Originally Posted by Alex L
....There is the wall still in Europe. It is not a proper place here to discuss this, but I want to say my opinion on the problem. I don’t mind against visas in general, but I think that the requirement of invitation or prepayment for a hotel according duration of stay aren’t reasonable if a tourist has enough money and insurance. The agreement between Russia and European Union about readmission of illegal immigrants has been signed. So, not Russia is an initiator to continue to keep the wall. I’m sorry for this political off topic.
Its not off topic AT ALL, Alexei. Requiring 'hotel reservations and a certain amount of foreign exchange' as a visa prerequisite is
soooooooo 1970s! Only third world countries do it these days; and Russia should be shamed into eliminating the practice.
roughstuff