Official Berlin intends to somewhat simplify the procedure for obtaining German visas for Russians\/em><\/p>\n
Thus, it is asserted, in particular, that Berlin could take an example from Australia, which, as is known, issues visas via the Internet. It is also proposed to allow serious tour operators and large travel agencies to handle visas.<\/p>\n
The official reaction of Guido Westerwelle's ministry to these proposals so far consists of simple promises "to simplify the visa procedure for Russian citizens from the summer of this year." Yet there is some specificity here. So, it became known recently that the German Embassy in Moscow is currently conducting a special tender to find a suitable commercial company with which it plans to sign a contract in June-July 2012 to provide a certain part of consular services.<\/p>\n
It is assumed that the winning firm will be tasked with accepting visa applications from Russian citizens, as well as other necessary documents, and then forwarding them for consideration to the consular offices of Germany. Most likely, a whole network of branches of such a firm for receiving visa applications will be established in various regions of Russia. The firm's representatives will themselves pick up documents from the consulate and, in case of a positive response, hand over to Russian citizens passports with the coveted sticker.<\/p>\n
The main advantage of this step: the need to personally submit the application by coming to the consulate for an interview disappears. In addition, the finished visa can be delivered by courier or an authorized person to any point in Russia. Moreover, in this case, the waiting time for the moment when all documents can be submitted should be reduced to two to three days. Currently, this procedure can take almost one and a half to two months.<\/p>\n
According to the terms of the tender, the German side does not have to pay for the services of the partner firm, but will allow it, in addition to the usual visa fees that will be transferred to the embassy's account, to charge an additional fee from Russian citizens of up to thirty euros per visa.<\/p>\n
As noted in Westerwelle's ministry, it is also planned to introduce a "preferential visa regime" for those who frequently travel for business or personal reasons to Schengen Agreement countries. This applies to those Russian citizens who in the last two years before filing an application have received a Schengen ordinary, annual or multiple-entry visa for several years at least twice and have made trips to any of the Schengen countries.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the practice of issuing long-term multiple-entry visas for a period of three to five years will be further expanded. This concerns, in particular, close relatives of German citizens, representatives of Russian business circles, scientists, or journalists. At the same time, the German Foreign Ministry reminds that the issue of completely abolishing visas for citizens of Russia and other CIS countries is not within the competence of Berlin, but should be considered in Brussels – by all European Union countries.<\/p>\n
Vladimir GUSHCHIN.
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