Any news or info when the US Embassy in Moscow will resume visa interviews?

[Niia 22]

26 minutes ago, Seth1249 said:

Latest update from US Embassy in Moscow: 

 

Dear Applicants,

Starting December 11, the United States Consulates General in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok will begin to conduct a limited number of interviews for nonimmigrant visas on a smaller scale than before. The United States Embassy in Moscow will continue to conduct interviews for immigrant, DV and nonimmigrant visas. However, we cannot continue to provide our services at the same level as before the reduction of the staff of the United States Embassies and Consulates by the Russian Federation by 60%. Fewer people will inevitably lead to fewer staff providing visa services.

Due to staff reductions, we were forced to cancel and reassign interviews for nonimmigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visa applicants whose interviews have been canceled may follow the link or call the number below to re-schedule the interview at a later date at the United States Embassy in Moscow or Consulates General in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok.

To reschedule your nonimmigrant visa interviews and other questions, please contact the following phone numbers: +7 (495) 745 3388 or 8 800 100 2554 (International Toll Free).

 

https://ru.usembassy.gov/ru/visas-ru/

 

At least we have a date now. 

I think this post is from when they had a staff reduction a year or two ago? Or whenever that happened 

[MGBe 7]

49 minutes ago, Niia said:

I think this post is from when they had a staff reduction a year or two ago? Or whenever that happened 

yep, it's been there for a while now...

very misleading in our current situation.

Edited September 3, 2020 by MGBe

[Milasa 19]

On 8/14/2020 at 7:21 AM, David & Olga said:

I found out from someone here on VJ via WhatsApp that the visa issued in June was for a cancer doctor and they filed for an expedite. 

I wonder the reason for expedite was medical specialty or something else? My mom is a physician but I don’t think it can help since her visa is ir5 which is currently under the ban.

[millefleur 5,047]

6 hours ago, MGBe said:

yep, it's been there for a while now...

very misleading in our current situation.

Very annoying that it doesn't say the year, but only "Sept 11"....

 

The Embassy apparently has also been telling airlines that Russian citizens are not allowed to enter on B visas right now and the Embassy site says nothing about that. So it does not seem like a very reliable source. I hope they update soon.

[zolotinka 47]

50 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Very annoying that it doesn't say the year, but only "Sept 11"....

 

The Embassy apparently has also been telling airlines that Russian citizens are not allowed to enter on B visas right now and the Embassy site says nothing about that. So it does not seem like a very reliable source. I hope they update soon.

I’m reading a chat with people flying from Moscow to the US and mostly everything is ok with B1/B2 visas, no problem with boarding and on the border. More problems with Aeroflot flights which get cancelled.

[ViktorS 11]

Russian version of the text on visa page changed to:

Quote

В соответствии с Президентской Прокламацией временно прекращен въезд в США для иностранных граждан, которые за 14 дней до прибытия в пункт въезда в США находились в Китае, за исключением Специальных Автономных Регионов Гон-Конга и Макао. Если Вы проживаете в Китае, недавно посещали Китай или намерены посетить Китай до Вашей запланированной поездки в США, мы рекомендуем Вам перенести Вашу запись на собеседование на дату следующую за 14-м днем после Вашего отъезда из Китая.

English is still:

Quote

Out of concern for the health of our Russian and American staff and the public in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Mission to Russia has reduced visa operations and routine American citizen services.

Consulate General Yekaterinburg has begun to accept a limited number of interview waiver visa applications for C1/D and F visas ONLY.

Please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/index.html For more information.

 

[zolotinka 47]

There is a small update on ustraveldocs (now just in English):
 

Effective from September 14, 2020, immigrant visa applicants who were requested by U.S. Embassy in Moscow to provide additional documents and received a designated form issued by the consular section may submit the requested documents at U.S. Visa document delivery locations operated by VFS Global or in selected Russia Post locations. For additional details, please visit this page.  With the limited exception of F and C1/D classes for processing at Consulate General Yekaterinburg, submission of additional documents for non-immigrant visa applicants, including acceptance of interview waiver applications, remains suspended.

 

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/index.html

 

[millefleur 5,047]

2 hours ago, zolotinka said:

There is a small update on ustraveldocs (now just in English):

Thanks for updating. It seems like traveldocs is the best place right now to get updates.

[zolotinka 47]

3 hours ago, millefleur said:

Thanks for updating. It seems like traveldocs is the best place right now to get updates.

yes,  unfortunately the Embassy’s site is absolutely useless regarding current visa services 

[willygoeswrong 5]

I've recently talked to a woman, who just paid the consulate fee for her interview in Moscow. She told me that her attorney called the embassy asking what's the deal with the k-1 visa being the high priority now (the notice on the USCIS website), and they said that the consulate fee must be paid now and after that she will have her interview. She paid for it and got this message: 


Any ideas? Can we count it as good news? 
I assume that this means that they have started working with the backlog, cases that have been at the embassy when everything closed. 

[Niia 22]

3 minutes ago, willygoeswrong said:

I've recently talked to a woman, who just paid the consulate fee for her interview in Moscow. She told me that her attorney called the embassy asking what's the deal with the k-1 visa being the high priority now (the notice on the USCIS website), and they said that the consulate fee must be paid now and after that she will have her interview. She paid for it and got this message: 


Any ideas? Can we count it as good news? 
I assume that this means that they have started working with the backlog, cases that have been at the embassy when everything closed. 

There’s another fee? I thought we paid

all fees the NVC 

[willygoeswrong 5]

I believe you are mistaken here. 
There are no fees at the NVC stage. Only after these guys will mail the case to the embassy there will be a consulate fee, that you have to pay in order to get the appointment. Otherwise, without the transaction number, you won't be able to make it. 
I am only talking about k-1 visa here, but I assume that it's pretty much the same mechanism for the spousal visa as well. 
 

[Niia 22]

2 minutes ago, willygoeswrong said:

I believe you are mistaken here. 
There are no fees at the NVC stage. Only after these guys will mail the case to the embassy there will be a consulate fee, that you have to pay in order to get the appointment. Otherwise, without the transaction number, you won't be able to make it. 
I am only talking about k-1 visa here, but I assume that it's pretty much the same mechanism for the spousal visa as well. 
 

The CR-1 and IR-1 is paid at NVC

[willygoeswrong 5]

Just now, Niia said:

The CR-1 and IR-1 is paid at NVC

Okay, i did not know that, no need to. But I specifically mentioned K-1

[dkristof87 14]

On 9/12/2020 at 5:24 AM, willygoeswrong said:

I've recently talked to a woman, who just paid the consulate fee for her interview in Moscow. She told me that her attorney called the embassy asking what's the deal with the k-1 visa being the high priority now (the notice on the USCIS website), and they said that the consulate fee must be paid now and after that she will have her interview. She paid for it and got this message: 


Any ideas? Can we count it as good news? 
I assume that this means that they have started working with the backlog, cases that have been at the embassy when everything closed. 

Well, I've been getting that page since early July when we paid our interview fee, so as much as I want to hope they're actually doing something I think, more likely that not, the embassy was just saying nonsense so people will stop bugging them.