#6033
#9
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: Constantine Dmitriev <dmitriev@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: 6031-Visas
Re: 6031- #10 RUSSIAN POLITICIAN CRITICISES AMERICAN AUTHORITIES FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST RUSSIANS RECEIVING AMERICAN ENTRY VISAS
Recently there was an outpouring of articles condemning a recent decision by the US State Department to introduce a new Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-157) that contains detailed questions about applicant's military record, political affiliations, occupations, etc. Most articles, including the one cited in JRL-6031, criticized the US government for this new form, arguing that it specifically targets common Russians who wish to visit America.
I believe that this criticism is mistaken, as most articles assume that only a handful of countries, including Russia, are targets of this decision. However, according to the US State Department, all male nonimmigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality and regardless of where they apply, must complete and submit a DS-157 in addition to the regular Nonimmigrant Visa Application form (DS-156). In other words, citizens of all those countries, which require a visa to enter the United States, have to complete a DS-157, not just Russians and travellers from the Middle East.
Back to the Top Next Article
- Back to the Top -