Discuss about the latest news & interesting topics, real life experience or other out of topic discussions with locals & expatriates in Singapore.
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misscontrary
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by misscontrary » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:56 am
Hi there, are there anyone to help out here? I would like to get a russian visa to enter the country for holiday purposes. However, when i call the embassy no one picked up!. May i know if anyone know how is it done?

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the lynx
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by the lynx » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:57 am
misscontrary wrote:Hi there, are there anyone to help out here? I would like to get a russian visa to enter the country for holiday purposes. However, when i call the embassy no one picked up!. May i know if anyone know how is it done?

http://singapore.rusembassy.org/rusvisa.html#tourist
HTH
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misscontrary
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by misscontrary » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:03 pm
Yup, i called that number several times...no response..
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by misscontrary » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:08 pm
maybe i wont have a choice but to book for the tour package which is really expensive was thinking of going for self tour....
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zzm9980
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by zzm9980 » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 1:59 pm
Consider using a visa agency for troublesome corrupt places like Russia and China. I use cibt:
http://cibt.sg/
They can handle all of the hassles you'll go through if you don't travel with an organized tour, such as purchasing your travel authorization letters and such. (I'm pretty sure all they're doing is paying a bribe, but it works. They got me a 1yr multiple entry visa to China overnight.) They charge some fees, but it's still cheaper than booking an organized tour and you have freedom to make your own travel itinerary.
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zzm9980
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by zzm9980 » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 2:01 pm
And holy crap is the Russian visa a red-tape nightmare! You even need a letter from your company's HR showing your expected return date to work for a *tourist* visa...
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Strong Eagle
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by Strong Eagle » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 2:12 pm
zzm9980 wrote:Consider using a visa agency for troublesome corrupt places like Russia and China. I use cibt:
http://cibt.sg/
They can handle all of the hassles you'll go through if you don't travel with an organized tour, such as purchasing your travel authorization letters and such. (I'm pretty sure all they're doing is paying a bribe, but it works. They got me a 1yr multiple entry visa to China overnight.) They charge some fees, but it's still cheaper than booking an organized tour and you have freedom to make your own travel itinerary.
Chinese visas are now only available through their exclusive agent. Easy, fast, no hassle, but not cheap for Americans.
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IOP
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by IOP » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 2:17 pm
misscontrary wrote:Hi there, are there anyone to help out here? I would like to get a russian visa to enter the country for holiday purposes. However, when i call the embassy no one picked up!. May i know if anyone know how is it done?

Hi, we have used this service during our last trip to Russia and it worked for us:
http://russianvisa.sg/
it's better than go directly to the embassy, coz they do all bureaucracy job including invitation letter and documents collection.
good luck with your trip
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zzm9980
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by zzm9980 » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 3:36 pm
Strong Eagle wrote:zzm9980 wrote:Consider using a visa agency for troublesome corrupt places like Russia and China. I use cibt:
http://cibt.sg/
They can handle all of the hassles you'll go through if you don't travel with an organized tour, such as purchasing your travel authorization letters and such. (I'm pretty sure all they're doing is paying a bribe, but it works. They got me a 1yr multiple entry visa to China overnight.) They charge some fees, but it's still cheaper than booking an organized tour and you have freedom to make your own travel itinerary.
Chinese visas are now only available through their exclusive agent. Easy, fast, no hassle, but not cheap for Americans.
These guys just got me one last month, unless the process has changed again in the past 30 days.
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Strong Eagle
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by Strong Eagle » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 3:43 pm
zzm9980 wrote:Strong Eagle wrote:zzm9980 wrote:Consider using a visa agency for troublesome corrupt places like Russia and China. I use cibt:
http://cibt.sg/
They can handle all of the hassles you'll go through if you don't travel with an organized tour, such as purchasing your travel authorization letters and such. (I'm pretty sure all they're doing is paying a bribe, but it works. They got me a 1yr multiple entry visa to China overnight.) They charge some fees, but it's still cheaper than booking an organized tour and you have freedom to make your own travel itinerary.
Chinese visas are now only available through their exclusive agent. Easy, fast, no hassle, but not cheap for Americans.
These guys just got me one last month, unless the process has changed again in the past 30 days.
They had to go here...
http://www.visaforchina.org/Singapore_EN/. Everyone does. 9th floor of Royal Brothers building.
Because...
http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/lsqw/t582778.htm
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misscontrary
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by misscontrary » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 4:59 pm
Thanks guys this is really helpful. Seems like it is not as straightforward even to spend money in such places.

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by zzm9980 » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 5:13 pm
Interesting. Does that place provide the authorized invitation letter?
(iii) An original copy of "Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit" or "Confirmation Letter of Invitation" ("Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit" and "Confirmation Letter of Invitation" refer to the documents issued by the Chinese government department’ companies and social organizations authorized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. For detailed information, please consult the foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region or municipality under the Central government where your host is located.)
The $295 they want is right about what I paid (well, my company) for the visa. It was another ~$600 for the very fast turn around on the government invitation letter though, which is where I suspect the bribe comes in

Too bad too, we used to be able to print invitation letters like toilet paper. Probably why they changed the policy...
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Strong Eagle
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by Strong Eagle » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 5:20 pm
zzm9980 wrote:
Interesting. Does that place provide the authorized invitation letter?
(iii) An original copy of "Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit" or "Confirmation Letter of Invitation" ("Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit" and "Confirmation Letter of Invitation" refer to the documents issued by the Chinese government department’ companies and social organizations authorized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. For detailed information, please consult the foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region or municipality under the Central government where your host is located.)
The $295 they want is right about what I paid (well, my company) for the visa. It was another ~$600 for the very fast turn around on the government invitation letter though, which is where I suspect the bribe comes in

Too bad too, we used to be able to print invitation letters like toilet paper. Probably why they changed the policy...
The invitation letter is a big hassle. I've had a MNC with offices in Shanghai issue me one and there was no issue... as long as it is done right.
All the other times I have traveled to China it has been on a tourist visa, no matter the actual purpose... much easier.
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by thismyvoice » Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:30 pm
Not easy to get a Russian VISA. I got mine a few years back from a small travel agency in People's Park Centre (Chinatown). They specialize in Russian tour. The owner is a Russian and his wife a Thai ... I think. It was a free and easy kind of holiday. Need to hunt a bit for the name though.
Nice place, rude service staff, difficult language.
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