How to get a US visa
This year I planned to go on vacation to the United States of America. The country is interesting and beautiful. But if five years ago I easily got a visa in Yekaterinburg, this year I encountered certain problems. I want to share with you information on how you can get documents for traveling to another country, what you need to provide to the consulates and where you can sign up to get a visa.
A visit to the United States of America attracts a large number of tourists. After all, here you can not only see local attractions, but also have an interesting time. And if earlier it was enough to visit one of the country's representative offices in a city convenient for a tourist, then at the moment, it is not so easy to get there. In addition, direct flights between Russia and the United States are currently not carried out and there is no information about when they will be resumed.
Where can I get a visa to visit the country?
Traveling is always exciting and interesting. But if a tourist prefers to visit a foreign country on vacation, then everything should be taken care of in advance. To go on a trip, you will need a visa to the United States. It is better to apply for a non-immigrant visa of the B1/B2 form. It is issued for short trips. Having received a tourist visa to the United States, you can go abroad to receive medical services. This is possible if there are recommendations from the attending physician, a referral from him and the treatment is fully paid for (after all, all medical care in the United States is provided for a fee).
In Russia, the rules for obtaining a visa and the visa policy itself have changed. As for the place of filing documents, it is important to understand that in such large Russian cities as Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, Moscow, diplomatic missions have closed. Therefore, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa for tourists, work, or for the purpose of obtaining an education in Russia. But what to do if the need to visit America remains. It is enough to contact the diplomatic missions of other countries, such as Poland, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Italy. In these countries, apply for the preparation of documents for departure. Obtaining approval is possible only after successfully passing the interview.
At the moment, the American Embassy has set up a representative office in Warsaw. This is the point where applications are accepted and visas can be obtained. Despite this, the completed papers can also be obtained in the countries listed above.
How to get a visa
To obtain a document for a short-term exit, you will need to fill out the DS-160 form. It is mandatory to include the applicant's personal data, information about whether you have previously visited the United States, education and family data. A mandatory item when filling out is data on the applicant's social networks. This is required by the consulate to be able to review publications and posts. It is necessary to attach a 51x51 mm photo. After filling out the questionnaire, you should sign up for an interview on the following resources:
- CGI Federal;
- evisaforms.state.gov;
- ais.usvisa-info.com.
You can simply go to the consulate portal, section “Visas” and use the link.
Please note! After the tourist has considered the possibility of visiting the consulate, an invitation letter will be received, which must be taken to the interview.
Interview at the consulate with a tourist
Consulate representatives interview tourists aged 14 and above. In addition, fingerprinting is mandatory. This procedure is one of the factors in making a positive decision. During the interview, they clarify how much money they are willing to spend on organizing the trip, as well as why the tourist is visiting the country. In some cases, they clarify information about plans for the future. It also happens that questions are not asked at all, but you need to be prepared for them.
Please note! In some countries, the interview is conducted in English or in the language of the country you are in. But in Latvia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, you can also take it in Russian. If the applicant does not speak the language, he may be offered the services of an interpreter. An application for his services must be sent in advance to the e-mail of the consulate.
When visiting the department, you must take with you:
- Photograph 51x51 mm no more than 6 months from the date of shooting.
- Form DS-160 completed in advance.
- Foreign passport. The validity period of the new document is 10 years, the old one is 5 years.
- A letter containing an invitation to an interview.
Bring documents confirming your plans to return home. These may be paid return tickets, documents confirming ownership of real estate and motor vehicles in Russia. Bank statements, marriage certificates, and birth certificates of children will also be useful. If you work, it would be a good idea to provide supporting documents from your place of work. In addition to all of the above, you also need to bring your old passport with an expired visa. A medical certificate is not required. It is a good idea to get insurance to protect yourself.
It is better to fill out the DS-160 form at home. This way you will be able to concentrate and avoid making mistakes when filling it out.
What amount do I need to pay to get a visa?
How much does a visa to America cost? This is an important question, since not everyone is ready to pay huge sums.
Regardless of whether your trip to the United States is approved or not, you will need to pay a consular fee. This can be done on the government website when you submit your application for an interview. The amount paid will be valid for one year from the date of payment. If your visa is denied, the amount is non-refundable.
This year, the fee is $185 (as of 16.10.2024 – 17 834 rubles). Please note that it is converted to the currency of the place where the documents for obtaining a visa are submitted. Russian cards are not suitable for making the payment (only those issued by foreign banks are accepted). It is possible to pay by receipt. This information can be found on the consulate website.
The time it takes to obtain a visa depends on the country you are applying to. For example, residents of Kazakhstan wait one day, but for citizens of other countries this period ranges from 25 to 70 days.
Where to go if your visa application is denied
According to information posted on the State Department website, 39.49% of Russian citizens were denied entry to the United States in 2023. There may be many reasons for this. Let's look at the ones that are most common in practice:
- incorrect data in the questionnaire;
- incomplete answers during interviews;
- lack of additional documents (although they are not required, it is better to take them with you).
After receiving a refusal to receive a US visa for Russians, you can try to reapply, but you will have to pay the consular fee again. But if there is a suspicion of fraud, providing false facts, then the ban on receiving a visa will be in effect forever.
In some situations, the refusal is based on Article 221. In this case, there is a chance to reapply and provide the missing documents. The application will be reviewed again.
Consent for the child to leave
In order for a minor to visit the United States, consent to leave is required if one of the parents or a non-legal representative is traveling. Border services check documents upon exit. Consent is required for traveling with a grandparent or coach. All documents, including this paper, must be translated into English.
Do I need a visa for transit?
If the traveler is flying through the country, it is necessary to obtain a transit visa of category C. An interview will be required. In this case, airline tickets must be presented. In addition, it is necessary to provide evidence that the traveler has enough money, so he will not be delayed for a long time and will pass through in transit.
Cards that work in the country
If you have received a visa to visit the United States of America, you should make sure that your bank cards also work. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB are not accepted due to sanctions. The Mir and UnionPay payment systems do not work in the country. Cash or cards from foreign banks are suitable for payments in America. They can be issued in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
How to get from Russia to America
Even if you have received a visa to America, you will not be able to fly out of Russia due to certain restrictions established between the countries. The airspace is closed. Therefore, you can use flights from Turkey, Serbia or Egypt.
US missions in Russia no longer provide visa services to non-diplomats. However, in some cases, you can expect to receive the following types of visas:
- Non-immigrant visas are obtained at any consulate where you have made an appointment. This type includes student visas, as well as visas for participants in academic exchange programs (teachers, students).
- Immigrant US visas can be obtained at the US Embassy in Warsaw. Consultations and issuance of documents in Russian cities have been suspended.
- Obtaining asylum and refugee status is possible for foreigners already in the country. Such documents are issued if there is an immediate physical danger upon returning to their homeland. Please note that the country's embassy does not process applications in this case. You can contact the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The process of obtaining a US visa can take several months, so if you know the length of your stay in America, you should take care of preparing all the necessary documents in advance. The purpose of the trip and other facts that determine the type of visa are processed in accordance with the laws of the country you plan to visit.