INVITATION LETTER UPDATES (*updated)

NOTE: from now onwards, if you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below. this is to avoid redundancy, and so that we can share the information with everyone. please read the post carefully. thanks for your time.

As of 28 March 2010, here are the latest updates on the matter of Invitation Letter:

A) due to the new rulings, agents in Moscow can no longer issue Invitations without hotel bookings.

we have spoken with the agency which our seniors used to hire last year, and unfortunately they cannot offer the same service this time around.

however, we suggest that you consider booking apartments with them (check out http://www.allrussiahotels.com/) if you have a large number of guests (e.g more than 4 persons) because some of the apartments, ranging from 2-4 room apartments are quite good, and seems worth the cost.

B) if your parents are going to stay at the hostel, you can apply for Invitation Letter from the University starting from THE END OF APRIL.

NOTE: the Uni will only issue Invitation to immediate family members (i.e. Parents & Siblings. Mr Bespaliuk said NO to uncles/aunts/friends).

what you need to have/do in order to apply from the University:

1. Copy of parents' passport

2. Document proving that the guests are your parents

(Mr. Bespaliuk stated that he needs the copy and a translation of your birth cert for this). **in special cases, e.g. step-parents/adopted child, he said that you can get support documents from the embassy, but we strongly suggest you meeting him in person to confirm the status, to avoid frustration.

**if your parents/siblings are staying in countries other than Malaysia (e.g brother/sister studying in UK), he will also need a document stating the residency of your guest in that particular country.

3. documents 1 and 2 to Mr. Bespaliuk (remember, only starting from the END OF APRIL or he will just tell you that you are too early)

4. the same documents, with the Dean's signature to Room 7

5. get and fill Заявление from Room 7

6. the fee is around 200rubs, processing takes 2 weeks (that's what he said)

**the Visa issued using this Invitation is a Private Visa. so it is Single-Entry.

**valid for travel in all parts of Russia. (e.g. St. Petersburg)

** we have confirmed with the Russian Embassy in KL, and they say that they don't require an original copy of the invitation. so you can just scan it. read [this] for further information from the embassy.

C) if options A and B isn't for you, you can still opt to apply from agent in Malaysia (as stated in previous post), or from hostels/hotels that provide Visa Support.

D) you can try applying online from [http://www.realrussia.co.uk/visa/visa_support2_tourist.asp]

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FAQs with the Russian Embassy in KL.

Our correspondent Mr Aliff had taken the liberty to get some valuable information from the Russian Embassy in KL from Ms. Sindy who had been very helpful, to answer most of the FAQs regarding the Visa Processing. Hope the info helps!

1. About the invitation letter, if we decide to do the invitation letter in Moscow to cut budget for parents, do the Russian embassy in Malaysia need the original letter from Moscow to proceed with the visa application? or is it possible if we just scan the letter from Moscow and send it via email to our respective parents or guests in Malaysia?

If you decide to do the invitation letter in Moscow for your parents, you may do so. The Embassy does not insist on the orginal letter of invitation due to time constrain. If the parents can get the original invitation in time then bring the original, otherwise they can bring very clear copy of the scanned invitation. You may scan the the visa support documents to your parents and I will assist them over in the Embassy. No worries.

2. Do the parents need to have health certificate before entering Russia, or do they need it at all for any kind of registration process when they reache Russia?

No health certificate required for tourists who stay in Russia less than 90 days in Russia as I know. I don't requests from tourists who want to visit Russia with the tourist support documents.

3. Can you please tell me what are conditions that may failed the visa application for parents or guests in Malaysia?. It is greatly appreciated if you can share with me any cases of visa application failure in the past so that we can avoid from happening to our respective parents and guests.

Actually, visa applications get rejected due to the following reasons:

1. The passports do not have 7 months or more for visa applications. Some of them have only 3 months for their passport to expire. For any visa applications one should have at least 7 months to do a tourist visa.

2. The visa support documents from Russia have wrong names, date of birth, passport nos. errors. which we cannot issue visas for these reasons.

2. Poor print out of visa support documents which are not readable is rejected.

I hope I have cleared you doubts to make it easier for your parents, relatives, friends and well wishers on your forthcoming CONVOCATION event of your lives.
Visa support documents are also provided via agents in Malaysia for tourists.
If required by your goodselves I can assist all of you in time if there are last minute changes, to avoid any kind of disappointments. Proper visa documents can be done by agents.

If your parents and friends feel it could be a long wait before they get their invitations from the University for visa application they can easily settle their anxiety by contacting me and I will be happy to help them.

For your info:

Visa Fees for Malaysians are as follows:
Single Entry
RM200 (7 or 8 days processing time) Monday to Monday or Tuesday)
RM400 (for 3 working days processing time, meaning if you submit your passports on Monday you may collect them on Thursday)
RM500 (within 1 hour - same day)

Double Entry
RM340 (7 or 8 days processing time) Monday to Monday or Tuesday)
RM640 (for 3 working days processing time, meaning if you submit your passports on Monday you may collect them on Thursday)
RM740 (within 1 hour - same day)

Visa support documents for parents, relatives and friends can also be handled by agents in Malaysia. If you need any kind of assistance with regards to the above please e-mail .

If you wish to forward your guests to get the visa support documents please do not hesitate to call me at the Russian Embassy- Consular Division at my
D/L 603 - 42563949)

If I am not mistaken if you apply early you can do the 7 or 8 days processing time to cut cost.

If there is any more inquiries you request kindly forward me an email for quick action.

Cheers!!!
Sindy

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below so that there will be no redundancy, and we get to share the information with everyone. thank you for your cooperation!

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