Processing visas through the Visapoint system was constantly accompanied by scandals and accusations of corruption
Since 2009, to submit documents for a Czech visa, an applicant had to schedule an appointment at the consulate through the online Visapoint system. However, in many countries, including Ukraine or Vietnam, this was practically impossible. All available slots were taken by "intermediaries," who then sold them to people in a hopeless situation for large sums.
"The system itself will cease operation on October 31. In the period until November 24, already submitted applications will be processed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took this step for a number of reasons, including the expiration of the agreement with the operator company of Visapoint," Lagronova said.
As Vinegret.cz notes, the exact procedure for scheduling visa appointments that will take effect on November 24 is currently unknown. It is not excluded that everything will return to the old and opaque scheme, when appointments were made by phone and calls were accepted only a few hours a day. As a rule, all slots were taken by "intermediaries," while ordinary applicants simply could not get through to the consulate.