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Russian eligible for Visa Waiver Program?

By mendeleev in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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mendeleev Proficient

mendeleev   68

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

We find a news article in the Russian press that seems to state that the USA, effective 1 April this year, that Russians may enter the USA under the Visa Waiver program without needing to first get a visa.

Here's the article (in Russian): Visa Waiver for Russians

My first suspicion is that this is an April Fools joke, although there have been discussions on allowing Russia to join the Visa Waiver regime. I cannot find any news on this in English at Google News. Anyone here know anything about this?

5-15-2002 Met, by chance, while I traveled on business

3-15-2005 I-129F
9-18-2005 Visa in hand
11-23-2005 She arrives in USA
1-18-2006 She returns to Russia, engaged but not married

11-10-2006 We got married!

2-12-2007 I-130 sent by Express mail to NSC
2-26-2007 I-129F sent by Express mail to Chicago lock box
6-25-2007 Both NOA2s in hand; notice date 6-15-2007
9-17-2007 K3 visa in hand
11-12-2007 POE Atlanta

8-14-2008 AOS packet sent
9-13-2008 biometrics
1-30-2009 AOS interview
2-12-2009 10-yr Green Card arrives in mail

2-11-2014 US Citizenship ceremony

Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,834

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

While this article is an April Fools joke, there may be a time in the future when Russia will be allowed to join the VWP.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

Used to be broken Proficient

Used to be broken   147

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Belarus
 Timeline
Posted

We find a news article in the Russian press that seems to state that the USA, effective 1 April this year, that Russians may enter the USA under the Visa Waiver program without needing to first get a visa.

Here's the article (in Russian): Visa Waiver for Russians

My first suspicion is that this is an April Fools joke, although there have been discussions on allowing Russia to join the Visa Waiver regime. I cannot find any news on this in English at Google News. Anyone here know anything about this?

Biden and Putin actually had this conversation recently, but for a thousand reasons it will not happen any time soon.

Brother Hesekiel Mentor

Brother Hesekiel   2,236

Posted
Filed: Other Timeline
Posted

As soon as Russia will enter the Confederation of Planets, Citizens of the former Russian Empire will be able to visit any country of the former United States of America without a visa.

There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all . . . . The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic . . . . There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else.

President Teddy Roosevelt on Columbus Day 1915

Bad_Daddy Grand Master

Bad_Daddy   2,209

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Belarus
 Timeline
Posted

As soon as Russia will enter the Confederation of Planets, Citizens of the former Russian Empire will be able to visit any country of the former United States of America without a visa.

:lol:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/299528-putin-proposes-scrapping-visas-between-russia-us/

sigbet.jpg

"I want to take this opportunity to mention how thankful I am for an Obama re-election. The choice was clear. We cannot live in a country that treats homosexuals and women as second class citizens. Homosexuals deserve all of the rights and benefits of marriage that heterosexuals receive. Women deserve to be treated with respect and their salaries should not depend on their gender, but their quality of work. I am also thankful that the great, progressive state of California once again voted for the correct President. America is moving forward, and the direction is a positive one."

slim Grand Master

slim   1,533

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I really don't see the hassle. You pay $200, send off your passport and two weeks later you have the visa.

I'm not crying because my MIL can't come visit at the drop of a hat. Not calling my congressman either!

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

Gary and Alla Grand Master

Gary and Alla   3,694

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
 Timeline
Posted

All of the comments are about April Fools' Day, so you be the judge.

:lol:

I heard of a posting on another immigration site (didn't see it) that was said to be very "authentic" looking that said Russia was stopping any K-1 visas and was not allowing US men to come and take their women anymore! :P April Fool's

I heard it caused quite a stir on that site. If anyone saw it and can copy it, I would like to read it for fun.

VERMONT! I Reject Your Reality...and Substitute My Own!

Gary And Alla

mendeleev Proficient

mendeleev   68

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Biden and Putin actually had this conversation recently, but for a thousand reasons it will not happen any time soon.

