I want to visit russia in the near future. I have made several friends over the years and want to visit them?

Question

What is the next step for this visit?

Answer 1

First, get your passport:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Contact a knowledgeable travel agent the first time. You will need hotel and tourist vouchers before getting your Visas.
Or bravely try it on travelocity.

Then get your Visas for travel to Russia:
http://www.visitrussia.org.uk/visa-apply.htm

1. Original passport, valid for at least 6 months.
2. Application form (download forms in Word format for US citizens, for UK and the rest of the world)
3. One passport-type photograph
4. Tourist visa support documents (hotel voucher and confirmation of tourist acceptance)
5. Applicable fee

Answer 2

First of all you need to apply for a visum. There are two ways of doing that. First of all you can ask your friends to arrange an invitation for you from the local 'OFIR'. This is the department which arranges also passports etc. They will need to go there, fill in forms and show proof of work, registration, etc. They will receive the official invitation from OFIR. Have them check with OFIR on the correct procedure as it has been changed from the 1st of January. When they send you the invitation, you have to apply for the visum with the local Russian consulate. Also there the procedure hase changed, so check the website of the embassy. The second way is to have an agency arrange a tourist visum for you. Will cost additional money, but saves you and your friends a lot of hassle. I don't know which country you are from, but you will be able to find an agency with any search engine.

Then book a ticket, fly there and enjoy!

Just remember that you have to register your visum within 3 workingdays of arriving in Russia. If you are going to stay in hotels, it's easy, they will do it for you (officially at no additional charge). If you are staying at your friends place, you will have to go yourself to OFIR for registration (will cost very little), or use another agency for that (at a fee). If you used an agency to obtain your visum, they will be able to recommend you an agency to use in Russia.

So there is some paperwork, but nothing which can't be overcome.

Enjoy your visit!

Answer 3

The first step is to decide when is a good time to go. In some places, it is -40 right now. The next step is a Visa and Passport.