Anybody ever applied for a Russian Visa?

You're better going through an agency like realrussia.co.uk, costs a bit more but they provide you with all the invitation letters etc

We could be at war with Russia in 1 week !

They have just bombed another MSF hospital !

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/15/airstrike-destroys-msf-clinic-northern-syria

Airstrikes have hit hospitals in two locations in northern Syria – the latest in an escalating series of attacks on medical facilities and workers in the five-year civil war.

Médecins Sans Frontières said eight staff members were missing after a facility it supports in Maaret al-Numan, Idlib province, was hit four times in two separate raids. MSF did not blame any side for the bombing, but there has been an unrelenting aerial bombardment by Russian warplanes and Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Idlib.

“This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms,” said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF’s head of mission in Syria. “The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of about 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict.”

In separate incident, Syrian opposition activists said a missile struck a children’s hospital in the rebel held town of Azaz, near the Turkish border, killing 10 and wounding more than 30. Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said a Russian ballistic missile had hit the town. Ankara shelled Kurdish positions near Azaz over the weekend.

Moscow’s intense airstrike campaign has helped Assad score his most significant advances since the beginning of the war, threatening to upend a “cessation of hostilities” deal agreed by major powers in Munich last week.

just looked at the application process. It does look a ball ache to be fair.

Yes, I have been to Moscow a few times,
I Always used "Real Russia"
They smooth things over, or it can be a right pain,
If you stay less than 7 days, you Don't have to Register?,
Sheremetyevo Airport is the best use, a Fast train can get you into the city.

Thanks.Have looked at real Russia and will probably use them for visa support to get the accommodation voucher. Will probably do the visa application myself as they now need to take your biometric date at either London or Edinburgh so if need to do that may as well do the application process myself rather forking out for someone else to do it.

Probably going to split 10 days between St Petersburg and Moscow. Not decided how many in each yet.

The Leopard always the drama queen.

King

Are you going for work related reasons, will you be based in Moscow, try not to do anything your mother would not be proud of as you will be filmed 24/7 in your hotel room.

You are going to a Mafia state.

Going for pleasure.(Not that kind) Wangled a few weeks off so going to head to the Baltic then over in to Russia. Not booked accommodation yet but Ruble is dirt cheap at the moment. Some 5 star hotels in Moscow are £60-70 a night just now.

Silvers is a Safe "Irish" bar, 10 minute walk from The Kremlin,
Try and visit the museums inside the Kremlin Walls,
One with Gold, Diamonds, Gems etc;
Don't get your pocket picked,
Don't pick up Any packets or packages,
Never trust the Militia/Police,
Golden Rule taught to all Russians - All Westerners are Wealthy and can be Robbed.

Cheers for the advice Sid but you're not really selling it.

Went in 2014.
Booked hotels first
Then got the 'visa support' off the hotel in St Petersburg which involved filling a credit card authorisation, scanning it and emailing it as an attachment.
Visa support came back by email, and printed out at home.
Then went through the official site ru.vfsglobal.co.uk, and printed off their forms - just give them the answers they want to hear ( if you've been in the Army, just say you were a civil servant, if you've done an overnighter in a police cell, be discrete about it ) at the end of the day they just want your money, and are looking for someone who can fill the form in correctly so there's no comeback if the supervisor checks what the clerk did.
Sent the forms off with the passport and another credit card authorisation, and came back in about 11 days.
Cost about £95 altogether.

Don't get arsey about the cost, Russians have to pay the same for a visa to come to the West, and the West escalated the prices to this level first, and Russia followed.

If the war starts, I can get a sub out to you in Murmansk harbour for £200,000.....obviously you will need a Sat Phone.

Cheers. I've got the Russian Visa support through  real Russia travel agency as they have more flexibility than getting through a hotel. I'm flying in to Lithuania then probably spend a week heading to Tallin before getting the overnight ferry or train in to Russia so this gives me more flexibility on dates as they give you the period you request rather than having to stick to dates from multiple hotel bookings you have booked to stay in advance.

Seems pretty straightforward now as can concentrate on getting the visa without having to book all accommodation first and only thing is you have to now visit the consulate or embassy to get fingerprints taken.

Will be there on 9th of May Victory day. I will make sure Leopard that I don't make the mistake of trying to take any photos of their Military might and get stopped trying to smuggle them out the country. Will keep my head down and avoid burly looking FSB officers.

Russia is great, don't listen to The Leopard who loves to throw pebbles at the bear. Moscow and St.Petersburg are both great cities and as safe as any comparably sized city in the world, unless you are a person of colour then I'm afraid there are still some people who discriminate and are sometimes violent towards them. The train from SP to Moscow is cheaper and quicker than flying once you take into account the checking in etc. The Sapsan train is like something we can only dream about in the UK. I lived in Moscow for a few years and it has it all but was just too busy for me. I much prefer St Petersburg which I found much friendlier and easier to get around. I'd recommend staying on or close to Nevsky prospect as most of the sights are within walking distance from there if your reasonably fit. One of the SP highlights is the Peterhof but I was very disappointed with it once I'd seen the fountains it didn't really have much else to offer. Enjoy your trip.

Yeah I've been living in Moscow 3 years (through work), its not as scary as the western media will have you believe!

Just got back from Russia a couple of days ago. Was a great place. St Petersburg was pretty magnificent as I expected but Moscow was a great city as well and better than I thought it would be and would go back there as well at the drop of a hat. Spent a bit of time in the Baltics and in Minsk as well. Minsk was a very interesting place too.

I want to go there too. (i know it is a great country), the MSN must maintain that the ussr are a threat.

Glad you enjoyed.

dont miss night flight if ur in moscow

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