Category: Preparation to the journey

So, here is a little about the itinerary itself. From the moment I started working on the project, it changed significantly… First of all, I left out the most dangerous countries, those, where military operations are held. Then, I had to exclude several Muslim countries, where I wouldn’t be let in without my father, brother or husband accompanying me (and there are countries like this!). I left out of the list some countries with hard-to-get visas.

At the moment, the work is still going on, I’m obtaining my visas, and there is a chance that some applications will be turned down. Thus, the given itinerary is an estimated one, but you can rely on its geographic range.

The first part of the itinerary includes European countries, Great Britain, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and others.)

The second part of the itinerary will lead me a lot further, but it isn’t that defined yet.

So, what’s with the visas?

For now, I have only obtained a Schengen visa for the first part of the journey. Maybe, I should briefly tell you about it.

After all, I didn’t dare to submit my application to the embassy, as my status is dubious.) I’m a student who doesn’t work, with no salary or sponsor letter. I submitted it to a visa application center, as according to reviews, the process is taken to the assembly line there, and they grant visas more easily. I submitted my application in late April, and got the answer only a month later due to the May holidays and a rush of tourists. The documents required are:

• The foreign passport,
• Photographs,
• The form.
• 

They didn’t take ANYTHING else from me. Neither a certificate of enrollment, nor a ticket reservation, nor a hotel room reservation. Though, I brought everything.) Even the bank account statement.

I applied for a Finnish visa for two years (it is easier to visit Finland than other countries to comply with the visa terms), but they gave me a visa for half a year. I don’t know the reason… I already have over eight Schengen visas in my passports… Maybe, it’s because I’m going alone. Maybe, because all the previous visas were only for the duration of the trips.

Due to this, I had to rearrange my itinerary and leave Europe earlier.

Also, I had plans to get a British visa for the first part of my journey. However, I won’t do it now: it’s a detour, and it costs extra money to get the visa, while I was only planning to spend several days there. Thus, only Schengen. Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are visa-free, so I’ll be hanging out there when I leave the Schengen Agreement countries.

I’ll post a detailed daily itinerary later

Here is the detailed itinerary scheduled day by day.

Yes, every country takes several days. In case of emergency, I will cut the itinerary and increase time spent in a country.)

Lithuania—the night from September 3 to 4, September 4, 5, 6: train or bus

Latvia—transfer on September 6, September 6, 7, 8

Estonia—transfer on September 9, September 10, 11, 12

Finland (by ferry or via Russia)—September 13

Finland—September 14, 15, 16

Sweden (air transfer Helsinki–Stockholm)—September 16, air transfer

Sweden—September 17, 18, 19

Denmark—transfer on September 19, September 20, 21

Germany—transfer on September 22, September 23, 24, 25

The Netherlands—September 26—transfer, September 27, 28 29

Belgium—transfer on Sept. 29, September 30, October 1, 2, 3

France (a little, crossing of the English Channel)—October 4

Great Britain—October 5, 6, 7

Belgium–France—October 4

France—October 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Italy—transfer on October 12–13, October 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Slovenia—transfer on Oct. 19, October 20, 21

Hungary—transfer on Oct. 22, October 23, 24

Serbia—transfer on Oct. 25, October 26, 27

Greece—transfer on Oct. 28, October 29, 30, 31

November 1–2—Greece–Turkey, transfer

Turkey—transfer on Nov. 17, November 18, 19, 20, 21

Turkey–Armenia—air transfer, November 22

Armenia—transfer on Nov. 22, November 23, 24

Georgia—transfer on Nov. 25, November 26, 27, 28

Azerbaijan—transfer on Nov. 29, November 30, December 1, 2, 3

Azerbaijan–Russia—December 4, 5, transfer

Then, I’m going back to Russia for a month, because I’ll have to submit my documents for a Schengen visa, which will be expired by that time, for the second part of the journey.)

Whoever wants to join me at any moment of the trip—I’ll be happy to meet you! Feel free to write to me

Finally, it is more clear how my next year will go! I got a US visa! So, now I can plan this large journey for the winter months. To say the truth, I didn’t expect that my visa application would be accepted. Right before me, visas were denied to two people, and I was the third to go to the interview. I submitted my documents not to the embassy, but to the visa application center. I know that it’s more expensive. But it seems to me that it’s more reliable. I submitted the following documents:

• My foreign passport;
• 2 photographs;
• Confirmation of the ticket reservation;
• Confirmation of the hotel room reservation;
• A certificate of enrollment from my institute (confirming that I study there);
• A copy of my student ID card;
• A bank account statement;
• A certificate for immovable property (if any).
• 

If you are a student, it is best to provide them with a sponsor letter. However, a bank account statement will also do and, if possible, a certificate for immovable property. If you’re married, I recommend you bring the marriage certificate. All in all, you should show them that you have a lot of ties in Russia and you will by no means want to move to the US. Many people have written about it, but I’m repeating it here. You can see accurate details on the website of the visa application center where you’re planning to submit your documents, or on the website of the US embassy in your country.

After submitting the documents and filling out a form, you are registered on an interview and given back your foreign passport in several days. I was given an interview a month later.

The embassy itself came to me as a great surprise! It turned out that from 10 to 15 people are registered for one time. We all waited outside, under the rain, and were let in two people at a time. We had to leave water outside. In the embassy, they went through my pockets once and found all electronic devices. At the second check, all these devices were put away into a safe. I went through a metal door, they checked my documents (the fourth time now!), and I stood in another line. After half an hour of waiting (everyone thought it was the interview!) they checked our fingerprints again, and we stood in the third line—to the interview. Contrary to expectation, the interview was not held privately in a separate room, but through a window in the common room. They talked in Russian to me, as I was going to the US for the first time. I was only asked five questions:

• If I was going to the US for the first time;
• The purpose of the visit;
• If I have relatives there;
• What cities and towns I was visiting;
• How long I was staying in the country.

That’s all. After this, a rugged man with a severe accent said that the visa application was accepted, and left with my foreign passport. The passport was given back to me at the visa center, and there was now a visa in it. The visa was given me for three years!

All turned out to be simpler than I had thought.

I’m happy and joyful!