The Federal Law ratifies the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on simplifying visa procedures for citizens of the two countries, drafted to implement the Joint Declaration by the Russian and US Presidents on visa cooperation following their meeting in Deauville on May 26, 2011, and concluded via an exchange of notes on November 1 and 19, 2011.
The Agreement’s purpose is to strengthen the legal base for bilateral relations, create better conditions for reciprocal travel between the two countries, and stimulate the development of bilateral economic, cultural, scientific and humanitarian ties.
The Agreement’s innovation in terms of Russian-US consular relations is that it contains provisions making it possible to issue business, visitor, humanitarian and tourist visas on the basis of invitation from the receiving party valid for up to 36 months and allowing for stays in the destination country of up to six months from each entry date. Visa applications will be processed within 15 days.
The Agreement also makes it possible to issue multi-entry visas for up to 12 months for short-term official trips with up to three months uninterrupted stay in the destination country from the each entry date.