The Russians are concerned about possible delays in the issuance of visas to the USA and started to be interested in advance registration of the permission to enter the country. On Tuesday, August 1, reports “Interfax”.
As stated by the press Secretary of the Russian Union of travel industry (PCT) Irina Tyurina, the company felt the reaction of the travelers, as soon as there is information about reduction of staff of diplomatic missions of the USA in Russia. According to the travel industry, citizens, planning to travel the coming winter or spring of 2017, begin to specify, whether to apply for a visa right now.
In company America Travel said that the Russians frequently ask for permission to enter America in advance. This may be the reason that the timing of the appointment for an interview at the U.S. Embassy since April, began to rise — first to three weeks, then to five, and at some point reached 46 days, experts explained.
In the “American travel company” are afraid that because of the deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington the time of visa application may increase even more. Representatives of the tour operator “Russian Express” said that in the last week (24-30 July) requests for travel to the US became less. The company is associated with the exacerbation of the conflict between the authorities of the two countries.
Employees of several tour operators noted that some customers ask whether they have visa issues and can subsequently be expelled from the United States.
In late July, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul predicted that the terms permit entry to the United States can grow up to several weeks or even months. Ex-diplomat tied a forecast with the upcoming reduction in the number of employees of diplomatic missions of the USA in Russia to 755. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced these measures in response to new sanctions by Washington.