Do you need apply for a visa in person?

Answer 1

No. I needed a visa last summer for Russia and found out that you can use a visa service to do this. You send your passport to the service, with the fees, and the forms for the visa. They handle getting it stamped. There is a time frame to do this. If you do it too soon the visa will expire before you can use it. If you do it too late you won't have it, so judge the time frame carefully.