To enter the Consulate, you must pass through several security checks. To speed up the process, we encourage you to limit the amount of jewelry and metal items you bring with you.

All items brought to the U.S. Consulate are subject to inspection or search by U.S. Consulate personnel.

The following items are prohibited, and trying to enter the Consulate with one of them may result in the loss of your appointment at the Consulate:

• Electronic items including cell phones, tablets, notebooks, cameras, audio and video players, laptops, pagers, MP3 players, and portable gaming devices. Only medical equipment installed in the body will be allowed after coordination with security personnel.
• Weapons, ammunitions, explosives, items that may be confused for weapons, and replicas of weapons including guns, knives, pepper spray, explosives, metal razors, nail clippers, and scissors.
• Lighters, matches, and any flammable liquids.
• Food
• Sealed envelopes, packages, and parcels. (Only opened and inspected envelopes will be allowed.) Absentee ballots for mail by the consular section will be inspected without violating the ballot’s secrecy.
• All who arrive for Consular appointments are reminded that large bags including travel bags, backpacks and briefcases are prohibited. (In limited circumstances, some bags containing emergency medicine required during the appointment or limited baby supplies will be allowed after inspection).
• This list is not exhaustive and security staff may refuse entry with any other item they deem threatening.

The Consulate does not provide any kind of storage for personal items and does not take responsibility for any items you chose to leave with other individuals.

The Consulate regrets that there is no elevator on site and it may be difficult for physically handicapped applicants or visitors to reach the Consulate.  We invite visa applicants who are not physically able to walk up four flights of stairs to schedule their visa appointments in Moscow.