Going to Russia, visa Question

[Visahelp1 0]

So me and the wife are going to visit family near Ufa, in Russia, I have gotten Russian visas before but not since the rules changed. I know how to get a visa I just don't understand how to register it once we get to our destination which is kind of rural. So how do I register my visa once I arrive? I used Google but I got some conflicting answers and people hear always seem to know more any way.

Thanks for the help!

[eekee 182]

Go to the post office.

[A_I_S 0]

So me and the wife are going to visit family near Ufa, in Russia, I have gotten Russian visas before but not since the rules changed. I know how to get a visa I just don't understand how to register it once we get to our destination which is kind of rural. So how do I register my visa once I arrive? I used Google but I got some conflicting answers and people hear always seem to know more any way.

Thanks for the help!

Have the family check with the local MVD office. Even rural areas are under jurisdiction of some kind of office of militia. Basically, have them call the local MVD and ask where should a foreign visitor go to register.

Typically, there are 3 places:

1. OVIR. Really long and painful, drop papers off one day, pick up another.

2. Hotel. Obviously you gotta stay at least one night.

3. If OVIR is not an option, MVD office should do it.

[mox 298]

Most hotels will register you also, if you don't mind paying the equivelant of a night's stay. Or you can try your luck with the night staff, who might be willing to register you for a small, er, "fee" that will be much lower than a night's stay. Along with A_I_S's advice, registering at the post office is a pain too, but the cheapest alternative.

These days a lot of the hotels are not using the stamps for the immigration form you're required to have on you at all times. My advice is to have them stamp it anyway. That way if they forgot to register you electronically, or the registration got "lost," you'll have that stamp to back you up.

[Neonred 3,460]

Be careful with hotel registration by paying for one night stay. I tried this once and got nailed at the airport on my flight to Moscow. Back then it only cost me $20, but I'll bet now it would be much more. We never tried the post office registration as over the years we developed a contact at the (former)OVIR office through a friend. Never took us too long to get registered.

To make it easy, I'd suggest you try the post office first.

[akdiver 3]

Another vote for the post office. It's what we did last year. Note that the person with whom you are staying needs to show up with their internal passport and fill out the papers.

[eekee 182]

The stamps that Mox mentioned no longer exist and mean nothing. Don't bother trying to bribe a hotel into registering you, either. Like akdiver said, just make sure that whoever you're staying with brings their internal passport to the post office. I went last week and it was simple. Within 15 minutes I had my registration in hand.

[mox 298]

The stamps that Mox mentioned no longer exist and mean nothing.

Not true, they do still exist, at least at the hotels I've stayed at (recently) but you have to ask for it. And if you're staying at a hotel then there's no reason not to have the hotel register you. It's much easier than the post office.

[sammie 0]

It all depends on the type of visa you have. I have been to russia on private (personal) visas twice since last year. To get registered, you have to go to the local OVIR (the place where your hosts applied for the invitation for the private visa). Your hosts will have to go to the OVIR with you, and make sure they have their internal passports.

[eekee 182]

The stamps that Mox mentioned no longer exist and mean nothing.

Not true, they do still exist, at least at the hotels I've stayed at (recently) but you have to ask for it. And if you're staying at a hotel then there's no reason not to have the hotel register you. It's much easier than the post office.

They may still have the stamps lying around, but they are no longer officially used/required.

[Satellite 1]

It all depends on the type of visa you have. I have been to russia on private (personal) visas twice since last year. To get registered, you have to go to the local OVIR (the place where your hosts applied for the invitation for the private visa). Your hosts will have to go to the OVIR with you, and make sure they have their internal passports.

I guess some things never change, that's the way I traveled in 2003 and 2004.

[K1researcher 0]

if you are on a tourist visa, certain travel agnets can register you.

the hotels can but be sure they regiester for all days the length of your stay.

[tanyaru 3]

This is so interesting! I just started gathering all papers for my hubby`s visa. I have an additional question too though. What if internal russian passport is expired??? Should the person go renew it first or no?

[K1researcher 0]

I would renew the Russian passport for a variety of reasons, but it is not required for a homestay visa

[Corey-Mariya 14]

Hi!

My husband came to visit me in Ufa twice last year via tourist and homestay visas. In both cases he made a registration in OVIR, you just full out an application and return it back to the OVIR (ОВИР) when you are leaving.

Where exactly is your fiancee from?

Mariya