US embassy says ‘Russian citizens are not enemies’

Russian citizens can still apply for US immigrant visas in Poland, and applications for non-immigrant visas can be submitted at all US embassies and consulates in the world, report RIA Novosti with reference to the American embassy in Moscow.

Despite the fact that Poland has decided not to accept applications from Russians for Schengen tourist visas, there are no changes in the issuance of immigrant visas for Russian citizens, said Jenny Palmer, spokeswoman for the US diplomatic mission in Moscow.

To apply for a visa, you need to get to the nearest embassy where an appointment is being made, the American diplomatic mission said. For additional questions, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, its nearest embassy or consulate. Palmer stressed that “the citizens of Russia are not our enemies” because the US does not hold all Russians responsible for the government’s actions.

In April 2021, 10 Russian diplomats were expelled from Washington. As a response to “the hostile actions of the American side,” Russia declared ten American diplomats persona non grata and included the United States on the list of unfriendly countries. The American diplomatic mission said that it would have to significantly reduce the staff, and it would not be able to provide consular services in full, so the Russians stopped issuing non-immigrant US visas in Russia.

On September 12, the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia was suspended. Solution accepted on the results of an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers, which took place on August 31 in Prague. ATOR declaredthat Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands no longer accept documents for issuing visas from Russians. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that there are no plans to introduce retaliatory visa restrictions.

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