Visa Assistance at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and U.S. Consulates in the former Soviet Union
With our office in Moscow and nearly 15 years of experience of dealing with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and consulates around the former Soviet Union, we are uniquely qualified and positioned to assist with any visa issues. Whether it be overcoming visa refusals, preparing for a visa interview, providing a consultation, or ensuring the quickest visa issuance, we are the only American law firm in Moscow dedicated to representing you in your dealings with the often arbitrary visa decision making process. We have helped citizens from Russia and CIS countries obtain immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Due to our extensive experience and expertise with the ever-changing details of U.S. immigration regulations, we can assure our clients of maximizing their chances of receiving a visa.
With limited exceptions, all non-immigrant visa applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 are required to attend a 2-5 minute personal interview. These interviews can determine the outcome of an application, and for this reason, it is very important that applicants are well prepared. Each applicant should attend the interview prepared to explain his or her purpose in traveling to the United States . Applicants also should be prepared to explain how they will finance their visit to the U.S. Our firm is very familiar with the types of questions asked at the interviews and we regularly advise clients on the interview process. In addition to working with non-immigrant visa applicants, we also provide consular assistance to fiancee visa, K-3, and immigrant visa applicants, in which financial documentation, affidavits of support, police certificates, medical results, and relationship documentation is required.
Please note that we only work with individuals if we are convinced of their intention to comply with U.S. immigration laws and regulations. We are not “facilitators” or “expediters” for those with illicit or impermissible motives; rather, we are American lawyers who stringently abide by the ethical norms of the American Bar Association.
Services
- Consultations: For general questions about the visa process, our Russian lawyer may provide a consultation. A 30 minute consultation is 2000 rubles or $90. For specific cases, preliminary assessments, complicated visa issues, administrative delays, and refusals, Kenneth White may provide a consultation. A 30 minute consultation is 4000 rubles or $175.
- Representation: After a preliminary assessment, Kenneth White may represent your interests in a specific visa matter. If you have been denied a visa, your case is a “border-line” one, the case requires detailed documentation, your case has experienced substantial delays, or you simply seek to increase your chances of obtaining the visa, representation may be appropriate for you. We are prepared to represent your interests in any consulate. The cost of the services is determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Application Assistance: Completion of application forms, submission of application package to Embassy in Moscow, and appointment of interview date. For those who simply need assistance in completing the application forms or preparing the application package to the Embassy, we may render such assistance for a fee.
Required Documentation for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants
- Forms: All non-immigrant visa applicants must submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156 . Visa applications prepared using the old visa application form are no longer accepted. Form DS-156 can be found at http://evisaforms.state.gov.
In addition to the DS-156, men aged from 16 to 45 must also complete DS-157 . Students also must complete Form DS-158 . - Photograph: The DS-156 requires a full-face photograph. The photograph should measure 2 inches by 2 inches (approximately 50 mm by 50 mm) with the head centered in the frame. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25mm to 35mm), with the eye level between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches (28mm and 35 mm ) from the bottom of the photo. Photo must be in color and taken against a white or off-white background. (All applicants, even infants included in their parents' passports, are required to have photographs.)
- Valid Passport: Containing at least one blank page.
- Fees/Visa Process: The application fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa is $131 (3275 rubles), payable in cash in Russian rubles. This application fee is non-refundable. This fee should be submitted to Pony Express at the time the application is turned in for delivery to the Embassy. The courier expense is 700 rubles. If a visa is approved for two years, an additional $100 fee is paid. The fee for fiancee visas is $131 and an immigrant visa is $400. The DHL courier fee is 1000 rubles (about $40) for these type of applications.
- Fingerprints: All applicants age 14-79 must be finger scanned.
- Supporting documents for non-immigrant visa: Documents that provide evidence of the applicant's social, economic, and/or family ties to his/her home country, as well as correspondence from relatives or business associates you plan to visit, may facilitate the consular officer's decision. Some examples of documents that may be helpful include:
- Evidence of employment. A letter from your employer can be useful.
- Evidence of income (and in some cases evidence of your spouse's income), such as earnings statements.
- Evidence of immediate family (spouse, children) in your home country.
- Evidence of ownership of property.
- Evidence of ongoing studies if applicant is still a student.
- Your old passport bearing earlier visas and entry stamps indicating the date on which you returned to your home country (for those who have traveled to the U.S. previously).
* H or L visa applicants must provide the following additional documentation:
- Copy of petition (Form I-129) submitted to USCIS and all other supporting documents filed with the I-129;
- Original Form I-797, Notice of Action indicating USCIS approval of the petition;
- Photocopy of Diploma or other professional credentials;
- Photocopy of workbook;
- Proof of experience in proposed field of work. Examples of such proof may include a: resume, current employment letter, letters from previous employers, publications, work-related correspondence, etc;
- L visa applicants should also bring financial information on the foreign company. This documentation should include data on income, revenues and number of employees.
In addition, anyone applying for a visa to attend a conference, conduct research, participate in meetings, undertake post-graduate studies, or engage in employment in a scientific field should provide a copy of a resume and a list of any publications and should submit the application in English.
The approximate time from the date of submission to the time of the non-immigrant visa interview is 10-15 days. For immigrant and K visa interviews, the interview date is usually within three months of the National Visa Center (in cases of immigrant visas) or USCIS (in cases of K visas) completion of its action on the application.
A visa decision is usually made on the day of the interview. If the non-immigrant visa is denied, the passport with visa rejection stamp and form rejection letter is returned to the applicant at the time of the interview. If the immigrant visa is denied, usually a written explanation for the denial is provided. If the visa is approved, then the passport with visa is returned to the applicant within 2-3 working days via Pony Express after the interview. If additional time is required after the interview, this administrative process may take up to 2 months, and in certain cases, even more.
Misrepresentations: It must be kept in mind that submitting false documentation or making a false statement at the time of a visa interview may lead to a permanent bar from the United States under
An initial consultation may be set up by sending us an e-mail, filling in our application, or calling our U.S. or Moscow numbers.