Category: Russian Community

Visas, Immigration & Nationality

US Extends Visa Interview Waiver Authority Through 2024

The United States State Department will continue to exempt certain visa applicants from in-person interviews next year, extending the waiver authority that was set to expire on December 31, 2023. This policy, known as the visa interview waiver authority, permits consular officers to bypass in-person interviews for low-risk visa applications. Acting in conjunction with the…
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Russian Visitors Granted 90 Days Visa-Free In Thailand

From November 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, Thailand will grant Russian tourists a 90-day visa-free stay, an extension from the previous 30-day limit. The move comes as tourists from the country have had increasingly few options for travel, given Moscow’s war on Ukraine, the impact of sanctions, travel restrictions, and a weakening ruble. Thailand’s…
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New Transit Visa Requirement For Georgian and Russian Travellers in the UK

The United Kingdom has expanded its transit visa requirements to include Georgian and Russian citizens. This significant change, effective from September 8, 2023, comes as part of an effort to address the misuse of the UK’s transit provisions by individuals from these countries, particularly in relation to asylum claims. Under the amended Immigration (Passenger Transit…
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UK Visa Fee Increase Will Take Effect Next Month

Tourist and student travel to the United Kingdom is expected to rise by October 2023. The British government has announced that the proposed hike in visa fees will become effective from October 4, 2023. A UK Visit visa for under six months will cost GBP 15 more and student visas will be GBP 127 more…
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World’s Most Powerful Passport: UK Passport Climbing Two Places Since 2017

The latest quarterly Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners has been released and the United Kingdom (UK) has moved up in the list. The global passport ranking is based on the number of destinations passport holders can access without a visa according to the data from International Air Transport Association (IATA). Countries score one…
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