The need to obtain permits - for Russians to enter the United States, and for American citizens to enter Russia - reflects the current situation, when relations between the two states do not allow us to hope for the introduction of visa-free travel in the near future. Only an open visa to the United States will allow Russians to enter and stay in this country legally. It is worth taking a closer look at one of the most confusing visa systems in the world and getting an answer to the questions of how to apply for an American visa for a citizen of the Russian Federation, what is needed for this and what difficulties will have to be overcome.
Why do Russians need an American visa
All Russians traveling to the North American continent should take care of obtaining a permit to enter and stay in the United States. Obtaining a visa is the first step that you cannot do without.
However, you should be aware that even an open American visa in the passport does not guarantee that its owner will be at his destination: the visa only indicates that the person has the right to enter the country for a specific purpose. It is guaranteed that you will only be able to get to an airport, seaport, or to a US land border crossing point, where officers of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will or will not give permission to enter and further stay in the United States.
Some countries (for example, Mexico, Albania, Guatemala) and territories (Northern Mariana Islands) allow foreign tourists to enter and stay on an open US visa. However, if we talk about where Russian citizens can go with an American visa, except in the United States, it should be noted that such offers are not relevant for them: the Russian passport allows you to visit these countries without a visa with the right to stay for 30 days or more (Costa Rica ) up to 180 days (Mexico).
An American visa looks traditional: a plastic sticker card that is pasted into a passport. In its center, on a white background, there is a monument to the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln and the Capitol (building of the US Congress); in the upper right corner of the sticker is the Liberty Bell.
Above the images is the inscription United States of America. On the left there is a place for a color photograph of the owner. Above the photo - the inscription VISA in white letters.
In addition to images and a photo of the owner, the sticker contains other information:
- Place of issue of entry permit. In the Russian Federation, after counter-sanctions, American consular offices remained in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok. The city in which the documents were submitted will be stamped on the visa.
- Surname of the owner.
- Name (Given name). If the patronymic is indicated in the foreign passport, it must also be present on the visa.
- Passport number in which the sticker is pasted. Numbers are entered without spaces.
- The number of visits during the period of validity of the permit. Two options are possible here - the letter S (from single), which means the only entry and exit from the country, and M (from multiple) - allows multiple visits to the United States.
- Service information that is entered in some cases (for example, the SEVIS permit number for a student, the name of the university or the indication of "nanny", "housekeeper", etc.).
- Consulate registration number.
- Visa type. It is designated by letters and numbers (for example, B - guest).
- Gender - M (male) or F (female).
- Day, month and year of birth.
- Citizenship / Nationality. In this case, RUS is a Russian.
- Dates of validity. The first date (Issue Date) indicates the day the permit was issued, the second (Expiration Date) indicates the last day of validity.
- Visa number. It is marked in red on the sticker. The visa number may be needed when booking air tickets, when opening new visas to the United States.
- Owner's personal code from a combination of characters. It is located at the bottom of the sticker and is read when entering the country.
Knowing what the visa is about, you can easily check the correctness of the entered data when obtaining a passport. If you find any discrepancies, you should immediately contact the consular officers for correction. Otherwise, the entrance to the country may be closed at the border.
Types of visas: by validity
Each visa must be stamped with its validity period. They range from three months to 10 years. Currently, the maximum duration of a visa to the United States for Russians is three years.
The factors influencing the setting of the deadline are very diverse. Thus, a permit can be issued for a period corresponding to the purpose of the visit, for example, the periods specified in the contract for training or work.
Citizenship of countries that have entered into relevant agreements with the United States may also affect the duration of the visa. So, for Kazakhstanis and Ukrainians, the maximum duration of a visa is ten years.
The entry permit remains valid until the expiry date (but you can enter the country even on the last day of its validity).
For those who make short visits to the United States, it is important to remember that the duration of a visa and the length of time a foreigner stays in the country are different concepts.
The time of stay in the country is put down directly at the border crossing, and both the maximum period (180 days during the year) and the shorter one - 2-3 months can be set. A Department of Homeland Security officer places a stamp on the passport indicating the end date of departure.
