I have looked at State Department information, all the posts about getting a Russian visa as well as various blogs. We got a good rate for the Moscow Kempinski Hotel by paying for all five nights upfront for May 1 to May 6. About four weeks ago I wrote asking for the invitation necessary to get the visa. The hotel e-mailed me form in which I was asked to guarantee to pay for the cost of invitation if we cancelled the hotel reservation. I filled it out and faxed it. I waited. About ten days ago, I emailed the hotel asking if they had received the fax. No reply. I plan to pay for a service to do the consular part of the visa but from the blogs it didn't sound like a wonderful idea to pay for a "fake" invitation. I would appreciate any advice from those who have dealt with Russian visas. I'm getting nervous way ahead of time, but the internet postings do alarm. Thanks to all.
Russian Visa Support Form Frustration
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You shouldn't be organizing any fake hotel reservations. The last time I was there the hotel had not only to send you an invitation but needed to confirm that you had stayed there before you headed to the airport.
This is not something to fool around with.
Do it the correct way with real visa providers.
Since you have a reservation at the Kempinski I would chase them for the invitation and submit this with the application. It's not unusual to have to chase for email responses in Russia, a phone call might be necessary if no response to email.
If this does not work then contact a visa agency and they can provide an invitation, possibly the same company that you choose to do the consular service might be able to provide the invitation at a cost.
No clue what the previous poster means by "last time I was there the hotel had not only to send you an invitation but needed to confirm that you had stayed there before you headed to the airport" - it has never been the case that only a hotel can provide the invitation (never meaning in my memory of travelling to Russia for the past 25 years and have several trips planned this year) and I can only assume the reference to confirming you had stayed somewhere before heading to the airport is referring to the registration upon check-in where the hotel registers your stay.