Can you help me, please?

[EstLladon]

Right now I try not to breath a lot for it may destroy my chances of going to the meetup.

The situation is that currently I'm 4400 miles away in completely different country and things wouldn't improve. So I need a visa. And a confirmed place to stay to get one.

I ask for advice or propositions. I do not have a lot of money so I want to make it as cheap as possible.

Should I try to book a hostel or something (and which one?) and try to get confirmation from it? Or can you guys send me an invitation or something?

[TheTankengine]

The meetup is only 5.5 weeks away. Can you even get a passport in that time?

[Gordon]

Fun fact: All the passports for Ontario (possibly Canada) actually have to come through Thunder Bay! It took me just over a week to get mine

[EstLladon]

I have a passport. I and was in US two years ago. So they most likely will give me a visa if I have a place to stay.

[TheTankengine]

Ahh sorry. I read passport instead of visa, which would involve getting a passport and then a visa...

Well then I suppose it would be possible in that time from. Assuming you can bribe the right people. After all, it is Russia.

Stereotypes FTW!

[EstLladon]

In Soviet Russia visa gets you!!

Can you bribe an American Embassy? I doubt.... And even if you can I do not have that much money.

[Gordon]

You can bribe pretty much anyone if you have enough money. The flesh is weak and the spirit is weaker.

[EstLladon]

I do not have enough money... So, I guess, I want to try to do it legally ...

[Bakemaster]

I suggest first looking at:
http://www.hostelworld.com

That will be your cheapest option that still will provide confirmed reservations for the visa.

[EstLladon]

Another problem is that I do not have a credit card so I cannot really book anything online. Maybe I should ask somebody who has one to do it for me...

[__Kit]

Will there be web cams at the meeting, I was thinking for people who have web cams they could be set-up on computers at the meet up so it's like they're there, or you know - not.

[Bakemaster]

No offense, EstLladon, but no one in their right mind is going to use their credit card to book a hotel for someone from halfway around the world who they don't know *at all* and who doesn't even know if he can get a visa or not.

[EstLladon]

I do not need your money. I need a friggin' e-mail. Something like "Hello we will be glad to see you here 22-24 september, Name, address, phone. We can offer you our couch for you to sleep." I can even sleep at the hostel - I will just go there and pay them upfront. I need this only to get a visa.

[GhostWolfe]

I've done this before for a friend - pity you're not coming to Aussie land.

It basically went along the lines of:

Hi! I'm so excited that you're coming in September. The guest room is all made up, I bought new sheets and everything. Can't wait to meet you in person! blah blah blah and so on.

He stayed in a backpackers, he just needed the email to satisfy the visa requirements.

[Davis Square Rocks]

He stayed in a backpackers? What does that mean?

[GhostWolfe]

Sorry, by backpackers I mean shorthand for a hostel aimed at accomodation for backpackers - really cheap and no frills.

[EstLladon]

People, I want to understand one thing about you. Are you evil or are you lazy? I mean, come on, it is an e-mail!

I thought that that much help was not very much to ask. Or is it?

I do not understand it...

[EstLladon]

And the prize goes to ... Vaniver!!!!!!!