The U.S. State Department has revised its regulations for submitting non-immigrant visa applications for citizens of all countries. Under the new rules, documents must now be submitted strictly within the applicant`s country of citizenship or legal residence. For Russian citizens, designated locations for visa applications are now Astana, Kazakhstan, and Warsaw, Poland.
Previously, individuals could apply for a non-immigrant visa and attend an interview at any U.S. consulate worldwide. However, this flexibility has been withdrawn. Existing, already paid application fees are non-refundable and cannot be transferred, though appointments scheduled before September 6 are expected to remain valid.
Accessing Kazakhstan is visa-free for Russians, simplifying travel. Conversely, a trip to Poland requires a Schengen visa, which carries its own application process and the risk of denial of entry. Obtaining a U.S. visa has historically been challenging for Russian applicants, often proving easier in countries considered friendly to Russia, such as Israel.
Expert Insight – Yuri Pevzner
Yuri Pevzner, an expert in visa and migration issues, warns that waiting periods for an appointment could extend to six months or even longer. He explains the consular approach:
“When a visa is processed at a consulate, the consular section always views the applicant with a presumption of guilt, questioning whether they intend to violate the visa regime. For example, in Israel, where obtaining visas was relatively straightforward, Israelis rarely violated the visa regime. Consequently, consulate staff were accustomed to the low probability of an applicant violating visa terms. When Russians applied at the consulate in Israel, they were treated almost the same as Israelis. The same principle applied to consulates in other countries. I hypothesize that in Kazakhstan, a significantly higher percentage of visa applicants might potentially violate the visa regime, and I believe U.S. consulates possess statistics to this effect. Therefore, I anticipate that processing visas in Kazakhstan will also be relatively challenging, certainly no easier than it was in Russia.”
— Yuri Pevzner, Expert on Visa and Migration Issues
Q&A with Yuri Pevzner
Interviewer: “It`s also easier for Russians to get to Kazakhstan than to Poland right now.”
Yuri Pevzner: “Yes, absolutely. And, of course, the majority of Russians will opt for Kazakhstan. There is simply no direct travel connection to Warsaw.”
Interviewer: “Do passports need to be surrendered during the visa processing period?”
Yuri Pevzner: “Yes, naturally, the passport is submitted.”
Interviewer: “And how long does the visa typically take to process then? How long will applicants be without their passports?”
Yuri Pevzner: “The estimated processing time is up to three days. So, it`s not a very long period.”
Visa Categories and Fees
U.S. non-immigrant visas include tourist visas (B-2), business visas (B-1), student visas (F-1), and various other categories. The standard consular fee for the most popular visa types is $185. In some instances, an additional visa fee may apply, depending on the visa category and the applicant`s citizenship. Russians residing abroad may attend interviews in their country of residence, provided they can furnish documents verifying their status.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth