<p> Referral Guidelines for the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia</p><p>Following are guidelines for nonimmigrant visa cases that may be submitted to the Consular Section by the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia (AmCham).</p><p>Applications will be accepted by the Embassy via Pony Express. Applicants will then be assigned a particular date and time to appear for an interview, usually two business days after the application is submitted. Following interview, passports will be returned to the applicant through Pony Express.</p><p>The Forms</p><p>Each applicant must submit the following:  A valid Passport.  A fully completed and signed application form (DS-156), regardless of the age of the applicant. Applications must be completed in English using new on-line procedures that result in bar-coded documents with a third scanner-compatible page;  A supplemental form (DS-157), completed by all males between the ages of 16 and 45;  MRV receipt for payment of the $131 processing fee.  Endorsement stamp on application form from AmCham.  Letter from employer (AmCham member company) stating employee’s start date, monthly salary, purpose of travel and persons accompanying (if applicable).</p><p>Applicants will submit their applications through Pony Express but will be given a special interview time slot. The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia may endorse the application for visa applications on behalf of its members who meet the following criteria:</p><p> Applicants must be full-time employees of AmCham member companies. [If spouse and children under the age of 18 of employees of member companies are traveling WITH the employee, they are also eligible for AmCham submission].  Applicants may be traveling to the United States for short-term business or tourism only.</p><p>Applicants who do not meet the above guidelines may call to schedule a regular interview time slot through Pony Express.</p><p>Please do not submit cases for the following employees:</p><p> Employees seeking to travel to the United States for purposes other than short term business and/or tourism.  Employees who are part-time, on internships or temporary employees.  Contractors of AmCham member companies.  Employees with U.S. visa refusals within the past two years.  Any individual who has lost a passport containing a valid U.S. visa.</p><p>Referral by AmCham does not guarantee issuance of a visa.</p><p>January 2008</p>