The US State Department has introduced rules according to which documents for non-immigrant visas to the US must be submitted from the country of their citizenship or residence. As indicated in the statement of the department, Russians can do this at the US diplomatic missions in Astana or Warsaw.
“Applicants for non-immigrant visas to the US must schedule an interview at the US embassy or consulate in the country of their citizenship or residence“, the statement said. “Citizens of countries where the US government does not routinely process non-immigrant visas should apply at designated US embassies or consulates, if they do not reside elsewhere.“ The department lists 17 countries that are affected, including Russia and Belarus. For Russia, the places to apply are the U.S. diplomatic missions in Astana or Warsaw, and for Belarus, Vilnius and Warsaw.
The State Department also clarified: “Candidates must certify that they reside in the country to which they are applying if the place of application is determined by their place of residence.“ “Candidates who schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate that is not in their country of citizenship or residence may have difficulty obtaining visas,“ the department said, specifying that such applicants “should be prepared to wait significantly longer for an interview“.
The statement said the rules do not apply to visas for diplomats or other officials. “In rare cases, exceptions may be made for humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy reasons“, the document states.
The State Department stressed that the new rules supersede its previous recommendations and regulations regarding visa applications. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow previously posted instructions on its website stating that Russian citizens “may continue to apply for nonimmigrant visas at any U.S. embassy or consulate where they can make an appointment”.