“Downfall of relations with the USA affects seamen”

The U.S. Consulate General in St.Petersburg (on Furshtatskaya Street), has closed down. This news promises nothing good for the local seamen, as the U.S. visa is just necessary for the employment in many foreign companies, but now they will have to wait more than one month for the interview appointment 

Nevertheless, there is a solution to this tight situation: Russian seamen will be able to  obtain an  U.S. visa at the embassies, based in other countries, such as Poland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and others. However, a lengthy process of obtaining of required documents and extra costs which should bear shipowners and crewing agencies (cost of processing papers, travel to embassy and accommodation expenses) are the reasons which can turn foreign companies away from Russians to the advantage of seamen from other countries.

“The downfall of relations with the USA and the sanctions -all this affects  seamen.

In general, SUR advocates for crew members do not have to get visas like it used to be in the Soviet times, when they had a seaman's book. To date, the best solution is to use SID and crew list only”, - said Vadim Ivanov, SUR Vice Chairman.