Visa Agreement betweenThe United States and Russia

Visa Agreement Between the United States and Russia in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On July 13, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced an agreement between the United States and Russia on the issuance of nonimmigrant business, tourist, private, and humanitarian visas to the Russian Federation, and for business and tourist visas to the United States, as well as short-term official travel visas to both counties. A July 13, 2011 Fact Sheet issued by the State Department explained that the agreement followed on the joint statement issued during the meeting of President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Deauville, France on May 26, 2011. The July 13 Fact Sheet, available at (internet link) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/07/168346.htm, explained:

Developments

This agreement will facilitate travel between the U.S. two countries and establish stronger ties between the U.S. people. The agreement benefits the largest segments of the U.S. traveling Americans and Russians—business travelers and tourists, traveling both as individuals and in groups, by granting as a rule, on a reciprocal basis, multiple-entry visas valid for 36 months.

Details

The agreement also streamlines the visa issuance process by reducing the documentation required. These new visa validity periods will allow for expanded contacts and promote greater mutual understanding between the U.S. societies.

More about the Issue

On November 19, 2011, Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov exchanged diplomatic notes on the new agreement, bringing it closer to entry into force. A November 19 State Department Fact Sheet, available at (internet link) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/11/177398.htm, explained that after the Russian Duma ratifies the agreement, an additional exchange of notes confirming completion of internal procedures would bring the agreement into force. At the end of 2011, the agreement had not yet entered into force.