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Update on Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel
The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked.
All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.
ATTENTION: The visa appointment wait times published on travel.state.gov do not represent the wait time for nonresident categories. The nonresident wait time is posted below. Applicants are reminded that MRV fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and are only valid for one year from the date of payment. If you are unable to schedule an appointment within this period then your receipt will expire, you will not be able to schedule an interview, and you must pay the fee again and begin the process anew.
CURRENT NONRESIDENT WAIT TIMES:
Astana:
Business/Tourism: 38 days
Students and Exchange Visitors: 30 days
Other: 29 days
Almaty:
Business/Tourism: 71 days
Students and Exchange Visitors: 28 days
Other: 5 days
Information for nonresidents: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/kz/en/step-2#nonresident-applicants
Please visit our U.S. Visa Information Service Website for complete information on nonimmigrant U.S. visa application procedure including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.
Immigrant Visas to the United States are processed for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan. Additionally, on February 16, 2023, the Department of State designated U.S. Embassy Tashkent and U.S. Consulate General Almaty as processing posts for Russian IR-5 (parent of a U.S. citizen) immigrant visa (IV) applicants. IR-5 immigrant visa appointments will be scheduled through the National Visa Center. U.S. Embassy Warsaw remains the processing post for Russian applicants applying for other IV categories.
To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa. The sponsor begins the process by filing a petition on the foreign citizen’s behalf with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may wish to review our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to learn about the different types of immigrant visas to the United States, including our Diversity Visa Program. Then, follow the steps on the Immigrant Visa Process, or on the Diversity Visa Process, on usvisas.state.gov to begin applying for an immigrant visa.
Once USCIS has approved your petition and you have completed pre-processing with the National Visa Center (NVC), or if you have been selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery and completed processing with the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), review the instructions given to you by the NVC or the KCC, along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.
If you need reasonable accommodation for your appointment, we encourage you to request your accommodation immediately once you schedule your appointment. We make every effort to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities and medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary, depending on the situation and the person’s needs.
Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to:
If you are unable to provide fingerprints because of a medical condition, including birth defects, physical deformities, skin conditions, you may qualify for a fingerprint waiver for certain fingers.
The waiting room of the Consular Section and its restroom is wheelchair-accessible.
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Please call: (+7-7172) 70-21-00
Outside of Office Hours, contact: (+7-7172) 70-21-00
Outside of Kazakhstan: 011-7-717-270-21-00 or 011-7-777-258-4879
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