Russian Tourist Visa vs Homestay Visa

[Pupsik 4]

After the AOS approval a few days ago we have already planned our trip and I have applied for my tourist visa. After I sent everything out for the tourist visa I come across the Homestay visa that I guess I can do since my wife is still a russian citizen.

Has anyone done both and found one to be easier to acquire??

[ONA 133]

To get a homestay visa a Russian citizen, who is an invitation party, should go to OVIR and apply for an official invitation letter. It can take up to 1-1,5 months just to obtain the invitation letter. Your wife won't be able to do that since she's in the US, but her parents might be able to...

Anyway, a homestay visa is only better if you plan to stay in Russia for longer than 30 days (but less than 90 days).

[Pupsik 4]

ona to the rescue yet again!

[SMR 368]

ONA answered the question well and I don't disagree but I would add one note on price since it has come up in other threads. It seems that a homestay visa can also be a bit cheaper if you get all your ducks in a row. An invitation from a visa organization for a tourist visa is typically $20 or so while formulating an invitation for a homestay visa will only be a couple hundred rubles at the OVIR. However, there is time waiting in line as well as figuring out how to get the finished invitation back to the US. In any case, the savings are there on paper but they'll end up being small and probably not worth the headache unless, as ONA said, you want to stay longer than 30 days.

For more comparison information, I have used http://russia.visahq.com/ before with good results. They list the different visa types and processing time options.

[Pupsik 4]

ONA answered the question well and I don't disagree but I would add one note on price since it has come up in other threads. It seems that a homestay visa can also be a bit cheaper if you get all your ducks in a row. An invitation from a visa organization for a tourist visa is typically $20 or so while formulating an invitation for a homestay visa will only be a couple hundred rubles at the OVIR. However, there is time waiting in line as well as figuring out how to get the finished invitation back to the US. In any case, the savings are there on paper but they'll end up being small and probably not worth the headache unless, as ONA said, you want to stay longer than 30 days.

For more comparison information, I have used http://russia.visahq.com/ before with good results. They list the different visa types and processing time options.

good points. wish i saw this website that you mentioned earlier since it looks cheaper than the one that i used to get the invitation and the visa. I just sent out my application so once i get everything back i will post a thread about the sites that I used and processing times, ease of use, etc. it would be nice to have a thread with more information and tips since when i was applying help was hard to come by

[Pupsik 4]

perfect reason for this is that I just got a call that my application was filled out wrong. I put my wifes address where we will be staying but it does not match the hotel that is on the invitation. There is another $24 mistake to resend out overnight to Washington DC. Good thing I have extra passport photos