I hope someone might be able to help me with something that’s vexing me…
There seem to be 2 visas available for entry into Russia. One is the tourist visa, and with this you need to provide information on where you will be staying for every night of your trip. as i’m planning to use the siberian train, this would take a lot of pre-planning, something i was hoping to avoid.
The second visa i know about is the business visa. it seems that anyone can apply for this, whether you’re travelling on business or not. but what i don’t know is how it works exactly. i do know that you are given free-reign, or rather, much more freedom to go where you please and stay where you lay your hat, unlike the restrictive tourist visa.
Q1 - when i apply for a business visa. should i pretend to be in business, and at that a business that would profit russia?
Q2 - the companies i know of that “sponsor” business visas all seem to be in European Russia. If i start my journey in the east, can i still get sponsorship from a European hostel/hotel etc.? they promise to state that they will be putting me up for my entire duration, that’s how a business visa seems to work, but then you can go wherever. however, if i am only using their place for my last night, as opposed to my first, is this convincing? or does anyone really care, as long as you have a business visa to flash??
Q3 - anyone out there done this? i tried the russian embassy here in japan and they were less than helpful (as was predicted by the guide). any companies people can recommend who could arrange this for me, and still give me enough freedom to book my own accomodation on route. i already have to book the train exactly, to the minute, where i’m gonna be. i just thought being a little flexible with accomodation would be better…
thanks in advance,
Rick