Types of visas: according to the purpose of the visit
Depending on the purpose of the trip, all American visas are divided into two large groups - immigration and nonimmigrant.
Anyone who has made the decision to move overseas and prepared the appropriate immigration documents will need a US visa to reside.
Among the most requested types of immigrant visas are:
| Categories of persons | Categories of visas |
|---|---|
| Family reunification | |
| spouse of a US citizen (including same sex) | IR1, CR1 |
| orphans adopted by a U.S. citizen abroad or in the U.S. | IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 |
| parents of a 21-year-old U.S. citizen and other family members | IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3 |
| spouse and children of deceased US citizens | IW1, IW2 |
| unmarried children of a U.S. citizen (first preference) | F11 |
| spouse of the permanent resident, their children and other relatives (second preference) | F21-F25, C22-C25, FX1 — FX3 |
| Married / married children of a U.S. citizen and other relatives (third preference) | F31-F33, C31-C33, B31-B33 |
| Brother or sister of a US citizen over the age of 21 and other relatives (fourth preference) | F41-F43 |
| Employment and employment | |
| Extraordinary Talent, Eminent Scientists, World-Class Managers, etc. (First Preference) and Their Families | E11-E15 |
| Professionals and specialists (second preference) | E21-E23 |
| Skilled workers (third preference) | E31-E35, EW3 — EW5 |
| Special immigrants (fourth preference) | BC1-BC3, SD1-SD3, SR1 — SR3, etc. |
| Annual DV Lottery Winners | Dv |
A complete list can be found on the website.
According to a number of characteristics, some nonimmigrant visas can also be attributed to immigrant visas:
- groom / bride - К1;
- The spouse of a US citizen awaiting approval of the visa application for family reasons (I-130) - K3, as well as the children of the applicants - K4;
More serious requirements are put forward for applicants for the opening of such visas than for those wishing to open tourist visas in the United States.
Nonimmigrant visas are primarily associated with short-term visits to the United States (maximum 180 days per year). Among them, the most popular are:
| Categories of persons | Categories of visas |
|---|---|
| Competitors Athletes, Business Visitors, Housekeepers / Babysitters | IN 1 |
| Vacationers, tourists, persons arriving for treatment | IN 2 |
| Au pairs, professors, teachers, scientists, doctors and other program participants (exchange visit) | J |
| Foreigners with outstanding ability in the sciences, arts, sports, education, etc. | O |
| Artists, athletes | R |
| Highly qualified specialists in highly specialized fields | H-1V |
| Temporary and seasonal workers | H-2V |
| Foreign investors | E1, E2 |
| Students | F, M |
| Religious figures | R |
| Media, journalists | І |
| Transfers for employees of international companies | L |
| Culture Exchange | Q |
Types of visas: by the number of persons entering
All permits to enter the United States are issued individually for each applicant. The concept of a "group visa to the United States" simply does not exist.
However, there is a practice of conducting group interviews with applicants at the US Embassy (for example, for sports delegations). This allows all members of the group to leave at the same time. Due to the limitation of the number of employees of US diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation, this practice was suspended, except for the following cases:
- visas requiring an approved petition;
- B-1 / B-2 and J-1 - for persons who travel on one of the programs sponsored by the US government (academic trainings, conferences, English language learning by schoolchildren, etc.).
At the same time, group interviews are allowed only if there are at least 9 people in the group and preliminary submission of an application to the American Embassy.
Types of visas: single and multiple
Permits to enter the United States also differ in the number of possible border crossings. If the permit is one-time (there is an S on the sticker in the Entries column), then you can cross the American border twice: on the day of arrival and upon returning home. It can be issued to applicants who take part in any one-time events - symposia, sports competitions, etc.
A multiple-entry visa to the United States (marked with the letter M on the sticker) allows you to repeatedly travel to the country during its validity period. This option is more preferable for Russian tourists, business representatives, artists.
Types of visas: by processing time
The deadlines for obtaining permits to enter the United States differ depending on their category and the goals of the applicant. There are no standard deadlines. In some cases, a visa can be issued in one day, while in others you have to wait months or even years.
