Russia: Time to Get New Visa!
Hello,
I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking that very quick, We must go and get me a new Visa!
So the first question that must be answered is: "Which country do we drive to?"
Estonia or Finland! (that's what we have narrowed it down to)
I am voting for Estonia, where as my wife is leaning toward Finland.
I then ask myself which country do I want to get stranded in, if Visa problems arise? I still vote for Estonia, because the cost to live there is much cheaper than Finland. So to me the answer is Estonia.
We have Boza the Bear ready.(our dog) He has his Pet Passport and the new ISO implant put in.(microchip implant). My Wife took him to the vet a few days ago and had him certified to travel the World.
I asked Boza where he wanted to go? He told me "Estonia", of course! :))
This weekend I must go get a HIV test done. It is required for staying over three months at a time. We are also waiting for the Letter of Invitation to arrive any day now..... Then I need also, to get this weekend, Passport sized pictures taken.
We are going to drive to Estonia or Finland and sight see on the way. Svet has to get a Visa herself, to enter either country, I do not! I can stay up to 90 days without a Visa in both countries. In fact a problem with travel in Europe is that Svet needs a Visa to get in any country but I can travel freely.
I think this is unfair.
I will leave more information on what we go through to get a Visa renewed. It might just help someone out that needs to renew in the future.
Update: (We have found out that it may be possible to get the Visa renewed in Ukraine. That would be a shorter trip for us. So now we add another possibility of where to go. We have been to the Ukraine, I still want to go to Estonia!)
Kyle
comments always welcome.
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Kyle and Svet,
This post reminds me of me and my wife's odyssey to get her papers straightened out here in Panama. Finally, all went well.
BTW do you have a picyure of Boza. He sounds delightful. Would like to get to see him.
Hey Roberto,
I added a picture of Boza for you, to the article. That way you can see him. He loves to travel and this will be fun for him no matter where we go! :)
Thanks for stopping by.
Kyle
An interesting blog. I have family in Finland but Estonia is a great country too. I just ran into a website about Estonia the other day - it is a Documentary about Estonia's Singing Revolution:
http://singingrevolution.com
Hi, Svetlana and Kyle!
You really have big problems to get visa to Sveta. You'll have to have Invitation for these countries, to go to Embassy and wait for the visa to be ready. Probably there are queues and you'll have to wait some time for you turn.
I'm lucky because I have two passports and don't have any problems to travel round Europe and can go to Russia without any visa. And I can just take a plane or bus and can go elsewhere in Europe.
The only problem is to have enough money, because our salaries are different from those ones in Europe. Russia is expensive for us as well. That's why Russian go for a holiday in Bulgaria, because it's cheap for them even staying in expensive (for the Bulgarians) hotels. And it's comparatively safe country. The drivers are a bit mad, but where they are not.
Wishes to both you and have nice trips to Estonia (where I went several times many years ago) and to Finland (where I've never been, but my husband was).
Ludmila
Hi, Ludmila!
The truth is that now we officially go to Ukraine. There are two reasons: 1) Today I finally called to Russian embassy in Kiev (capital of Ukraine) and all was so nice to me and told that yes, Kyle can get his new visa at them. 2) I don't need a visa to go to Ukraine and looks like I am a bit too late for visa to Estonia or Finland (we must leave Russia by 2nd of October).
Of course I found a tourist company who for 150 EURO can make such visa for 1 business day.
So we decided to get Kyle's visa to Russia on Ukraine and travel in Europe next time and looks like to visit Bulgaria also ;).
Thank you, for respond!
Best wishes!
Svetlana and Kyle
Hi, Tanvir!
Thank for stopping by, we looked at the website and enjoyed preview of the movie, it looks like a good movie.
Come again!
We write almost every day.
Svetlana an Kyle
Hi, Ludmila!
As for Estonia... I forgot to tell that it was the most favorite place of my youth. Since I was 14 till 21 years old I had a mathematical camping their for whole summer and sometimes winter holidays. And I really fall in love with the country, with people who always was calm and friendly, even wanted to move there and to change my Moscow State University to Tartu State University (Tartu is a capital of Southern Estonia). So all what was happening in Estonia since Soviet Union collapsed was very strange and unbelievable for me... when they made all non-Estonians (even who was born there and knew Estonian language perfectly) to leave their beautiful country. Sad...
I've never been there since my youth and want to go there bad. Kyle knows and one day we will go...
Good luck!
Svetlana
It was many years ago when I went to Tallinn. The distance from St.Petersburg to Tallinn was the same as to Moscow. Just one night by train (about 8 hours). I remember the cente of Tallinn where with my friend we drank grog during the cold days, because we went there, as usual, in autumn, when we started our semester in the university. It was great, but, unfortunately, not the same now. I think the post-Soviet republics and such countries (like BG, for example) have a wrong policy toward Russia, because they will lose in a close future a big economical partner (BG has lost a BIG buyer of its agricultural products). It's a fact. And most people and producers know that but... It's a big BUT... BUT who cares about this???
I'm sorry. I was so excited that forgot to say HI to you both, Svetlana and Kyle!
And have nice weekend. Hope we'll be in touch during your trip.
Ludmila
Oh, Ludmila, you are so right! Who cares! That's why I never follow the politic staff, just don't like them.
That's OK you did not say Hi we know you meant Hi! :)
Best wishes and Hi to you too!
Svetlana and Kyle.
PS We will leave next Friday-Saturday and we'll find internet-cafe at least in Kiev.
I remember all the "issues" surrounding visas with much humour now, and have forgotten the hassles and difficulties (blotted from my memory). It took me three years to get my residency permit (between 1992 and 1995) only to find that it didn't include the right to work, the work permit took another 2 years. I was living in a small-ish provincial town in Rostovskaya Oblast, and none of the officials really knew what to do with me.
I can only hope that you have much more luck, and can wish you an endless supply of patience!
Funny thing, even in Moscow they do not know what to do with Me either. Thanks for stopping by. I will be writing a big article about Russian Visa, and best way to get it.
Hope to see you again.
Kyle and Svet