The United States will cancel visa-free entry to Guam and Mariana for Russians. Do I need a visa to travel to Guam: registration, duration of stay, documents Do I need a visa to Guam

Guam is an exotic island in the Pacific Ocean. Travel dreams come true in the form of thickets of coconut trees, rainforests, spectacular waterfalls, and of course the best beach holiday. The best part is that our compatriots have the opportunity to get to Guam without a visa! The conditions for visiting the island are quite loyal and everyone, without overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, can bask in the rays of the hot sun or go windsurfing.

Conditions for a visa-free visit to the island

Coat of arms - seal of Guam

People go to the largest of the Mariana Islands for a leisurely beach holiday and vivid impressions. And if certain conditions are met, when preparing for a trip, you can not be puzzled by the question of whether citizens of the Russian Federation need a visa to Guam. Definitely not required if:

So, having a passport valid at the time of departure, an air ticket and filling out some documents upon arrival, you can, bypassing the paperwork, fly to Guam.

Guam visa types

If your trip does not fit into the above trip, then an entry permit will be required. Visa to Guam for Russians is issued at the consulate and can be of several types. Only someone who is a diplomatic worker, a citizen of the island of Guam or the United States, and also has the citizenship of a country with which the United States has an agreement on visa-free entry, is exempted from the obligation to obtain it.

Tourist visa

If the purpose of the trip is solely travel, excursions and visits to cultural events, attractions, then you should apply for a tourist visa. It will allow you to easily travel around the United States and throughout the Mariana Islands.

Visitor visa

For this type of entry document to be issued, it is necessary that the resident of the island (and preferably also a citizen) send an invitation. Kinship or friendship can be connected with the inviting tourist. It can also be a business partner.

This visa makes it possible to travel throughout the country and come and go several times within 180 days.

Transit visa

Even if Guam is chosen as a transit point, it is imperative to obtain a permitting document. At the same time, the visa is not designed for walks and allows you to stay on the island for a limited time. The Guam air terminal is located 7 km from the capital - the city of Hagatna.

student visa

A nonimmigrant student visa to Guam is issued upon the applicant's enrollment in an educational institution. You should apply for it in advance, but it will not be issued earlier than 120 days before the first day of school. You can enter the country using it when there is less than a month left before school.

Work Visa

A temporary work visa is issued only if the applicant is officially hired in the United States (in Guam). There are no age restrictions, while the purpose of the trip can only be the type of work activity for which the visa is designed. You can enter the country through it 10 days before the applicant starts performing his duties.

Visa to Guam: registration

To obtain an entry permit, you need to perform this algorithm of actions:

  1. Payment of the visa fee;
  2. Enter your data in the DS-160 form. You can find it on the official website of the US Embassy. After the procedure for entering data, you should print a page confirming the completion;
  1. Get your turn for an interview at the embassy by signing up online on the official website. To set an individual time, you should prepare and enter the details of your passport, as well as a receipt confirming the payment of the consular fee amount and the barcode of a previously completed visa application form. It consists of 10 characters;
  2. Come to the embassy, ​​according to your turn, with the necessary package of documents:
  • passport, with a margin of validity until the end of the trip;
  • photo that meets the requirements;

  • printed invitation letter to the reception at the embassy;
  • page - confirmation of passing the DS-160 survey;
  • passports that were previously used.
  1. You may also need an extract from the Unified Register of Real Estate (to confirm the presence of real estate), birth certificates of children, a marriage certificate (to confirm strong ties with your country), an extract from a bank account (to confirm financial solvency), a document confirming no criminal record ;
  2. If the decision on the visa is positive, then the document with the glued-in visa will be delivered to your address.

How to fill in the forms correctly

Guam Visa Application Guidelines:

The embassy does not accept any applications written by hand or typed. You should go to the diplomatic mission's website and answer the questions on the DS-160 questionnaire within 20 minutes. If time passes, you can save your version on the computer and continue to enter data in the next period of time.


The filling language is English.

