A Russia visa application, including a business visa for Russia or a Russian visa application for tourists from the U.S. can be expedited quicker if processed through Sam’s Passport and Visa Services.

ATTENTION - Pursuant to the directive from the Russian Foreign Ministry, effective July 1, 2011, the Russian Embassy and all Russian Consulates General in the U.S.A. will require that all applications for Russian visas submitted in the United States be prepared using the Electronic Visa Application Form which is a web-based application available below. In order to successfully complete the new online application, please follow the directions below:

September 2012 New Visa Requirements -LINK

STARTING THE ONLINE RUSSIAN VISA APPLICATION FORM

• When you access the online Russia application, you will need to select “REGISTRATION”
• Under “Request an Account” enter your name, and enter the numbers you see, then click “Create User”
• Print or write down the Declarant ID and Password, and select “I remember my Declarant ID and Password”, then click “Finish”.( if you lose this information, you will not be able to access, edit or reprint your application. You will need to re-register to fill out a new application.)
• On the “About our Web-Site” page, review the information, then click “APPLICATION”
• Review the Terms and Conditions, and click “Yes” that you agree, in order to continue to the Russian online application form.
• To edit a saved application, look for Saved/Completed application under “LIST”  
• You can fill out an online Russia visa application for yourself or for another person.  Once completed, the Russian Visa Application Form must be printed, dated and signed by the applicant.  

       

            PRINTING THE COMPLETED RUSSIAN VISA APPLICATION FORM

• Important: The Russian Consulate requires that the application is printed on double sided (back-to-back); they will not accept applications on two pages.

 

           SUPPLIMENTAL INFORMATION REGARDING COMPLETING APPLICATION - LINK

 

Tourist Visa - Any delay in regard to incorrect application completion is beyond the control of Sam's Passport and Visas Service and may cause a delay to your dated of departure. The Russian Consulate has established a strict set of guidelines for application acceptance that is beyond our control.

Please provide us with a printed of the Login ID & Password when submitting application, this will enable us to double check the application so that there is no rejection.

• Passport, must have at least 6 months remaining.
• All Non U.S. citizens provide a copy of their medical insurance for travel.
• 1 Application Form - Link fully completed and signed. The visa application must be completed online then printed. Please choose "ILS Houston" for the application.
• Russia tourist visa supplemental form - Link
• A copy of the first two pages of the applicants passport.
• All applications must be printed one sheet of paper, two sided or it will be rejected.
• Before the application is printed, be sure that the page is properly aligned. If you are unsure about page alignment, you can call for assistance or we can complete the application on your behalf for a fee of $35.00
• The application processing time for non U.S. citizens who are in the U.S. on a work visa may take up to a minimum of 14 working days, after the invitation is processed to complete the application process, please plan accordingly. Example, nationals of Australia, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkmenistan and Israel.
• 1 Passport-type photograph required. The photo must be printed on photo quality paper with a white background.
• Letter of confirmation and a voucher from the receiving Russian Travel Agency, Russian Hotel or Russian Joint Venture. Receiving organization should be duly registered as a tourist company at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assigned a special index. This index and a corresponding reference number should be indicated on the confirmation. Both confirmation and voucher must be carried with the visa. This invitation must be original and show your full name, Passport number, Date of birth, date of entry and exit to Russia. (We can obtain a Tourist Invitation at your request, please contact us for pricing).
• A cover letter -Link from yourself containing the your name, passport number, dates and points of arrival and departure in and from Russia and means of transportation; itinerary in Russia; index and reference number of the receiving organization.
  
• Visa Request Form - Link is required for the completion of the visa.

Business Visa - Any delay in regard to incorrect application completion is beyond the control of Sam's Passport and Visas Service and may cause a delay to your dated of departure. The Russian Consulate has established a strict set of guidelines for application acceptance that is beyond our control.

Please provide us with a printed copy of Login ID & Password when submitting application, this will enable us to double check the application so that there is no rejection.

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• All Non U.S. citizens provide a copy of their medical insurance for travel.
  