At the same time, there are situations when urgent or unforeseen events occur: the beginning of sports competitions, university studies, serious illness or death of a close relative, the need for an urgent operation, etc. entry and apply for an urgent interview.
Basic requirements for applicants
To qualify for a visa, the applicant must meet the criteria stipulated by the Immigration and Citizenship Act (INA). Section 214 (b) of the law requires that all applicants applying for a short-term entry permit be treated as potential immigrants.
For making a decision, a consular employee must make sure that the applicant really:
- is aiming at a short trip to the United States;
- has a sufficient amount to cover the costs of staying in the country;
- will return home after completing the trip (having close ties, permanent housing, work, family).
According to the rules, if in doubt, consular officers may request additional evidence.
In addition to these criteria, applicants for entry into the United States should not belong to terrorist organizations, have diseases that pose a threat to others, and try to mislead consulate employees.
Algorithm of actions for obtaining a visa
Before proceeding with the process of obtaining a visa, you need to decide on its type and category. The algorithm of actions of an applicant for a short-term visa to the United States, who receives it for the first time, will differ from the actions of the one who has already opened a visa if it has expired no more than 11 months ago.
The first category should go through three stages:
- form a package of necessary papers and apply for a US visa online;
- prepare for an interview at the embassy;
- pass an interview.
For the second category of applicants, an interview at the embassy is not required.
Each of the stages consists of a series of sequential steps. It takes patience and perseverance to obtain permission to enter and stay in the United States. The step-by-step instructions for obtaining a US visa, which are presented below, will help the applicant successfully go through all the stages without resorting to the help of intermediaries.
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Formation of a package of documents for opening nonimmigrant visas
The list of required official papers that are required to apply for a nonimmigrant visa is small. In some cases, you may need additional information.
It should be remembered that each application is considered strictly on an individual basis and the role of documents is not decisive. Below you can get acquainted in more detail with the list of documents and the current requirements for their registration.
Standard package
The list of documents for a US visa includes:
- A foreign passport that remains valid for another six months after the end of the trip to the United States. For children inscribed in an old-style parental document, birth certificates will be needed;
- Color photograph (50x50 mm) with a head image height of 25–35 mm (up to 70% of the image height). The photo must reflect the current appearance of the applicant and be no older than 6 months from the date of application. The background must be white. The face is centered, the eyes are open, the mouth is closed, and the expression is neutral. Taking pictures in headdresses is not allowed, except for everyday religious attire, which should not cover the face. From 01.11. 2021 is not allowed to be photographed with glasses (except in cases of eye protection after surgery, confirmed by an official medical report).
- Receipt of consular fee payment. In each case, the amount of fees will depend on the category of the visa.
- Barcode letter confirming the date and time of the scheduled interview at the consular office.
- A printed confirmation letter for online filling out of the DS-160 form with a barcode.
Additional papers
In addition to the specified mandatory documents, depending on the purpose of the visit, you will need to provide additional:
| Categories of visas | Additional papers |
|---|---|
| H, L, O, P, Q, R | the incoming petition number of the approved petition is I-129; a receipt for payment of the fraud prevention fee (for an L-1 visa on a group petition). |
| IN 2 | diagnosis justifying the need for treatment in the United States; confirmation of readiness to accept a patient from a US medical facility, indicating the duration and cost of the course of treatment; confirmation of financial solvency. |
| F and M | original and copy of the I-20 form from the educational institution / program administration in the United States; an extract of grades from an American university of a full-time student (when returning to study in the United States). |
| J | form from the US program management (DS-2019). |
| B-1, A-3, G-5 | copy of the employer's visa; signed employment contract; note verbale confirming the employer's status, purpose and timing of the trip. |
| I | confirmation of employment (certificate, contract, letter from the customer organization, etc.). |
In addition to these papers, during the interview, you should have original documents with you that could serve as confirmation of the applicant's intentions, demonstrate to the consular officer that the purposes of the trip correspond to the category of the requested visa, and show that there are close ties with the country of residence (social, economic, family).
