Russia Travel Forum

I have been to Russia two times in the past 3 years. I enjoyed my time there, mostly St Petersburg; however, the process of obtaining and later registering the visa is nerve racking, and time consuming.

I realize that the Russian authorities are just playing a game of tit for tat because it is very difficult for some Russians to get visa to visit USA, and impossible for most.

However, the Russian authorities are cutting off their nose to spite their face. Russia can very much use the money that tourists from USA bring into Russia, but USA doesn't at all need any tourist money from Russia. So the diplomatic reciprocity game the Russian authorities are playing is illogical and not very smart economics.

Ukraine, on the other hand, is going the opposite direction. They, apparently, are getting some good economic advice and acting upon it. Ukraine has for at least a couple of years been routinely issuing 6 month visas to citizens of USA (vs 30 days for Russian visa) and they dropped the registration requirement last year or so.

And to top it off, I recently received a 5 year, multi-entry visa for Ukraine. So, it is a no-brainer now that I will be spending time and dollars in Ukraine rather than in Russia.

I forgot to mention that Ukraine also dropped the invitation requirement to obtain a private visa.

So to recap:

Invitation needed for Russian visa.
No invitation needed for Ukrainian visa.

Russian visa for 30 days.
Ukrainian visa for 6 months.

Russian multi entry visa only for business and only for 1 year.
Ukrainian multi entry private visa available and good for 5 years. (actually their web site says they can assign anything from 0 to 5 years)

Russian visa must be registered after arrival.
No registration for Ukrainian visa.

> Russia can very much use the money that tourists from USA bring into Russia,
> but USA doesn't at all need any tourist money from Russia.
> So the diplomatic reciprocity game the Russian authorities are playing
> is illogical and not very smart economics.

I think that you are right. And even more - barriers from both sides could harm only respectable people, but not ill-disposed people, who will always find a way around. ;-(

BTW There are even more problems with European (Shengen) States than with USA.

Russia is smarter in this issue.

I love Russia, and I am willing to go through the procedures necessary to get the visa. However it is a lot of trouble, and no doubt that may discourage some people from going to Russia. Russia could do with a few more tourist roubles as it were.
I am all for Russia seeking reciprocity, however I think they could perhaps modify their policy a little.
A case in point is South Korea. I am an NZer living in Japan and as my country has a reciprocal agreement with Sth Korea I can enter visa free for 90 days. South Koreans still cannot enter Japan visa free, although South Korea has been pushing Japan for this for some time. However the South Koreans decided that demanding that Japanese tourists get visas would be counterproductive, and they allow Japanese nationals to enter for 30 days visa free. Whilst seeking reciprocity they thought that 'tit for tat' would be bad for Sth Korea. Perhaps Russia could follow the Sth Koreans' lead.

Good to see that some can think logically, but sad to see that some will continue to let emotion over rule good economic sense.

Reminds me of the story I heard on a TV news talk show. The set up hypothesis was that a cure for cancer for everyone was available, with the catch that the first 10,000 people to receive the treatment must be wealthy Republicans. The democrats would, naturally, disallow the program to ever get started.

Not quite sure what Bush has to do with this particluar discussion, as much as I dislike him.
My previous point was along the lines of, that Russia should eventually aim for complete reciprocity, but compromise its current stance in the meantime.
When Bush goes, as he definitely will in the next election, we'll all breathe a sign of relief.
Russia should be a little more pragmatic without giving away too much ground.

Visa is a previlege and not a right.
It would be nice if each of us empathise with the difficulties that our embassies create for other nationals!

I faced such a pain-in-the-neck kind kind of situation getting a French Visa stamped in London that I would request my embassy to be graceful and cooperative with French nationals who visit India.

Good luck!