In addition, you must upload a photo that meets the requirements. After the filling procedure, a page with a digital code will appear, which must be printed on a laser printer and saved. You will need it during the interview and to sign up for it.

Rules for filling out forms i-174 and i-94

Form i-174 is a short questionnaire in which you need to enter all the basic data. In addition to personal details, it should be indicated whether an application for a visa to enter Guam has been previously submitted. If you once had an entry permit, you need to enter information about it.

Form i-94 almost completely duplicates the content of the above form. But the data here needs to be entered in a more detailed form. Both forms are dated and personally signed.


Photo requirements

Photos submitted to the consulate must meet certain requirements. This increases the chances of quick approval for entry into Guam.

The photoPrinted. You should take it with you to the embassy. It should not be attached anywhereElectronically downloadable. It should be uploaded to the official website when filling out the visa application form.
Recent photo. Less than 6 months should pass from the moment of photographing. If you reapply for a visa, you must take the image again
The size5 * 5 cm.Minimum - 600 * 600 px

Maximum - 1200 * 1200 pixels.

On the website of the diplomatic mission there is a special photo editor for giving the desired size. You can use it

Head positionThe gaze should be directed straight, the chin should be raised. The whole face should be placed in the frame (this is about 70% of the whole picture or 2.5 * 3.5 cm), including hair, neck.
Color and backgroundThe photo must be in color and on a white background
Clothes and accessoriesCasual clothes, accessories (glasses, headsets, etc.) are excluded. A headdress too, except for those cases when it is worn every day for religious reasons.

Visa cost

The amount charged at registration is not refundable in case of refusal, and it cannot be redirected to the account of another applicant. You should pay only the specified amount (no change). Despite the fact that the amounts are indicated in US $, they should be transferred in Russian currency.

The methods of paying the visa fee are as follows: by credit card through the Russian Post offices, in cash through the bank. When choosing the latter method, you should download the payment form from the official website of the US diplomatic mission (only on a computer) and transfer funds using it. When paying by credit card, you should go to a special section of the embassy website and print out the receipt received by e-mail. If for some reason the receipt has not arrived, you will need to show a bank statement.

After the transfer of funds, you should keep the receipt and, after two days, sign up for an interview. It is valid for a year, if during this period other documents are not provided to the consulate, then you will have to pay the fee again.

Type of entry permitCategoryCollection amount
TouristB160$
GuestB160$
TransitC-1160$
StudentM, F160$
WorkingH190$

Visa processing time

Approval paper for entering the United States is issued after consideration of all submitted documents. According to official information, it takes 3 days, but often this period can be extended. For example, if many applications are submitted and employees do not have time to process them, as well as when special requirements are imposed on the applicant.

The waiting time for their turn by electronic registration is usually not long, but there is no need to hope for luck. In order not to spoil the trip, you need to apply in advance (for example, 3 months) before the departure date.

The period during which the visa is valid

Guam visa for a child

A child visa is issued in the same way as an adult one - the application form is filled out, a photo is provided. Children under 14 need to add another copy of their father's or mother's visa (if the child is traveling with them). If one of them or both of them do not accompany him, then a notarized consent will be required from them. You should also attach papers explaining the purpose of the trip and the proposed route.

Children are exempt from the fingerprint scanning procedure. As well as the obligation to undergo a personal interviewing procedure.

From the age of 16, children are fingerprinted and present at interviews with parents or other accompanying persons.

If an accompanying parent, grandparents, or children traveling with classmates have a visa, a visa application can be submitted to the Pony Express office. Here, the procedure for obtaining is simpler.

But first it follows:

  1. Pay the visa fee;
  2. Fill out the DS-160 form on behalf of the child;
  3. Through the official website of the diplomatic mission, fill out the appropriate form, which will give you the right to receive a visa without an interview. If everything is filled in correctly, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail about the right to a simplified registration procedure. It should be printed.

