Novosibirsk Travel Forum

How hard is it for someone in Novosibirsk, Russia to get a visitation visa to be able to visit here in the United States? Is it possible to arrange such a visit?

Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

~kevin

He/she has to pay a non-refundable application fee of about $90, send the papers to the consulate via a single authorized company (pay smth like $30 more for the service of this company - in Moscow, it is DHL), then after the appointment is made by the company one has to show up at the consulate in person (I think there is no consulate in Novosibirsk, and the closest is Ekaterinburg - a day train ride one way - but I may be wrong at this particular point), get interviewed and convince the consular officer that he/she does not have immigration intentions. There are no ways with absolute success, but usuallty chances go up if a person has a well-paid job and family members (spouse and children) who stay back in Russia. For a private invitation, the main concern of immigration officers is that the person will be married to the US citizen, and it will be difficuklt to send his/her out of the US. The success rate depends very much on who is applying, but I read somewhere that about 80% applications are turned down. The rejection rate is of course higher for single young applicants, especially women.

It is quite difficult for a Russian citizen to get a tourist visa to the USA. Difficult, but not impossible. First, one needs to have a "lettor of invitation" from the inviting party. Usually, this is a friend or business colleague.
After completing the application process, one will have a personal interview at the US Embassy in the Region that he/she lives in. Depending upon the information supplied and accepted at the interview the visa will be approved or denied. I would suggest that you go to the site for the US Embassy in Russia. It list quite clearly, the process and procedure needed. The big problem is to satisfy the presumptions of 214B of the Immigration Code, where in the applicant can demonstrate he/she has a compelling reason to return to Russia after visiting. As mentioned it is not impossible, but it is extremely difficult. Some ot the criteria for satisfying 214B of the Immigration Code is provide documentation of 1) Owning property 2) Having a stable employment in Russia 3) Strong family ties in Russia. There are others, but these are the main ones. They are all listed on the web sites of the US Embassy for Russia. Good Luck!

The issue of the need or desirability of using a letter of invitation is often misunderstood and the web site is highly inaccurate. The web site claims 85% of applicants are approved but the actual number is well below 10%. The proof of non-intent to emigrate is solely on the applicant and a letter from somone, particularly if they are the oposite sex, often ill work against the applicant. There seems to be little logic behind the extremly high denial rates. A teenage Saudi can almost be assured of getting a visa while a Russian doctor or scientist invited to give a talk at a prestigious symposium will have a low probabiliy of gettng it. If she is young and attractive, she will have no chance. I know the American woman officer here in the SPb US consulae who prides herself in never have given a young single Russian woman a visa.
Stan

Stani, I agree with you. Your comments are right on.
For whatever reason the refusal rate for Russian visa applicants to visit the USA is extremely high. And particular for some one who has received a LOI from the opposite sex and particularly if the Russian applicant is single.
It can be helpful if the LOI comes from an American couple, and not an individual of the opposite sex.
It can be helpful if the applicant seeks the advice and assistance of a reputable travel firm in applying for a visa. You are correct in everything you have said. Suffice it to say it is unfortunate that it is so difficult for good Russian folks to be granted a Visa to visit the USA. Hopefully, that may change as times goes by.
I do agree also, that some of the information on the Embassy site regarding Visa applilcations is not valid. HOwever, for someone who has no experience in this, I think it is helpful for someone to read.

It is very difficult to get a visa to America at the moment. There is a better solution: May be you can meet in St Petersburg or in Moscow.
i can avice you to try www.destinationrussia.com website. We had an exellent time in Moscow and St Petersburg this year in Feburary, they sent us visa support, booked hotel in Moscow (Rossiya not exencive, very central 3 star hotel), transfer from the airport, train tickets to St Petersburg (they where deliverd to our hotel) and we stayed in the nice apartment on the main steet in St Petersburg (Nevskiy 45) which were exellent location for sightseeing and a very helpfull and friendly lady (the owner). Everything went exactly according to the plan and itenary. We did not have any problems with anithing. Exellent trip.

Best regards
Galochka