Preliminary notice: Next trip May 02-23, 2008. Updates to follow
DATES
(planned
as of this printing, dependent upon response) May 02- May 23 2008
From Europe, leave a day later
ESTIMATED
COSTS US$1900-2100 plus
air fare. This covers lodging & meals,
educational program, staff support, inter-city travel,
organizational fee, visa invitation & visa issuance fees. This includes estimated costs for a visit
to one or two towns outside Moscow (below).
The cost range allows for two contingencies: 1) A small group,
which would increase per capita fixed expenses. 2) An inflation surge
or significant change in the ruble exchange rate. I'll collect the
larger amount, less the $100 visa fee that you will pay directly to
the Russian Consulate, and refund what is not needed for the above
reasons. I'll also collect air fare for
those for whom I am arranging flights (see Air Fares). Participation in the
recruitment of study trip members is thus in everybody's financial
interest. To help, you can request a paper flyer that you can copy and
post where you work or study.
=> AIR FARES
Group arrangements in 2008 will be with Delta Airlines.
Departures will be possible from most US and Canadian cities.
A US$100 deposit to hold the
seat and guarantee the fare must be paid by Christmas.
The deposit is fully refundable until 90 days before the flight.
Details will be provided in Information
for Particpants (on this site) for cancellations after that
date.
PASSPORTS Obtain
your passport NOW. It is needed for your Russian visa
application well before travel. NOTE: USA passport applications ask
when you will travel. The US Passport Office may process applications
in the order of perceived need, so give a date prior to when I need the
photocopy of your passport for the visa process, not the
actual travel date. Long
passport delays may persist
because of the new rule that even travel to Canada and Mexico requires
a passport, so immediate application is critical.
PHOTOS YOU NEED Passport
(two if for USA passport). One for the Russian visa . Two you must
bring with you for registering residence in Moscow. Two for
emergencies (lost passport, etc.)
DEADLINES
Application and US$200 deposit can be accepted now.. US$100 will be
used for the
flight deposit. US$50 will be used for the visa invitation fee imposed
by the Interior Ministry of Russia and is non-refundable once the
invitation is requested (see visa
applications information).
Balance: 17 Febuary for costs
including the flight. (tentative date; to be revised)
Amount of balance due
currently estimated [to be announced]
This is AFTER deduction of US$150 of your US$200 deposit (for flight
deposit and via invitation) and of the
US$100 visa fee you will pay yourself. It includes a US$100
contingency (see above).
Anything remaining from the contingency will be refunded after the
trip.
Deposits can be made by personal check or money order. Final payment
MUST be by money order, certified or cashiers check or wire transfer so
that flights can be paid for and money transferred to Europe to cover
our expenses without clearance delays.
VISA APPLICATIONS I
will send you the Russian visa application or directions for obtaining
it online and detailed instructions. If you are not in North America,
you will receive instructions on how to apply in your country of
residence. The Russian Ministry of the Interior must issue each
invitation requested by Russian institutions. Its charge is US$30. This
takes 3-4 weeks and requires that our host have a
photocopy of the data-photo page of your passport. Only after our
Moscow host sends me the Ministry's approval document for each of you
can the "normal" visa application begin. That takes at least three
weeks. We must therefore begin about four weeks earlier than before. For
Americans, the visa application now costs US$100. This is retaliation
for the
same fee for Russians coming to the USA. The visa cost for
other nationalities may be different.
CANCELLATIONS Our
trips require time and space commitments from different institutions
and
we travel when demand for airline seats and other facilities is booked
well ahead. Costs also accumulate and cancellations may raise per
capita
fixed charges to your colleagues. My aim is to conduct the study trips,
not collect penalties. I will refund the maximum possible, less US$75
and less any penalty assessed by the airline, for cancellations up to
the date final payment is due for your trip. Then, the cancellation
penalty is:
--$300 up to 45 days before departure
--$500 fewer than 45 days before departure.
Cancellation penalties may be waived to the extent
possible in extenuating circumstances or if a replacement is found in
time.
In addition, once the flight ticket has been
issued, it becomes non-refundable. You may want to
purchase trip cancellation insurance for security.
All participants must sign and return a Responsibility
Waiver (to be sent later). By sending an application the depositor
agrees to be bound by the conditions here.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE Before
becoming involved in adult higher education, my field was biochemical
research and teaching. I have organized and taught travel courses since
1976, to France and then to the USSR, first while a university
professor, now independently. This series of courses in USSR/Russia
began in 1980. (For the full story of how the Moscow trips began,
see the 1980 anecdotal account.) I've
also taken North American and European youth groups to computer and
ecology camps in the USSR, and experts to offer seminars in business
methods to Russians. I accompany all groups. Participants will receive
phone numbers of many former group members who can give personal advice
about the trip. Since this trip is independently organized, I
understand that potential applicants may want to verify the reliability
of information in this announcement, and phone numbers or E-mail
addresses of previous participants can be provided for that purpose as
well.
Do svidanie (Until we meet),
Eric Fenster, PhD, Organizer
Send your application and a US$200 deposit by check
or money order payable to MOSCOW STUDY TRIPS to:
Contact address and another e-mail (I'm trying to
avoid address harvesting and spam) will be provided to applicants
by e-mail.
Deposit checks will not be cashed until there are
enough applicants to make a group.
Fax and voice mail in USA:
1-206-888-4571 E-mail:
moscowtrip2008@yahoo.com
APPLICATION FOR 2008 MOSCOW STUDY TRIP
Trip: May 02-May 23
NAME________________________________________________
BIRTH day______/month_________/year______
HOME
ADDRESS_______________________________________________
SEX M /_/ F /_/
WORK/SCHOOL
ADDRESS________________________________________________
CITY_______________________________
ST/PROV____________ ZIP/POST CODE_________________
COUNTRY__________________________ HOME PHONE
(_____)____________________________
WORK PHONE (_____)________________________ FAX
(_____)___________________________
NB Because of the new Russian visa procedure, you will
need to send me the data-photo page of your passport by mail or fax,
and
I may need to mail or fax you the official invitation. If your home or
office has no fax, please identify one at a shop that provides this
service.
E-mail ID(s):
____________________________________
Briefly describe your current occupational and/or
educational activity: [take necessary space]
Please give background about yourself, including
interests and activities in political, community, educational,
professional, union or other relevant organizations, previous foreign
travel and purpose (tourist, military, business). Underline current
positions/activities. Have you any special requests for the program or
for contacts? This information will be shared with our hosts to assist
their planning--and with other members of your group so you can "meet"
before we travel. [Use necessary space.]
FLIGHT SELECTION
Known fares: New York $873.60, Cleveland $1054.60, Detroit $1033.60
Your departure city: USA
___________________________________ Other city:
____________________________
What problems do you anticipate with:
none moderate serious
Money? /__/ /
__/ /
__ /
Time off? /__/ /
__/ /
__/
When might such a problem be resolved, and do you
require any letter?
How did you learn about this trip and do you know
any previous participants?
Your passport # _________________ Expiration
date______________ Issuing country ________________
Send this information now or as soon as you receive
your passport.
Do you prefer to pay balance:
By certified check/money order
By international wire transfer?
In euros?
By US/Canada wire transfer?
In pounds sterling?
Smoker? yes no
Dietary restrictions?
-----------------do not write below this
line-----------------
$200 deposit rec'd ______
Balance ($ ) rec'd ______
Flt. Route _______
Visa applic. rec'd ______
Waiver rec'd ______
Health form rec'd _______
Information sent ______
Readings sent ______