The embassy does not have a detailed list of such documents, but practice allows us to draw up an approximate list of them:
Additional documents required for the interview:
| Applicant Categories | Supporting documents |
|---|---|
| For students or learners | on the appropriate level of education that allows you to enter an educational institution in the United States (certificate, diploma, certificates, etc.); on the availability of sponsorship or financial opportunities to pay for stay and study in the United States during the first year of study, etc. |
| For religious leaders | a two-year membership in a religious community of the same denomination as the American one; on the competence to perform religious rites (for clergy); on the education of a specialist in the field of religion (from a bachelor's degree and above); on the location of a religious organization in the United States, etc. |
| For domestic workers | about the employer's ability to pay for labor; on the temporary nature of stay in the United States. |
| For journalists | certificate; certificate from the place of work about the length of service in journalism, with an indication of the timing and purpose of the trip. |
You may also need:
- confirmation of sufficient travel financing (bank statements);
- the route of the trip with explanations;
- papers confirming the ownership of real estate, a car and other property in the country of residence;
- a letter from the employer (indicating the position, work experience, earnings, vacation or business trip, etc.);
- information about convictions, arrests, convictions, etc.
If you have previously traveled to the United States, you should bring proof of your visa status with you.
Applying for a visa to the United States: independently or through an intermediary
You can open an American visa both independently and with the help of intermediaries. For some, a US visa through a travel agency may seem more preferable than having to delve into all the intricacies of the process yourself. On the other hand, there is no need to overpay for something that everyone can do.
Self-registration: four steps
Having decided on the purpose of the trip and the category of the visa, you can begin to initiate the opening of an entry permit. At the first stage, you should prepare all the papers and pay the consular fee for the consideration of the visa application.
After payment, you can proceed to the second stage - filling out the electronic visa application form DS-160. An American visa application form is filled out by each applicant and sent via the Internet to the embassy. All information entered must be true and accurate.
You can fill out the questionnaire online, but it should be remembered that after 20 minutes of inactivity of the user, the session of filling out the questionnaire is terminated and the information entered may be lost. You can download the file with the questionnaire, fill it out and send it later.
When filling out the questionnaire, the collected package of documents should be at hand - you will need to enter passport data and other information. There must also be a digital photo of the applicant that meets the above criteria, with a resolution of 600x600 (minimum) to 1200x1200 (maximum) pixels.
The questionnaire is filled out in English, but the site provides an opportunity to use tips in your native language.
To start filing an application, you need to go to the site. On the page that opens, you should:
- In the upper right corner, select Russian for prompts, then the country, city of submitting the questionnaire and passing the interview, the Test Photo "button to check and upload a photo.
- On the new page, click "Select a file" to select the digital photo downloaded to your computer and the "Next" button.
- After automatically checking the compliance of the photo, when the green mark appears, click Next.
- If the photo appears successfully on the page, enter the captcha and click Start.
- After loading the new page, the ID-number of the profile will be displayed in the upper right corner (starts with AA). It is advisable to write this number on a piece of paper. Then you need to choose one of the "secret" questions, for example, "mother's surname before marriage", "which school did you go to at the age of 11" or "favorite toy", etc. and enter the correct answer. Then click Continue.
- Personal information about the applicant is entered (Personal Information 1): name and surname (rewrite from the passport), the presence of other names (premarital, religious, etc.), whether the name has a telecode, gender, marital status, place and date of birth. After entering the information, it should be saved. At the bottom, in the center of the page, you need to click the Save and Next buttons. Personal Information 2.
- On the new page - Personal Information 2 - you should indicate your citizen status (citizenship, the presence of other citizenships or residency (residence permit, permanent residence), personal TIN.
- After saving, the questionnaire will be available in the database for 30 days, after entering the number and answering the security question. After completing each page, you should save it. To continue filling out the questionnaire, click Continue Application.
- On the Address and Phone page, you should specify the postal address, mark if it matches the address of residence, phone numbers, email, save and go to a new page.
- Enter information about the passport - its number, date and place of issue, validity period.
- Enter travel details: category and type of visa, dates, cities of arrival and departure, proposed route, hotel address, source of funding. Save.
