Russia Visa Center resumes some visa processing in New York

[millefleur 5,047]

I got an email update this morning from the Russian Visa Center:

 

Hope you are well and Safe!

 

We are pleased  to inform that the Russia Visa Center have resumed operation in New York via mail. RVAC is accepting applications for below categories initially:

 

1. Private visa Type II.

2. Diplomatic Visas

3. Business visas for foreigner nationals  participating in the adjustment and maintenance of foreign-made equipment.

4. Multiple entry work visas for the purpose of visit  “foreign employee” for highly qualified specialists in the field of culture and sports. The copy of the employment contract with the host organization is necessary to provide.

 

We are happy to assist you with the application process for any above categories. Please feel free to write to us in case of any assistance/help required.

 

Thanks & Regards,

 

Russia Visa Application Centre

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2020 by millefleur

[CamGeniia 37]

I wonder if this means Americans will be able to visit Russia soon...

[millefleur 5,047]

1 minute ago, CamGeniia said:

I wonder if this means Americans will be able to visit Russia soon...

Private Type II Visas are for immediate relatives of Russian citizens. I'm not sure of the other differences but it's possible they're only issuing them for short periods of time and not the previous 3 year multi-entry visas that US citizens used to qualify for.

[Cheburashka34 228]

Yes I'm still waiting and hoping Russia opens after the new year. Makes me wish we were already married. I wish fiance's qualified as someone of significance

[millefleur 5,047]

7 hours ago, Cheburashka34 said:

Yes I'm still waiting and hoping Russia opens after the new year. Makes me wish we were already married. I wish fiance's qualified as someone of significance

It's been frustrating for everyone. Even though I'm married to a Russian, I don't even know if it's worth it to apply for the type II if it won't be multi-entry. I might just wait out until they offer 3 year multi-entry visas again.

[Cheburashka34 228]

59 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It's been frustrating for everyone. Even though I'm married to a Russian, I don't even know if it's worth it to apply for the type II if it won't be multi-entry. I might just wait out until they offer 3 year multi-entry visas again.

Yes I love my three year tourist visa. You don't have to worry about applying for a visa everytime you go. Just flights and hotels 🙂

[millefleur 5,047]

Seems like there's a slightly different update on their site from July:

https://russia-visacentre.com/en/visa/usa/russia/news/resuming-operations-in-new-york-usa

 

Quote

 

Starting on 27th July 2020, Visa Application Centre in New York will be accepting applications by mail only for limited visa categories as mentioned below:

1.      Members of official delegations, employees of foreign embassies and consulates, representations of international organization in Russia and their family members;

2.      Family members (spouses, parents, legal guardians, children) of Russian citizens, or of an ailing or recently deceased person in Russia regardless of citizenship, provided they carry documents confirming both condition and relation;

3.      International truck drivers, crew members of train, sea, river and air vessels;

4.      Permanent residents of the Russian Federation;

5.      Persons taking part in equipment maintenance in Russia, provided their names are on the border service lists;

6.      Highly qualified employees, provided their names are on the border service lists;

7.      Persons seeking medical treatment, provided they have an invitation from a medical organization or the Ministry of Health.

8.      Participants in international sports events taking place in Russia.

 

 Please email us at info.russiausa@russia-visacentre.com for inquiries.

 

Not sure why diplomatic visas are not mentioned there?

 

 

[Caboose29 173]

I wonder how much time and money is required to qualify as an "international truck driver"..😁

[millefleur 5,047]

4 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

I wonder how much time and money is required to qualify as an "international truck driver"..😁

Lol, you don't want to be a truck driver in Russia, just look for Russian dash cam videos and see why! Why not teach English? That's how I got my work visa there.

[Caboose29 173]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Lol, you don't want to be a truck driver in Russia, just look for Russian dash cam videos and see why! Why not teach English? That's how I got my work visa there.

