Visas and residence permits USA
We cover each basis separately: who qualifies, how much money is needed, what documents are required and how long to wait. 4 detailed breakdowns below.
Grounds USA
Start with whichever is closest to your situation. If you are not sure — we’ll work through it together.
B1/B2 visa
How to get a B1/B2 visa in 2026: where Russian citizens apply after the Moscow consulates closed, how long to wait for a slot in Warsaw or Astana, what a 214(b) refusal means and why it cannot be appealed, and how the visa validity differs from the period of admission on the I-94.
- up to 2 years · appointment slot queue in Astana
- Warsaw, Astana · where Russian citizens apply
The pause on immigrant visa issuance
On 21 January 2026, the State Department suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Russia. We break down exactly what has been paused and what continues to work, which two legal workarounds exist, and why any offer to ’get you a green card through the consulate’ is currently selling an outcome that will not materialise.
- 21.01.2026 · date the pause was introduced
- 75 countries · on the list, Russia among them
F-1 and J-1 duration
From 15 September 2026, F-1 students, J-1 programme participants and foreign media representatives are admitted not ’for the duration of the programme’ but for a fixed period: no more than 4 years, plus 30 days before it begins and 30 days after it ends. Extensions now require a petition to USCIS. We break down the transitional rules, the OPT window until 18 March 2027, and what happens if you travel while a petition is pending.
- 15.09.2026 · date of entry into force
- 4 years · maximum permitted entry period
Public charge
From September 18, 2026, the 2022 public charge rule is rescinded: the regulation’s definitions, assessment framework, and list of exceptions are removed, and officers regain broad discretionary authority based on the totality of circumstances. We break down what the law requires officers to assess, why the date benefits were received matters, who is exempt from the rule, and how it differs from the pause on immigrant visas.
- 18.09.2026 · date of entry into force
- 212.20–212.23 · provisions that are removed entirely
Services and pricing USA
How much it costs in totalSelect what you need — the total will be calculated instantly. Two or more services — 5% off each.
Visa and residence permit
Documents on the ground
Prices are in US dollars and are all-inclusive — nothing is added on top. Government fees for USCIS and the Department of State are paid separately and directly to the authority: we state the amount and show the receipts. Sales tax in the US is set by the state and city, so we do not quote it as a percentage — the price you see is final. Government fees are separate unless the line states otherwise. Payment procedure depends on the country and service; the account and contract go where they are needed. If it doesn’t work via on our side — we will refund the money; no one can guarantee approval. A legal consultation — 150 $, it is applied toward the cost of the service.
What else is needed in the USA
The status is half the move. The other half is housing, a bank account, a school, doctor and documents on the ground. That is handled by the relevant destination sections network, and you won’t have to explain your situation again.
On-site services
Local snapshot: who can help in the USA with documents, housing, and everyday matters.
svoy.io →Housing
Renting or buying — including a contract that will be accepted in a residence permit application.
home.svoy.io →School for the child
American online school in Russian: grades 1–12, US diploma, you can study from any country.
svoy.io/shkola →