U.S. Embassy in downtown Moscow, Russia.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow will reduce consular services offered to include only emergency American  citizen services  after Russia imposed a hiring ban on local staff employees. 

“Effective May 12, U.S. Embassy Moscow will reduce consular services offered to include only emergency U.S. citizen services and a very limited number of age-out and life or death emergency immigrant visas,”

–the Embassy said in a statement on April 30.

In addition to reduced consular services,  the Embassy will offer a very limited number of age-out and life or death emergency immigrant visas.  “These service reductions are necessary due to the Russian government’s April 23 notification of its intention to prohibit U.S. Mission Russia from employing foreign nationals in any capacity. Non-immigrant visa processing for non-diplomatic travel will cease,”  the  embassy added in its statement.  President Vladimir Putin last week signed a law to limit the number of local staff working at foreign diplomatic missions and other agencies and ordered the Russian government to draw up a list of “unfriendly” states that will be subject to the restrictions.  The move by Moscow appears to be in retaliation to a set of new U.S. sanctions imposed over Russian interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

“We regret that the actions of the Russian government have forced us to reduce our consular work force by 75%, and will endeavor to offer to U.S. citizens as many services as possible. U.S. Embassy Moscow will not offer routine notarial services, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, or renewal passport services for the foreseeable future.” –  U.S. Embassy Moscow statement.