[regional-russia] RIPE 54: Visa process for Russian passport holders

Dear Colleagues,

The RIPE NCC would like to clarify a few things about the upcoming RIPE
Meeting in Estonia.


Why is a RIPE Meeting being held in Estonia?
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Each year, two meetings are held. One meeting is usually held in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the other takes place in another country
in the RIPE NCC service region.


Why are there so many visa requirements for Russians?
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We have to abide by any local protocols and customs in whichever country
the RIPE Meeting takes place. For citizens of most countries, a visa is
not necessary to enter Estonia. Unfortunately, for holders of certain
passports, listed in the URLs below, the visa application process for
entry into Estonia is quite complex. All details of the visa application
process that we have documented are requirements from the Estonian
Department of Immigration. Unfortunately, the RIPE NCC has no control
over these requirements.


Do I need to provide copies of my work permit?
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You will only need to provide a copy of your work permit and a residence
permit if you hold a Russian passport but are living and working in a
country that is not Russia. The following links will help you further
and will explain why certain documents, such as work permits and scans
of passports, are necessary for the process:

How to obtain short-term Estonian visa and documents required to apply:
http://www.estemb.ru/konsulskaja_informatsija/viza/aid-220

Information regarding Visa Invitation for Estonia:
http://www.mig.ee/vene/viisakutse/viisak/


Why isn't an invitation letter from the RIPE NCC enough for my visa?
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The Estonian Immigration Authority will not accept an invitation letter
from the RIPE NCC. The *host* of the meeting (Norby Telecom) must apply
for your visa on your behalf as they will act as your guarantors during
your stay in Estonia.


What do I need to do now?
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When you have registered for the meeting, you still need to request an
invitation letter so that the host knows who needs a visa. Details on
how to do this are in your confirmation e-mail. You will need to send
all the required documentation (as specified in the link above) to
meeting at ripe.net. A visa will then be applied for you on your behalf. If
the visa application is successful, you will be able to pick up your
visa at an Estonian Embassy or Consulate. It can take *up to* 30 days to
issue a visa.


If you have any more questions about this, please e-mail: meeting at ripe.net

Regards,
Sandra Gijzen
RIPE NCC