So, in Pony Express, bring:

  • A printed letter giving the child the right not to visit the embassy;
  • Photo compliant;
  • Child's passport;
  • A copy of the accompanying visa. If the trip is made with peers from school (or any courses), then a travel program and route will be required;
  • A list of all documents to be submitted (its form can be downloaded on the official website of the embassy).

It is necessary to take into account the nuance that a child under 14 years old must be registered for an interview. Even though he will not be interviewed. You just have to take the child's passport and a letter of permission for a simplified procedure for obtaining a visa during your own visit.


Refusal to issue a visa

A visa to Guam may not be issued if the documents are filled out incorrectly - an error was made or incorrect information was provided. The embassy can also start checking documents, and in this case, you should wait for a decision, which must be received no later than 60 days. Sometimes the deadline can be extended and you should be patient.

If some information was not enough and additional documents were requested, the employees will inform about it. A letter of clarification will also be sent. Since the paid visa check is valid for 12 months, during this time you can bring the necessary papers.

A weighty reason for refusal can be:

  • lack of permanent residence in the homeland and strong ties with it. The embassy must make sure that, over time, the traveler will want to return home;
  • conviction;
  • unsatisfactory knowledge of the English language.

Customs regulations

To enter Guam, there are quite loyal customs rules. But there are categories of goods that require a declaration.


Travel insurance

Medical or tourist insurance will make you feel quite confident in a foreign country. Since in the United States and in its territories, insurance for the provision of assistance is a priority document, it will not be superfluous to have international health insurance.

She can provide not only treatment in local clinics, which, although small, are of a fairly good level. But also evacuation from the island by air, if necessary.

Naturally, for those who plan to surf or dive, and, indeed, prefer active recreation, the relevance of this document increases. Of course, this is a safe holiday destination, but insurance can be a powerful weapon in protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Guam: features of tourism and recreation. Information about Guam useful for the traveler.

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Guam Island (Guåhån in Chamorro language) is the largest of the Mariana Islands, located in the western Pacific Ocean, 1,440 km from the equator. To the southwest of Guam is the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the World Ocean (11,022 m).

Modern Guam is an organized non-aligned territory of the United States: it belongs to this state and, at the same time, is not part of it. Local residents are citizens of the United States, but they do not participate in national elections. The capital of Guam is the city of Hagatna.

How to get there

There are no direct flights from Russia to Guam, the island can be reached through the largest Asian cities: Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc. One of the most convenient connection options is through Seoul, which can be reached by Korean Airlines. You can also use transit flights via Manila (Continental Airlines). The flight from the European part of Russia to Guam, excluding the docking time, will take about 14 hours, and from the cities of the Far East, you can fly in about 7 hours (not counting the docking).

Find flights to Guam

From airport

From Guam International Airport Antonio B. Won Pata can be reached by bus. A ticket costs about 2 USD, a weekly pass - 8 USD. The average taxi fare is USD 3 for the first mile, and USD 2.4 for each subsequent mile. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Hotels in Guam

Guam has both local hotels and hotels of the international chains Days Inn, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton. Unlike other resorts, there are few villas and apartments here, tourists for the most part check into hotels.

Guam climate

The climate of the island is tropical monsoon. The average daily temperature all year round is +24 ... + 27 ° С. The rainy season lasts from May to November, the most favorable period for tourism is from December to May.

During the rainy season, Pacific typhoons gain strength in Guam, damaging the island itself, then heading for the shores of Southeast Asia. Because of their destructive power, Guam was nicknamed Typhoon Alley.

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The nature of the island

The island of Guam was formed from two ancient volcanoes that went under water millions of years ago. The north of the island is a limestone plateau made of coral and drops off abruptly to the coast in the northwest. The south is hilly, here is the highest point of the island - Mount Lamlam 406 m high. Typical vegetation of the north of Guam is savanna, in the south, in the river valleys and on the slopes of the hills, there are tropical rainforests, on the coast, tourists are met by thickets of coconut palms.

