More Visa News

[shikarnov 7]

Medvedev and Obama announced plans on Thursday to liberalize visa restrictions for businessmen and tourists traveling between the two countries.

"We have instructed our officials to concentrate on visa liberalization on a reciprocal basis for the largest segments of our traveling nationals' date='" the two presidents said in a joint statement.

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Under the new agreement, eligible business travelers and tourists would be issued with visas valid for 36 months at a unified and reciprocal fee. Government officials would also be eligible to receive 12-month multi-entry visas.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed scrapping visa restrictions between the two countries altogether during a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Moscow in March.

http://www.en.rian.ru/world/20110526/164252837.html

Hear's hoping...

[1HappyGuy 45]

This is going to come to late for some friends. They are still struggling with invitation letters to get a visa to visit Russia in July. They have a son teaching English in Kazan they plan to visit and he will accompany them home. But it's a great idea to make visiting Russia or the USA easier for both countries.

[eekee 182]

This is going to come to late for some friends. They are still struggling with invitation letters to get a visa to visit Russia in July. They have a son teaching English in Kazan they plan to visit and he will accompany them home. But it's a great idea to make visiting Russia or the USA easier for both countries.

what's the struggle? Getting a tourist visa isn't hard.

[Used to be broken 146]

what's the struggle? Getting a tourist visa isn't hard.

Its a pain in the butt

[shikarnov 7]

Its a pain in the butt

More of a pain than the homestay visa?

[eekee 182]

What's the pain of sending your passport to an agency/getting a voucher from a shady internet site?

[Neonred 3,467]

For around $180 you can have your visa and invitation in ten days or less. Fill out some paperwork, send in your passport and payment.

[slim 1,514]

For around $180 you can have your visa and invitation in ten days or less. Fill out some paperwork, send in your passport and payment.

Easiest way to get it done.

[san diego 407]

This will never happen. Ukraine did this only one way. US will never allow this. There would be huge in-flux of illegal immigrants from Russia. Unfortunately for me as I am trying to get my in-laws for larger wedding for September and not sure if this will happen.

[Codeblue009 3]

This will never happen. Ukraine did this only one way. US will never allow this. There would be huge in-flux of illegal immigrants from Russia. Unfortunately for me as I am trying to get my in-laws for larger wedding for September and not sure if this will happen.

I don't know about a huge imflux of people coming from Russia to the U.S.A. Though I have only been to Russia 7 times, the predominant feeling I get is that most people would like to visit, but not stay. Then there is something of the expense coming here. Now, I've been to the Ukraine 29 times and I know that most of them don't want to stay in the States either. Yes, the Ukraine waives the visa requirement, but I think the immigration policy won't change too much but be a little more flexible for Russian citizens, with respect to U.S. visa requirements. Now I have no problem going to the Russian Consulate or use Red Star travel for my Russian visa. I have to go there next month anyways. The new policy won't help me now. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[san diego 407]

Well... it would of helped ME. Since I was born in Russia and moved to US as a child, they wouldn't issue me visa. I had to go through a lot of hoops, $1,000K, 2 months wait to get 1 year business visa (wouldn't be able to get tourist visa). Nightmare! BTW, Russian people have a tendency of stating that they don't like US and do not want to move. Total lie to save the face. Give them an opportunity and 80% of the country will move here. I am Russian originally, for the record.

[Kyivan 0]

I don't know about a huge imflux of people coming from Russia to the U.S.A. Though I have only been to Russia 7 times, the predominant feeling I get is that most people would like to visit, but not stay. Then there is something of the expense coming here. Now, I've been to the Ukraine 29 times and I know that most of them don't want to stay in the States either. Yes, the Ukraine waives the visa requirement, but I think the immigration policy won't change too much but be a little more flexible for Russian citizens, with respect to U.S. visa requirements. Now I have no problem going to the Russian Consulate or use Red Star travel for my Russian visa. I have to go there next month anyways. The new policy won't help me now. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

No offense but...

You sure 29 times to Ukraine? Seems your mentioning of "the" Ukraine is rather ... ignorant

For those of you other countries reading it's not "the" Ukraine it's Ukraine

[Codeblue009 3]

No offense but...

You sure 29 times to Ukraine? Seems your mentioning of "the" Ukraine is rather ... ignorant

For those of you other countries reading it's not "the" Ukraine it's Ukraine

Grammer noted, and yes, I have been there 29 times.

[ONA 133]

Well... it would of helped ME. Since I was born in Russia and moved to US as a child, they wouldn't issue me visa. I had to go through a lot of hoops, $1,000K, 2 months wait to get 1 year business visa (wouldn't be able to get tourist visa). Nightmare! BTW, Russian people have a tendency of stating that they don't like US and do not want to move. Total lie to save the face. Give them an opportunity and 80% of the country will move here. I am Russian originally, for the record.

Depends on people, really. My parents won't agree to move to the States. Most of my friends would go visit, but don't want to live in the USA. If my fiance wasn't American, I'd rather went to Western Europe for about 5 years and then go back to Russia.

So what you say might be true for 15-20 years ago, but the situation is different now.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Obama should be impeached if this happens.