Suspension of U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Services in Russia

Effective May 12, 2021, the U.S. Embassy Moscow, and all posts in Russia, will reduce consular services offered to include only emergency U.S. citizen services and a very limited number of age-out and life or death emergency immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visa processing for non-diplomatic travel will cease. The posts will not offer routine notarial services, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, or renewal passport services for the foreseeable future.

If you are resident in Russia and require a new U.S. passport to remain legally present, or if you require an emergency U.S. passport for a demonstrable, life or death emergency (booking travel with an expired U.S. passport does not qualify) you can send an email to moscowacs@state.gov and the post will work to accommodate your request. Be advised that the provision of emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia may also be delayed or limited.

If you are a U.S. citizen present in Russia and your visa has expired, the U.S. State Department is urging you to depart Russia before the June 15 deadline set by the Russian government. If you plan to remain in Russia past this deadline, you are advised to visit your local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) office to start the necessary paperwork as recently suggested by MVD. Embassy Moscow is unable to answer any specific questions about Russian residency or Russian visas, as this process is managed entirely by the Russian government.

The U.S. State Department has commented that these service reductions are necessary due to the Russian government’s April 23 notification of its intention to prohibit U.S. Mission Russia from employing foreign nationals in any capacity, which has forced them to reduce the consular work force by 75%.