Most of the fauna of Guam is made up of rodents and bats, occasionally deer imported from the Philippines are found in the forests. Around the island there are beautiful coral reefs, densely populated with marine animals. Once there were many birds on the island, but all of them were destroyed by the brown tree snakes brought here during the Second World War. They are not dangerous for people.

Previously, there were no snakes in Guam at all, but now 1 sq. km there are 2,000 individuals - this is a very high density.

Guam tourism

Guam is not only about magnificent beaches, tropical vegetation and beautiful waterfalls, but also monuments to the ancient history of the island. These are rock carvings and traditional dwellings of the Chamorro Aborigines who settled in the area about 3,500 years ago, evidence of the past domination of the Spaniards, as well as monuments of the Second World War.

The Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean, washing the shores of Guam, provide diving enthusiasts with the opportunity to explore coral reefs and explore the wrecks of ships. In addition, fans of outdoor activities can go windsurfing and parasailing, play golf.


Guam is a heavenly place, unless you overshadow your stay here by applying for a refuge. Photo universestars.com

Sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that people are forced to seek asylum in other, safe countries. The United States requires the physical presence of an asylum seeker on its territory. If you do not have a visa, you can apply for asylum at the southern border of the United States or at airports upon arrival, but in such situations, you cannot avoid immigration jail. What to do if there is no way to get a visa to the United States and you want to avoid a long detention?

For Russian citizens, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean, located at the equator right next to the famous Mariana Trench, can be a salvation. Guam is a territory owned by the United States, and US immigration laws began to apply to Guam in 2012. This means that now those in Guam can apply for asylum in the United States. For holders of Russian passports, Guam has canceled visa requirements, and Russians enter the island with a "password" - a special entry permit issued at Guam airport for no more than 45 days (usually much less).

Guam does not have an asylum office - this is the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Asylum Office. When the number of people waiting for interviews in Guam reaches a certain size, an immigration officer arrives on the island; usually citizens of Russia and China serve in Guam. By the way, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has already expressed his opinion on this matter - he wants to cancel visa-free travel to Guam for immigrants from these two countries.

In May 2017, my client K.S. an interview was scheduled after 8 months of waiting, and I flew to Guam to be escorted. In general, the procedure for passing the interview was no different from the “mainland” one, but there were some unusual moments. Immediately alarmed by the fact that the interview was scheduled for 3 pm; Given that the Los Angeles office usually closes around 4:30 am, we knew right away that we weren’t going to make it one day. Therefore, I had to plan my departure from Guam so as not to miss the second day of the interview.

On the appointed day, we were not called even at the unusually late for such interviews at 3 pm (while the time in Los Angeles is 10 pm). Only at 4:15 am our officer came out to us, apologized for the delay (the previous interview took longer than he expected). We were asked to start the interview, and return the next morning, or immediately reschedule all interviews to the next day. We decided to split the interview into two parts, since the process lasts several hours, then on the second day it will be psychologically a little easier - the asylum seeker will already be familiar with the officer, the office environment, the pace of the interview and his atmosphere. As a result, on the first day we ended up confirming the data in the I-589 questionnaire, and the discussion of the immediate events took place the next day.

The Guam Immigration Office seemed very small compared to the Los Angeles office. Instead of several buildings in different parts of the city serving hundreds, if not thousands of people every day, there were no more than 20 people in the lobby of the Guam office. In the same lobby, the local population of the island - the Chamorro tribe - made a small exhibition showing the history of their people and way of life. It was interesting to get acquainted with the culture of this small nation, which was "discovered" by Magellan more than 500 years ago.

In general, Guam turned out to be an amazing, picturesque place, generally reminiscent of Hawaii. The island is a tiny piece of the top of the highest seamount on our planet, the foot of which is the Mariana Trench. If this mountain rose above sea level, then it would be much higher than Chomolungma-Everest. The western coast of Guam is washed by the Philippine Sea, the eastern - by the Pacific Ocean. You can learn about the life of newly arrived immigrants in Guam from the video blog, where my client warmly invited everyone - his YouTube channel is called "New Life on Guam"... There he shares his impressions of how they are adapting to life on this island, as well as his thoughts on the immigration process.

