Visa free travel between US and Russia

[Mir]

Russia and the United States may soon go to the exchange of visa-free access by citizens.

The news of the possible mutual abolition of visa regime in Russia and the United States came from the United States Consul General in Russia Kurt Amend, said TourDaily.ru.

"We are discussing with the Government of Russia, as a move in the matter - said Amend. - This is a process and it must be mutual. Of course, it is our goal."

According to the American diplomat, recently a trend towards a reduction in the number of refusals to issue visas to Russians. "Over the past five years, the failure rate is less and less. In 95% of visas issued," - he said.

Added that in 2008, the U.S. Embassy issued visas to 170 thousand citizens of Russia.

And the flow of Russian tourists in recent years, the United States is steadily growing for at least 15-20% per year. In the year 2007 was marked by a sharp jump in demand - the number of Russians traveling to the rest of the country rose from 25 thousand to almost 33 thousand, ie by one third. For comparison, in 2003 in the United States traveled to all 12 thousand tourists from Russia.

http://travel.newsru.com/article/30Mar2009/usavisatalks

[Sculpto]

wouldn't that be nice.  Somehow.. I doubt it will happen though.

[Bitter-Sweet]

They've been discussing that for a while, but i think it's never gonna happen    They just keep talking about it and then say "No, we can't do it, cause Russia is not ready" or Russian diplomats say "No, we can't do it, cause the USA is not ready to do it".

[ECOCKS]

It's from about 4 or 5 months ago. I think the climate has changed lately even with the new administration's POV.

[Al_C]

It would be great to see this, but I am skeptical.  Tourist visa fees are a huge profit center for Russia, and I don't see their government walking away from this particular goose that laid the golden egg.   Ukraine unilaterally gave U.S. tourists visa free travel, but that was only because they wanted to suck up to the U.S. government so they can thumb their noses at Moscow.  I don't see Moscow having any similar incentive.

[Phil dAmore]

I'll believe it when it happens.  Russia isn't going to give up the visa requirements anytime soon because it provides the bulk of the revenue for the various consulates. 

No visa means no invitation, which means no registration.  Who here seriously thinks Russia is going to give up that cash cow?

Sure, it would result in more people going to Russia and spending more money while they are there but anyone with even the slightest Russian experience knows that Russians can't think that far into the future.

No, I'm not holding my breath for this to come down the шоссе.

[Boethius]

It would be great to see this, but I am skeptical.  Tourist visa fees are a huge profit center for Russia, and I don't see their government walking away from this particular goose that laid the golden egg.   Ukraine unilaterally gave U.S. tourists visa free travel, but that was only because they wanted to suck up to the U.S. government so they can thumb their noses at Moscow.  I don't see Moscow having any similar incentive.

No, they did it in hopes it would be reciprocated.  It was not only the US, as citizens of EU countries and Canada also don't require visas to Ukraine.  

Ukraine has tightened its rules, so that individuals cannot be present for more than 90 days in any 180 day period.  This won't affect the typical tourist, but it will have an effect on expats living in Ukraine.  Reimposition of a visa requirement has also been bounced around.

[Rattlehead]

Al_C is right that the current Ukrainian administration wanted to suck up to the US because they're so Pro-West, Pro-US, Pro-EU, and Pro-NATO (even though they're treated like a redheaded stepchild by those entities).  But Boethius is also right that they DID want it to be reciprocated, but the US has continued to require a visa for tourism from Ukrainians, and furthermore continues to treat every Ukrainian citizen who applies for a visa as a criminal and reject the vast majority of them (aside from some rich privileged ones from certain populations, I'm sure).  The "Work and Travel" program is almost literally the only way for a young college-aged Ukrainian to get to the US because the university guarantees their return.  Apart from that, Ukrainians have to wait until they own property, have a stable job and bank accounts with minimum balances, and preferably are married with children before they can be "trusted" to visit the US without absconding and melting into the general population.  That's the reciprocity that the US has given to Ukraine.  So now Ukraine has gotten tired of being treated like such a bitch and is imposing harsher rules which don't affect the average tourist, but make it nearly impossible for expats to live here.  Thanks Uncle Sam, you *snip*ed up another thing in my life! :-)  

So, if the US can't even reciprocate even after US-friendly Ukraine just grants her citizens a visa-free regime I don't see it being granted to "big bad Russia" at all.  Russia's better off that way anyway.  They're better off if the visa policies keep all but the most determined from visiting so that it will at least keep MOST of the scum away.  In fact I really think that Russia's visa laws have more to do with this than merely making money.  The visa fees are not high folks!  They're only high when you hire a tourist agency to do the legwork for you, and who's making the money then, the private tourist agency or the Russian government?  No, I think Russia is more concerned with her commodities such as oil than with visa fees.

Russia and Ukraine are far from perfect, but before we cast about for blame let's remember the way the US treats Russians and Ukrainians before we complain about the way they treat us.  What's good for the goose is good for the gander!  And that 95% figure is a boldfaced lie!  I've been living here and talking with Russians and Ukrainians long enough to know that that 95% is 100% bull*snip*.

And politicians like Dick Cheney and John McCain (who has a hard-on for the Chinese) calling the Russians "barbaric" and "uncivilized" doesn't help either.

--EDIT:

Oh Hey Phil!  How are you?  I didn't noticed that you posted on this thread!  I didn't look at the poster names.  I still disagree with you though.  I don't think the Russians are so concerned with the fees, I think it's more of a control and monitoring apparatus.  I mean after all, when I look at the American populace I realize that I wouldn't want them in my country either!  If I were Putin there would be oh-so-few Americans who I would permit in my country.  Think about travel specifically.  Everyplace that American tourists flock to becomes a "tourist trap" and loses it's appeal.  They ruin everything.  And knowing what I know about Russians and Putin, I really don't think they're eager to flood their country with a populace who elected Barack Hussein Obama as their president.  The same man who they disrespected by announcing, the day after he was elected, that they would even consider invading Poland if the US didn't back-off the missile "shield" plan.  And then, proving their belief that he was a pushover, when he met with Medvedev he completely gave the whole thing up!  HAHAHAHA!  It seems that the Eastern Europeans and Asians are the only people who see this man for what he is--a walking JOKE!  Yes, the world is going to like Obama much better than Bush, but not for the same reasons that the brainwashed walking-dead Westerners do!  And before you flood me with "Bush was no better/worse/Hitler/the Antichrist"...etc, etc, etc, type of messages, know that I hate Bush too.  They're all bought and sold (by the same people).