Ask the Consul
Ask the Consul is a collection of articles prepared by the Consular Section that covers visas and other consular topics for visitors to the United States and for U.S. citizens in NW Russia.
If you have a general consular question, please fill out the below form for submission. Then check this page every week. We select one question per week and post the answer in the below space.
Important Note: We will NOT reply directly to your e-mail. Please visit American Citizens Services or Nonimmigrant Visas for instructions on how to ask a question directly.
My boyfriend and I would like to travel to the United States. We’ve got a favorite pet – a cat. We always take it with us and never leave with anyone. Do we have to get a special permission from the Consulate or the certificates on vaccination and chip installment by the veterinary clinic would be sufficient? (August 19)
Visitors frequently inquire about traveling with their pets to the United States. The Consulate is not involved in granting permission to bring household pet to the United States. For more information on traveling with pets, see Publication “Bringing Pets and Wildlife into the United States” on U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/-publications/travel/pets_wild.ctt/pets.pdf
Also, check with St. Petersburg VET department at Pulkovo-2 International airport (tel: 704-3424, 10am-6pm, lunch 12:30-1pm) for local regulations on departing St. Petersburg with pets.The owner of a dog or a cat must obtain a Form #1 from a local VET station no earlier than 3 days before the departure time. This form should contain the same information as an International VET certificate. A day before your departure, the owner should go to the VET department at Pulkovo-2 International airport and present this form in Russian, which will be exchanged for the International VET certificate in English to use for exiting Russia and entering the U.S. (the animal must be presented).
Please contact VET department at Pulkovo-2 International airport for detailed information concerning a rabies vaccination (needs to be done no later than 30 days, but no earlier than 1 year, prior to departure from Russia).
For information concerning vaccinations see also Paragraph “Vaccinations” at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/-publications/travel/pets_wild.ctt/pets.pdf