Obama and Medvedev also discussed it in the past month.

5-15-2002 Met, by chance, while I traveled on business

3-15-2005 I-129F
9-18-2005 Visa in hand
11-23-2005 She arrives in USA
1-18-2006 She returns to Russia, engaged but not married

11-10-2006 We got married!

2-12-2007 I-130 sent by Express mail to NSC
2-26-2007 I-129F sent by Express mail to Chicago lock box
6-25-2007 Both NOA2s in hand; notice date 6-15-2007
9-17-2007 K3 visa in hand
11-12-2007 POE Atlanta

8-14-2008 AOS packet sent
9-13-2008 biometrics
1-30-2009 AOS interview
2-12-2009 10-yr Green Card arrives in mail

2-11-2014 US Citizenship ceremony

Glyn and Kathy Rising Star

Glyn and Kathy   288

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: England
 Timeline
Posted

I'm not crying because my MIL can't come visit at the drop of a hat.

:rofl:

10/26/03 Met in Yahoo chat room
06-2004 Glyn flies to Boston for 2 week holiday with me in White Mountains
06/07/2006- HE PROPOSES!!
12/13/2006- Glyn and Simon the best man fly in for wedding.
December 16,2006- Happiest day of my life
12/25/2006- Best and worst Christmas ever. Glyn flies back to England at 6 pm Christmas Night.
02/19/2007- UK spousal visa approved in NY after only 4 days.
March 2,2007- Reunited in England with Glyn.
01/21/2008-mailed I-130 to USCIS in London
01/24/2008-NOA1
04/13/2008-Panic. RFE received
April 17, 2008-Mailed off again.
April 22, 2008-NOA2 received dated April 21, 2008.
April 26, 2008-Packet 3 received
April 28, 2008-Mailed off DS-230
May06,2008-Packet 3 sent
May 08, 2008-Medical scheduled
May 22,2008-Packet 4 received
June 03,2008-Interview APPROVED!!!!!

June 04, 2008-Visa in hand
June 20, 2008-Shippers come for our things.
June 25, 2008-Flying to the USA
November 15, 2010-Sent off VERY late I-751 along with many prayers.
04/09/2011-10 year GC arrives in mail.
09/08/2011-Glyn leaves for UK
01/30/2012-Biometrics for UK spousal & dependent visas sent out w/ application same day
02/24/2012-UK settlement visas issued
04/16/2013-I-130 sent off-----04/19/2013 NOA1

05/15/2013-NOA2

Never received packet 3 although it was mailed to us on May 29th

07/17/2013-Sent off packet 3 after finally getting ALL our documents together

08/19/2013-Medical scheduled (there were earlier appointments but unfortunately, we couldn't get there for them due to hubby's work)

09/24/2013-Interview APPROVED

11/01/2013-POE BOSTON

01/13/2014-10 Year green card received

03/09/2019- Sent I-130 to Chicago lock box for step-son

03/20/2019- NOA 1

08/10/2019-NOA 2

AmyWrites Proficient

AmyWrites   593

Posted
Filed: Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I really don't see the hassle. You pay $200, send off your passport and two weeks later you have the visa.

I'm not crying because my MIL can't come visit at the drop of a hat. Not calling my congressman either!

Every time people ask me why I only date people from abroad, I always say "So their family doesn't come visit me every damn week".

Yeah, it may be evil, but it sure is an advantage!

slim Grand Master

slim   1,533

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
paying for airfare + 200 to MAYBE get a visa sucks.

Maybe?

Have you ever heard of any Americans EVER being denied a visa to Russia? In the 6+ years I've been on VJ I have never once, not one time, ever heard of someone NOT getting a visa.

Everyone gets one. Well, everyone with $200, anyway.

Every time people ask me why I only date people from abroad, I always say "So their family doesn't come visit me every damn week".

Yeah, it may be evil, but it sure is an advantage!

I'm not complaining.

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

 
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