A Visa for Christmas?

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:

A Visa for Christmas?



U.S. Ambassador John Beyrle, pictured above, has confirmed that the long delay in a new visa regime between Russia and the USA may soon be over. This weekend USA Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concluded a new travel visa agreement.

The final hurdle will be the Russian Federation Federal Assembly ratification and then the signature of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Approval will be sought from both branches of Parliament, the Federation Council and the DUMA.

Under the new agreement, USA visas issued to Russians and Russian visas issued to Americans will be valid for three years and allow multiple entries. This will significantly streamline the current visa regime for travelers from both countries.



US Secretary of State Clinton & Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov


Still unclear is whether applicants will continue to need written invitations from the host country. Ambassador Beyrle did not indicate if the agreement also required confirmation by the USA Congress.

In comments, Ambassador Beyrle said, "This is yet another sign that the 'reset' in relations between our two countries is of practical use to ordinary people."

The Ambassador also wished both Russians and Americans a time for Thanksgiving,"И поскольку сейчас американцы готовятся к одному из главных национальных праздников, который мы отмечаем в этот четверг, я всех вас поздравляю с наступающим Днем благодарения!"

[mendeleyev]

Remember that streamlined visa process that was first brought up on US President Obama's trip to Moscow? Yes, that one. The one that got bogged down in red tape earlier in the year as you can see from the post above was "reset" for later, but no later than the end of this December.

Welcome to Russia.

It won't be under the New Year tree on January 1st either.

No, Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden will not be delivering it to your office party. Sorry.

Back in July the Mendeleyev Journal quoted US Secretary of State Clinton in saying, "Business men and woman can travel multiple times between the two countries over 36 months on a single visa." State department sources later hinted that the relaxed rules might apply for other forms of travel as well.

Yesterday the Moscow Times quoted Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the Duma's foreign relations committee as saying, "We now have another consideration in the parliament, as we have many more Communists and other leftist politicians who are not very close friends of the United States."

Translation: Don't hold your breath if this was your only New Year present.

We're back in a holding pattern.

It's Russia.

[JR]

LOL, the more things change.......