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With the arrival of October the German Consulate decided to re-organize the procedure of visa processing in the cases where documents are brought in by couriers of accredited firms. According to specialists in this destination, Consular officers now rigorously monitor the number of submitted passports ensuring it corresponds to the original number in the provisional application. This is caused by the fact that many firms wishing to back themselves up would intentionally exaggerate their number of applications. As a result, according to Vadim Turovsky, the deputy general director of Maria company, other companies as well as the Consulate had difficulties in planning their work. For example, in the summer when the flow of tourists grew, the term of visa processing increased to two months.
Now tour firms who sent an incorrect request will be fined. Some companies, according to specialists, lost their accreditation for various periods of time – usually, for one week.
Nevertheless, the measures taken cannot completely solve the problem of long processing terms. According to Mikhail Degtyarov, senior manager of the German-Swiss destination DSBW, difficulties may arise in peak times when the flow of tourists traditionally increases.
‘We will have to be on the phone 24/7 to be able to sign in for available places,’ comments an expert.
