January 14, 2013. A German visa center will be set up in Yekaterinburg that will cut down on the visa applicants’ waiting time. The center is expected to open in February, the Association of Tour Operators in Russia’s press service reports.

The German party feels this will help to get rid of a long wait before an available appointment at the consulate: on average, those applying for German visas have to wait for about two weeks before they have their appointment.

According to the attache for cultural relations and press of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic Germany in Yekaterinburg Anne Porro, the wait is so long because the consulate hasn’t got any more positions available to take on more staff.