The Embassy of the United States of America in Minsk announces the following change to visa processing procedures:
Pursuant to the Executive Order entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 27, 2017, the Embassy of the United States of America in Belarus announces immediate changes in visa procedures as detailed below for applicants seeking to apply for visas in Belarus. We regret any inconvenience these changes may cause. For any questions, please contact us at ConsularMinsk@state.gov and we will seek to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
The following applicants may apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk:
1. Applicants who have previously received a visa that is still valid or that expired fewer than 12 months ago.
2. Applicants who are applying for visas in the following categories:
• Diplomatic visas (A and G categories)
• Student visas (F and M category)
• Exchange visitor visas (J category) – except Summer Work and Travel J1 visas
• Guest of embassy visitor’s visas (relatives of Belarusian diplomats serving at the Belarusian diplomatic missions in the U.S.)
• U.S. Government-sponsored travel and programs (J category)
• Tourists and visitors (B1/B2) older than 70 years old.
• Petition-based work visas for Performers, Sportsmen and Artists (P) and for individuals with outstanding abilities (O)
All other applicants must apply for their visas at other posts.
We suggest the following posts for residents of Belarus. Each of these suggested posts has additional information for non-resident applicants on their websites.
• U.S. Embassy Moscow: https://ru.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/moscow/
• U.S. Embassy Kyiv: https://ua.usembassy.gov/
• U.S. Embassy Warsaw: https://pl.usembassy.gov/
• U.S. Embassy Vilnius: https://lt.usembassy.gov
• U.S. Embassy Riga: http://lv.usembassy.gov/
Please be aware that at some nearby posts, particularly at U.S. Embassies Tallinn and Riga, the number of visa appointments available for non-residents is extremely limited, and interviews may have to be conducted in English. Applicants who would like to interview in Russian may prefer to interview at U.S. Embassies or Consulates located in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Kyiv.