When a Russian citizen enters the island of Guam without a visa, “with a password,” and then applies for asylum, then there is no way to leave the island for the mainland until a positive decision is received on the interview. As the US Customs and Border Protection in Guam explained to me, if a Russian citizen does not present an I-94 card with an asylum mark when leaving the island, then his departure is calculated as leaving the United States, and in this case, the asylum application will be closed automatically ... And you can get an I-94 with a mark of asylum only with the approval of the asylum. Those who fail to obtain asylum based on the results of the interview will be protected from deportation at the immigration court, which will also be located on this island. So if you are considering the option of submitting your documents in Guam, then keep in mind that your stay on this island may drag on indefinitely.

When the interview takes place in Los Angeles, they invite you to come back in exactly two weeks for the answer; however, lately there have been delays. Interviews in Guam are conducted in the form of field sessions, and it usually takes significantly longer to get an answer in such situations. We have not received an answer yet, but, of course, we hope for a successful outcome of the case!

The situation in the modern world is extremely turbulent: civil wars, a fundamental divergence of religious views, political persecution ... Sometimes, in order to get a chance for a dignified, calm and safe life, people are forced to significantly change their way of life by changing their country of residence. As an option, you can consider obtaining political asylum in the United States.

What does political asylum mean?

The essence of political asylum is that a person receives a certain legal status, which allows him to live in the United States for an unlimited time and enjoy the protection of the state not only in relation to the applicant himself, but also to his family members. To obtain this status, you need to send a special application to the Citizenship and Migration Service.

How to apply for political asylum in the United States on the island of Guam

With rare exceptions, a US asylum seeker must actually be present in that country. However, opening a visa to the United States from year to year is an increasingly difficult task. It turns out to be a vicious circle: without a visa it is impossible to enter the country, and being outside its borders it is impossible to ask for political asylum. At first glance, the situation is hopeless.

But it turns out that the solution is quite simple: the solution to the problem will be the small Pacific island of Guam, which is part of the Mariana Archipelago. Geographically, this is Asia. But the tiny evergreen islet of Guam has the status of an organized territory of the United States of America with limited autonomy. It is not part of the United States, but is owned by that country. This means that tourists arriving in Guam are on American soil.

Citizens of the Russian Federation for tourist purposes or for private visits do not need a visa to visit this island. They are issued a special permit to enter directly at the airport. The term of such permission is no more than 45 days.

Six years ago, United States immigration laws began to operate on the island of Guam. Therefore, the citizens of Russia had the opportunity to apply for political asylum upon arriving on the island.

All petitions submitted on the island are subject to the Los Angeles office. Guam does not have its own immigration office. An immigration officer arrives on the island when the number of people waiting for interviews reaches a certain number. At the same time, there is no immigration prison on the island. Therefore, candidates for political asylum can stay in a hotel or apartment, which makes waiting for an interview quite comfortable.

How to get to Guam from the Russian Federation

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Russia to the island of Guam (except, perhaps, charters from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk). Therefore, the road is not easy. One of the options is a flight from Moscow with two transfers (in Turkey and the Philippines). This is a less expensive option. The approximate cost of tickets is around $ 1200.

It is also possible to fly more comfortably with one change. In this case, you need to focus on transit flights from the Central European part of Russia to Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Such a road will be more expensive, but it will take less time - about 14 hours excluding the time required for connecting flights.

Things to take care of before departure

If you are going to apply for the status of a political refugee in the United States on the island, you need to be clearly aware that this is a serious legal procedure that requires competent execution of a huge package of documents. Therefore, it is best to enlist the support of an immigration specialist in advance.

Professional advice from a US immigration lawyer will help you avoid many mistakes in drawing up a personal case necessary for submission to the Citizenship and Migration Service. And this is one of the most important stages of obtaining political asylum, because after submitting the documents, it will be impossible to make even the slightest edits. Clear instructions from a lawyer will help you collect all the necessary evidence in full, as well as cope with filling out immigration forms.

