Nonimmigrant Visas
Frequently asked questions
1.
Q: How do I qualify for a U.S. non-immigrant visa?
A: A qualified applicant for a U.S. non-immigrant visa is able to demonstrate binding social, familial, and/or economic ties to Russia which, in the opinion of the consular officer, constitute a compelling need to return to Russia after a temporary visit to the United States. Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act requires a consular officer to presume that a visa applicant intends to immigrate to the United States until the applicant provides sufficient evidence to the contrary. For more information, please see the section on supporting documents that can accompany a visa application.
2.
Q: How long before my intended travel date should I apply for a visa?
A: The length of time between the date you submit your application and the date on which your interview will be scheduled varies depending upon fluctuations in the number of visa applicants. We recommend you submit your application approximately six weeks prior to your desired departure date. This will provide for unexpected surges in the number of applicants or other unplanned delays in the process.
For Typical Appointment Wait and Processing Times -- Click here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
All applicants should be aware that the times given are current averages, and are subject to sharp seasonal fluctuations. Processing wait time DOES NOT include the time required for additional administrative processing or special requirements. In such cases, processing wait time will vary based on the individual circumstances of each application.
3.
Q: How do I schedule a visa interview?
A: Appointments are scheduled when you submit your application to the Pony Express courier service. Please see Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa for more information.
4.
Q: Is it possible to get an interview appointment earlier than the one I currently have scheduled?
A: Yes, depending upon your situation. Please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Email address: consulMo@state.gov
From Russia: (495) 787-3167, (495) 974-8843.
Cost $2.68 per minute, 3 minutes minimum.
From the U.S.A.: 1-888-222-5673.
Payment by credit card only. Cost $12 per call, regardless of duration.
Everywhere else: (495) 787-3167, (495) 974-8843(Moscow is 8 hours ahead of Washington, DC), 1-888-222-5673.
Payment by credit card only. Cost $12 per call regardless of duration.
Operators are available from 8:00 AM to 8:00PM from Monday through Friday.
Consular Section Address:
American Embassy Moscow,
Consular Section,
21, Novinskiy Bulvar,
123242 Moscow,
Russia
5.
Q: Where do I get the visa application forms?
A: You may complete and download them from our website .
6.
Q: Besides the visa application forms, what other documents do I need to submit to apply for a visa?
A: Please see Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa for a list of documents that may be helpful when applying for a visa.
7.
Q: What are the requirements for a visa invitation letter?
A: There are no requirements for a visa invitation. It is helpful to include information regarding the applicant’s relationship with the person/s he will visit (whether family, friend, business contact, etc.) If visiting family, please indicate whether that person is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (i.e. bearer of a U.S. green card), or nonimmigrant in the U.S. on a work or student visa.
Individuals applying for business visas should be prepared to explain what kind of business trip they are making. For those persons visiting business contacts or clients, please bring correspondence that explains the nature of the trip. If you choose to include an invitation letter with your visa application, it is not necessary that it be notarized.
8.
Q: Does my young child need a visa to travel to the United States?
A: Yes. All Russian citizens who are not legal permanent residents of the United States (green card holders) require a visa to visit the United States, regardless of age.
9.
Q: How long does it take to get a visa?
A: The exact length of time varies from case to case, but the vast majority of applicants should receive their visa a few weeks from the date the application is submitted, including the wait time prior to the appointment. For most applicants, passports with visas will be returned to applicants in two or three days following the interview.
For Typical Appointment Wait and Processing Times -- Click here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
All applicants should be aware that the times given are current averages, and are subject to sharp seasonal fluctuations. Processing wait time DOES NOT include the time required for additional administrative processing or special requirements. In such cases, processing wait time will vary based on the individual circumstances of each application.
10.
Q: I am not a Russian citizen. Can I apply for a visa in Moscow?
A: While anyone can apply for a visa in Moscow or the other U.S. Consulates in the Russian Federation, it will be more difficult for a consular officer to determine the eligibility of visa applicants who are not residents of the consular district where the interview is conducted. On the other hand, a consular officer should be able to evaluate the visa qualifications of non-Russian citizens who live in Russia just as easily as those of Russian applicants.
11.
Q: As an American citizen, how can I assure the consular officer my friend or relative is qualified for a visa?
