It seemed no amount of googling would reveal an official statement regarding how far in advance one can apply for a visa. General internet opinion was 90 days, so with shiny new passports in hand, we anxiously awaited the 3 month point. And then one day Matt found it. 180 days! We could have applied months ago!

To some, it might just seem like another step in the process, but everything hinged on getting our visas, and there was reason to be concerned. The three-year multiple-entry visa we were applying for is relatively new and novel; not many visa services provided guidelines for applying for it. Some services even claimed you could only acquire this visa if you had previously been to Russia! Not a problem for Matt and I, but what about the kids? It also didn't help that googling Matt's name revealed charming nuggets he has written about Putin. To say we were anxious, is an understatement.

Anyway, without further ado, we hastily acquired Visa Support Letters (a silly requirement that essentially entails paying an official tourist agency in Russia to formally invite us) and filled out our applications. The application asks questions about past and present employers, criminal history, education history, and what countries you've visited in the last 10 years. We packaged up the necessary documents and shipped them off to Allied Passport & Visa. One week later we got an email saying that I had forgotten to sign my shiny new passport. UGH! Another week later all of our documents were officially submitted to the Russian Consulate for processing. Two more weeks later and we received shipping notice! Success! Three year visas granted! This might really be happening...