Kazakh Tourist Visa Without Hotel Reservation?

[kcml]

I am a US citizen living in Germany. I'll be going to Almaty to visit a friend (also a US citizen) for 8 days in late July, 2015. Because I've already bought my ticket, and it's not yet clear when the new visa-free program will go into effect, I'm considering just getting a visa anyway if things are still unclear 4 weeks before my departure. Thus my question:

For a tourist visa, the Kazakh embassy in Berlin requires documentation of a hotel reservation in Kazakhstan. Since I'll be staying with my friend, I can't provide this. I was thinking of submitting a letter from him stating that I'll be staying at his address instead. Any idea whether they'll accept this? Because my friend isn't a citizen of Kazakhstan, the private visa isn't an option.

Also, the only fee mentioned on the embassy website is EUR 35. Any chance the embassy will overlook the higher visa cost for US citizens?

I appreciate any advice or relevant anecdotes from personal experience anyone might have!

[steven]

Probably a booking with booking.com will do. You can cancel it after you went to the embassy.

[Mrs800Days]

Steve is right- I submitted our Kazakh tourist visa application with a print-out of a hotel reservation from www.booking.com which they accepted
You just cancel it afterwards, no problem

[kcml]

Thanks to both of you for the advice. Any idea how long it should take for me to get my visa after I drop off my application materials? Or does it vary a lot from embassy to embassy?

[steven]

3 days to 1 week is standard, depending on the embassy.

[IndianGuy]

The time for visa issuance depends on embassy to embassy. I travel from India to Kazakhstan and it takes a week's time in New Delhi Embassy of RoK. They have very clearly mentioned on the notice board that no urgent procedure is available. However, from the travel agents' conversation among themselves, I understood that the embassy charges 200 USD for urgent visa processings. Not clear on the type of Visa and this bit of info is unverified as on date.

I met a lady from Malaysia in New Delhi Embassy who was expecting to get visa on the same day. I.e. on the date of application. I understood that this is how Kazakh Embassy in Malaysia works.

Will be good to get your experience of Germany!

[steven]

thanks for the info and welcome to the forum, IndianGuy!

[kcml]

Yes, thanks! I'll be sure to come back with an update on how things go in Germany.

[IndianGuy]

thanks for the info and welcome to the forum, IndianGuy!

Thanks Steven! Looking forward to contributing more on coming days! I was looking if we have Meetup thread for astana and thread for language exchange on this site/forum. Is there one? Can you pls guide me? Thanks.

[steven]

There isn't one yet. I am hoping the forum will develop into a place where locals/expats also feel at home, but I don't have the time or the social skills to make that happen myself

So please go ahead and make one in the Kazakhstan forum: http://caravanistan.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=13