Russia at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | No travel ban; affected by the 2026 immigrant visa pause (set aside by a court, under appeal) |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Moscow offers no routine visa services, so Russians apply for nonimmigrant visas in Warsaw (Poland) or Astana (Kazakhstan), and immigrant visas are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw (parents of U.S. citizens may instead use Almaty or Tashkent). |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Russia right now
- The U.S. Embassy in Moscow provides no routine visa services; immigrant visa cases go to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw (parents of U.S. citizens may use Almaty or Tashkent).
- Russia was among the 75 countries whose immigrant-visa issuance the State Department paused from January 21, 2026; a federal court set the pause aside on August 21, 2026, and the government's appeal was still pending as of October 2026.
- Russia has no E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S., so treaty trader and investor visas are not available to its nationals.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Russia
AsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsO-1 visaWork visa for people with extraordinary ability or achievementH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerEB-2 NIWSelf-petition green card if your work benefits the U.S.Green card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countries
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Russia visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Russia is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Russia get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Russia nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Russia and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Russia enter the green card lottery?
Russia was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Russia have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow offers no routine visa services, so Russians apply for nonimmigrant visas in Warsaw (Poland) or Astana (Kazakhstan), and immigrant visas are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw (parents of U.S. citizens may instead use Almaty or Tashkent).
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Russia?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Europe
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.