US Tourist Visa Renewal Question (Russia)

[BlackBee 3]

I am a US Citizen, but my in-laws are from Russia.  They have had (2) US Visa's in the past to come visit us, and the most recent was a 3 year multi-entry visa.  Due to the ongoing political nature of visa applications/processing in their country, I saw there was an option for "renewal" without an interview if certain requirements are met.  Does anyone know how this works and where to go from here?  This is literally the only option, because it is impossible to travel to a US Embassy in another country, as it either requires a visa to get to the country, or the wait can be 1+ year long.

 

Thanks!

[SalishSea 17,829]

28 minutes ago, BlackBee said:

I am a US Citizen, but my in-laws are from Russia.  They have had (2) US Visa's in the past to come visit us, and the most recent was a 3 year multi-entry visa.  Due to the ongoing political nature of visa applications/processing in their country, I saw there was an option for "renewal" without an interview if certain requirements are met.  Does anyone know how this works and where to go from here?  This is literally the only option, because it is impossible to travel to a US Embassy in another country, as it either requires a visa to get to the country, or the wait can be 1+ year long.

 

Thanks!

I would be very surprised if Russian citizens would have a B visa interview waived.  I don't think that is going to happen.

 

If this is an option for them however, it would be posted on the US Embassy/Moscow's website.

 

Also: just curious, but why is it impossible for them to travel to travel to a US embassy in another country, but yet they would be able to travel to the US?

Edited October 15, 2022 by Jorgedig

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

10 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I

 

Also: just curious, but why is it impossible for them to travel to travel to a US embassy in another country, but yet they would be able to travel to the US?

An excellent question, and there are definitely US embassies in countries where Russians don’t require visas.

 

I don’t see anything on the website about interview waiver options.
https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/

Instead, it says 
 

U.S. Mission in Russia no longer offers non-diplomatic visa services due to the Russian government’s April 23 notification prohibiting the U.S. Embassy Russia from employing foreign nationals in any capacity.  Russian nationals may continue applying for non-immigrant visas at any U.S. embassy or consulate where they can obtain an appointment.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Hm, I think definitely not, because the ustraveldocs page that normally talks about interview waivers in the applicable countries, just basically repeats an expanded version of the bit I quoted earlier.

 

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-visarenew.asp