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UNITED STATES: Department of State Temporarily Suspends Non-Immigrant Visa Processing in Russia
August 23, 2017
The US Department of State has announced that, effective 23rd August 2017, US visa operations across Russia will be suspended until 1st September 2017, at which point all US non-immigrant visa applications will only be processed at the US Embassy in Moscow.
Non-immigrant visa interviews at the US Consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok are suspended until further notice. On 21st August, the US Mission will begin cancelling current non-immigrant visa appointments countrywide.
Affected applicants will receive an email with a phone number to call to reschedule their interview at the US Embassy in Moscow for a later date.
The scheduling of some immigrant visa applicants will also be affected.
Background
The suspension comes as a result of the Russian government’s personnel cap imposed on the US Mission, announced at the end of July 2017, when the US government approved new sanctions against Russia. The Russian government ordered the US government to reduce its diplomatic staff by 755 people, or about 60 percent, by 1st September 2017.
Our advice
Employers should expect delays for their employees applying for US visas in Russia, both in securing appointments and in visa processing.
Affected employers should consult their CIBT visa specialist for advice on how best to obtain visas for their employees in Russia.
For advice and information on US immigration in general, please email us at [email protected].
