WHY VISA so Difficult

[bunnylane]

Why does Russia make it so difficult for people to leave or come to Russia? If an individual in Russia had the money to travel to USA,
how long would it take ?
and how much would it cost?
just to get passport and needed papers to leave Russia?
Is getting a passport that difficult in Russia?

[joydiver]

It's not difficult to get a foreign passport to travel from Russia. Takes about a month or so for $30 USD or so. The agency that does it is called OVIR.
To go to the US one needs a visa, that he/she can obtain from any US Consulate or Embassy, whichever is closer to his/her home town. And then it'll depend on how much trouble the US government representatives would want to put that Russian through. Unfortunately, Russia is on the "quota" list: very strict requirements to be eligible for a US visa. The process begins with getting proof, that a visitor is not a potential immigrant, which is almost impossible to prove: one should have a permanent well-paid job in Russia (by the way, according to the US standards, not Russian), strong family ties (for example, a wife or a kid, as a collateral), some high-value property (like a house, a car, a flat, etc.); and of course, a US sponsor, or enough legal income to provide for himself in the US. After that one needs paperwork that indicates his/her goal of arrival to the US: confirmation from a tourist agency (if a tourist visa), from an employer (if a work visa), from college (if a student visa), or an invitation letter form one's friend or family, if it's a personal visit.

[bunnylane]

Thanks Joydiver, For taking the time and being thurough . It is always good to get some facts, from another. I also feel it is tough for A US person to go to Russia. I know one can get tourist Visa, Business or a personal visa. Yet, I know rules are made for reasons but to go with a group of people and stay to plans and schedules is not my idea of getting away. I have found just for the Russian I have been writting an invitation is difficult to get. Does an invitation always take months to get?

[joydiver]

I am sorry I didn't understand your question. An invitation for a Russian, or from a Russian?
If it's for a Russian, it can be just a personal statement in any form, and don't even need to be notarized.
To get an invitation to Russia takes probably a couple months, simply because it takes time for the OVIR agency to make an enquiry to the US and then continue paperwork in Russia at a slow beaurocratic pace. A Russian person inviting you should go to that agency, place a request and can ask to speed up the process if possible. They will tell exactly how long it takes and how much it costs.

[bunnylane]

You got it right, an invite for me to go to Russia. It has take close to three months but lately I was told it is in the mail.I have not been home for a couple weeks so possibly it is their. Sometimes it is just hard to except an invite is so tough. I have been told of Russian beuracray. But we all got our ups and downs. I was on an island out by Guam by the time a care package got to me the bread items were molding and cheese was growing. Patience in all things.

[bunnylane]

You got it right, an invite for me to go to Russia. It has take close to three months but lately I was told it is in the mail.I have not been home for a couple weeks so possibly it is their. Sometimes it is just hard to except an invite is so tough. I have been told of Russian beuracray. But we all got our ups and downs. I was on an island out by Guam by the time a care package got to me the bread items were molding and cheese was growing. Patience in all things.

[Randi]

Visa for Russia does not take that long at all. All you need to do is check out a youth hostel or a hotel and pay for one night to stay, which is rarely expensive, and they send you an invitaion. You'll get in within a couple of weeks. Check out St. Petersburg Times or Moscow Times on the internet. they usually have ads of businesses, who supply this service. If you're going to Russia, have the best time. It's the greatest overthere.