Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase on January 1, 2008

Martial Arts Team Excels at Martial Arts Olympics

April 17 the Consulate hosted a welcome reception for the U.S. team competing in the 2nd Martial Arts Olympics “East-West Open” April 18-20. The young athletes performed an impressive demonstration for guests of the Consulate. The U.S. team went on to win seven gold medals in fighting and six gold medals in weapons and forms competitions. But more importantly, they made many fans and friends among young Russian martial arts enthusiasts.

Pictured: Performance by the U.S. Martial Arts team at the U.S. Consulate General

Newest American Corner Opens in Pskov

The Consulate is pleased to welcome Russia’s latest American Corner, which opened in April at the Pskov Oblast Universal Research Library, within the library’s very successful Department of Foreign Languages. Department Head Mitrofanova and Corner Coordinator Loginova have arranged the hundreds of titles and the hardware donated by the U.S. Embassy in a very cheerful and comfortable corner that is ready to accomodate Pskov readers. The Corner’s first program May 5 included a presentation by Northwest Russia’s Senior English Language Fellow Danai Long.

Pictured: U.S. Consul General (right) and Information Resource Center Director (left) with librarians at the new America Corner in Pskov

Bucharest NATO Conference Results Highlighted

On April 18, Consul General Mary Kruger spoke at the opening plenary of the 11thannual Conference on NATO, which the Consulate co-sponsored with the School of International Studies at St. Petersburg State University, with the Consulate of the Netherlands, and with the NATO Information Office. Presenters included officials and scholars from several NATO member states, as well as high-level officials from the Russian Ministry of Defence. Discussion highlighted the results of the Bucharest NATO Conference.

Pictured: U.S. Consul General Mary Kruger at the opening plenary of the 11th annual Conference on NATO

America Week in Arkhangelsk

A consulate delegation led by Public Affairs Officer Mary Ellen Countryman attended the third annual America Week in Arkhangelsk, April 21-26. The weeklong celebration involved hundreds of schoolchildren and students from the city in singing contests and other events that tested their knowledge of English and American culture.

Pictured: Public Affairs Officer of the Consulate Mary Ellen Countryman with participants of the America Week contests

Consulate Officers gave lectures at the University and at the American Corner in the regional Library.

Pictured: Political/Economic Officer of the Consulate Benjamin V. Wohlauer giving a lecture on Civil Rights at the Pomor University

The consulate also brought along American student envoy Andrew Lohsen to take part in an international student conference at the Pomor University, and New York photographer Thomas Werner to hold master classes for area photographers. A large delegation visiting from Arkhangelsk’s sister city, Portland, Maine, also attended many events.

Pictured: American student Andrew Lohsen hosts a master-class on debates at the Pomor University

Pictured: New York photographer Thomas Werner talking about the art of photography with area photographers

Pictured: New York photographer Thomas Werner talking about the art of photography with area photographers

In Focus

Inaugural Issue of Quarterly News-Letter "Youth Action"

"Giving : U.S. Philanthropy"

Avian Influenza

Rewards for Justice

Ask the Ambassador

Democracy Dialogues

eJournal "Snapshot USA"

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From the Consular Section

For Residents of Belarus:

The Government of Belarus requested on March 31 that the United States again reduce the size of our Embassy in Minsk. We consider these demands by the Belarusian Government to be unwarranted and unjustified. Due to these actions of the Government of Belarus, nonimmigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk have been suspended until further notice. Residents of Belarus who wish to travel to the U.S. may apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg. If you are interested in scheduling a nonimmigrant visa interview, please e-mail the St. Petersburg Pony Express office at visa@pony-spb.ru and provide Pony Express with your name as it appears in your passport, passport number and contact information. To confirm your appointment, please call the St. Petersburg Pony Express office at (7) (812) 449-7756 within 2 working days. Please note that applicants applying from Belarus must submit their applications in person at the main Pony Express office in St. Petersburg 2 days prior to their scheduled interview date. Applicants should expect to stay in St. Petersburg for a minimum of 4 days during the application process. For example, an applicant with an interview scheduled on a Thursday would submit an application to Pony Express in person on Tuesday, appear for an interview on Thursday, and possibly receive the visa and passport back on Friday at Pony Express.

Summer Work and Travel Program 2008 has been announced

News: Ten Fingerprints to be Scanned During Visa Application Process

Beginning November 6, 2007, all U.S. diplomatic missions in Russia will scan ten fingerprints instead of two from every visa applicant. This new biometric standard represents a technology upgrade that is being instituted at U.S. embassies around the world and won't cause delays in interview and visa processing times (see picture).

All non-immigrant visa applicants are encouraged to submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156. After filling out the Electronic Visa Application Form online at http://evisaforms.state.gov, applicants will be able to print a copy of their visa application, which will include their data in a barcode format.

The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters.The applicants are welcome to use the pertinent Online Electronic Visa Application instruction.

All applicants should submit nonimmigrant visas documents to Pony Express at least four to six weeks prior to their intended departure date. If applicants are planning to travel during the peak summer or holiday seasons, we recommend allowing for additional processing time. Applicants or their sponsors should not purchase airline tickets or pay for accommodations prior to visa issuance <full text>