US Embassy in Moscow - Still Closed

[OliaNaumchuk 20]

1 minute ago, Chauncey said:

What was complicated about serbia testing? 

The hospital was really far from the city center where we were staying so we had to get there on a bus which is not ideal during the pandemic. Then turned out the only way to pay for our testing was at the post office 20 minutes away from the hospital. The price for 2 people was $291.

[Chauncey 138]

2 minutes ago, OliaNaumchuk said:

The hospital was really far from the city center where we were staying so we had to get there on a bus which is not ideal during the pandemic. Then turned out the only way to pay for our testing was at the post office 20 minutes away from the hospital. The price for 2 people was $291.

Can you pay before you go to the hospital to get tested? And do the people speak English or Russian?

[OliaNaumchuk 20]

1 hour ago, Chauncey said:

Can you pay before you go to the hospital to get tested? And do the people speak English or Russian?

People speak pretty good english from our experience. No russian speakers. Regarding the payment I'm not sure how things are now, we were there 4 months ago...

[Chauncey 138]

19 minutes ago, OliaNaumchuk said:

People speak pretty good english from our experience. No russian speakers. Regarding the payment I'm not sure how things are now, we were there 4 months ago...

Okay thank you!! At least I know there are ways to get tested so I feel better about going there. Do you remember how long it took to get results back?

[millefleur 5,039]

On 1/6/2021 at 4:24 PM, millefleur said:

Based on the Embassy website, it looks like the only visas they are processing right now are:

https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/

• Both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg are currently processing a limited number of interview waiver visa renewals for C1D and F visas. For information on how to apply, please visit https://ustraveldocs.com/ru.

I'm not entirely sure why the C1D (crewmember) or F (student) visas are being prioritized. Seems like a very random choice. Maybe because it's a "renewal" that doesn't require an interview? Still seems random to me.

Tiny update but.....who knows, maybe it means they are moving?? Now it says:

 

• Both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg are currently processing a limited number of interview waiver visa renewals for C1/D, F, M, P1, and P-4 visas. For information on how to apply, please visit https://ustraveldocs.com/ru.

 

For reference, I looked it up and P visas are for athletes and entertainers, M visas are similar to student visas. Again, very random choice here, especially given the pandemic but...who knows? Maybe they'll add more visas to the list soon.

 

Edit: looks like they're doing renewals only but still, at least something new was added to the list. 🤷‍♀️

Edited January 14, 2021 by millefleur

[Chauncey 138]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

Tiny update but.....who knows, maybe it means they are moving?? Now it says:

 

• Both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg are currently processing a limited number of interview waiver visa renewals for C1/D, F, M, P1, and P-4 visas. For information on how to apply, please visit https://ustraveldocs.com/ru.

 

For reference, I looked it up and P visas are for athletes and entertainers, M visas are similar to student visas. Again, very random choice here, especially given the pandemic but...who knows? Maybe they'll add more visas to the list soon.

 

Edit: looks like they're doing renewals only but still, at least something new was added to the list. 🤷‍♀️

You are amazing for finding these little things for us I didn't even notice that! 

Yes I am hoping for more changes soon now, at least in the coming months! Thank you so much for your contributions always to us!

[Chauncey 138]

Why is this on the website? 

http://ru.usembassy.gov/update-on-department-transition-efforts-and-travel/

Just curious what it has to do with the embassy

[millefleur 5,039]

1 hour ago, Chauncey said:

Why is this on the website? 

http://ru.usembassy.gov/update-on-department-transition-efforts-and-travel/

Just curious what it has to do with the embassy

I assume changing out ambassadors and other staff under the new administration. Looks like a canned message they posted on all the embassy websites.

[Chauncey 138]

16 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I assume changing out ambassadors and other staff under the new administration. Looks like a canned message they posted on all the embassy websites.

They change out ambassadors too? I hope that's a good thing!

[ViktorS 11]

22 hours ago, millefleur said:

Tiny update but.....who knows, maybe it means they are moving?? Now it says:

 

• Both the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg are currently processing a limited number of interview waiver visa renewals for C1/D, F, M, P1, and P-4 visas. For information on how to apply, please visit https://ustraveldocs.com/ru.

 

For reference, I looked it up and P visas are for athletes and entertainers, M visas are similar to student visas. Again, very random choice here, especially given the pandemic but...who knows? Maybe they'll add more visas to the list soon.

 

Edit: looks like they're doing renewals only but still, at least something new was added to the list. 🤷‍♀️

I bet it is because these visas can be "interview waiver". Mission critical list will make more sense otherwise. 

[dkristof87 14]

I just got back from Serbia yesterday after being there the past two weeks, Nina and I hadn't been able to see each other since last January in Moscow. We submitted our application in October 2019 and fully expected to be married by May 2020. Been waiting for an interview since March. 

 

Serbia was wonderful and easy to get around. To get in they require an antigen test from Americans, which they didn't look that closely at. Nina had to get a PCR test, which she was able to do easily at Sheremetyevo airport. I know they're requiring them to return to America soon. But since Air Serbia flies directly to Belgrade from NYC, maybe give yourself more time and get rapid tested at JFK? 

[Chauncey 138]

51 minutes ago, dkristof87 said:

I just got back from Serbia yesterday after being there the past two weeks, Nina and I hadn't been able to see each other since last January in Moscow. We submitted our application in October 2019 and fully expected to be married by May 2020. Been waiting for an interview since March. 

 

Serbia was wonderful and easy to get around. To get in they require an antigen test from Americans, which they didn't look that closely at. Nina had to get a PCR test, which she was able to do easily at Sheremetyevo airport. I know they're requiring them to return to America soon. But since Air Serbia flies directly to Belgrade from NYC, maybe give yourself more time and get rapid tested at JFK? 

I was going to ask you about your trip! I'm so glad it went well, I am hoping to go there in march

[millefleur 5,039]

Turns out the Moscow Embassy has social media:

 

https://www.instagram.com/usembru/

https://twitter.com/USEmbRuPress

https://www.facebook.com/russia.usembassy

 

Has anyone tried to contacting them via PM there? Long shot but who knows...

[Chauncey 138]

22 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Turns out the Moscow Embassy has social media:

 

https://www.instagram.com/usembru/

https://twitter.com/USEmbRuPress

https://www.facebook.com/russia.usembassy

 

Has anyone tried to contacting them via PM there? Long shot but who knows...

I think a lot of people have tried contacting them and their excuse is either the epidemiological situation or not enough resources. 

[millefleur 5,039]

Just now, Chauncey said:

I think a lot of people have tried contacting them and their excuse is either the epidemiological situation or not enough resources. 

Would be more willing to believe the former. The Moscow Embassy has always seemed way overstaffed to me, compared to the application numbers they get, the Embassy is gigantic and has tons of workers from what I saw.

 

Does anyone know about that the mysterious 4 CR-1's and 1 IR-1 that got issued in December 2020?

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyIVIssuances/DECEMBER 2020 - IV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

 

Also apparently 4 K-1 's were issued in December 2020?? Okay then...

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/DECEMBER 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf