The Russians will have three months to wait for the call for an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow for a tourist visa. This information is contained on the Department’s website.
Citizens applying for a visitor visa B-1 or B-2 (the first category — the business trip, the second — with the purpose of tourism), will have to wait for the interview 85 calendar days. For applicants obtaining a student visa, the waiting time will be 36 days, and for applicants for other types of nonimmigrant visas — for 53 days.
Journalist “Tapes.ru”, periodically visiting US, I noticed that before these terms were shorter, even in summer. However, the waiting time depends on the season; most likely in the cold period it will be reduced.
Earlier on Monday, August 21, the American Embassy in Russia announced that from August 23, Russia will cease to issue nonimmigrant visas. September 1 this procedure resumes in Moscow. With regard to the consulates of the United States in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, the timing of the resumption of issuing visas is not yet known.
“Previously scheduled appointments will be cancelled. And those who have already submitted documents for a visa are informed of how they will be able to reschedule”, — stated in the message.
These measures were a response to the limitation of Russia in the number of employees of American diplomatic missions.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow would study Washington’s decision. He also assured that Russia does not intend “to disrupt the evil on American citizens”.