New Business Visa Requirement

At the end of 2007, Russia enacted new visa rules to limit the number of days that a business visitor can remain in the country. Multiple entry business visa holders may only remain in Russia in 90 day increments, up to a maximum of 180 days per year. Those who may have used a business visa to live and work in Russia for extended periods must now obtain a work permit or resident status. These new rules are predicted to impact many business people. Russian work permit application and adjudication can be a time consuming process. We urge employers to review travel plans for expatriates to determine if a work permit might be necessary, and if so, to initiate the process at least four months in advance of the assignment in Russia.


Russian Work Permit Quota Set

Russian work permits for 2008 have been capped at 1,828,245. This figure is market-based reflecting Russian employers' reported needs for 2008. The figure includes permits for low-skilled workers from former Soviet (Commonwealth of Independent States/CIS) countries, and highly skilled workers from visa countries. The number allotted for highly-skilled employees is set at 672,304, representing a 50% increase over last year.


U.S. Fee Hike Reciprocated By Russian Authorities

As we reported in a previous newsletter, the Department of State has raised the fee charged for processing of nonimmigrant visas from $100 to $131. The effective date was January 1, 2008. Russian authorities announced that, on the basis of reciprocity, the fee for a Russian visa (with a standard processing time of 6-10 business days) has also been raised to $131. The effective date for the Russian visa increase was January 14, 2008. Russian officials noted that the fees for expedited visa processing would remain unchanged.


Getting to the U.S. – Visa Processing at US Consulates in Russia

In 2006, the U.S. Consulate in Moscow issued 85,681 nonimmigrant visas. The U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg ranked second, issuing 17,390. Still, there are many who encounter difficulties. In fact, the US Consulate in Moscow reports about a 35% denial rate and the other Consulates report even higher denial rates. To exacerbate matters, no one may accompany applicants into the Embassy, not even attorneys or sponsors. Taken together, these facts demonstrate the importance of careful petition assembly and client preparation in advance of the interview.

Immigration rules and regulations vary from region to region and may change without prior notice.