Long waiting-times for Finnish visas in St. Petersburg
Staff visa issues and computer problems hamper consulate operations
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The processing of applications for visas to Finland at the Finnish Consulate-General in St. Petersburg has become log-jammed. Tourist visas are granted more or less on schedule in five days, but for private and business visas Russians can expect to have to wait up to a month.
The Consulate claims the delays are not of their own making. In February the computer system malfunctioned for the whole month, and the arrival of new staff to handle the applications was delayed - ironically enough - because they could not get visas to work in Russia, according to the head of the visas section, Martti Ruokokoski.
The Consulate-General in St. Petersburg grants more than half of all visas to Finland. Last year St. Petersburg processed 230,000 applications, out of a grand total of 440,000 worldwide. The Foreign Ministry has placed advertisements for additional staff in St. Petersburg in the press this spring.
Ruokokoski says the Consulate is understaffed and that visa processing has slowed as a result. The introduction of visas with a photo ID from next year will only worsen matters, as the photos have to be scanned.
At present, the handling of one application takes around 15 minutes.
One sign of a possible improvement and a shortening of the lines outside is that applications have started to decline. In April the number of travel documents granted was 14% down on the previous year.
Apparently many Russian travel agencies now contact the Swedish Consulate, as their visa tariffs are cheaper. Finnish visas went up to EUR 35.00 at the beginning of this year, in line with Schengen recommendations. Sweden has yet to harmonise its prices, and has until July next year to do so.
Another plus on the horizon is that the Consulate will be moving to new premises in September, with more customer service desks and room for 50 people to queue inside. A playroom has been promised for the children of parents lining up for their visas to be processed.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.5.2004 - TODAY |
 Long waiting-times for Finnish visas in St. Petersburg |
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