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You Are In: Visas > Non-Immigrant Visas >
Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

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Visas

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Moscow
Field Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Nonimmigrant Visas

Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

On December
14, 2009, the Department of State published a proposal to increase the
nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, also called the Machine-Readable
Visa (MRV) fee.  To see what the proposed changes are, please click here http://travel.state.gov/news/press/press_4603.html.

You can submit your comments regarding the proposed fees in the next 60
days.

Web site: http://www.regulations.gov/index.cfm.

E-mail:  [email-masked].  You must include the
RIN (1400-AC57) in the subject line of your message.

Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM):  U.S. Department of State,Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of
the Executive Director, U.S. Department of State, Suite H1001, 2401 E Street
NW Washington, DC  20520.

All
nonimmigrant visa applicants applying in Moscow must now use the new online
application form (DS-160), which can be filled out by clicking here.  Following
completion and transmission of the DS-160, applicants will receive instructions
to print 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 their visa interview and to Pony Express for
scheduling the interview appointment.

Applicants
who are exempt from the visa interview requirement must also use the new online
application form (DS-160).  Such applicants must bring this
confirmation page with them to Pony Express for submission.

For more information on the DS-160, please click here.

Anyone applying for a visa to attend a scientific or
technical conference, conduct research, participate in meetings, undertake
post-graduate studies, or engage in employment in a scientific or technical
field should submit the following documents at his/her visa
interview:

A letter of invitation from the United States.

The DS-157 supplemental visa application form
(required for all applicants regardless of age and gender)

A current resume or CV indicating your educational
background, work history, your current job responsibilities, field of
expertise and research interest.

A list of your publications

Each of these required documents must be
provided in English.

U.S. Embassy Moscow's
Consular Section wishes to remind applicants that additional administrative
processing is often required for individuals involved in scientific or technical
fields of work or study. We recommend that all applicants, particularly those
involved in scientific or technical fields, apply for a visa as soon as they are
aware of their travel plans to the U.S. We urge all applicants to apply no later
than 30 days before the intended date of travel. Unfortunately, in most cases
the possibility that your visa may be subject to additional processing will not
be considered an emergency for the purpose of granting expedited
appointments.

A nonimmigrant visa is necessary to visit the United States
temporarily for tourism, business, studies, or cultural exchanges.

The
visa application process is really quite easy. A complete application
consists of

The
appropriate application forms

A
valid passport

Application Fee

Any
supporting documentation

Applicants should
submit their visa
documents through Pony
Express, a courier service with offices throughout Russia. Please note that
Pony Express is the only courier authorized by the US Embassy. The use of other
courier services for transmission of documents to Pony Express will delay
processing. At the time visa documents are submitted, each applicant will be
informed of the date and time to come to the embassy for biometric finger
scanning and, if necessary, a personal interview. All applicants age 14-79 must
be finger scanned. In addition, all applicants age 14-79 must appear for a
personal interview before a consular officer. Applicants, who have a previously
issued visa of the same visa class for which they are currently
applying that has expired in the last twelve months, usually do not
require interview.

Those applicants who require finger scanning (all
applicants age 14-79) but do not require a personal interview will be scheduled
to appear at the embassy at a special time to ensure that the finger scanning is
conducted as expeditiously as possible.

Applicants who have temporary
cuts, blisters, or other injuries on any of the fingertips must reschedule their
appointment. Applicants who appear at the Embassy with temporarily injured
fingertips will be asked to return after the fingers have
healed.

Diplomats and other government officials traveling on official
business will not be required to appear at the embassy to participate in the
biometric program.

Expedited Visa Appointments
In certain circumstances, applicants may qualify for an
expedited visa appointment.  Such circumstances include urgent medical
treatment, death or serious illness of an immediate family member, athletic
competitions with a fixed date, and pressing business or government
meetings.  Requests for an expedited appointment should be directed to Pony
Express  in Moscow at (495) 775-14-59 or by email at [email-masked].  Please
bear in mind that not all such requests will be approved.

Nonimmigrant Visa Appointment Wait and Processing
Times

For Typical Appointment Wait and Processing Times -- Click here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php.

All applicants should be aware that the times given are current averages, and
are subject to sharp seasonal fluctuations. Processing wait time DOES NOT
include the time required for additional administrative processing or special
requirements. In such cases, processing wait time will vary based on the
individual circumstances of each application.

Article translated in:

Русский

Link

Information for Russian citizens travelling
to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Applying for a Visa

New! Online DS-160
application form

Applying for a
Nonimmigrant Visa

Do you need an
interview?

Required Documentation

Transliteration
System for Russian

Visa Application Procedures (PDF)

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