U.S.-Russian Agreement on Visa Issuance
According to the information from the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, on July 13, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today announced an agreement on the issuance of nonimmigrant business, tourist, private and humanitarian visas to the Russian Federation, and for business and tourist visas to the United States, as well as short-term official travel visas to both counties in keeping with the joint statement issued during the meeting of President Obama and President Medvedev in Deauville, France on May 26, 2011.
This agreement will facilitate travel between two countries and establish stronger ties between our people. The agreement benefits the largest segments of American and Russian travellers – business travellers and tourists, both as individuals and groups, by granting as a rule, on a reciprocal basis, multiple-entry visas valid for 36 months.
The agreement also streamlines the visa issuance process by reducing the documentation required. These new visa validity periods will allow to expand contacts and promote greater mutual understanding between our societies.
This agreement will go into effect after an exchange of diplomatic notes in Moscow.
www.amcham.ru
Ireland can be visited with British visa
Starting from 2011 the new program “Visa Waive” began to work.
It allows tourists from Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to visit Ireland with British visas also.
Under the programme it is not effective backwards: that means that it is not allowed to enter Great Britain with Irish visa.
In order to enter Ireland with British visa it is obligatory to enter Britain at least once (not with the aim of transit), pass British border control and get enter stamp into the passport. The second time and further it is possible to go to Ireland directly from the territories of third countries. Entrance to Ireland under this program is possible only during the period of British visa validity.
All the above concerns holders of British visas of the following categories: General (regular visitor) and Business Visitor (business visitor). The programme doesn’t cover other visa categories (Transit, Labor, Family Reunification, Fiancée Visa, Student Long-term Visa, Medical Treatment Visa, Overseas Territories Visa). The programme also does not cover those who have residence permit in Britain and Ireland. Test period of programme will continue till October 2012.
www.travel.ru
Asian Schengen
At the summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that took place in Jakarta, (Indonesia) the starting of preparation procedures to create a new visa union within the Association was declared.
It is suggested to introduce unified ASEAN visa that will be operating in the same way as Schengen visa in Europe. But as it was said by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Marty Natalegawa, it is hardly expected that introduction will work in the nearest time – migration legislation in these 10 countries differs significantly and unification will require considerable time. It is planned to create ASEAN visa union in 2015.
At the moment there are 10 countries – members of ASEAN – Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines.
At present times Russian citizens don’t meet problems in terms of visiting these countries. The bulk of these countries have visa free regime or simplified visa regime (visa while entering or electronic visa).
Exception is Sultanat Brunei – country with strict migration legislation. For example tourist visa issuance for Russian citizens takes up to 3 months and 1-2 months while visiting the country for business purposes.
www.travel.ru
Russia and Peru - visa free regime
On June 21, 2011 the new Agreement between RF Government and the Government of Republic of Peru came into force, the Agreement was signed in Yokohama on the 13th of November, 2010. It stipulates liberalization of visa formalities in mutual trips of citizens of RF and Republic of Peru.
In accordance with the Agreement citizens of Russian Federation and the Republic of Peru, owners of valid passports can enter, leave, go through and stay on the territory of another country without visas up to 90 days during each period of 180 days from the date of first entry, except for diplomatic, official and business visas qualifying for crossing the border.
Citizens of one country willing to stay or live on the territory of another one for more than 90 days or intending to carry out labor or commerce activity on its territory are to obtain appropriate visa in Diplomatic Representation or Consulate of the State in accordance with the legislation of the host country.
www.mid.ru
Indian Visa Application Center – expedited visa issuing procedures
The Consulate of India made a decision to introduce a fast procedure of visas issuance since April 1, 2011.
Applicants while submitting documents for tourist or business visas may use this services for additional payment of 6000 RUR (plus visa processing fee) and on condition of complete set of documents.