- If there are satellites, indicate the type of trip (individual, as part of a group), the full name of the companion, if a relative - the degree of kinship. Save.
- The next page is devoted to previous trips to the United States (if any).
- If there is an inviting party, enter information about it (address, phone number, etc.).
- Information about the family is entered - parents, spouses and other relatives.
- Next page (Work / Education / Training) - information about current and previous work, studies, internship is entered.
- Issues related to the security of the country: the applicant has a disease, his use of drugs, terrorist and criminal activities.
One of the latest requirements of the US government is the indication of registered usernames in social networks (Instagram, Facebook, etc.), including deleted accounts over the past 5 years.
After filling in the last 5 pages and saving the result, you can edit or replace the photo again. Then you should save and click Next: Review.
A completed verification questionnaire will be presented on a new page. You can fix the errors by clicking Edit next to each block.
The questionnaire can be printed (Print) or saved as PDF.
The next step is to click on Sign and Submit and proceed to the final stage - to sign the application form and send it to its destination.
Finally, you need to save on your computer and print a confirmation with a barcode.
The third step is to enroll applicants over the age of 14 for an interview. This can only be done through your personal account on the US Embassy website. Initially, you should create a personal profile (https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/SiteRegister).
If several family members apply for visas at the same time, you can register one personal account for all. This will allow everyone to be interviewed in the future on the same day and with one visa officer.
In the office, you can choose Russian for prompts, and then select "Appointment for an interview".
Following the instructions, you need to fill out a profile: select the type and category of visa, the city of the interview, enter the passport and contact information of the applicant, the number of the visa application form, passport, receipt of payment of the fee, address for delivery of the finished passport.
When all the data has been entered, a calendar will appear on the site. Free dates will be highlighted in blue.
Having chosen a suitable date and time, you should click on the "Sign up" button, after which you will be redirected to the Appointment Confirmation page.
Information about the interview must be printed out - this will serve as a pass to the embassy.
The fourth step is the interview.You need to have all the necessary papers with you, as well as a civil passport of the Russian Federation (you will need it for presentation at the entrance to the embassy).
At the embassy, you need to present a referral for an interview and get a registration number - it will be displayed on the scoreboard when the turn comes. It is advisable to appear 30 minutes earlier than the appointed time, because before the interview, the applicant needs to submit his biometric data (except for children under 14 years old and people over 80 years old).
It is prohibited to bring phones and any other gadgets with you, as well as wires, aerosols, lighters and similar things.
The interview is usually held in Russian. The procedure usually lasts up to 15 minutes. The decision is announced at the end of the interview.
The time for obtaining a visa in a passport is 3 working days. You can check the status of your visa through your office on the website of the American Embassy.
Help from intermediaries: pros and cons
For US consular offices, it makes no difference whether the applicant prepared the visa application independently or used the services of an intermediary. The main thing is that the information is reliable, and the applicant at the interview was able to convince the visa officer of the need to open an entry permit.
Turnkey intermediary services are offered by travel agencies, private visa centers that have experience in such activities. Their services can be used by people who do not speak English, do not have access to the Internet or free time.
Among the services offered:
- drawing up an individual list of documents;
- Completing Form DS-160 in English
- photographing;
- assistance in processing official papers;
- appointment of an interview date at the embassy;
- pre-interview briefing.
The mediator can be useful outside the Russian Federation - in Kiev or Tbilisi, and if the applicant has a Schengen visa - in Helsinki and other European capitals.
The downside is the high cost of services: one visa will cost an additional 100-300 US dollars.
Where in the Russian Federation are nonimmigrant visas to the United States issued?
The US Embassy in Moscow and, to a lesser extent, two consulates, in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, are currently operating in Russia. The consulate in St. Petersburg was closed in 2021 due to staff cuts.
