Russian Visa Instructions
How early can I apply?You can apply as soon as you have all of your documents together—namely, your letter of invitation (the ½ sheet on brown paper in Cyrillic included in this mailing). You also need to have the results from your HIV test, which need to be issued within 90 days of application.
How much does it cost? The fee for the processing through includes the consular fee, and is a sliding scale depending on how quickly you need it processed. Those of you with time to spare (applying now, for instance) can go with the two week processing, their least expensive option.
If you apply in person at the consulate yourself, the price will be less, but the hassle will certainly be greater—see consulate’s website for details.
How do I get a money order? If applying in person, you will need a money order. Banks and post offices can give you a money order—you take them cash and they convert that cash into a money order—think of it as a guaranteed check. Sometimes your own bank will process it without a fee, but it is normal to pay a few dollars for the service at the post office or other bank. [If you apply through CIBT, you will pay for the visa, the processing, and postage fees by credit card.]
What kind of visa do I need? You need a student visa. The requirements are the same as for the tourist visa, with the additional requirement of the HIV test results, not more than 90 days old. All student visas are single-entry, and you will apply to change over to a multi-entry visa once in Russia (that’s why your letter of invitation specifies only 90 days). There is no cost to extend the visa. Take care not to plan any travel outside of Russia before getting that multi-entry visa, which may not happen until after your mid-term break.
Where can I get photos in Middlebury? Kinney Drugs is the least expensive option, but the UPS store and the post office also take them.
Where can I get the HIV test done? Contact your health center if you’re on campus or your family doctor if you’re at home. If you’re concerned about privacy/confidentiality, you may elect to go to a public clinic rather than to your own doctor to avoid having the test become a part of your permanent medical record. You should request two original copies with some sort of raised seal and blue ink somewhere if possible—something to make the results look original—this isn’t always possible. Use one for the visa application and take the other to Russia with you. If you only get one copy, you’ll need to use it for your visa application (it will not be returned to you). You may then, especially in Irkutsk, have to get a new HIV test in order to register your visa.
READY?...
When you are ready to complete the forms, make sure you have the following:
60 minutes to complete everything (the on-line form will time you out, so don’t get distracted)
Passport
Letter of Invitation
Computer from which you can print a pdf—connected to a printer
Credit card
Contact in Russia:
1-y Tverskoy-Yamskoy pereulok 18, kom. 422
Moscow, 125047, Russia
Tel. 011-7-499-251-8786
Fax. 011-7-499-250-4107
Director: Nana Tsikhelashvili
To complete the Russian visa application:
There is a reduced price for processing for students on the Middlebury program through CIBT, so if there is a place to enter our account number, please use this: 57043
Here is what your first screen should look like, even if you’ve never even been to Vermont (though use whatever passport nationality you are using):
The following screen should look like this because you will extend and apply for multiple entires from within Russia:
Russian Visa Application Questions and Answers
Country (select the country where you will be applying for your visa): United States
English will populate automatically.
Check the “I have read this information” box.
Click “Complete new application form.”
Select a security question and answer and WRITE THEM DOWN, along with your application ID (top right). This is the paper you will later include when you mail your materials to CIBT.
Enter the security text and click “submit.”
Nationality: Whatever is the nationality in your passport you’ll use to apply. Russian citizens cannot apply for visas, even in another nationality’s passport.
If you had USSR or Russian nationality at some time please select "yes" and indicate when and why you lost it: No
Purpose of visit (section): Study
Purpose of visit: Study
Visa category and type: Common Educational (should populate)
Number of entries: single
Date of entry into Russia: This needs to be accurate—if you get to Russia the day before your visa is valid, you can’t stay. Your calendar can be found here: Fall 2015 students need to arrive on August 26 (which, if flying from the US means leaving August 26)
Date of exit from Russia: This should be the date of exit on your invitation letter. These are issued only for 90 days, but you will extend your visa in Russia to cover the length of your stay.
**Next**
Surname: exactly as it is in your passport
First, middle, etc. names: Again, as in passport—just write them without any punctuation
Other names used in the past: leave blank if it doesn’t apply
Do not click Add unless you really have even more names to add
Sex: make selection from choices available
Date of birth: As shown in passport
Your place of birth: as written in your passport (if you were born in the US, this will be your state spelled out (no abbreviation) and “US.”
If you were born in Russia, select “yes” and specify when and which country you have immigrated to; otherwise, select “no.”
Marital status: select. If married, you’ll need to provide spouse’s name, date of birth and place of birth.
**Save Draft**
Next
Type of passport: tourist—rarely do students have diplomatic passports, but any of you who do will also know it. The standard passport is referred to as a tourist passport.
Passport number: this is the nine digit number in the upper right of a US passport.
Date of issue: enter
Date of expiry: enter (again, cannot be less than six months after your intended return from Russia)
Issued by: US Department of State in most cases of US passport holders—unless you had it replaced while abroad.
**Save Draft**
Next
Russian Institution to be visited: None
Itinerary (places of visit)
Start typing your city name, then choose that city along with “Reg” to indicate the region:
Moscow Reg., Irkutsk Reg. or Yaroslavl Reg. If Irkutsk or Yaroslavl, you should also add Moscow.
