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Before You Go - Money
Matters - En Route - Avoiding Crime
- Health - A Few Useful Addresses And Phone Numbers
Before You Go
Breathing room. Give yourself plenty of time to obtain your visa. If your
travel agent is arranging this, make sure the agency has all your information at
least a month before you plan to depart, if not more. If you are traveling
independently, make sure you have your visa invitation and application sent in
at least a month before you need to go, in case there are any problems. You can,
of course, get visas in a rush when necessary same day service is even possible
now at the Russian embassy, but you will pay quite a bit extra.
Survival Kit. Pack a small carry-on with enough clothes and toiletries
to survive for 24 hours after you arrive. Airport theft is up and bags do get
lost and re-routed. Don't let either eventuality drag your trip down. And
don't check soft-sided luggage if you can help it. Instead, take hard-sided
luggage that has locks.
Cheaper by the dozen. Take along some spare passport photos for that
"worst case" or in case you need to get a visa for
another country or some other important document.
Avoid surprises. If you are traveling independently, confirm hotel
reservations in advance, by fax or telex, if at all possible.
Your travel agent should also be able to do this for you too.
Gift giving. Take along some nice, small business gifts if you are
traveling to Russia on business: embossed lighters, pens, key
chains, DeKalb seed hats, whatever fits the bill.
Don't worry about strange looks. Stop at your pharmacy before leaving and
pick up some disposable needles. Put them in your carry-on right
next to your traveler's checks. Basic antibiotics are also
recommended.
What else to bring. Our Russia Survival Guide has a complete listing of
25 health and personalitems we suggest you take along. Certainly we
cannot list them all here. Some of the most important things are:
prescription and over-the-counter medicines you suspect you might need;
Pepto-Bismol and/or Immodium; small tube of laundry soap; a photocopy of
your passport and visa, kept separate from the originals; aspirin;
antibiotics; a spare roll of toilet paper.
Russian visa requirements
In order to obtain Russian visa the following documents are required:
1. A completed visa application form (one per person). The
form can be xerox-copied. Fax copies of forms (on thin fax paper) are not
accepted.
2. A xerox-copy of vital pages of a passport or any other
travel document with personal data of the bearer. ("GREEN CARDS" i.e.
"RESIDENT ALIEN CARDS" are not valid for entry into Russia).
Diplomatic passport holders should submit the original passport.
3. Three (3) recent professional identical passport size
pictures of an applicant. Diplomatic passport holders should submit only one
picture. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on mat paper.
Please don't put just processed photographs on top of one another - they can
stick together and will be unacceptable! If you want to sign the pictures on the
back, please make sure the ink is dry before you put the pictures together.
4. A copy of the confirmation from a travel agency in Russia
(Irkutsk-Baikal-Travel Inc. can provide). For visitor's visa a private
invitation processed through a local OVIR office in Russia is required. Please
note that the Consulate General of Russia does not issue visas to any republics
of the former USSR. Please apply to their respective Embassies/Consulates in the
your country.
5. HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate for those who are going to get
a visa which is valid for more than 3 months.
7. A money order payable to Irkutsk-Baikal-Travel Inc. for
visa processing.
The following fees will apply:
*US$ 30.00 - visa support (invitation letter) when applicable
* Visa support (invitation letter) will be provided free of
charge when travel services are booked through "Baikal Travel
Co." (minimum booking requirement applies).
Please note that the above mentioned visa requirements are
general. If you need more information please call at 7 - (3952) 200134 - Monday
through Friday.
Before You Go - Money
Matters - En Route - Avoiding Crime
- Health - A Few Useful Addresses And Phone Numbers
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