I have only an American citizenship and I’m staying in Budapest but only on the 90 day Schengen limit. I’m about halfway through my 90 days and I went to the Russian Visa consulting office here and they told me I need a residency permit in hungry to apply there. I really would like to get the 3 year Russian tourist visa before my stay ends so I do not have to return to America. Is there any way I can obtain this visa without returning to America? Thanks.
@Bluewolf I’m afraid not, you can only apply for a Russian Visa from the Russian Embassy of your resident country. As USA is not part of the E Visa scheme unfortunately this is not available to you also.
@phoebe Thank you, then I will try a get my residency permit here in hungry. Do you think I can obtain the 3 year tourist visa from Hungry if I get a residency permit here? I do not speak Russian but would like to learn, do a good amount of people speak English in Moscow or Saint Petersburg and I will get by in cafes and stores? Or is the English speaking much lower there than in other Eastern European cities because I have not had a problem with language barrier here in Budapest and other cities. Also would you recommend I go to Moscow or Saint Petersburg first?
Speaking and knowledge of English is much much less than most of Europe however in the 2 main cities you will find a few younger people can speak. Not sure about the 3 year tourist visa, I have a pretty good Friends and Family one, maybe someone here can better advise
@phoebe Thank you for the info.
Hi there, a fellow American here. Just got back from Saint Petersburg on 09/28. I can get by in shops and stores in the city. If you go to big stores in the malls, normally they have someone on their staff who can communicate in English. Google Translate is also a big help