Do US Visa Denied to Those Who Visited Crimea?

Recently, it was reported that Russians who visited Crimea after the annexation of the peninsula in March 2014, and wrote about it on their social networks, are rejected when applying for a US nonimmigrant visa.

Фото: Depositphotos

Rtvi He asked for clarification from the US Embassy in Russia to find out if such restrictions really exist.

At the official request, the representative of the embassy’s press service, Andrea Calan, advised to get acquainted with the procedure for applying for a visa on the department’s website, and not be guided by rumors.

"The procedure for applying for a US visa is detailed in English and Russian on the website http://ustraveldocs.com/ru. We encourage all US visa applicants to review this information rather than rely on rumors or other sources,” Kalan said.

On the indicated site the word "Crimea" (Crimea) occurs only once section "Important information for residents of the Crimea."

There, in particular, it says that “Crimea is the consular district of the US Embassy in Kiev. All applicants for visas of classes IV and K (the bride / groom), regardless of their citizenship, residing in the Crimea, should apply to Kiev. ” In addition, it is indicated that consular fees for submission in Russia cannot be paid in Ukraine - and vice versa, and it is also impossible to pay fees through the post office of the Crimea.

The site never mentions the responsibility of a visa applicant for his or her social media accounts and materials posted there. Such an initiative - about studying the accounts of applicants in social media - March 30 2018 was introduced for consideration by the US State Department, but so far it has not even been taken to work.

According to the current standards of consular work, diplomats of any mission in any country have the right to refuse anyone a visa without giving a reason. In the modern world, countries, as a rule, are publicly warning what may be the reason for such a refusal. For example, the United States initially considers all visa applicants potential immigrants, and applicants need to prove their “strong ties” with their homeland.
On the same portal that the embassy’s press service mentions, it says: “You can bring with you any evidence that, in your opinion, will help prove your strong ties with Russia. However, it is more important than any number of documents to clearly and honestly tell about your plans in the USA and about your relations abroad. ”

At the visa interview you are not allowed to bring computers, tablets and telephones - they must be taken at the entrance to the embassy. Therefore, even if someone wanted to show their accounts on social networks when talking with a consular officer, he would not be able to do this physically.

According to official statistics of the State Department, the number of US visas issued monthly by US authorities to foreign nationals decreased in 2017 by 13%, writes TASS.

Thus, during the period from March 2017 to February 2018, an average of 754 US entry visas of various categories were granted monthly worldwide. Meanwhile, in fiscal year 479, the figure was 2016 visas. Overall, in fiscal year 865, the United States issued 124 million entry visas, both nonimmigrant and immigrant. In fiscal year 2017 there were 9 million.

192 532 US nonimmigrant visas were issued in Russia in the past fiscal year (against 182 958 a year earlier). During the same period, Russians granted 3 689 US immigration visas.

At the same time, in almost 50 countries with a predominantly Muslim population, the number of issued US entry visas in the 2017 fiscal year decreased immediately by 19%.

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