American visa proceedings are not even difficult, they are obnoxious. If you want J-1, (exchange) or H-1 visa..you at first MUST to buy medical insurance (appr. 100 dollar per month) and go on paying until visa will issued (this is at least 3-10 months) and we presume that employer wish to wait for so long. That can be qualified only as a day light robbery. Regarding our interest in american tourism, I guess you completely missed the 20th Century , as well as thousand years before. Little tip, we defimitely have more american dollars (in cash) then you do. What would be more important for us to be interested in that is to defend our national (especially economical) interests and human rights of our citizens

Yes, send Putin a letter, his has his own site. I am sure consultant from New Zealand is exactly what he needs

I agree with Joe Puntoni's (and others as well) point of view: business operations in Russia are changing, sometimes in incompatible ways with the local custom, the ways of work, and pushing Russian businesses into a maybe undesired race of globalisation, in which they play in disadvantage.
That's one thing.
Other, is the fact that getting an tourist US visa is SO difficult, obnoxious, complicated and expensive, mostly after Sept.11, 2001, that I definitely dropped the idea of ever visiting (or at least, until all those new stupid requirements change) such an interesting, full of wilderness country, as the USA.
Here in Chile, a reciprocity fee of US$ 100 is charged on any US arrival, which is the same amount charged for JUST applying (not issuing) for a US visa, which is not guaranteed in any case, though. Nevertheless, US$ 100 for us DOES NOT mean the same amount for us than for an US resident.
I believe that all those hassles on US travellers are not "commercial nonsense" from the nations which apply them, but a legal way to keep a sort of "balance", and a way to put pressure on United Staters to prompt them for making pressure as well on their own government to make things as easier for foreigners wanting to visit their country, as others countries make easy for United Staters to visit them.
Actually, nor Chile neither other American countries from the southern cone NEED the money from United Staters, as well as the USA doesn't need ours, but the only victims of all of this are airlines and travel-related businesses both there and here in America and other places.

Daniel

To quote from the age old phrase:
"One man's garbage is another man's treasure"

The hassle and red tape to enter and visit Russia is definitly worth it, particularly if you go off-the-beaten path. You'll uncover hidden jewels such as the Altai Republic and Evenkia.

I'm sure Ukraine is beautiful, but it's definitly not Russia... and vice a versa. Just bite the bullet and go where your heart desire.

Need more to make up your mind? Then browse the many vt pages... I for one love Russia. Check out my page with mix emotions of the red tape ordeal.

suerte,
Fernando

Hey, pal

Don't worry, in any case girls in Ukraine are much nicer and much easier to be layed.....

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It would be nice if we could post on the topic which is the logic and economic rationale for countries establishing the difficulty and/or ease of obtaining visa to enter the country.

I am no claiming any moral situation here. I am just pointing out the logic and rationale.

For instance, suppose wealthy person A will not let poor person B come into their place of business to buy goods. Person A could care less if they got business from Person B.

Now, Person B very much needs all the business he/she can get to feed the family, etc. Therefore it would be economic stupidity for Person B to not let Person A come into their business, just to save face or maintain some code of honor.

To Jcarolj, my situation was set up for comparing USA Russia and Ukraine. What does your situation of living in UK have to do with this?

Lalique, such a nasty comment. And can we ask how you would know this??

Yubert, I have been around the world, and can't say that I have found any difference in the 'easiness.' Now, concerning how enjoyable it was . . . . there are some vast differences!!

To amer22: you
a) have no imagination, otherwise you can figure out that I could be not in uk any more;
b) you are not attentive, otherwise you will pay attention to my comment regarding the quanity of dollars (in cash) in Russia
c) not properly educated, otherwise you will not compare Ukraine and Russia, with all my respect to Ukraine...
d) you and Yupert are obviously boasting, regarding how popular you can be among russian or ukrainian girls unless they are professionals....Have you ever tried to attract the girl without money???
e) We have enough of our own roughs to listen to all this BS
and finally, before you come to Russia, read "The heart of a dog" by Bulgakov, the bell will ring may be

ROFL

Why should I have to imagine anything. I am trying to have logical discourse here, not a guessing game about where someone is from/living/going, etc.

If you are saying there are more actual (as opposed to potential) wealth in Russia than in USA, then I can only laugh.

I have never boasted of anything. Show me where I ever said I was popular with Russian and/or Ukrainian women. Perhaps you need lessons in reading comprehension. I do not spend money wildly on anyone.

I have already been to Russia (and Ukraine) several times (as you would know if you have been attentive as you accuse me), so how can I read your suggested book 'before I come to Russia.' I have survived very well on several trips without reading this book, so I think I shall continue to survive.