Location and contacts of US consular offices in the Russian Federation:
| Institution | Town | Address, website | Email, phones | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy | Moscow | Bolshoi Devyatinsky per., 8 (metro station "Krasnopresnenskaya") https://ru.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/moscow/ | [email protected] +7(495)7285090 | Mon-Fri: 9.00-18.00, break: 13.00-14.00 Interviews: 8.00-11.00 |
| consulate-General | Vladivostok | st. Pushkinskaya, 32 https://ru.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/vladivostok/ | [email protected] +7 (4232) 30 00 70 +7 (4232) 49 93 72 | Mon-Fri: 9.00-18.00, break: 13.00-14.00 Interviews: 8.00-11.00 |
| consulate-General | Ekaterinburg | st. Gogol, 15, entrance A https://ru.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/yekaterinburg/ | [email protected] +7 (343) 379-3001 | Mon-Fri: 9.00-18.00, break: 13.00-14.00 Interviews: 8.00-11.00 |
Citizens of the Russian Federation living in Tula, Krasnodar, Novgorod and other regions of Russia must decide where to apply for a visa.
Issuance of a US visa by citizens of the Russian Federation abroad
Due to the restrictions on the work of US consular offices in the Russian Federation, a visa issued by Russians to the United States outside of Russia can save you from huge queues and several months of waiting. But in the “near” visa-free countries, opportunities for Russians have diminished.
- So, in Yerevan, the prerogative is given to local residents and the constant reception of Russians is suspended.
- Registration in Tbilisi is complicated by the fact that the fee can only be paid in lari at the Bank of Georgia, as well as by the existence of two queues - for Georgian citizens and foreigners.
- In Kiev, Russians are accepted, but there are difficulties in entering the country for males, and the general queue (following the example of Georgia) was divided into residents and non-residents of the country.
- The US Embassy in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and the Consulate General in Almaty also receive Russians. Here, the waiting time for an interview can be on average 30 days.
You can find out about the waiting times on the website.
Russians who have Chinese visas or residence permits have the opportunity to apply to the US Consulate General in Shanghai (waiting period up to 15 days) or other cities of the PRC.
If a Russian has a Schengen multivisa, then the question of where to quickly get an American visa can be resolved more quickly:
- The Baltic states are traditionally popular. In Tallinn, the waiting time for an interview is less than a week, in Vilnius - up to 10 calendar days. The downside is that the interview will be held only in English, so Riga will be the most profitable option for Russians: an interview here is possible in Russian and the waiting period is one day.
- Many Russians travel to Prague (2 days) and Warsaw (9 days).
- In other European capitals, waiting times are longer: in Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Brussels, Budapest - about two weeks, Berlin, Paris - more than a month.
You should be prepared for the fact that during periods of greatest demand for visas in the United States - summer vacations, holidays - the reception of foreigners is temporarily limited.
Opening an American visa without an interview
Many citizens of the Russian Federation are interested in how to get a visa to the United States without an interview. For persons who are doing this for the first time, an interview is mandatory (except for children under 14 and people over 80).
The Russians who are in Russia passed their biometric data, successfully issued a visa for themselves, since the expiration of which has not passed 11 months, they have the opportunity to open a new one without an interview.
The algorithm of actions at the first stages does not differ:
- pay the fee;
- fill in DS-160;
- go to your office. Here you need to select "Submission of documents without an interview through the PONY EXPRESS office" and then follow the instructions.
- choose the day of submission of documents to the office, receive and print a confirmation letter.
For sending, you will need documents: a foreign passport, the last visa to the United States, confirmation of the application, a new photo and a list of documents.
On the appointed day, the papers and the completed inventory should be brought to the Pony Express office. The service employees accept the papers according to the inventory and deliver them to the US Embassy. You can find the closest Pony Express office address in the regions of Russia on the website.
How to pay the fee and track your visa status
Without paying the consular fee for a machine-readable visa - MRV - you will not be eligible to enter the United States. To date, the amount of the fee is:
- $ 160 - visas of categories B, C, D, F, I, J, M;
- $ 190 - for categories H, L, P, R, O;
- $ 205 - visa category E;
- $ 265 - Grade K.
The consular fee is valid for one year.
You need to pay in Russian rubles at the rate set by the consulate. The current course can be found on the page.
Payment is accepted at the Russian Post offices. You need to download the receipt from the website, print it and fill it out. You can also pay by credit card through Russian Standard Bank. Please note that payment takes place within one to two working days.
