FAQs
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Visas, Passports and other Consular Matters
Q: My passport had expired, but I have a valid nonimmigrant visa in it. Do I need to get a new visa in my new passport?
A: The United States Department of State and Immigration and Naturalization Service considers that the U.S. nonimmigrant visa that has not expired or been canceled is valid, even though the passport in which it was placed has either expired or was canceled.
Any traveler having a valid visa in an expired passport and having, as well, a new valid passport, is welcome to enter the United States carrying both passports. Such travelers will be admitted, barring any other ineligibility, until the date of the visa’s expiration. It is not necessary to obtain another visa in the new passport.
Q: How do I get a visa application form?
A: Please visit the following site to learn everything about nonimmigrant visas: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru
Q: I am looking for my relatives in the U.S. Can you help me?
A: Unfortunately, there is no centralized way for the U.S. Consulate to obtain information about whereabouts of individuals who live in the United States. Tracing people in the United States can be a lengthy and time consuming process. Many records, such as those held by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, are protected by the Privacy Act and cannot be divulged to third parties. However, the Internet has made many other resources much more freely accessible.
Search Engines
Most of the major search engines offer some sort of people search facility. Among these are: All-in-One Search, Alta Vista and Yahoo!.
Vital Records
There is no central repository of birth, death and marriage records in the United States. These records are filed at state level and, in some cases, at an even more local level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has produced Where to Write for Vital Records, a useful guide to these sources. Ancestry.com's Social Security Death Index is generated from the U.S. Social Security Administration's Death Master File. It indexes the records of deceased persons who possessed Social Security numbers and whose death had been reported to the SSA. In most cases a report of death was made in connection with Social Security death benefits. Where available the complete record may be ordered on payment of a fee.
Humanitarian Organizations
The following organizations may be able to assist in cases of sufficiently compelling humanitarian need, and where the missing person is a close relative:
- The Russian Red Cross Society, Tracing and Messages Section
- The Salvation Army's Family Tracing Service exists for the purpose of trying to restore (or to sustain) family relationships, by locating relatives who for whatever reason have become out of touch.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Through its Family History Resources the Church offers advice to those undertaking family history research. There are over 2,400 Family History Centers worldwide including quite a number in the U.K. Most are located in meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here you can find census returns, wills, church records, etc for most parts of the world. In addition, you can consult the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and the Ancestral File. The IGI is a worldwide index of approximately 187 million names of deceased persons. Searches can also be made on-line through the Familysearch.org website. The Index does not contain records of living persons. The Ancestral File contains genealogical data on millions of individuals from many countries, including information on names, dates and places of birth, marriage and death. Most of the information on the File concerns deceased persons. The File also contains names and addresses of persons who have submitted information, and this information is up-dated periodically.
Q: I am looking for relatives in Russia, can you help me?
A: The U.S. Consulates and Embassy in Russia do not have the information you are seeking, but the following list of contacts may be of assistance to you. To obtain the requested information, you must apply in person or give a power of attorney to someone who will apply on your behalf at one of the following institutions:
For documents less than 75 years old: Central ZAGS Office at 10 Malyy Kharitonyevskiy Pereulok (former Griboyedova St.), Moscow, tel. (7-095) 923-7089
For documents over 75 years old: Central Moscow State Historical Archive at 80 Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow, tel. (7-095) 128-9002
Outside the Russian Federation: Russian diplomatic or consular missions, such as the Russian Embassy in the U.S. at 1825 Phelps Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel. (202) 939-8907
Russian American Genealogical Archives Service (RAGAS): P.O. Box 236 Glen Echo, MD 20812
The International Southdex Reunion Registry (I.S.R.R.): P.O. Box 2312 Carson City, NY 89702
The Salvation Army's Missing Persons: (914) 620-7389
Q: My relative/friend applied for a Nonimmigrant Visa and was denied. I provided information about my citizenship, income, property, etc. Was this not sufficient?
A: All applicants for Nonimmigrant Visas must themselves qualify for a visa by demonstrating evidence of strong social, economic and family ties to their home country. It is important to understand that a consular officer cannot issue a visa based upon the assurances of interested third parties in the U.S. or elsewhere. See our section on visa refusals for more information.
Q: I am traveling through the US, do I need a transit visa?
A: Russian citizens do need C-1 transit visas even when transiting the United States on a single flight which stops at a U.S. port-of-entry before proceeding to a non-U.S. destination.
Q: I have to fly to the US tomorrow, and my American friends/contacts have already bought tickets for me! What can I do?
A: We advise all applicants to apply for nonimmigrant visas at least four to six weeks prior to their intended departure date. Usually, we can issue a visa the same day. However, it is always best to leave plenty of time before you travel in case your application requires special processing. We do not recommend that applicants or their friends/contacts purchase airline tickets or pay for accommodations prior to the issuance of a visa. The pre-purchase of such in no way influences the decision of the interviewing consular officer.
Q: What is the difference between an immigrant visa and a nonimmigrant visa?
A: An Immigrant Visa allows a foreigner to immigrate to the United States. A Nonimmigrant Visa can be issued to an alien who wants to travel to the U.S. for a temporary stay. There are several different types of nonimmigrant visas (tourist, student, etc. ) Please visit the following site to learn everything about nonimmigrant visas http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru. Since the bulk of the immigration process is handled in Moscow, please access their immigrant visa information page.
Q: How can I contact the Consulate?
A: For visa questions you may contact the Consulate by e-mail: vladcons@state.gov
Q: Where can I find a list of American companies doing business in
Russia?
A: Because of the significant growth in the number of U.S. companies active in Russia during recent years, as well as the advent of directories published by the private-sector, neither the US Consulate General in Vladivostok nor the US Embassy continue to maintain an in-house listing of American companies present in Russia.
US companies/individuals are not obliged to register with the US Consulates or Embassy, although it is welcomed and advised. Persons seeking such listings may wish to consider purchasing the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia's annual Membership Directory (telephone: 7-095-961-2141; fax: 7-095-961-2142; or e-mail the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia).
Q: How do I obtain a business visa to visit Russia?
A: American business travelers seeking business visas for travel to Russia may apply through the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. or one of three other Russian Consulates in the United States, in New York City, San Francisco, Houston or Seattle.
For further information please contact the Russian Embassy in the United States.
Q: How can my Russian partner obtain a business visa to visit the United States?
A: Russian business travelers seeking visas to visit the United States can get information from the following site: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru
Please visit the website of U.S. Commercial Service Russia to get more detailed information for U.S. businesses.