Visas
Important Consulate Announcements
Important Notice for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants - New Application Form
C1/D visa applicants in St. Petersburg must now use the new online application form (DS-160) which can be filled out by clicking here. After completing the DS-160, the applicant will electronically transmit the application and will be provided with a confirmation page that includes some biographical information and a bar code with a confirmation number. Applicants must bring this confirmation page with them to Pony Express for scheduling the interview appointment.
Beginning December 6, 2009, all nonimmigrant visa applicants in St. Petersburg must use the new online application form (DS-160) described above.
For more information on the DS-160, please click here.
2011 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The U. S. Embassy in Moscow is pleased to announce that persons born in Russia will be eligible to participate in the 2011 Diversity Visa Program (http://moscow.usembassy.gov/ivdv.html). Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. Entering the Diversity Visa Lottery is free. All entries must be submitted online. Electronic entries for the Diversity Visa 2011 Lottery will be accepted from Noon Eastern Daylight Time on October 2, 2009, until Noon Eastern Standard Time on November 30, 2009. Additional information on the Diversity Visa Program, including instructions for entering the Diversity Visa lottery, is available online at: www.dvlottery.state.gov.
For All Visa Applicants
The Consulate urges all visa applicants to plan ahead, check wait times, and make an appointment for an interview as soon as they have a plan for travel. Expedited appointments are available ONLY in the most emergency situations.
Students (those applying for F or J visas) and those applying for H1/B visas may request an expedited appointment by contacting the Consulate via visastpete@state.gov after they have scheduled an interview date with Pony Express. The message should include the interview date offered by Pony Express, your current location, travel plans, reason for expedite, and should state for which status you will apply. Students and H1/B visa applicants should have all required documents at the interview. Because some cases require additional administrative processing, we encourage all visa applicants, regardless of visa category, to apply well in advance of their expected date of travel.
Fingerprint Reuse/Appearance Waiver
Starting in November 2008, any person renewing a B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa issued in Russia on or after 06 November 2007 with an expiration date within the last 12 months, may qualify for a waiver of personal appearance at the Consulate. For details, please refer to the "How to Apply" web page.
For Applicants with Scientific Backgrounds
All applicants with scientific backgrounds regardless of purpose of travel and those planning to attend scientific conferences or meetings, participate in scientific research or post-graduate studies, or engage in scientific employment are requested to complete the DS-156, DS-157 (regardless of age and gender), and DS-158 (if applicable) forms in English as well as submit a list of publications and their resume or curriculum vitae in English. Such applications may be subjected to additional administrative processing of approximately 30 days.
