Federal Migration Service office has been merged into a department of the Internal Affairs Ministry, according to an Executive Order. The change may cause delays in work permits and invitation letter issuance, however is not expected to change any Russian immigration processes, as legislative changes have not been made.
Background
The merger is meant to provide the Federal Migration Service the ability to conduct immigration investigations and enforce immigration laws without the approval or assistance of the Internal Affairs Ministry, as was previously required.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers and foreign nationals with pending immigration applications should take potential processing delays into account.