Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria introduces new visa procedures
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria rejected the proposal of Bulgarian Tourist Association to improve visa procedures for Russian tourists.
Meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism Association was initiated after the Foreign Ministry statement of 16 April about stopping of online support of visa procedures for all tourist operators offering services to Russian tourists. Monday meeting of representatives of the Ministry did not give positive results in resolving the visa issue for Russian tourists.
Thus, instead of an electronic system for issuing visas, paper copies of all documents must now be sent to the Moscow visa center controlled by an Indian company «VFS Services». Accordingly, for the reimbursement of cost for Indian company, the cost of visas for Russian tourists will increase from 9 euros to 12 euros.
The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria has not yet given an official explanation of the irrational change of visa procedures. Nevertheless, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the creation of a working group to consider the requirements of travel agencies.
Since 2010, all tour operators, providing visa services to Russian citizens are obliged to use the services of the Moscow visa center. According to the Tourist Association of Bulgaria, the measure is contrary not only to the interests of tour operators, but also with European legislation, under which all natural and legal persons shall have equal rights to receive consulting services.
It should be noted that the sudden change in visa procedures was performed by the MFA of Bulgaria just before the new season and can significantly influence the attendance of the country by Russian tourists. Earlier to get Bulgarian visa tourists were enough to appoint an interview at the consular department.
Currently, all calls are forwarded to the consulate in the visa center. Under the new rules regulating the issuance of visas, was imposed a complete ban on filling of application forms online. For visa services individual travelers must fill in an improved and greatly complicated by the company VFS Services forms, gather the required visa documentation and make five copies of all papers.
Alesia Belaya
Date: 02/05/2010
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