So is it *impossible* for us to do what we want? We will be over 90 days teaching in China, so even if we skipped staying in Mongolia for three months, we are still outside the time limit for applying before we leave NZ. Is there *anything* we can do? Is there a different sort of visa we could get from Beijing or UlanBaatar?

In Russia, what is possible one day is impossible the next, and impossible things become possible without notice. The government in this country can be very whimsical. Some things change overnight while other things never change. Visa laws change very frequently.

From the aforementioned Redtape.ru today, cribbed from the Moscow Times. Stay tuned for further future revisions, alterations, changes, and reinterpretations. I assure you they will come.

http://www.redtape.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=11249

No Need for Expats to Return Home for Visas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No Need for Expats to Return Home for Visas
The Moscow Times

Foreigners are not required to obtain Russian visas in their native countries, despite a recent decree that toughened visa rules, the Federal Migration Service said Monday.

The decree, signed by Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov on Oct. 4, contains language suggesting that foreigners must obtain visas in their native country, ending the expat practice of going on a visa run to a neighboring country.

But foreigners will still be able to obtain visas at Russian consulates in third countries, Alexander Aksyonov, director of the agency's visa and registration department, said by e-mail.

The decree restricts the amount of time foreigners can spend in Russia on multiple-entry business visas. Previously, foreigners could use the visas to stay in Russia for a year. Now foreigners can only stay 180 days a year and no longer than 90 consecutive days. Those who wish to stay longer must get a work permit or residency.

Visas will now state the number of days a foreigner is allowed to stay in Russia, Aksyonov said, and authorities will check whether a foreigner exceeded the allotted time when he or she leaves the country. Those who overstay may be fined the first time, while a second violation could result in being denied entry into the country.
__________________

And the Trans-Siberian is back on!!!!!!

quote:

Visas will now state the number of days a foreigner is allowed to stay in Russia

Duhhhh... boy, the Russian government is really on top of things, aren't they

I just got my Russian tourist visa here in San Francisco, CA. Took about 10 days. Paid $100 USD.

The new visa comes with a fancy hologram.

What date did you submit the application on?

anyone know if it is necessary to get a transit visa if i'm just switching planes in a moscow airport?

If you're going to change planes and be in Russia for even 5 minutes get a transit visa. Especially and in particular if you're traveling to/from Asia, especially in the winter. Pay the money. Just do it, they're not so hard to get. I believe one may change planes in Russia without a transit visa within a 12 hour window--BUT DON'T TRY IT. After 12 hours and 1 minute you're in the country illegally and the consequences are calamitous. No no and no. Please.

From Waytorussia:

Transit Visas:
This type of visa is usually given for maximum 72 hours if you're crossing the country or need to change the airports. The requirement and the prices depend on the country you're in, so the best thing to do is to contact the Russian consulate and they'll explain everything.
The most common requirements are
1) a valid travel document (passport);
2) onward airline or train tickets (proving you're crossing Russia and will not stay for longer than 72 hours).
3) a visa to the country you are traveling from Russia (if you need one)
4) completed visa application form
5) one passport-size photograph
The price of the transit visa is usually lower than a normal tourist visa, for example, in France it costs 28 Euro. Note, that you don't need to obtain an invitation or visa support to get this type of visa.

http://www.waytorussia.net/search/index.php?template_de...ansit+visa&search=Go

thanks sophie! I found a really great fare that changes planes in moscow sooo even with the visa fee i'll be golden.

Current update on the new Russian visa regulations:

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 / Updated Moscow Time
Business

Officials Explain Visa Changes

By Dave Nowak and Max Delany
Staff Writers


Foreigners in Russia will have to apply for visas in their home countries or in a country where they can stay 90 days or more, a Federal Migration service official said Monday.

The clarification came as government officials attempted to explain the restrictive new rules after foreign business associations were swamped with inquiries about the new system.

Puzzled company representatives packed out events held by the American Chamber of Commerce and Association of European Businesses on Monday, where officials spoke from the Foreign Ministry and Federal Migration Service.

Confusion has reigned among expatriates over an Oct. 4 decree issued by Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov that shook up the application process and slashed the length of time foreigners can stay in Russia on multiple-entry business visas.

Speaking at the AEB meeting, Alexander Aksyonov, head of the migration service's visa and registration department, said foreigners could now only receive a new visa in countries where they are legally entitled to stay for more than 90 days.

This would essentially mean that many non-EU citizens could not get new visas in European countries and would have to return home.

Aksyonov also clarified another contentious part of the new legislation.


Multiple-entry business visas received before Oct. 17, the day the decree was adopted, will not be affected by the new legislation. But multiple-entry business visas issued after that date will now only allow stays of up to 90 days at a time.

Under the new rules, such visas will still last one year. But they will only let foreigners stay in Russia for up to 180 days of that visa year, and for no longer than 90 days at a time. Moreover, if a foreigner stays in Russia for 90 days straight, he or she is then required to leave and not come back until another 90 days have passed.

Aksyonov said the primary reason for implementing the new legislation was to bring Russian visa practices into line with "the European system," referring to the Schengen visa regime used by about half the countries in Europe. Under that system, Russians can get a single visa that allows them to travel freely between those countries.

Aksyonov said the new rules were in line with those in 33 countries that had the same rules for Russians traveling on business visas. He called the new rules a "liberalization" of Russia's migration policy.

Paul Vandoren, deputy head of the delegation of the European Commission to Russia, told the meeting that there remained a number of "outstanding issues" on visa policy but that dialogue was continuing between Russian and foreign officials.

"So many individuals have difficulties with visa legislation and are uncertain about the rules. It is too difficult for each individual to voice their concerns to the Russian authorities," Vandoren said.

Andrew Somers, president of the American Chamber of Commerce, said the organization had received a large number of e-mails and phone calls on the matter.

Russian officials had agreed to come and field questions at a members' meeting on the matter at very short notice, Somers said.

"It looks like the spirit is willing to resolve this situation," he said.

Somers said the chamber's lawyers were digesting the latest pronouncements from Russian officials and would produce a report later this week.

In the end, however, it seemed that some businesses were left just as confused as ever.

"It seems the officials don't understand the rules completely themselves," said Natalya Komoltseva, head of human resources at Nissan.

And despite the official reassurances, telephone calls to a number of Russian consulates around Europe on Monday showed that the system was by no means applied evenly.

A spokeswoman for the Russian Consulate in London said they were currently still issuing same-day visas and visas to U.S. citizens not residing in Britain but that the system was likely to change sometime next year.

"Either you will have to be a resident here or apply for the visa in your own country," the spokeswoman said.

"In the future anything is possible," she said.

A spokesman for the Russian Consulate in Dublin said U.S. citizens were currently only being given visas if they are resident in Ireland. She was uncertain if other EU citizens not resident in Ireland could receive visas in the country.

The consulate in Helsinki is currently refusing to issue visas to U.S. citizens or citizens of non-Schengen countries, said one U.S. businessman, who recently applied for a visa there. He added that there were even discrepancies between the various consulates within Finland.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2007/11/13/041.html