The historic U.S.-Russia visa agreement will come into force in September 9, 2012.
According to the agreement Russian and American citizens, who travel for business or tourism purposes will be able to obtain visas valid for multiple entries during a period of 36 months. The agreement also outlines other simplifications in the bilateral visa regime and visa processing for travelers from both countries. At the same time, the United States will reduce the fee for business/tourism visas (B1/B2) for Russian citizens to $20 (instead of $100).
Successful visa applicants will receive the full-validity three-year visa. The $160 application fee will stay the same, validity and fees for other visa types (for example for students, workers, and journalists) will not change.
No formal invitation letters will be required to apply for business or tourism visa, although US applicants intending visit Russia must continue to hold advance lodging reservations and arrangements with a tour operator. Both sides have also committed to keep standard visa processing times up to 15 days, although the circumstances of individual cases may require additional processing.
For American citizens, the agreement abolishes the previous restriction limiting the period of stay in Russia up to 90 days within any 180-day period. As well as for Russian travelers, they will now be permitted to stay up to six months.
In addition, exit visas will no longer be necessary for those U.S. citizens, who lose their passports while staying in Russia. (Russian citizens may already exit the United States without an exit visa). U.S. citizens with current Russian visas are not subject to these changes.
http://russian.moscow.usembassy.gov/pr_visas-082912.html
We will provide an additional information on its coming into force.
For detailed information please, contact Confidence Group consultants.