The next thing to remember when planning a trip to Guam is that a prerequisite for entry is to have a reservation for accommodation for the entire planned time of stay on the island.

Also, a tourist arriving on the island of Guam must provide a return ticket. In his absence, the citizen will face serious problems. To save money, you can buy a return ticket only to the nearest point where the connection is made - to the Philippines.

It is necessary to worry about collecting the evidence base, which the applicant will provide to the immigration service. Anything that can confirm the reality of the story told will be useful for making a positive decision on granting political asylum. It should also be noted that at the airport it is possible to inspect not only personal belongings, but also the contents of a laptop or phone. Therefore, it is advisable to save all documents related to the application of political asylum on the resources of online repositories.

Another useful tip is to change your Russian passport if it is about to expire. Doing this on the island is troublesome.

And finally, you should provide yourself with at least a minimum supply of funds, because how long the process of obtaining political asylum will take is not known.

How to behave as an asylum seeker upon arrival on the island

You should start by looking for permanent housing. It is to this address from the immigration service that notifications will come.

There is no need to wait until the end of the tourist stay on the island in order to submit a petition for political asylum with the immigration office.

After 150 days after the immigration service has accepted the package of documents for consideration, you can apply for a work permit. After issuing such a permit, along with a social security number, you can start looking for work.

What to do after applying for political asylum

Approximately within 10-30 days after the filing of the application, the candidate receives a notification to the specified address of his stay that the documents have been accepted for consideration, and he is invited to the biometrics procedure. This procedure consists in taking fingerprints and photographing the applicant. It is necessary to appear for the implementation of these actions no later than the period specified in the notification. If the applicant ignores this invitation or arrives later than the designated date, then the consideration of the case on granting political asylum may be suspended.

It is advisable to carry a notice of the need to undergo the biometrics procedure. In case of misunderstandings with local authorities, this document will be a confirmation of the current status of a citizen and the legality of his presence on the island even after the expiration of the entry permit received at the airport.

If more than 4 weeks have passed, and the notification for passing the biometrics has not been received, you should contact the immigration office for clarification. Perhaps the matter is in the incorrectly indicated residential address. But it is likely that there are inaccuracies in the package of submitted documents that require elimination.

Things to do in Guam while waiting for your USCIS interview

The US Immigration Services are so overwhelmed with submitted asylum applications that the waiting time for a specific case can take more than 2 years, and sometimes even 5. Due to the absence of its own immigration office conducting interviews in Guam, this can take even longer.

How to use your waiting time? The first thing to start with is learning English. Even if the level of proficiency is at a high level, it never hurts to improve it. This will help both ordinary everyday communication in shops, restaurants, hotels, and reading the local press.

It would also be nice to broaden your horizons with regard to the country for which you are counting on asylum. Knowledge about the history, economic development, political situation of both the United States in general and the island of Guam in particular will never be superfluous.

Due to the island's geographic location, Guam has a range of natural settings that guarantee a relaxing and relaxing holiday. This is a mild warm climate, and comfortable beaches, and quiet coves, as well as picturesque hills and mountain peaks.

Connoisseurs of outdoor activities will appreciate the underwater park, a sports trampoline complex, a trip along the Talofofo River and many other attractions. Also on the island there is a huge number of cultural and historical monuments.

Shopping fans will be delighted with the many branded shops that have duty-free status throughout their stay on the island.

While indulging in a carefree pastime, do not forget about the main goal - getting political asylum. Therefore, from time to time it is advisable to recall all the facts and confirmations of the history set forth in the submitted immigration documents.

Interview with an immigration officer

Some time before the appointed date of the interview (usually 2-4 weeks), a notification is sent to the candidate for political asylum. This document indicates the date, time and place of the interview with the immigration officer.

The most important thing to remember is that the burden of proof both of the impossibility of being in the home country and the need to grant the applicant asylum, and of the reality of the story told, rests entirely with the applicant.

