Trying to visit my Russian Fiancé while K-1 is pending

[CatLittles 0]

Hello! I am trying to plan a trip to visit my fiance in Russia. The site says I need proof of where I'm staying and a host... I was just going to stay with him. Does anybody know how I would go about doing this? Do I still need a host through a company? The site also said I needed to show my hotel reservations, but I wouldn't need any so I don't know where to go from here.

 

Thank you for any help! 

[CatLittles 0]

Hello! I am trying to plan a trip to visit my fiance in Russia. The site says I need proof of where I'm staying and a host... I was just going to stay with him. Does anybody know how I would go about doing this? Do I still need a host through a company? The site also said I needed to show my hotel reservations, but I wouldn't need any so I don't know where to go from here. Also our K-1 is pending so is that going to cause any trouble? 

 

Thank you for any help! 

[tine71 12]

have you ever been in Russia before? I went on 2014 and I contacted (Visa HQ) they sent the documents to the Russian embassy in the US and also they gave me the invitation letter that you need to enter Russia

[millefleur 5,035]

6 minutes ago, CatLittles said:

Hello! I am trying to plan a trip to visit my fiance in Russia. The site says I need proof of where I'm staying and a host... I was just going to stay with him. Does anybody know how I would go about doing this? Do I still need a host through a company? The site also said I needed to show my hotel reservations, but I wouldn't need any so I don't know where to go from here. Also our K-1 is pending so is that going to cause any trouble? 

 

Thank you for any help! 

What type of visa are you applying for? What site are you using?

 

No one in Russia will care about the K-1.

[CatLittles 0]

1 minute ago, tine71 said:

have you ever been in Russia before? I went on 2014 and I contacted (Visa HQ) they sent the documents to the Russian embassy in the US and also they gave me the invitation letter that you need to enter Russia

I have never been to russia, my best friend and I are going together to visit our Fiance's and we both need these letters I guess. How many days did it take to get approved and did you have you travel plans set up before hand or just the dates?

 

[Umka36 781]

I've used the following company in the past, which provides a listing of what's needed to start the visa process. You can also get a tourist visa invitation from them at an additional cost. This is for the tourist visa.

 

https://russia.visahq.com/

 

If you want to go for private visa, then follow this:

 

https://russia.visahq.com/#!russia-private-visa

Edited February 2, 2017 by Umka36

[CatLittles 0]

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

What type of visa are you applying for? What site are you using?

 

No one in Russia will care about the K-1.

We are applying for a tourist visa for a 4-20 day visit. we are planning to go for 9 days. I have no idea where to start. Thank you!

[tine71 12]

3 minutes ago, CatLittles said:

I have never been to russia, my best friend and I are going together to visit our Fiance's and we both need these letters I guess. How many days did it take to get approved and did you have you travel plans set up before hand or just the dates?

 

here is the link for you to get in contact with the company https://www.visahq.com/

[millefleur 5,035]

Just now, tine71 said:

here is the link for you to get in contact with the company https://www.visahq.com/

Good idea to use a visa service. For a first time Russian visa, it's honestly easier.

[tine71 12]

3 minutes ago, CatLittles said:

We are applying for a tourist visa for a 4-20 day visit. we are planning to go for 9 days. I have no idea where to start. Thank you!

I don't remember exactly if I had everything scheduled prior to apply for the visa, it maybe took about 2 weeks to process, but I think I waited till I had the Russian visa in hand to make plans 

[tine71 12]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Good idea to use a visa service. For a first time Russian visa, it's honestly easier.

it was a good idea for me, I think I paid like 340 US dollars, you'll see that they just charge you like 60-80 dollars for the service, but you don;t have to travel to the Russian embassy, like if I did it myself, I had to take a day off work, travel to DC, gas food, so for me it was worth it 

[JSWH 261]

30 minutes ago, CatLittles said:

Hello! I am trying to plan a trip to visit my fiance in Russia. The site says I need proof of where I'm staying and a host... I was just going to stay with him. Does anybody know how I would go about doing this? Do I still need a host through a company? The site also said I needed to show my hotel reservations, but I wouldn't need any so I don't know where to go from here. Also our K-1 is pending so is that going to cause any trouble? 

 

Thank you for any help! 

 

 

 

Hello, CatLittles!

 

I'm Russian and my American fiance visited me several times with no problems whatsoever. To apply for Russian tourist visa you need invitation letter from certified tourist company (priglasheniye). I used this company several times http://visa4u.ru/Pages/en-visasupport.aspx The type of invitation you need is tourist voucher 1 month for $16 (1000RUB). You can actually do that online, just send them email with attached scan of the photo page of your passport and the approximate dates of travel. They will email you voucher, you print it out and bring to Russian consulate. Or you can have your fiance call them, the managers are very nice and helpful. 

You will also need travel insurance to apply for Russian visa (check the requirements on the Russian consulate website). As far as I know, American citizens are eligible for 3 year visitor visa for Russia now.

When you go through passport control upon arrival to Russia and are asked by CBP officer where you will be staying during your visit, just give them your fiance address.

Russian visa is not as difficult to obtain as it might look, and totally DIY stuff. Don't waste money paying some companies for filling in your papers. If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me.

 

I hope it helps

Edited February 2, 2017 by JSWH

[TBoneTX 43,043]

Thread moved from Tourist Visas to the Russia/Ukraine/Belarus regional forum and merged with thread there.

Edited February 2, 2017 by TBoneTX

[millefleur 5,035]

3 hours ago, JSWH said:

Hello, CatLittles!

 

I'm Russian and my American fiance visited me several times with no problems whatsoever. To apply for Russian tourist visa you need invitation letter from certified tourist company (priglasheniye). I used this company several times http://visa4u.ru/Pages/en-visasupport.aspx The type of invitation you need is tourist voucher 1 month for $16 (1000RUB). You can actually do that online, just send them email with attached scan of the photo page of your passport and the approximate dates of travel. They will email you voucher, you print it out and bring to Russian consulate. Or you can have your fiance call them, the managers are very nice and helpful. 

You will also need travel insurance to apply for Russian visa (check the requirements on the Russian consulate website). As far as I know, American citizens are eligible for 3 year visitor visa for Russia now.

Weird, I'm about to apply for my fifth Russian visa and this time around they said I don't need travel insurance? If you apply via one of the visa centers it says that it isn't required anymore for US citizens?

 

I'm not buying insurance this time so I hope everything will be fine. Previously it was always required.

 

Even on the Consulate site, it says US citizens no longer require it. Maybe the travel agencies will still recommend it?

 

The three year visa is unclear for me, as I'm not sure if it's available to first-time applicants. I heard that you can only apply for a 3-year after you've already had a Russian visa, but I can't verify this.

Edited February 2, 2017 by millefleur

[Umka36 781]

I've applied for a Russian visa about 6 years ago and never needed medical insurance. Visiting my wife in Belarus, I was required to purchase the medical insurance. Things may have changed since then, but the VisaHQ site does not list medical insurance on their required documents.