Russian Federation to United States visa requirements

Russian ordinary passport holders need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to travel to the United States for tourism or business. Russia is not in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is not available. Because routine nonimmigrant visa operations are not conducted in Russia, State Department guidance designates Astana and Warsaw for Russian nationals unless they are legally resident elsewhere. As of 20 June 2026, Russian ordinary passport holders are not eligible for U.S. visa-free entry, ESTA, eVisa, or visa on arrival. For tourism, family visits, medical treatment, or short business meetings, they must obtain a B-2 or combined B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visitor visa before travel. The standard process is to complete Form DS-160, pay the non-refundable US $185 MRV application fee, and attend a consular interview unless a limited interview-waiver exception applies. The US $185 B1/B2 fee has applied since the Department of State fee increase effective 17 June 2023, not from 2026. The Department of State's December 2025 country-of-residence guidance says applicants should apply in their country of nationality or residence; for nationals of Russia, where routine nonimmigrant visa operations are not conducted, the designated processing locations are Astana and Warsaw unless the applicant resides elsewhere. Applying outside one's nationality or residence can make qualification more difficult, fees are not refunded or transferred, and wait times vary by post. The State reciprocity schedule lists Russian B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas as multiple-entry visas valid for up to 36 months with no issuance reciprocity fee. A visa only allows travel to a U.S. port of entry; CBP decides admission and the I-94 admit-until date, commonly up to 6 months for visitors. Russia is listed by CBP in the six-month passport-validity exemption list, so a Russian passport must be valid for the intended period of stay rather than six months beyond it. A Visa Integrity Fee of at least US $250 was authorized by HR-1, but the July 2025 Federal Register notice says it requires cross-agency coordination and will be implemented in a future publication; it is not listed as a current payment in State's fee schedule.