2.An original passport and a xerox-copy of it's vital pageswith personal data of the bearer (including the amendments at p.24: passport validity extension, the bearer's name change, etc. ("GREEN CARDS" i.e. "RESIDENT ALIEN CARDS" are not valid for entry into Russia). Diplomatic passport holders should submit their passports in original.

 

3.  One (1) recent professional  passport size picture of an applicant.  Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on mat paper. Please, cut a xerox-copy of vital passport pages to its original size and staple them to an upper-left corner of the application form. The pictureshould be stamped to a specially marked place.  4.  An original invitation from university/school in Russia. The invitation must be issued only by the local Visa Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (OVIR). Information on location of the appropriate OVIR Russian  inviting party  can obtain at the nearest police station. The invitation must be mailed to you in original (a copy is acceptable for single or double entry visa applications) or send to the Consulate via telex. If you are traveling on invitation of a federal Russian authority -  the invitation must be issued only by the Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Moscow, or by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in corresponding region and mailed to you in original (a copy is acceptable for single or double entry visa applications) or send to the Consulate via telex. View an example of the invitation letter.

Please, note that the Consulate General does not issue visas to any of the former USSR republics, except for Tajikistan. Please, apply to their respective Embassies/Consulates in the USA. If you are going to Tajikistan an invitation must be cleared through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.

   5.  HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate for those who are going to get a visa which is valid for more than 3 months. The HIV test should be apostillized at the Secretary of your state. You also have to provide translation of the HIV test into Russian which should be legalized in Russian consulate - fee is 40$ per page (see "Legalization of the U.S. documents for presenting in the Russian Federation" and "Translation of Documents" on the "Adoption/Legalization" page of this web-site).

All above mentioned documents should be mailed to the Consulate in original.

 6.  A copy of your diploma from previous or current place of study.

 7.  A copy of invoice issued by the university in Russia proving that you have already paid a tuition.

 8.  (!) Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or of the Russian Federation and then emigrated from the USSR or from Russia MUST submit one of the documents which confirms that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation (so called "Visa to Israel" or stamp in their passport saying that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was abrogated). 

Обращаем внимание на то, что согласно положениям статьи 6 Закона Российской Федерации "О гражданстве Российской Федерации" за лицом, состоящим в российском гражданстве, не признается принадлежность к гражданству другого государства, если иное не предусмотрено международным договором Российской Федерации. Поэтому указанные лица рассматриваются только в качестве российских граждан и должны въезжать в Россию и выезжать из нее только по действительным российским паспортам.

Органы пограничного контроля ФПС России проверку наличия виз иностранных государств или иных разрешений на въезд в иностранное государство при пропуске через государственную границу Российской Федерации российских граждан, выезжающих за ее пределы, не осуществляют. В соответствии с положениями статьи 6 Федерального закона "О порядке выезда из Российской Федерации и въезда в Российскую Федерацию" обязанность по контролю за наличием таких виз или разрешений возлагается на транспортную компанию (перевозчика пассажиров), если иное не предусмотрено международными договорами Российской Федерации.

 9.  Att: non-American citizens - On the basis of reciprocity mandatory medical insurance (see the list of appropriate licensed insurers) or written guarantee of medical coverage from a Russian hosting organization for all period of stay is required for the citizens Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Csech Republic, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain (except for those who bear a US Permanent resident or US resident Alien status (green card)).

On the basis of reciprocity German citizens may apply for Russian visa at the Russian Consular Mission in the US only if they have a US Permanent resident or US resident Alien status (green card). In all other cases they have to apply for Russian visa at the at the Russian Consular Mission in Germany.

 10.  A cover letter from an applicant explaining who is going, where to, when and with what purpose.

 11.  To apply for a visa by mail, you must attach a return self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid air-bill of an overnight mail delivery company you choose to have the visa sent back to you. A pick-up slip should be got then at the time of application. The slip should be presented to pick up the visa when it is ready or referred to if any question arises about the visa status.

To avoid your correspondence being lost in mail we recommend to use USPS Registered, USPS Certified, USPS Express or FedEx, DHL, Airborne and similar services (so, that the envelopes bear a tracking number). Visa Desk is not responsible for any loss or mishandling of the mail.

12.   A money order or a check payable to the Russian Consulate General for visa processing. Please, note that cash is not acceptable. The following fees will apply:

If you are non-american and non-canadian citizen, please, check out  the list of countries whose citizens have to pay an extra consular fee for the visa processing.

Please, also note that 10 working days are required to issue visas for a stateless person.

Consulate reserves the right to extend the processing time without giving any explanation. Exact visa processing time depends on how busy the Consulate is.

The same day processing applies only to the applications which are delivered to the Consulate General before 2.45 p.m. and picked up at 4.00 p.m. If one applies by mail, one extra day is added to the visa processing time.

Visa processing fees are not refundable.

Documents which are submitted in the way different from the above mentioned will not be accepted.

After visa is received, please, check it and if you find any mistakes return it to the Consulate General for correction. We charge $40.00 for correction of the mistakes which are not the Consulate's General fault. The Consulate General will not be responsible for the mistakes which are not brought to its attention before departure from the USA.

Please, note that the above mentioned requirements are general. If you need more information, please, email us: consul@seanet.com or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to get answers to your exact personal questions.

The instructions can not be faxed.

The visa section is open for visitors Monday through Friday 2 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. ONLY, Visa pick-up 2p.m. - 3 pm ONLY 

Processing time, requirements and fees are subject to change without notice.