Hi folks,

I am happy to report that my mom received a visa. They only asked one question--whether she has ever been abroad. She answered "no" and explained there was no need for it, and they granted her a two-year visa. I am ecstatic! This is her second attempt, and as you remember, I had a Senator write an email. She also mentioned that in general, it felts like just about anybody who applied got visas. Go Moscow Embassy! (The previous attempt was through Yekatirenburg, so I am not very happy with them.)

great news!

That is great news! Thanks for sharing. BTW, why did your mom apply at Moscow this time and not Yekaterinburg?

It was partly because of personal circumstances (she will fly out of Moscow directly, and we have some relatives to visit there), and partly because of the rumor that it is harder to get visas in Yekaterinburg.

What was the "reason" that she was applying for the visa? Everything I've read to date indicates that visa applicants need a concrete -- and finite -- reason for coming.

I'm sure Ira's family will want to come for visits, and a 2 year visa would be very nice indeed.

TIA,

Z

The reason was graduation from professional school. It seems that they look more favorably on applicants with "important" reasons for coming, though my mom told me that pretty much everybody in the line, whose kids were in the U.S., got visas yesterday. Good luck!

Congratulations

Yikes and my wife's parents were thinking of a tourist visa from Ekaterinburg. Will suggest they do it via Moscow. Any other info about E-Burg you can pass on would be helpful. I did hear a story how a USA consulate employee in E-Burg was in an area frequented by shady ladies and got rolled, I wonder if that has anything to do with it? Congrats on the visa!

Glad to hear the visa came through. I must confess that a two-year visa sounds like a long tourist visa. Can she actually remain in the US for two straight years or must she return to Russia at intervals like six months?

I am not sure about the details, but I am fairly certain that she cannot remain here for 2 years straight. My sense is that you are right--perhaps six-month intervals is the maximum term. She will only be here for 3 weeks, though now she might come back for Christmas!

I sincerely doubt that. From what I've heard, it was extremely hard for anyone to get visas before. Then, all of the sudden it was easy like Sunday morning. Seems more of a policy shift than anything. I heard it was because they changed consuls and ambassadors so since the staff changed, so did the difficulty in obtaining the visas. Before they were seriously scrutinized and now they're just handed out like candy to anyone with a "valid reason to visit the U.S."

Time will tell.

I'm happy for you and your mom! Hope I can get one too oneday because I really want to visit my hubby's family in CT...hope it won't be so hard arg...

That is very nice news, have a great visit with your mom

Congratulations for your mother getting her visa!

Thank you, guys!