Tensions were high between the two superpowers during the Cold War; since then, the Americans and Russians have fixed their alliance and eased the visa requirements. In spite of the ease in tensions between the two, there is a checklist of tasks that flyers must complete, and if you expect to travel, whether it be on business or for pleasure, you will need both a passport and visa. For the first-time traveler who has never gone out of the U.S., he may be unsure of the procedures for applying for a passport or Russian visa.
Passport Qualifications
A United States passport is a bit tough to acquire and requires travelers to complete a few small steps from the U.S. State Department’s website.
Step one: Fill out a DS-11 form either online or by hand, and in order to finish the document, you will need to provide your social security number and a valid home address.
Step two: When finishing your DS-11 form, it is vital to remember to not sign the document until an Acceptance Agent has gone over everything and given you permission to sign the form.
Step three: You may submit your forms to a certified government building, but if you are not positive where to submit the paperwork to, you may click on the provided link iafdb.travel.state.gov/ to find the nearest government building.
Step four: United States Passports requirements state that an applicant must include valid proof of citizenship along with their DS-11 forms, and proof may come in the form of a copy of a naturalization certificate, birth certificate or certificate of citizenship. When applying in person, you must have proof of identification, either with government identification, driver’s license or citizenship certificate.
Step five: Make photocopies of your identification documents using blank white sheets of paper, then simply pay the fee and include an additional photo used for your passport.
Russian Visa Requirements
Russian Visas, no matter the class you apply for, will all have the same prerequisites for procurement.
Step one: You must understand the type of visa you need for your trip, and if you are unsure as to which one you will need, you may click on the following link: russianvisa.org/howto.html.
Step two: Once you understand the type of visa you may need, you need to receive an invitation for a Russian visa, normally provided to you through a travel agent.
Step three: Pick up the Russian visa abroad from the Russian embassy; for travelers, this is often the hardest part of applying for a visa.
Travel Document Systems, Inc. is the leading travel agency for visas and US passports. For nearly 30 years we have served travel professionals, tour operators, cruise lines, as well as corporate and individual international travelers. TDS specializes in travel that involves visas for more than one country.
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