Russian Student Visa Requirements for US Citizens:
A valid passport and visa are required to travel to this destination.
1
Passport Requirements: Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay in Russia, with at least two adjacent blank visa pages available for Russian visa stamp(s). Amendment pages in the back of the passport are not suitable for Russian visa stamps.
2
Russian Visa Application Form:
For single and double entry visa requests: one original Russia visa application completed on- line, printed and signed; plus one copy.
For multiple entry requests: two original Russia visa applications completed on-line, printed and signed; plus one copy.
*Important:
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You must have the visa invitation information or obtain it from your inviting organization in order to complete the application form.
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You must save the Application ID and remember the security question in case you need to return later to make any changes or corrections to the online application. Please provide this information on your Global Service Order Form comments for us to better assist you.
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When asked to select the location where you will be applying for your visa choose “Visa Application Center ILS (city)”.
IMPORTANT:
At the end of the online Russian visa application, you will be asked to select the
visa issuing office. You must select "ILS WASHINGTON", "ILS NEW YORK", "ILS SAN
FRANCISCO", or "ILS HOUSTON" depending on what Travisa location will process your
visa. If you select the city without "ILS", the application will not be accepted.
Improperly completed Russian visa application forms will delay the processing of your visa. Please view our helpful video instruction guide to completing the online Russia application.
3
Photo Requirements: One recent 1 3/8 x 1 3/4 inch passport style photograph - head and shoulders, face forward, neutral expression, in color, and with a plain/white background.
Houston: The applicant must not wear glasses in the photo unless the photo in the original passport includes glasses. Photos with glasses must not have glare or reflection in the lenses.
OR - you can upload a passport photo to the Global Service Order Form when you place your order, instead of providing physical passport photos.
4
Official Invitation from Russia: 5
Proof Of Departure: To support rush visa requests submitted in New York, a computer generated flight itinerary from the airline or travel agency or copy of airline tickets is required. All emergency visa requests must be submitted with an itinerary or copy of tickets.
6
Minors: For accompanying children the Russian visa application form can be completed and signed by a parent. In the case where a minor child's Russia visa application is being submitted separately from the parents' Russia visa applications, a photocopy of the parent's passport information page and an original signed letter from at least one parent must be included authorizing the Russian Consulate to issue the Russian visa and explaining who the minor will be traveling with to Russia. Applications submitted in New York must include a photocopy of the minor's birth certificate. Accompanying family members must submit HIV test results, including minor children 6 months or older.
7
Medical Requirements: Copy of negative HIV test result, taken within previous 90 days. Results must contain the name, address and phone number of the hospital/laboratory/clinic where the test was taken.
8
Global Service Order Form: This is Travisa's service order form, where you will provide your contact and shipping information, choose the visa processing needed and make your payment. You must print the completed form and send it to Travisa with all other supporting documents.
Russia Visa Validity: A Russian student visa is issued according to the dates and number of entries specified on the official invitation, at the discretion of the consulate.
Russian Visa Processing Time: Regular processing time for a Russia visa application is up to 15 business days from the date that all materials including visa application and invitation are received. Rush and Emergency Russian visa service is available for additional fees, though emergency visa requests are processed at the discretion of the Russian Consulate and considered on a case by case basis. Please visit our Russian Consular Fees and Visa Options page for details.
In Houston: A Russian visa application can be submitted up to 30 days in advance of travel to Russia.
In San Francisco: A Russian visa application can be submitted up to 90 days in advance of travel to Russia.
In Washington DC: A Russian visa application can be submitted up to 90 days in advance of travel to Russia.
In order to ensure that visa applications for most embassies/consulates are submitted on the day that we receive them, they should be shipped to us via FedEx Priority Overnight (not First Overnight or Standard Overnight).
Non-refundable tickets or reservations should not be purchased until all visas and passports are secured and in your possession.