I didn't mean to actually become a truck driver.  I was asking because I read the list about what visas they are approving now.  I thought maybe I could get a visa and get to  visit under the guise of being an actual certified international truck driver.😀

To be an English teacher I assume you'd need to have some sort of proficiency in Russian?  I speak next to zero Russian.  I've been taking Pimsleur online for only a few months now, and I'm still only on Level 1.  I don't think they'd approve me for only a 2 week teaching curriculum.

[millefleur 5,047]

11 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

To be an English teacher I assume you'd need to have some sort of proficiency in Russian?  I speak next to zero Russian.  I've been taking Pimsleur online for only a few months now, and I'm still only on Level 1.  I don't think they'd approve me for only a 2 week teaching curriculum.

No, you don't need any Russian at all. With native English speakers who speak no Russian, they will only pair you with high level students (or at the lowest intermediate level) who can speak at least some English. The staff at good language schools also tend to speak English so you also don't really need it for the business side of things either.

 

The only base requirements for the visa is a TOESL certificate (you can get those online) and I think maybe some sort of college degree. I just don't know if English teacher visas are being handed out right now.

 

 

[millefleur 5,047]

Looks like for those married to a Russian, they might be offering the 3 year visa to those with Russian spouses:

https://rusconhouston.mid.ru/en_US/home/-/asset_publisher/6t7JwcQ96wvF/content/visa-issuance-and-border-restrictio-1?redirect=/en_US/home

 

Quote

In accordance with Decree № 635 of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 16, 2020, (as amended) only certain categories of foreign citizens (please see list below) are currently admissible in Russia and may apply for a visa. 3-year visas for American citizens are also temporarily unavailable except for private visas issued to family members (spouses, children, parents) of Russian citizens.

I will have my husband call them this week and try to confirm this, as the Houston Consulate site is the only place I've seen this info.

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

On 2/16/2021 at 7:40 PM, millefleur said:

Looks like for those married to a Russian, they might be offering the 3 year visa to those with Russian spouses:

https://rusconhouston.mid.ru/en_US/home/-/asset_publisher/6t7JwcQ96wvF/content/visa-issuance-and-border-restrictio-1?redirect=/en_US/home

 

I will have my husband call them this week and try to confirm this, as the Houston Consulate site is the only place I've seen this info.

Hey @millefleur I thought you might be interested in some info I got today. They are issuing 3 year private visas to those with Russian spouses provided the spouse is spouse is registered in Russia. Its kind of complicated for me as my original documents are in Spanish and I am having to get them apostilled in Mexico, translated to Enlish, AND notarized by a Russian notary... which I'm not sure how to do this, I guess I have to do it from Spanish to English to Russian. Anyway, I will need the invitation from my husband notarized, my notarized and apostilled marriage certificate, and a copy of his internal and international passport. I have ILS services helping me out, they have been super helpful.

[millefleur 5,047]

4 minutes ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

Hey @millefleur I thought you might be interested in some info I got today. They are issuing 3 year private visas to those with Russian spouses provided the spouse is spouse is registered in Russia.

I see, thanks for the info! My husband is no longer registered in Russia so looks like it will be more complicated for us. I'll have to see what they say for people in our situation.

 

7 minutes ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

Its kind of complicated for me as my original documents are in Spanish and I am having to get them apostilled in Mexico, translated to Enlish, AND notarized by a Russian notary... which I'm not sure how to do this, I guess I have to do it from Spanish to English to Russian.

I think getting it notarized in Russia should not be an issue if your husband has a copy in Russia? You may have to have him do that there and then ship it you in the States.

[Dashinka 24,639]

Any news on this one?  Now that the wife and I are almost fully vaccinated, we are starting to talk about a trip to Russia and my 3 year home-stay visa expires this coming May.  I may suggest she contact the NYC consulate to see if she can get any first hand information.

 

On 3/10/2021 at 3:41 PM, millefleur said:

I see, thanks for the info! My husband is no longer registered in Russia so looks like it will be more complicated for us. I'll have to see what they say for people in our situation.

 

I think getting it notarized in Russia should not be an issue if your husband has a copy in Russia? You may have to have him do that there and then ship it you in the States.