you is a Russian visa invitation (sometimes called a visa voucher) and it is NOT the actual Russian visa. It is a document that is required by the Russian Consulate in order to issue you a visa. You must take or send this document to the Russian Consulate along with other accompanying documentation (for example, your passport, 2 passport photos, 2 visa application forms signed, a cover letter, the Consulate processing fee and in the case of business visas only an HIV test result certificate). To learn the exact Consulate fees, please contact the Russian Consulate directly.
You can apply for the Russian visa using the following options:
1. Applying for the Russian visa in person.
2. Applying for the Russian visa by mail.
1. APPLYING FOR THE RUSSSIAN VISA IN PERSON
US citizens can find the most up to date information on visa requirements including fees, processing times and even downloadable forms and applications on the Russian Consulate's own website www.ruscon.org.
Applying for the Russian visa by yourself is quite easy and is the least expensive way of obtaining a visa. Please follow these directions.
1) Print out 2 visa application forms found on the Russian Consulate
Website: http://www.ruscon.org/visa_dep_ENG.html
2) Fill in and sign both application forms paying close attention to the
following information:
When filling in your visa application for the Russian Consulate and your immigration card, please write down " Universal tour" as the inviting organization.
Purpose of visit is: Tourism,
Russian institution or organization to be visited: : OOO Universal Tour, 119991, 29 Leninsky pr, Suite 407, Russia.
Name and reference number of tourist group: 002132
Name and address of person or hotel that you plan to stay with. Enter the following address which is also listed on your visa invitation (if you have any questions regarding this point, please ask you order manager):
MOSCOW: Radisson Royal
SAINT-PETERSBURG: Park Inn
NOVGOROD: Sadko
3) Prepare the documents according to the Russian Consulate web site, for example, original passport and a photo-copy of it´s vital pages, passport size picture, etc.: http://www.ruscon.org/visa_dep_ENG.html#touristvisa
4) Make out a certified bank check or a money order payable to the Russian Consulate for the appropriate fee as listed on the Russian Consulate website.
5) Write a cover letter to the Russian Consulate similar to the example found on our website http://www.expresstorussia.com/russian_visas.html
2. APPLYING FOR THE RUSSIAN VISA BY MAIL
Please be informed The Russian Consulates in New York, Washington and San Francisco no longer accept mailed applications.
Applying for the Russian visa by mail in USA is possible in Seattle only.
Please use the following instructions.
1) Print out 1 visa application form found on the Russian Consulate
website or on our website http://www.netconsul.org/touristvisa/
2) Fill in and sign an application form paying close attention to the
following information:
When filling in your visa application for the Russian Consulate and your immigration card, please write " Universal tour"as the inviting organization.
Purpose of visit is: Tourism,
Russian institution or organization to be visited: OOO Universal Tour, 119991, 29 Leninsky pr, Suite 407, Russia.
Name and reference number of tourist group: 002132
Name and address of person or hotel that you plan to stay with. Enter the following address which is also listed on your visa invitation (if you have any questions regarding this point, please ask you order manager):
MOSCOW: Radisson Royal
SAINT-PETERSBURG: Park Inn
NOVGOROD: Sadko
3) Prepare the documents for mailing according to the Russian Consulate web site, for example, your original passport, a photo-copy of your passport's vital pages, 1 passport size photo, the visa invitation that we have sent to you, etc.: http://www.netconsul.org/touristvisa/
4) Make out a certified bank check or a money order payable to the Russian Consulate for the appropriate fee as listed on the Russian Consulate website.
5) Write a cover letter to the Russian Consulate similar to the example found on our website http://www.expresstorussia.com/russian_visas.html
6) Attach a return self-addressed prepaid air-bill or envelope of an overnight mail delivery company (such as FedEx) in order for the Consulate to return your passport back to you. A pick-up slip should be received at the time of application. The slip should be presented to pick up the visa when it is ready or referred to if any question arises about the visa status.
To avoid your correspondence being lost in mail the Russian Consulate recommends to use USPS Registered, USPS Certified, USPS Express or FedEx, DHL, Airborne and similar services (so, that the envelopes bear a tracking number).
You should mail all of the required documents to the following address:
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Seattle
Visa Section
2323 Westin Building, 2001 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
Telephone 206-728-1910
VISA REGISTRATION
Russian law requires that travelers should register their visas if they are staying in Russia more than 3 business days. If travelers are staying in Russia more than 3 business days they should apply for the registration immediately upon arrival. Travelers who do not have their visas registered are required to pay fines when they attempt to exit Russia or if they are stopped by the police.
- If you are staying at a hotel, the hotel will register your visa.
- If you are staying at an apartment you will have to apply to a local migration department (OVIR) to have your visa registered.
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