A: Consular officers must evaluate the qualifications of the visa applicant. Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act requires the consular officer to presume that all applicants for a non-immigrant visa do, in fact, intend to immigrate. Applicants may overcome this presumption by presenting evidence of binding social, familial, and economic ties to Russia that are sufficiently strong to compel the applicant to leave the U.S. after a temporary visit. The burden, therefore, is on the applicant to present such evidence at the time of the visa interview. Assurances from friends, family members or associates in the United States do not affect the applicant’s eligibility for visa issuance.
12.
Q: Can the consular officer call me during the visa interview if s/he has questions about my friend or relative who is applying?
A: No, for two reasons. First, as noted above, the burden of qualification is on the applicant, and assurances from friends, family members, or associates in the United States do not affect the applicant’s ability to qualify for the visa. Second, the sheer volume of interviews and the cost of international calls makes this impossible both in terms of time and cost.
13.
Q: How do I get a tourist visa valid for two years?
A: Russian citizens applying for tourist visas, in nearly all cases, receive visas valid for one year. However, they may ask for a visa valid for two years. If the visa is approved, the applicant must pay an additional $100 at that time in order to receive the visa valid for two years.
14.
Q: After the consular officer approves my visa application, how do I get my passport back?
A: After the consular officer approves the visa application, the visa is typically printed and the passport returned to the Pony Express courier service the same day. Then, Pony Express delivers the passport to you at the address you provided when you submitted your application. This generally takes 2-3 days.
15.
Q: During my visa interview, I was told that my application required additional administrative processing that would last several weeks. How long do I have to wait?
A: The time required for administrative processing varies with each case. Be assured that we work hard to process all visa applications to conclusion as quickly as possible. In general the process takes 6-8 weeks, though sometimes the processing can last longer or be completed in much less time.
16.
Q: How long can I remain in the United States?
A: Your length of stay will be determined by the immigration official at the port of entry upon arrival in the U.S. The validity of the visa has nothing to do with how long one can remain in the United States. Rather, it is the period of time in which one can travel to the United States. That is, a person with a multiple entry visa valid for one year can make several trips to the U.S. during that year. The length of each visit, however, will be determined at the port of entry.
17.
Q: My valid visa expires two days after I need to travel to the United States. Can I travel with this visa?
A: Yes. You may travel to the United States at any time during the validity of the visa. Again, the duration of your visit in the U.S. is not determined by the length of visa validity, but by the immigration official at the port of entry when you arrive in the United States.
18.
Q: Now that the U.S. Embassy has begun finger scanning as part of the visa application process, can I still use the valid visa I received last year, before the new policy took effect?
A: Yes. Previously issued machine-readable visas (i.e., visas with your name, date of birth, and a scanned image of your photograph) will remain valid until the date of expiration on the visa.
19.
Q: My visa application was denied. Can I reapply?
A: Yes. There is no restriction on the number of times a person may apply for a visa. However, without additional evidence of binding social, familial, or economic ties which demonstrate a compelling need to return to Russia after visiting the United States, there may be little reason to apply a second time. It may be prudent to wait until there is new evidence of such ties before reapplying.
20.
Q: My passport has expired, but I have a valid non-immigrant visa in it. How can I get a new visa into my new passport?
A: This is not necessary. The United States Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security consider that the U.S. nonimmigrant visa that has not expired or been cancelled is valid, even if the passport in which it was placed is either expired or cancelled.
Any traveler having a valid visa in an expired passport and having a new valid passport, is welcome to enter the United States carrying both passports. Such travelers will be admitted, barring any other ineligibility, at any time prior to the date of the visa’s expiration. It is not necessary to obtain another visa in the new passport.
21.
Q: I am traveling through the U.S. on the way to another destination. Do I need a transit visa?
A: Yes, please see the Department Homeland Security for details
22.
Q: What is the difference between an immigrant visa and a non-immigrant visa?
A: An Immigrant Visa is the one that allows a foreigner to immigrate to the United States. For details please visit our main page on immigrant visas. A Non-Immigrant Visa can be issued to an alien who wants to travel to the U.S. for a temporary stay. There are several different types of nonimmigrant visas (tourist, student, etc.) For the list of visa types please visit our main page on nonimmigrant visas.
