CONTINUED KYRGYZ VIOLATIONS OF VISA RECIPROCITY

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000499

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/VO/F/P: PATTY HILL, MARY EILEEN EARL AND
RACHEL HILTON
SCA/CEN: JGORKOWSKI
FRANKFURT FOR RCO KBROUGHAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD KREC PGOV KG
SUBJECT: CONTINUED KYRGYZ VIOLATIONS OF VISA RECIPROCITY

REF: A) Chittenden-Visa Office E-mails May 2009
B) 08 Bishkek 654
C) 07 Bishkek 1328


1. (SBU) Summary: In May 2009, post learned that the Kyrgyz
government increased the cost of all visas issued to foreigners,
resulting in U.S. citizens paying approximately $270 for a one-year,
multiple entry Kyrgyz visa, which is now only available in country.
At a May 22 meeting with the Consular Department of the Kyrgyz
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy was informed that
foreigners may only receive single-entry visas, valid for one month,
from Kyrgyz Embassies and Consulates abroad. These changes violate
existing visa reciprocity between the U.S. and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Post is sending a diplomatic note to protest this violation and to
inform the Government of Kyrgyzstan (GOKG) that the U.S. will take
steps to lower its visa reciprocity for Kyrgyz citizens. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) For the second consecutive year, the GOKG has violated visa
reciprocity with the U.S. As reported in refs B and C, U.S.
citizens have experienced increasing difficulties in obtaining
Kyrgyz visas. The Embassy has raised this issue several times at
various levels of the Kyrgyz government. Visa policy seems to
follow a vicious, counter-productive cycle. Each time it appears
that a solution or compromise has been reached, new measures or
regulations are implemented by the Kyrgyz with no notice to the
diplomatic community.


3. (SBU) At a May 22 meeting with Mirgazy Iskaov, the head of the
Kyrgyz Consular Department, the Embassy was informed that Kyrgyz
Embassies abroad will again cease issuing one-year, multiple-entry
visas. Foreigners now may only receive a single-entry visa valid
for one month when applying abroad or at the Manas International
Airport, and then they must apply to change their visa category once
in Kyrgyzstan.


4. (SBU) The Kyrgyz government has also changes the fee schedule for
visas. U.S. citizens will pay $190 to receive a multiple-their
visa, which is in addition to the $80 cost for a single-entry visa
issued at the airport. Under Kyrgyz law, foreigners must be in a
possession of their passports at all times. Therefore, the majority
of U.S. citizens pay an additional $200 fee to expedite the
in-country processing for the multiple-entry visa (so as to avoid
difficulties and fines from the local police).


5. (SBU) Post is sending a diplomatic note to protest these
violations of visa reciprocity. If the GOKG does not change its
visa issuance policies, post will request that the Department
immediately reduce the reciprocity of non-immigrant visas issued to
Kyrgyz citizens.

GFOELLER