U.S. visas

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USA will simplify the visa regime for Russia: Russians will get 3-year visa to the U.S.
Saturday, 18 June 2011 07:11
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Byerly, speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, said that Russia and the United States in July 2011 will sign an intergovernmental agreement on visa facilitation for travel to both countries.

According to John Byerly, an agreement, aimed at improving the visa regime, will sign U.S. Secretary of State and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The new agreement is supposed to provide for the issuance of multiple entry U.S. visas for three years for business and leisure requirements, without an invitation. Note, that on May 26, 2011 in the negotiations at the summit of G8, the presidents of Russia and the United States commissioned by the authorized agencies of the two countries to start work on simplification of visa regime between Russia and the United States.

Recall, that in order to be able to enter on the territory of the United States, Russian citizens, like citizens of many other countries, must obtain a U.S. visa.

Nonimmigrant U.S. visas of category B (B, B-1,B1/B2) are intended for all citizens, who are going to make a short trip for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study. U.S. visa issued by the Embassy or the Consulate General of the United States. U.S. visa allows holders to apply for permission to enter in the U.S..

Note, that the presence of a U.S. visa does not guarantee entry into the country, because U.S. immigration officer at the port of entry directly decide on the possibility of entry visa holder in the United States.

Applicants, who apply for U.S. nonimmigrant visa, must fill out an electronic visa application DS-160 (CEAC) and submit the documents in the Russian office of courier company Pony Express. The interview is also appointed by the company Pony Express. When applying for U.S. non-immigrant visa, the staff of Pony Express only check the applicant's application form (compare their data, verify the correctness of the questionnaire and put the appropriate stamp), as well as a sticker attached to the passport of the applicant and will designate the time for interviewing and taking of biometric data in the Visa Section of the Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General. After that, the Pony Express employees return all documents to the applicant, including its form and passport. These documents an applicant must personally submit in the Visa department of the Embassy or U.S. Consulate General in an interview. However, in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, all documents, including forms and a passport, will be directly in the visa service of the Pony Express.

Consular fee for visas B (including B1/B2) is 140 U.S. dollars. The consular fee is paid when submitting documents to Pony Express offices in Moscow or in the offices of the Bank (if the application for a U.S. visa is applied in other regions of Russia) in rubles at the rate, that sets the U.S. Embassy. The consular fee is not refundable in case of visa refusal. Consular fees for visas to category B will be charged in full to each applicant, including children.

After that, appointed date and time of removal of biometric data (fingerprints of the applicant's in embassy or consulate) and date of interview. The interview should take place all applicants aged from 14 to 79 years. But citizens, who had previously received a visa of the same type, provided that the validity of this visa expired less than a year ago, in most cases, the interview is not appointed. Skip to the U.S. Embassy for an interview, is the original invoice, issued on the day of filing in the Pony Express, and the original receipt of payment of consular fee for obtaining a U.S. visa.

If approved, the visa is affixed on the passport and on the same day returned via Pony Express to send to the applicant.

Embassy and U.S. Consulate General issued multiple entry visas in the category (B, B-1, B1/BV2), valid for one year. At the interview you can ask for a U.S. visa for 2 years, but in the case of a positive decision will need to pay another $ 100.

U.S. visa for a period of one year, allows entry into the USA during this period, but the term is defined of the officer of the U.S. immigration service in each case. When entering the U.S. at border control, the passport is stamped for entry into the United States, which indicates the number of days, allowed to stay in U.S..

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New Appointment Service for Non-Immigrant United States Visas Applicants
Saturday, 23 July 2011 14:34

http://hainanwel.com/en/usa/719-united- ... visas.html

The U.S. Mission in Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok) is transitioning to a new appointment service for those applying for a visa to the United States. Starting on August 1, 2011, all applicants must visit http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ to start their U.S. visa application at a consular section in Russia and to receive more information on the process. Please do not attempt to visit this site before August 1, 2011. As of this date, all services, including calling for information and scheduling an appointment, will be provided free of charge, although applicants will still be responsible for the visa application fee. This new procedure will reduce the overall cost for applicants, and makes the process of applying for an American visa faster and easier – marking a significant improvement over the old system. The last day to schedule a visa appointment through PONY EXPRESS visa@ponyexpress.ru This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it will be July 29, 2011. If you plan to travel to the United States after August 19, 2011, we recommend you wait to schedule your appointment online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ on August 1, 2011.

Consular officers from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow will answer questions about the new appointment service during a live web chat on July 28, 2011 at 15:00 (Moscow time). Log on as a guest at https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/moscow/ and submit your questions in either English or Russian.

Secretary of State Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on July 13, 2011 announced an agreement on the issuance of nonimmigrant business, tourist, private and humanitarian visas to the Russian Federation, and for business and tourist visas to the United States, as well as short-term official travel visas to both counties in keeping with the joint statement issued during the meeting of President Obama and President Medvedev in Deauville, France on May 26, 2011. This agreement will facilitate travel between our two countries and establish stronger ties between our people. The agreement benefits the largest segments of our traveling Americans and Russians – business travelers and tourists, traveling both as individuals and in groups, by granting as a rule, on a reciprocal basis, multiple-entry visas valid for 36 months. The agreement also streamlines the visa issuance process by reducing the documentation required. These new visa validity periods will allow for expanded contacts and promote greater mutual understanding between our societies. This agreement will go into effect after an exchange of diplomatic notes in Moscow. Official website of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/

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Get a visa to the United States for three years is not difficult

Speaking recently at the online conference, US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft said that the diplomatic mission of making every effort to maintain a high level of service, reports sob.korr. Travel.ru. According to him, the vast majority of Russian applicants received a three-year visa.

US Embassy in Moscow, as well as the consulates located in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg, the waiting time for a visa interview does not exceed three days. Applicants, however, should keep in mind that at the turn of the year visa will have to wait longer than the rest of the time, because the embassy and consulates do not work on public holidays as the US and Russia.

Acceptance of applications for a visa without an interview (drop box), as well as any additional documents requested by the embassy or consulate will be carried out in the offices of Pony Express before close of business December 24, 2014, and resumed only on Monday 12 January, 2015. In most of the diplomatic mission will be a day off on December 25 (Christmas Day), and then all the Russian winter holidays (ie, January 1-11).