According to the expedited procedure visas can be issued on the next working day following the day of application. This procedure applies to RF citizens only.
www.ttsvisas.ru
Republic of Poland - electronic visa application
The procedure of obtaining visa to Poland has been changed considerably. Starting from June 6, 2011 ordinary visa application forms are no longer accepted. All visa application forms shall be filled and printed out from the Consulate's website. Possible appointment dates will appear after application form is filled. An applicant shall come to the Consulate on this very date. Certain time indicated in printed appointment record is not effective. All the applicants booked an appointment on a certain date shall submit documents in turn.
The term of visa free stay on the territory of Turkey is extended up to 60 days
The Government of Turkey decided to extend the term of visa free stay on the territory of Turkey for Russian citizens from 30 to 60 days. This visa free regime period will be valid till December 31, 2011 reported Resmi Gazete.
Let us remind you that after mutual cancellations of visas between Russia and Turkey as of April 16, 2011 Russian citizens that got used to stay on vacations in Turkey for 2-3 months had to leave the country after 30 days visit expiry or got temporary residence permit providing lots of papers or obtain a long term visa beforehand (herewith time for processing was up to 2 months). This made lots of tourists refuse to go to Turkey on long term vacations. In order to increase the flow of tourists local authorities decided to extend the term of visa free stay in the country up to 60 days. Anyway the maximum period of Russian tourists stay on the territory of Turkey shall not exceed 90 days of each period of 180 days.
www.travel.ru
China - new visa application form
Starting from July 1, 2011 the new visa application form was introduced by the Consular section of the Peoples Republic of China in Russia (Form V.2011, Form V.2011B). http://ru.china-embassy.org/
Starting from July 18, 2011 visa applications of the following categories: commercial, work, tourist and study can be transferred to the Consular section of the Peoples Republic of China in Russia through a courier service company - PONY EXPRESS as well as directly to the Consular section.
Entering Georgia became easier
Georgia made the process of entering for Russian citizens easier. Starting from July 2, 2011 Russian citizens can obtain visa on arrival to Georgia at the checkpoint "Kazbegi - Verkniy Lars". The cost of tourist visa for 30 days is 50 lari (885 RUR). Transit visa valid for 72 hours costs 10 lari (177 RUR).
Earlier citizens of Russian Federation except for residents of North Caucasus had to obtain visas issued by Georgian interests section in Embassy of Switzerland in Moscow or while entering Tbilisi by plane, reported "Kavkaz-uzel".
"Kazbegi - Verkniy Lars" - is the only official Georgian-Russian land border checkpoint. In March 2010 it was opened after a 3-year delay. Traffic capacity of the checkpoint is up to 7000 people, 50 buses and cars per twenty-for hours.
www.travel.ru
Last chance to go on vacations to Croatia without visa
This summer is the last one when one can go on vacation to Croatia without visa. EU finished in June, 2011 its long negotiations on admitting Croatia to the organization. Up to the end of 2011 the agreement with EU members will be signed by July, 2012 Croatia will join the EU's border-free Schengen zone. It is clear that all now-existing indulgencies in visa regime between Croatia and Russia will be abolished.
Let us remind you that now there is a favorable visa regime between Croatia and Russia. From the 1st of April till the 31st of October 2011 Croatia introduced visa-free travel regime for Russian citizens. That means that Russian tourists can stay in Croatia up to 90 days showing only foreign passport while crossing the border. This helped the Government of Croatia to boost the flow of tourists significantly.
www.ratanews.ru
Visa Application Centers cancelled service charge for disabled people
VFS Global reported that starting from July 1, 2011 disabled people of all groups of incapacity are free from paying service charges while applying to visa application centers of the following countries on the territory of Russia: Great Britain, France, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy (in Saint Petersburg), Finland, Bulgaria, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malta, Cyprus, UAE. So Schengen visas for disabled citizens will be 800-1000 rubles cheaper at average.
VFS Global also draws attention to the fact that all visa application centers are equipped with wheelchair ramps and appropriate toilet rooms and ready to meet disabled visitors on their territories.
www.ratanews.ru