The immigration officer examines in detail all the facts that were presented in the completed form, compares them with the information available to him about the events taking place in the applicant's country, as well as with documentary evidence provided by the applicant.

The immigration officer doesn't just examine the documents in his possession, he asks questions. Many questions. It often happens that the questions are repeated. Sometimes it seems that the officer is interested in events that are not relevant to the case, or asks about very insignificant details. But this is not the case. Finding out the smallest details, the officer must clearly determine how true the story described by the applicant is, whether there is a real threat to his health and life.

The more proof an asylum seeker has, the better. Any documents are suitable - extracts from medical institutions, protocols, and certificates of state bodies, agendas of law enforcement agencies, reports of human rights organizations, newspaper publications, eyewitness accounts. The more, the better.

It should be noted that on the island of Guam there are cases when an interview with an immigration officer takes place in two times, and not in one. On the first visit, the data indicated in the questionnaire are confirmed, and the subsequent conversation is devoted to the discussion of specific events that led to the application of political asylum.

How long to wait for the USCIS decision

Interviews in Guam are conducted in the form of field sessions, the frequency of which depends on the workload of the immigration officer. Therefore, it takes significantly longer to wait for a response to a decision than in other immigration offices located on the mainland of the United States.

In case of a successful development of events, the applicant receives an official paper. It contains a mark on the granting of political asylum. With such a document in hand, you can travel to the mainland of the United States of America.

If you are denied asylum in the United States

The percentage of refusals to grant political asylum is growing every year. If the applicant receives a negative response to his request, he can defend himself against deportation at the Immigration Court, where the judge will review all the circumstances again, without taking into account the decision of the immigration officer. The proceedings will also take place on the island.

In some cases, the applicant may insist on a second interview with the immigration officer. For this, a person must have very serious reasons, for example, the emerging strong evidence of the unsafe return to their homeland.

Without the legal assistance of an immigration attorney, the chances of completing the case with a positive result in such cases are practically zero.

Successful asylum decision depends on many factors, including a thorough knowledge of US immigration laws; careful preparation of the evidence base and selection of the correct episodes used in the interview with the immigration officer; translation of supporting documents into English, competent behavior during the interview and much more. In order for the time and effort spent to lead to a positive result, it is better to entrust yourself in the hands of an experienced professional who specializes in such matters.

Immigration attorneys American Corporate Services, Inc will help not only to draw up all the necessary documents, but will also prepare and accompany the candidate for an interview, which will significantly increase the chances of a favorable outcome.

We can provide our clients with not only legal, but also practical assistance in finding housing, schools for children, obtaining medical care and on many other everyday issues, including finding a job. Arriving on the island, you will not be left without the advice of a person you can trust.

By the 21st century, there are almost no corners on the planet that are inaccessible to the citizens of Russia. Our compatriots apply for visas and go to the most exotic countries in the world. A number of states are even introducing a visa-free regime for tourists. Recently, avid travelers have been wondering if a visa to Guam is needed. After all, this territory is attractive in many ways.

Just a few years ago, a visa was required to visit Guam. Now a visit to this exotic territory is allowed to be made without an entry document. Of course, the guest must meet certain conditions.

Guam on the map

Guam is the name of the southernmost and largest island in the Mariana Archipelago. It is located in the Pacific Ocean and belongs to the United States, although it is not part of them. Such territories are called organized unincorporated.

Previously, tourists from the Russian Federation freely visited the northern islands of the Mariana Archipelago. In 2009, free entry was introduced on Rota, Saipan and Tinian with a stay of 1.5 months. An American visa was required to travel to Guam.

Since 2012, the United States has canceled visas to Guam for Russians. By decision of Washington, a visa-free regime was introduced on the island. True, the exemption is valid with serious reservations.

Visa-free Guam

A visa-free voyage around the island is available subject to the mandatory fulfillment of a number of requirements:

  • Citizenship of the Russian Federation.
  • All visitors, including infants, have their own passport. The criteria that the document meets:
    • With machine readable code on the home page.
    • Expiration date - plus 2 months after the end of the tour.
  • The maximum period of stay on the island is 45 days (counting from the date of arrival).

