United States halts non-immigrant visas in Russian Federation as diplomatic standoff deepens

US Diplomatic Missions In Russia Suspend Nonimmigrant Visa Operations
US embassy in Russia temporarily halts issue of non-immigrant visas
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21 August, 2017

"Visa operations at the U.S. consulates will remain suspended indefinitely", the embassy said.

In Moscow this procedure will be resumed on September 1, the U.S. embassy has announced, APA reported citing TASS.

The decision would come as a blow to Russian tourists, almost 250,000 of whom visited the US last year, according to The Associated Press.

Restrictions for issuing United States nonimmigrant visas will remain as long as diplomatic mission personnel cuts are in effect, the embassy stressed: "We will operate at reduced capacity for as long as our staffing levels are reduced".

Officially, Moscow's demand that the U.S. Mission to Russia cut its staff from around 1,200 to 455 people was retaliation for the Obama administration's decision to expel dozens of Russian diplomats last December.

"Russia's decision to reduce the United States' diplomatic presence here calls into question Russia's seriousness about pursuing better relations", it added. This was itself a tit-for-tat response to US sanctions brought against Russian Federation for its alleged cyberhacking and military involvements in Ukraine and Syria.

The United States said on Monday it was sharply scaling back its visa services in Russian Federation after Moscow cut the number of its diplomatic staff in retaliation over new USA sanctions.

The Moscow embassy issued 136,665 non-immigrant visas in Moscow in 2016 according to official figures released by the State Department. Operations in Moscow would resume in September but other US consulates would "remain suspended indefinitely", it added.

"As of 0900 Moscow time Monday, August 21, the US Mission will begin canceling current nonimmigrant visa appointments countrywide".

USA nonimmigrant visas cover several categories of travelers, including businesspeople, students, medical travelers and journalists.


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