Russians Informed to Journey to Poland or Kazakhstan for U.S. Visa Interviews

Russian residents searching for U.S. visas for tourism, examine or momentary work should now journey to Poland or Kazakhstan for his or her required interviews, the State Department said in an replace launched Saturday.

The change is a part of new guidelines directing candidates for each non-immigrant and immigrant visas to schedule interviews of their nation of nationality or residence. But in 16 international locations, together with Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Afghanistan, routine visa companies are suspended, forcing candidates to journey elsewhere.

In 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Russia ceased providing non-diplomatic companies, together with non-immigrant visas, resulting from a Russian authorities ban on hiring native workers.

Under the brand new guidelines, Russians who maintain authorized residency elsewhere could apply the place they reside. Others should now journey to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland or to the embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan.

That requirement could show troublesome in observe. Poland points visas to Russian residents solely on a humanitarian foundation, making it almost inconceivable to e book an appointment in Warsaw except the applicant already lives within the European Union.

“Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment,” the State Department warned. The new guidelines for non-immigrant visa interviews take impact instantly.

Starting Nov. 1, Russians and Belarusians searching for immigrant visas will probably be required to interview on the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, in response to an update introduced final month.

Russians who’re dad and mom of grownup U.S. residents can also interview in Almaty, Kazakhstan or Tashkent, Uzbekistan, beneath the brand new preparations.