A friend and I are traveling to Moscow in September for Davis Cup. We will be in Moscow for 7 days. This includes arrival and departure dates. We both have current US passports. We have booked flights ourselves without the use of a travel agent. We have not been made aware of the hotel that the USTA will be staying in, so therefore, we don't have a hotel name. Since we do have current US passports, and will be in Moscow for the Davis Cup...is a Visa also needed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I am affraid you will need visa...
To be sure contact Moscow consulat because you might need not only visa.
Good luck !

yes. and there is no way around it.
do your homework and get it organized as it can take a little time.

Thanks for your information. I do not know the name of the hotel that the USTA will be using. Some sites say that they require a cover letter from the hotel. What do we do in this case?

Are you going to participate or to spectate? Unless you are a participant, I would imagine that the USTA will not identify where they are staying for security reasons. So maybe you should just choose a hotel for yourselves.

Here’s what looks like a comprehensive site about Russian visas. Has a “step by step” section.

http://www.visatorussia.com/russianv.../FaqNew.html#2

Good luck.

I will be with the USTA. Usually though, they don't choose hotels until maybe about 6 weeks prior to arrival. This is too short of notice isn't it?

You will need a letter from your hotel in order to get the Visa. (Russia does like to know where the foreigners are.) If the event doesn;t pick the hotel until 6 weeks in advance you may need to then get the visas in person - or pay someone to do that extra fast service for you.

This is why I preffer Florida!lol

Ziana, we require visas here in Florida too. Especially from snow birds. Can't be too careful about the bird flu.

Napoleon, who are 'WE', dear?

For more visa information contact waytorussia.net. You will need an invitation and confirmation letter to apply for the visa. Have you contacted USTA to see what arrangements are being made. Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after you leave Russia. Visa can be applied for 90 days a before visit.

Who is Napolean? I'm Neopolitan, and the royal "we" I used referred to "we" who live in Forida.

So, Neopolitan, who do the all the Cubans who float up show their visas to?

If you will be working in an official capacity w/ the USTA - I am sure they will be able to help you. International tournaments (whether tennis/footbal/Olympics, whatever) have procedures for getting visas for their staff and representatives.

Napoleon, do you work for consulat? How do you personaly require visa from anybody? Just curious...do you wear white gloves?

janisj is completely right...when going with organization they should take care of these things for everyone at the time to avoid surprises.

I am trying to invite my relative's friend from Ukraine and Ukraine wants to see copy of my SS and DL...I think friend will stay where he is...their requirements are crazy most of the times.

I think that Russia requires visas in response to other countries requiring Russians to have visas.

It is MUCH harder for Russians to travel to the US than it is for US citizens to travel to Russia!!!

So they decided to complicated for us in spite? Well...
And you know why it is complicated for Russians to travel to US - because 99% don't come back.

I think 99% don't come back from anywhere Russians visit. In the last few years everywhere I've travelled to there have been lots of Russians (Thailand, Italyn, French Riviera, Caribbean, Turkey, Greece, to name a few, and they like one-way tickets to Cyprus (why?)where more shops have Russian signs than Greek. And as for Russian beach etiquette.....

My comment was due to the fact that Americans don't realize how lucky they are when traveling- complaining about getting a sticker in your passport that you are basically guaranteed to get if you apply on time?!?!

I have a friend in Russia who has been trying to come and visit me for about 10 years. Because she is a single female person, she cannot get a visa. In Saint Petersburg, she owns her own apartment, car, has a wonderful job- she has traveled extensively throughout Europe (yes, Cyprus too). But because of the lack of a husband to go back to, she cannot come. Hopefully, after she gets married this year, she'll be able to- but wouldn't it be nice for her to be able to come to visit with her husband (who is also my friend)? Well sadly, that is completely out of the question, as OBVIOUSLY every young Russian couple wants to come to America to stay.

Even for our school exchange program- single teachers cannot bring students overseas. We have a group of 27 students coming in the fall to our school, and most likely the two chaperones will be a 55 year old lady and a 60 year old lady- not because they are the only ones who want to go, but because they are the only ones who can get a visa. Even with a group of teens!

The US needs to get their heads out of the sand. Not everyone wants to live here.