Sample Form I-736 Completion

  • Purpose of the trip:
    • Tourism.
    • Private visit (including business).
  • The visitor presents:
    • Or an invitation from the hotel with a room reservation.
    • Or an invitation from a land-based tour operator.
  • You must have an air ticket with you:
    • Both ways.
    • Non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
    • The ticket indicates the confirmed day of departure to the home country.
  • A tourist fills out forms to enter Guam.
  • Visa-free admission does not provide for employment and study.
  • You are only allowed to stay in Guam and / or the Northern Mariana Islands and travel between them. Visiting other American territories without a visa is strictly prohibited.
  • Entry to the Mariana Islands is only possible through authorized carriers operating direct flights.
  • Thus, the list of required documents for visiting the Pacific Island includes:

  1. International passport.
  2. Round-trip ticket with a fixed return date. Open air tickets are not accepted.
  3. Hotel reservation or invitation from a tour operator.
  4. Forms for entry.

Papers are submitted when passing through passport control.

Filling in documents

Sample filling I-94

Entry forms are issued on board the aircraft. You cannot fill in papers printed on the Internet in advance. The passport control officer only accepts official forms. Alternatively, it is allowed to take them in advance at the US consulate or embassy. Citizens fill out:

Questions must be answered in English. The data is entered legibly, in printed Latin letters. At the bottom of Form I-736, the signature and the current date are affixed.

In the lower field of I-94, the information above in the form is duplicated. When passing through immigration control, the lower part of the questionnaire is torn off and inserted into the traveler's passport. This card bears witness to the status of a foreigner on the island. You can't lose it. The sheet will need to be handed over to the immigration officer before flying home.

Completed forms must be signed and presented at Immigration Control upon arrival. Children from 14 years old submit separate forms. The documents are signed by the parent, guardian or adult accompanying the young traveler.

Customs regulations

When do you need a visa to Guam

If the duration of the trip to Guam exceeds 1.5 months, a visa is required. The document is being opened by the US Consulates and Embassy in Russia. To obtain an entry permit, you will need a set of papers. Their list is similar to the list of forms, forms and certificates for American visas.

The documents

An applicant for a visa allowing a visit to the island will have to present:

  • DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application:
    • The form is filled out online at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/.
    • When filling out the form, the applicant uploads their photo.
    • A printout of the page confirming the completion of the questionnaire should be submitted to the diplomatic mission.

Printout - confirmation of filling out the form

  • International passport:
    • With 1 blank sheet.
    • The document is valid for plus six months after returning home.
  • Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (copy).
  • Certificate of income and property.
  • A certificate from the employer.
  • Pensioners attach a pension certificate. Students and schoolchildren prepare a certificate from the place of study.

  • and a certificate from the sponsor's place of work (for schoolchildren, students and retirees, whose trip is financed by their relatives).
  • A photocopy of the birth certificate (for a minor child on a voyage with his parents).
  • Consent of the parent / parents to the departure of the minor child (if the child goes on tour with only one parent or a third party). Additionally, it is necessary to make photocopies of the internal passports of persons giving their consent to leave.
  • Marriage certificate (if available).
  • Details of the trip with itinerary (if needed).
  • Reservation of return tickets and hotel rooms (if necessary).
  • Island resident invitation (subject to availability).
  • Police clearance certificate.
  • Confirmation of close ties with Russia as a guarantee of return home (if required). For example:
    • Birth certificates of children.
    • Ownership documents.
  • Payment for payment of a non-refundable consular fee ($ 160).

Guam is attractive for Russian tourists. Its popularity began to grow as early as 2012, when visas were canceled. The local population is doing everything to make the rest of travelers from the Russian Federation comfortable. On the island, shop signs and street advertisements in Russian appeared, and restaurants of national Russian cuisine were opened.