Recent changes to outbound visa procedures of some Consulates 07.12.2007

USA – new visa application requirements

On the 6th of December 2007 the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia held a breakfast meeting for it’s members with U.S. Embassy Consular Representatives: Mr. Kurt Amend, Consul General and Mr. Mark Tervakovski, Vice Consul of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The meeting was dedicated to the changes in the US visa requirements affected in Autumn 2007.

The changes to U.S. visa application requirements mostly affected applicants with technical background and especially the following activities:

1. Aerospace
2. Information Technologies
3. Military
4. Engineering
5. Medicine
6. Science and research
7. Other technical activities

All applicants with background (education, work, etc.) closely related to above mentioned activities should submit Resume (CV) along with other documents for the corresponding type of visa.

There are no restrictions to the form of Resume but it should be done in English and contain information about all applicant’s educational establishments, qualifications, academic degrees, work places and positions.

Applicants with scientific/research background applying for visa should also submit their bibliography/list of publications in English.
Starting from Autumn 2007 all male and female applicants whose activity is closely related to above mentioned ones should fill in additional application form DS157 (http://www.usembassy.ru/consular/files/ds157r.pdf) along with the basic application form DS156 (https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp).

In most cases the above mentioned applications will be send to “administrative check” which can last up to 90 days from the date of interview/dactyloscopy procedure. To the moment the period of “administrative check” usually lasts from 3 to 4 weeks.
 
Visa for that type of applications will be issued for the period of 3 months valid for single entry to the U.S. An applicant can apply for the same category and type of visa as soon as his visa is used and as many times as he wishes. Once an applicant went through “administrative check” procedure most likely it won’t be necessary for the Embassy next time an applicant is applying for the same type and category of visa. Visa next time will also be issued for the period of 3 months.

The decision to send the application for “administrative check” is made by Visa Officer during the interview/dactyloscopy procedure on the basis of the documents/resume submitted.

Failure to submit full and correct information can cause the delay or even the refusal in visa issuing.

The period of visa issuing for applicants without technical/scientific background has not been changed and is from 10 to 14 working days from the moment of submission of all documents to “Pony Express” and up to the date of delivering of the passport with visa by courier services. Visas are still issued for such applicants for the period from 1 to 2 years valid for multiple entries to the U.S.

The decision on how long can a person stay on his visa in the USA is still made by a Visa Officer in the points of the U.S. border control.
  
Starting from November 2007 the U.S. Embassy (Pony Express) does not accept applications without the original passport of the applicant (it was allowed to submit the copy of the applicant’s passport applying for visa at “Pony Express” earlier).
 
UK – new visa application requirements

On the 8th of November the UK government introduced the new procedure of obtaining visas for citizens of Russian Federation. Starting from this day all applicants should come in person to the Visa Section of the UK Consulates on the territory of RF in order to go through dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures. Failure to meet these requirements will cause automatic refusal in issuing visa.

The date and time of the visit to the Visa Section of the UK Consulate is appointed by the British visa center (the official partner of the UK Embassy) on submitting the documents. Very likely the date of dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures at the Visa Section of the UK Embassy in Moscow is appointed on to the next working day after documents submission. 

In order to go through dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures the applicant should come to the Visa Section of the UK Embassy 15 minutes prior to the appointed time. The applicant should take the following documents with him:
• national passport;
• invitation for the dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures (copy or original).
It usually takes not more than 20 minutes to go through the dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures. No other fees should be paid at the Visa Section.
The equipment used for dactyloscopy procedure conforms to the International Security Standards. No inks, liquids or chemicals are used for the procedure.

The dactyloscopy procedure is not allowed for the applicants who have got temporary cuts, other injures or traces of paint on the tips of the fingers. Such applicants will be recommended to come for dactyloscopy procedure not later than the injuries will be healed and the paint disappears.

Digital photo scanning procedure is not allowed for the applicants who have got temporary cuts or swells on their faces. Such applicants will also be recommended to come for digital photo scanning procedure later.

The documents for visa can still be submitted to the British Visa Center by an applicant’s representative (courier). Passport and visa can also be received at the Visa Center by an applicant’s representative.

The time for visa processing at the Visa Section of the British Embassy is to the moment from 3 to four days after dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures. An applicant can still be invited to the interview with the Visa officer after dactyloscopy and digital photo scanning procedures. In this case it’ll take more time to process the visa.   

Germany – new simplified visa application procedure

In November 2007 the Visa Section of the Embassy of Germany in Moscow introduced the new simplified procedure of obtaining visas for a certain category of applicants.

The simplified procedure applies on the applicants who have not less than 2 visas issued by one of the Shengen countries issued for the last 24 months. The visa should be used in accordance with the Shengen rules and regulations.

The documents for visas of such category of applicants can be submitted to the Visa Section of the Embassy by an agent and without prior appointment at the German Embassy’s Call Center. 

Such applications can be submitted to the Visa Section of the Embassy from Monday to Thursday from 11.00 till 13.00 and from 13.30 till 15.30, on Friday from 11.00 till 13.00 at a special “visa window” #1(entrance #4).

The documents for visas from the agents are received by the Visa Section on the basis of hand-written power of attorney. In order to enter the Visa Section of the Embassy and submit the documents for visa an applicant or his agent should present to the visa officer 2 visas issued by one of the Shengen countries issued for the last 24 months in valid or cancelled foreign passports. 

The time for visa processing of such applications is from 5 to 6 working days.

Let us remind you that applicants who have not got at least 2 visas issued by one of the Shengen countries for the last 24 months should apply for a visa at the Visa Section in person and on the basis of prior appointment at the German Embassy’s Call Center. The period from the appointment at the German Embassy’s Call Center up to the receipt of the visa usually lasts 1,5 months.

France – new visa application requirements

Starting from the 13th of November 2007 the documents for all kinds of visas are not accepted by the Visa Center of Embassy of France from the applicant’s agents or representatives. To apply for any kind of visa an applicant should come to the Visa Center of the Embassy of France in person.

Only close relatives of the applicant (spouses, parents, children) still have the right to apply for a visa on his behalf. In this case the confirmation of relationship is needed.

Passport with visa can also be received at the Visa Center of Embassy of France by an applicant in person or by his close relatives.    

Austria – Switzerland – EURO 2008. Visa regime

Within the preparations for the forthcoming European Football Championship 2008, the final part of which will be held from the7th till the 29th of July 2008 on the territory of Austria and Switzerland the governments of these countries concluded the agreement for issuing the “united visa” for the players and spectators, which will give the right to enter and stay on the territory of both countries.  
"EuroVisa" – the special Shengen visa will be issued by the Consulates department of the Embassy of Austria on the territory of Russia.  "EuroVisa"  will be granted only to the applicants who are going to visit EURO 2008. Along with other documents the applicant should provide the Consulate department with one of the following documents:
• original ticket to one of the matches;
• certificate confirming the ownership of the ticket (in case the original ticket is not printed to the moment of applying for a visa).

If a traveler to EURO 2008 has already got a valid Shengen visa he is recommended to apply for Swiss visa at the Consulate departments of the Embassy of Switzerland for free and legal traveling between Switzerland and Austria. 

Holidays and non-working days of foreign Consulates in December 2007 – January 2008 

Holidays and non-working days of foreign Consulates on the territory of Russia in December 2007 – January 2008 are presented in the Table #3.

Table #3

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