• 2 Application Form - Link fully completed and signed. Please choose "ILS Houston" for the application.
• A copy of the first two pages of the applicants passport.
• The visa application must be completed online then printed.
• All applications must be printed one sheet of paper, two sided or it will be rejected.
• The application processing time for non U.S. citizens who are in the U.S. on a work visa may take up to a minimum of 14 working days, after the invitation is processed to complete the application process, pleas plan accordingly. Example, nationals of Australia, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkmenistan and Israel.
• Before the application is printed, be sure that the page is properly aligned. If you are unsure about page alignment, you can call for assistance or we can complete the application on your behalf for a fee of $35.00

• 2 Passport-type photograph.

• The photo must fit inside the black square provide, the applicant must not show any teeth in photograph or appear with a smile. The applicant must also show both shoulders and and the top of his or her head. The photo must also be taken no more than six months before the application is submitted. The photo must not overlap the black square or it will be rejected.
• The photo must be printed on photo quality paper with a white background.

• An official invitation from the company in Russia approved by the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow (We can obtain a Business Invitation at your request, please contact us for pricing). Multiple entry visas will require the original invitation.
  

• Letter of Guarantee - Link
  
• Copy of itinerary or air tickets.
  
• Visa Request Form - Link is required for completion of visa.

 

                   Additional paperwork might be required for non-US citizens:

 In order to apply for a Russian visa most non-US citizens will need to submit a proof of their       legal status in the USA (copy of Green Card, student or business visa, work permit, etc.).

Mandatory medical insurance on the basis of reciprocity is required for the citizens of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, UK, Sweden and Switzerland.

Other Information

• Vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination required for Yellow Fever if Arriving from Infected Area within 5 days
• According to the Russian Law on Citizenship Russian citizens, regardless of any other citizenship they have. Therefore applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or of the Russian Federation must submit additional documents which confirm that they are no longer (or have never been) citizens of the Russian Federation (for example <Visa to Israel>, or stamp in their passport proving that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before February 6th, 1992, or an official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was renounced), otherwise such applications will not be accepted.
  

Processing Instructions

Send the passport and all completed requirements as detailed above to:

 

(All visas will require invitations, we can assist you in obtaining an invitation - please see pricing schedule below) The processing time for invitations are separate from the actual visa process.

TOURIST VISA INVITE LETTERS

Regular service (5-7 days processing)

Tourist Invite letter-Single Entry -up to 30 days stay $50.00

Tourist Invite letter-Double Entry-up to 30 days stay $75.00

Rush Service (2-3 Business Days)

Tourist Invite letter-Single Entry-up to 30 days stay $100.00

Tourist Invite letter Double Entry-up to 30 days stay $150.00

BUSINESS VISA INVITE LETTERS

 (5 days processing time)

Business Invite letter-Single Entry-up to 30 days $250.00

Business Invite letter-Double Entry-up to 30 days $250.00

Business Invite letter-Single Entry-up to 90 days $300.00

Business Invite letter-Double Entry-up to 90 days $300.00

(15 working days processing time)

Business Invite letter-Multiple Entry-up to One year $400.00

 

Q. What is a visa? And why do I need one.
A. A visa is a stamp that is affixed to a blank visa page in your passport that is required by foreign countries before you are able to enter their territory.

Q. Do I need to send you my passport in order to receive a visa?
A. Yes, your passport must be submitted with the required paperwork and photos in order to obtain a visa for traveling outside the USA. For visa service in Houston, you can drop off your passport at our agency.

All U.S. Citizens who are traveling by air will now be required to carry a U.S. Passport.

Adults over 19 years of age will require a passport if traveling outside the U.S. by car, including Canada and Mexico.

U.S. Citizens 19 and under do not require a U.S. Passport if they are traveling outside the U.S. by land or sea.

Closed Loop Cruises: U.S. Citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present government-issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original birth certificate or a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization).

Note - You may still be required to present a passport card or passport book to enter the foreign country to which you are traveling.  Please contact your cruise line to verify which documents are required for your trip.

Processing time for Brazil Visas will now take a minimum of 7-10 working days.

Each applicant must submit a fully completed Passport/Visa Request Form for all services. This form is necessary in order to begin and complete all transactions.

Partial list of consulate closings and holiday schedules - Link

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