Do you have medical insurance policy valid in Russia? Yes. Then in “provide details” write “HTH Worldwide.”
Who will pay for your trip to and stay in Russia? Select “Independently.”
Do you plan to stay anywhere (hotel, individual) during your stay in Russia? Yes.
Name, address and phone of a person or hotel in Russia that you plan to stay with:
If Moscow: Aerostar Hotel
1-y Tverskoy-Yamskoy per.18
125047 Moscow RUSSIA
Phone: 74959883131
If Irkutsk:Courtyard Irkutsk City Center
Chkalov St. 15
Irkutsk RUSSIA
Phone: 02030279779
If Yaroslavl:Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University
Respublicanskaya, 108, office# 215
150000Yaroslavl RUSSIA
Phone: 74992518786
**Save Draft**
Next
Here are the answers that you can hopefully provide—getting a Russian visa is not automatic and they can refuse you:
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offence? No
Have you ever been afflicted with a communicable disease of public health significance or a dangerous physical or mental disorder? Have you ever been a drug abuser or an addict?
Have you ever been refused a Russian visa? No
Has your Russian visa ever been canceled? No
Have you ever tried to obtain or assisted others to obtain a Russian visa or enter Russia by providing misleading or false information? No
Have you ever overstayed your Russian visa or stayed unlawfully in Russia? No
Have you ever been deported from Russia? No
Has this application been completed personally by you? Yes
Do you have any specialized skills, training or experience related to fire-arms and explosives or to nuclear matters, biological or chemical substance? No
Have you ever been enlisted to military service? Answer honestly
Are/were you a member of a professional, civil, or charity organizations or do you cooperate with any of these organizations. Answer, but sparingly.
Have you ever been involved in armed conflicts, either as a member of the military service or a victim? Hopefully no.
**Save Draft**
Next
Have you ever attended any educational institutions excluding secondary school?
GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY SHOULD COMPLETE THIS TOP SECTION WITH THEIR UNDERGRADUATE DETAILS—UNDERGRADS SHOULD LEAVE IT BLANK:
Name: List undergraduate institution
Course of study: list your major
Address: and phone: complete
Date of admission: complete
Date of graduation: complete
Have you ever changed your place of employment before entering the current job? Yes. Everyone should complete with current institution:
Name: list current institution (grad students, list Middlebury)
Address: If Middlebury, 356 College Street; Middlebury VT 05753
Your position: student
Phone number: 802.443.5745
Your chief’s surname: Nicole Chance
Date of joining: make the month/year you started your degree
Date of dismissal: make the last date you attended, month and year.
**Save Draft**
Next
Have you ever been issued a Russian visa? Answer honestly
Has your passport ever been lost or stolen? Answer honestly
List all countries you have visited in the last ten years and indicate the date of visit (entry date—you can often find this stamped in your passport)
Have you been issued with a passport of the country other than the passport that is indicated in the electronic visa application form? Answer honestly.
**Save Draft**
Next
Your father's full nameYour mother's full name
Your permanent address
Your phone number
Your fax: you can skip
Your email
Do you work (study) in the present time? Yes.
Name of employer: current institution
Work position: student
Employer address: 356 College St; Middlebury, VT 05753
You can skip work telephone, fax and email
Do you currently have relatives in Russia? Answer honestly
**Save Draft**
Next
Select the location where you will be applying for your visa: Embassy of Russia in the United States
**Save Draft**
Next
Now you’ll see the completed version. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS now, or pay to change them later.
Save
Print letter—make sure it actually prints.
Exit.
Complete Billing and Shipping sections
Under Travel Information, enter your date of departure and host city. Those in Yaroslavl and Irkutsk should also list Moscow.
Choose your shipping method. Do not check signature required unless someone will be at the address to sign for it.
Enter payment information.
Under Comments, write that you are applying for a student visa.
List Middlebury as your referral.
Checklist of documents to include in the package you send to CIBT:
- The application form that you typed and then printed. Do not forget to SIGN and DATE the back.
- Piece of paper where you have recorded your application ID, Security Question and Security answer (so they can go in and amend your application for date of application). If you forget to do this, they charge you $30 to retype your form.
- Two passport sized photos (one pasted to the back of the application form and one paper clipped to your materials.
- Negative HIV test results (make three copies to keep for yourself before sending)
- Letter of invitation (the half sheet of brown paper written in Cyrillic)
- Your actual, physical passport—yes, you need to mail it because they need your original passport to affix the visa stamp. Your passport must have at least here blank visa pages (the ones that say “visa” at the top) and be valid for at least six months after your intended return from Russia.
- Your password so people at CIBT can correct anything they need to (like the date of application).
*Recommended: put your paperwork, especially passport and invitation letter, in a Ziploc bag inside the mailer you send to avoid any potential water damage (yes, it’s happened, so don’t let it happen to you).
Use a trackable service (UPS, FedEx or an express mail envelope through the US Postal Service)and send to:
CIBTvisas New York
60 E. 42nd Street
Suite 1250
New York, NY 10165
Phone 800-929-2428
Walk In Hours 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST
Updated July 2015