18.10.2007 - We would like to inform you on the changes in the procedures of invitation letters and visa obtaining. The changes are stipulated by the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 4, 2007 # 635 ?On alteration of the Regulation on establishment of the visa form, order and conditions of its obtaining and issue, term extension, re-issue in case of its loss as well as order of its cancellation? and the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 8, 2007 #655 ?On adoption of Regulations of obtaining of invitation letters for foreign citizens and stateless citizens?. The Resolution of the Government regulating the procedures of invitation letters obtaining alters the established order. Thus, it becomes possible not only for Russian legal entities to be registered with the Department of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation (DFMS of RF) but for foreign legal entities carrying out its activity on the territory of the Russian Federation as well. At the moment we are trying to find out with the correspondent state authorities if it will allow Branch and Representative offices of foreign legal entities to apply for invitation letters and visas for foreign citizens on its behalf without involvement of the accredited authority. And if so, what the registration procedure is. In accordance with the Resolution, Companies do not need any more the preliminary registration with DFMS of RF in order to apply for invitation letters, so now it is possible to register the Company simultaneously with primary application for an invitation letter. Another change refers to obtaining of work invitation letters: if before, the original of the work permit or its copy legalized by FMS Russia should be provided for the invitation letter processing, then currently it will be enough just to submit the copy of application with FMS Russia stamp proving that the documents for the work permit have been submitted in order to apply for work invitation letter. Speaking about changes in the visa procedure, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that from now on the processing of the visa in the Consulate of the Russian Federation located in the country that is not the country of foreign national citizenship will be possible only provided either the residence permit or other document allowing the person to stay in the country for more than 90 days will be presented, or in exceptional cases when the decision is to be made by the Head of the Diplomatic or Consular post of the Russian Federation. It is also worth mentioning that the Resolution imposes restrictions for the term of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation for all foreign citizens and stateless citizens (these restrictions were imposed earlier by the Agreement between the Russian Federation and European Union on simplification of visa issue for Russian and European Union citizens): now therefore the total term of staying in Russia cannot exceed 90 days within the period of 180 days. As yet it is not clear when the above-mentioned changes will be put into practice and we will keep you informed on the progress.