“There will be no changes for Ukrainians from August 1, because all such innovations in Ukraine were already introduced in March,” the embassy said. Earlier it was reported that from March 15, 2003, Ukrainians applying for a US nonimmigrant visa must fill out a new visa application form and comply with new requirements regarding photographs for the visa application form. The new form is posted on the US Embassy website. Applicants can also obtain forms from the security guards at the consular section of the US Embassy. The form will also be sent by regular mail to each person who scheduled a visa interview, along with a notice of the date and time of the appointment.
Along with the new visa application form, new requirements for the photo on the form came into effect. The photograph must be unframed, fully show the face, and have been taken within the last six months. The applicant must look directly at the camera, not down or sideways; the face must occupy 50% of the entire photograph. It is desirable to keep ears uncovered. The size of the photo is 50x50 mm, and the head must be in the center of the photo. The size of the head in the photo (from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin) should be 25-35 mm, and the eyes should be at a height of 28-35 mm from the bottom. Photos may be color or black-and-white, taken against a light background and printed without borders.
As we informed in the previous issue, according to a statement by the press service of the US Embassy in Moscow, from August 1, 2003, virtually all applicants for US nonimmigrant visas will have to appear in person for an interview with an employee of the consular section of the US Embassy. The US Embassy in Moscow advises submitting a visa application 6-8 weeks before the intended date of entry. A visa may be issued without an interview to persons up to and including 16 years of age and over 60 years of age, applicants for diplomatic or official visas, as well as persons applying for a visa of the same category that they previously received within one year after the visa expired. However, any visa applicant may be called for an interview, the statement said.