From agoodfriend@glas.apc.org Thu May  2 17:21:09 EDT 1996
New Visa Regime Extends Three-Year Validity to Additional Visa 
Categories  While Reciprocating the Russian Fee Schedule
Beginning Wednesday, May 1, 1996, all U.S. embassies and consular 
posts throughout the world will begin issuing, to citizens of the 
Russian Federation, nonimmigrant visas, valid for three years for 
unlimited entries to the U.S., in almost all categories. Previously, 
three-year visas were available only for B1/B2 visas for business or 
pleasure.  Applicants who do not wish a three-year visa may elect to 
receive a visa which is valid for multiple entries during only one year. 
U.S. law requires reciprocity of visa fees between countries.  Therefore 
the issuance fees charged for U.S. visas will be adjusted on May 1, 
1996, to reflect the cost of Russian visas for U.S. citizens.  The fee for 
a one-year, multiple-entry visa will be $150.00, or ruble equivalent, 
while the fee for a three-year, multiple-entry visa will be $450.00, or 
ruble equivalent. These fees are in addition to the non-refundable 
$20.00 application fee which must be paid prior to submitting a visa 
application.
The U.S. visa fee schedule is based upon Russian visa issuance fees, 
and does not cover entirely the expedited service fees routinely 
charged by Russian embassies and consulates.  Therefore, although a 
Russian citizen may obtain a one-year, multiple-entry nonimmigrant 
visa in one day for a total fee of $170.00 (including the $20.00 
application fee), a U.S. citizen must pay $200.00 in order to obtain a 
single-entry visa, issued on the same day as the application.
Although the U.S. Government has been obliged to increase its fees in 
order to abide by U.S. laws concerning fee reciprocity, the U.S. 
Government continues to promote the elimination of visa issuance fees 
and a general liberalization of visa issuance policy.  The U.S. 
Government would welcome a decision by the Russian Government to 
lower the visa fees it charges of U.S. citizens, and would, at that time, 
reciprocate accordingly. 
In addition to offering a three-year, multiple-entry visa, the Embassy 
continues to offer the following services to make the visa process 
easier for applicants: 
the "express service" - for persons over 60 years old, persons with 
adult immediate relatives who are U.S. citizens, students, exchange 
visitors who are returning to the same program in the U.S., or persons 
who have already traveled twice to the U.S. for short visits; 
the "group window" - for groups of five or more persons going to the 
U.S. for non-tourist purposes, such as business seminars, educational 
exchanges, or athletic competitions; 
the "express" U.S. business service - for U.S. companies in Russia 
which wish to submit applications for employees or clients traveling to 
the U.S. for business purposes; 
the travel agency service - for Russian citizens to submit their 
applications through selected travel agents for business or pleasure. 
Information on these non-interview procedures is available at the 
Consular Section's receptionist window located under the American 
flag at Novinskiy Blvd. 19/23.