Once we receive your visa invitation from the Herzen Inn, we'll return it to you by email. You will need to mail a printout of this document along with the other items discussed on this page of the Russian Embassy website.

While you should follow the guidelines issued by the Russian Consulate in applying for your visa, SLS provides the following to assist you in filling out your application. Please note that the main embassy instructions available here are for applicants applying from within the United States only. If you are applying from outside the US, consult this page for the Russian consulate in your area, and contact them for the specifics on getting your visa.

All the materials required for the visa application are listed on the Russian Embassy website at http://www.russianembassy.org/CONSULAT/TOUR-VIS.HTM. Below are a few notes on materials you must send:

• Yes, you must send your actual passport. We recommend that you send it Certified Mail and include a trackable SASE mode of shipping for the return.
• The tourist confirmation is the document you will receive from us after we have received the photocopy of your passport. Please note we are at the mercy of the Russian Ministry in getting these to you, but, rest assured, as soon as we get them we send them to you.
• Despite what the instructions say, you DO NOT need to include a cover letter from your travel agent. A copy of your itinerary from Nomad travel, another travel agent, or a printout of your Internet reservation will suffice.
• The processing fees start at $100 for six day processing. Please note the six days do not include shipping dates. You may want to pay for expedited handling depending on the date of your departure.

*Please photocopy this application in its entirety for your records before sending.
** This process must be repeated for every person traveling in your party.

Because the rather difficult-to-comprehend application form invariably raises questions, SLS provides some instructions below for filling out the tricky blanks:

6. Date of Birth: [Write the date with the day first and the month second. For example, if you were born Jan. 30, 1976, you would write it as 30/01/06.]
8. Purpose of visit: [Check the box marked “cultural”]
9. Russian Institution:
Herzen University
6 Kazanskaya str., 191186
8123147472 Verontsova
10. Itinerary: St. Petersburg
11. Date of Entry: [Day comes first, then month]
12. Date of Departure: [Day comes first, then month]
13. Number of entries: 1
15. Type of passport: [Check the box marked "tourist"]
16. Tourist Group: Summer Literary Seminars
17. Medical Insurance: [Write in the name and policy number of your insurance that covers you abroad. If you plan on purchasing MEDEX Insurance then simply write in “MEDEX”. Remember that to attend SLS you are required to have complete medical coverage.]
18. Who will pay for your trip?: Personal Funds
39. [Same as No. 9 above]

DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM!

Where to send?

• Consult the bottom of this page for the consulate with jurisdiction over your area.
• Make sure to append "Attn: Visa Section" to the address.
• The great majority of you will be sending to the Washington D.C. consulate at:

  Attn: Visa Section
  THE CONSULAR DIVISION OF THE EMBASSY
  OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
  2641 Tunlaw Road, N.W.
  Washington, D.C. 20007