Belarus, VISA from USA

Am traveling to Belarus in May and need visa. Live in western USA..... any suggestions on easiest way ti obtain, greatly appreciated. From visa info, hotels, restaurants. Not sure if we are taking train or driving a rental car. Any thoughts? Many THANKS

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I%26#39;m doing the same, so if you you find out anything, let me know? Thanks!

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www.mfa.gov.by/en/consular/airport-visas/

that%26#39;s one option

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Download application from the Belarus Embassy in Washington DC, fill it out, enclose the require pictures, fee, and your American passport and you will have it back in a few weeks with a visa.

I know you will not easily be dissuaded, but I recommend strongly, very, very strongly against travel to Belarus. This place is nothing like the western world, there are no tourist services, no signs in english, people will not help you if you are lost in the streets and you will become prey to criminals.

This is not particularly a dangerous place to residents who speak the language and know what to avoid, but a foreigner will stick out like a sore thumb.

I went through some really scary situations on my trip there. You know they turn out the street lights at night? They cancelled my flight, didn%26#39;t tell me about it, and I was lost in the city on a cold december night and they were turning off the lights. I have never been so scared in my life. The hotels wouldn%26#39;t accept me because they have %26quot;special%26quot; hotels for westerners and they won%26#39;t even allow you to sit in their lobby. I couldn%26#39;t hire a taxi because there were rumors that they would take you out to the country, rob you and kill you.

This is only one horror story. I don%26#39;t know what reason you have for going there, but asking about a visa tells me you know very little. If you have to go then go with someone who knows the language and can guide you or go with a tour group. If you%26#39;re going there to meet someone don%26#39;t assume that you will be meeting the person that you think you will be meeting and don%26#39;t think that everything will go right and that person will be there to help you.

If your life doesn%26#39;t depend on it then don%26#39;t go!

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Hello, I happen to be a travel agent in Belarus (cannot name my firm - forum policy). The tour will be only a pleasant experience if properly organized. The best way for you to obatin a visa is on arrival to the National airport Minsk-2.

You should submit:

- voucher from a travel agent (where your hotel will be stated);

- invitation from the same travel agent;

- application with photo (it seems they gave you the link);

- the consular fee is 180 USD if I am correct.

Belarus is a post - Soviet country and is actually not supposed to be like a western one. The quality of service is improving, especially in decent establishments.

Thank you for attention, and ask if anything occurs.

Andrei

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Resolute Traveller, you%26#39;ve had a really nasty experience during your stay in Belarus...

I would say you%26#39;re a bit wrong in your description of Belarus. Taxi drivers don%26#39;t just kill foreigners, they torture them first and then eat them alive.

But no need to worry - this happens only once in a month when the Moon is full when taxi-drivers grow fur and fangs(muahaha)

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Resolute Traveler, you are describing something really scary and that is not my home country!

I`m assuming that it is Minsk you are talking about.

First of all, most young people speak English there and can help with directions. Main streets have signs in English. Menus in restaurants are bilingual too nowadays.

And of course, investing in a city map and learning the letters to recognize the signs is a time well spent too.

Secondly, I have never heard about taxi drivers kidnapping and robbing their passengers. Unless instead of hiring a real taxi cab, you hitchhike in the middle of nowhere.

Thirdly, it is a very safe place (said by my American husband who liked to wonder alone on the streets there).

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