U.S. Doubles 3-Year Visa Fees for Russians in 'Reciprocal' Move

[millefleur 5,046]

Quote

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in an update on its website Thursday that applicants seeking a multiple-entry visa valid for up to three years will now have to pay an additional “reciprocity” fee of $143.

The embassy said that the fee, which will nearly double three-year visa costs to $303 as of Jan. 1, 2019, “mirrors” the fee that Russia charges U.S. citizens for a similar type of visa.

 

New rules will also make it mandatory for Russian nationals to appear at a U.S. embassy or consulate for interviews to renew the three-year multiple-entry visas. The embassy notes: “If your interview is waived, you will automatically receive a single-entry visa valid for up to one year.”

 

The $303 fee is based on the State Department’s review that found “discrepancies” between the Russian and U.S. visa regimes, the embassy explained.

“Given that the Russian Federation was unable to change its visa regime, the United States is required by law to reduce the validity of B-1/B-2 visitor visas and/or increase fees to match the Russian Federation’s practices,” it said.

via The Moscow Times

Not sure if others heard about this. More "good" news about US-Russia relations....

Edited January 23, 2019 by millefleur

[TBoneTX 45,267]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

required by law

Some past Congress must've not had enough to do one day and came up with this...

[BigRedCat 36]

So USaTraveldocs wrote me back and told me "the majority of applicants we're able to schedule an interview within a year so if you were not able to sorry but you lost your $160 and need to pay again but this time more", are they kidding?! That is beyond absurd. I wrote an email to my senator who assisted me with my wife's k1, maybe they can do something. 

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, BigRedCat said:

So USaTraveldocs wrote me back and told me "the majority of applicants we're able to schedule an interview within a year so if you were not able to sorry but you lost your $160 and need to pay again but this time more", are they kidding?! That is beyond absurd. I wrote an email to my senator who assisted me with my wife's k1, maybe they can do something. 

Ugh, that is bloody annoying..

 

See if you can at least get the fee back or waived and possibly do the interview in Yekaterinburg?

[BigRedCat 36]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

Ugh, that is bloody annoying..

 

See if you can at least get the fee back or waived and possibly do the interview in Yekaterinburg?

I am seeing interview slots available in Moscow now this past week but now that want me to pay again. It's really ridiculous!

[millefleur 5,046]

1 minute ago, BigRedCat said:

I am seeing interview slots available in Moscow now this past week but now that want me to pay again. It's really ridiculous! 

Oh no...that's really annoying. Let us know how it goes and if you can get a new appointment in Moscow scheduled.