Note: Majority of last questions is related to what I have already written and posted on this blog. My reply preparation work is mostly about finding related posts and giving links to them in email answers. It might be one of reasons I don’t update AskYakutia.com often. So… what do I want to say? Feel free to use the search box on the left sidebar freely. That’s what I do…
The above note is not related to a question received from Singapore:
Hi,
Im from Singapore and I’m visiting Russia this summer.
I was told that Yakutsk is a city of a strict passport control and to visit this city, I am supposed to have an invitation issued by local migration authorities. Can I check if this is true and it’s necessary for me to get the invitation? I am actually intending to stay with a friend and Im flying in to Yakutsk from Ulan Ude.
As i am currently trying to prepare to get my visa, do i need to include this invitation from Yakutsk before i can apply for the Russia visa?
Thanks.
My answer is right after the link: Read more…
Often I receive requests from foreign/international journalists, who are coming to Russia and being confused about the required type of the Russian visa. Their questions usually sound like, “I’ve got an assignment and I plan my travel to Russia. What type of the Russian visa I need and how can I get it?” The last one was asked from the USA, and it said, “Do you foresee any hidden obstacles we may run into while bringing journalists on the trip?”
I know examples, when international journalists entered Russia with business or tourists visas. Those, who were assigned by newspapers or magazines to make stories on travel opportunities, didn’t experience any troubles, because they came as travelers, they didn’t take any interviews with officials, they didn’t go to any restricted areas, and they just kept writing harmless travel notes about hotels, restaurants, tours, lifestyle, and etc. Right, behaving that way, they didn’t attract much attention from migration officers and any other services.
However, I know other examples I’ve heard from local travel companies. Journalists acted in the above described manner, everything looked fine, until they went through regular police checks, and they were found out as journalists on assignment, and instead of showing press/media visas, they displayed their travel/business ones. That was the start of their troubles.
I am very interested in international reporters’ coming to Siberia’s Yakutia and making PR pieces. That’s why I am writing this post with the main idea, “To make the travel as smooth as possible, it will be good to arrange everything in the appropriate way.” Believe me, the procedure of getting the press/media visa is pretty simple. Read more…