Applicants applying for a re-entry permit without an interview and submitting their documents can check the current U.S. visa status in several ways:
- through a personal account on the website of the US Embassy;
- at https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx. For verification, you need the number of the DS-160 questionnaire;
- via a request to [email protected]. The letter should indicate the number of the passport;
- on the Pony Express website. Instead of the invoice number, you need to enter the UID from your personal account.
Terms of obtaining a visa and obtaining a finished passport
The standard processing time for a visa is three working days. US consular offices strongly advise you to apply for it at least three months before the date of departure, not to buy or book non-refundable travel tickets and hotels.
Waiting times and deadlines for obtaining a US visa can be delayed. So, for example, your turn for an interview in Moscow currently has to wait 300 calendar days.
If the passport is already ready, then it will take some time for its transportation by courier service: from 2 to 3 days in the city where the interview took place, and from 7 days or more if the applicant lives in other cities of the Russian Federation, for example, Saratov or Magadan.
Speaking about where to get an American visa, it should be said that delivery will be made to the address indicated when registering for the interview. You can change it, but before the interview. Detailed instructions can be found on the website.
Why can they refuse
Reasons for refusal can be very different: from failure to provide the necessary paperwork to an attempt to obtain a visa by fraud. The subjective factor can also work.
The most common denials are due to insufficient justification for having ties with the homeland and fears that the tourist may turn into an illegal immigrant (Article 214 (b) INA). In this case, the applicant, having made the appropriate conclusions, has the right to re-apply for a visa.
Among the reasons leading to the refusal may be:
- insufficient financial support;
- non-compliance of the submitted documents with the established criteria;
- negative visa history of the applicant;
- the presence of diseases that can harm others;
- lack of work (for girls and boys);
- participation in terrorist organizations.
Most frequently asked questions
In this section, we have collected answers to the most frequently asked questions from Russians about applying for an American visa.
- For how long is a visa to the United States opened for the first time?
The validity period depends on citizenship (for citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa is issued for 3 years), on the category of permission and the purpose of the visit. In any case, the decision will be influenced not by the first entry or subsequent entry, but by the opinion of the visa officer.
- Is there any advantage of re-applying for a visa to the United States?
Yes. If your previous US visa expired no more than 11 months ago, there is no need for an interview.
- Are US visas issued to Russians now?
Yes, their registration is taking place, but in a reduced volume. This led to long queues and increased processing times. The embassy explains this by a decrease in the number of American diplomats in the country.
- What is the easiest way to get a visa to the United States?
A simpler option is to open it abroad - in visa-free countries for the Russian Federation (Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova). If you have a Schengen visa - in the Baltic states, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, etc. Taking into account the purchase of tickets and accommodation, the cost of such a visa will increase.
- Can I buy a visa to the USA?
No, American visas are not for sale.
- Do you need a visa to America?
Without a specially issued permission from the immigration authorities, the entry of Russians into the United States is impossible.
- Is it possible to change the US visa?
In theory, such a possibility exists. It's about a change of status. While staying in the United States as a tourist, you can apply to change your status to another, for example, educational.
- Will a Schengen visa help to get to the USA?
An open Schengen visa does not permit entry into the United States. Such a right can only be given by an open American one.
- What if you received a new passport, and an open American visa in the old passport?
If the visa is still valid, and the purpose of the trip corresponds to its type, then you should take with you both passports - new and old.
- How to extend a US visa in Moscow?
The validity of an entry permit cannot be extended either in Moscow or in the United States. If your visa is about to expire or has already expired, you should apply for a new permit.
Conclusion
In recent years, a nonimmigrant visa to America for Russian citizens has not lost its value. Despite the cooling that has arisen in relations between the Russian Federation and the United States and the difficulties associated with the reduction in the number of American diplomats in Russia, the Russians are quite capable of obtaining permission to enter and stay in the United States.
All the necessary information is available on the official websites, you just need to strictly follow the established rules. The main problem - long waiting times for an interview at a consular office - is solved by applying for an entry permit or obtaining a visa outside the Russian Federation as early as possible.
