Big thumbs down to Russian Embassy!

[UKANGEL]

Becky has had a trip arranged with the college for months now. A group of Alevel students were due to go to Russia in 2 weeks to attend the model United Nations. Schools from all over the world are involved in this; they are given countries to represent and then debate resolutions etc just like the real thing...the students have worked hard to prepare and were really up for it.


Some time ago the tutor arranging it went to the embassy with all the passports to get their Visa (he had an appointment) and was told when he arrived they couldnt be issued after all, he'd have to go home and post them as there were too many to deal with (?)

Then when he sent them in, they told him the forms were old forms and need updating.....then he sent them all off again, and then TODAY he heard they can't be issued as they'd gone up £60 each!!!!!! This means (given they can take up to 2weeks) they are now too late as they should be leaving in 2 weeks for Russia


The kids are all really bummed (as are the staff)....Becky has been out and bought lots of warm weather gear for Russia which has cost her a fortune. What a wasted opportunity for them all........To say we're not happy with the Embassy is an understatement!

 

[Merylj]

That is terrible! Can they get publicity, write to the PM or something - anything that shames the embassy into doing the right thing.

 

[Minniespal]

That's terrible especially since Becky has been looking forward to it so much.

 

[Spook]

How disappointing for Becky. If it is definitely cancelled hopefully she can return some of the warm weather gear that she has bought

Jan

 

[bavaria]

Sorry for the disappointment... could this still be a 'slow down' due to the Nov 2006 spy scandal? My counterpart is from the UK and I was on call to go to Russia in her place as it was easier for a German to get a visa in Dec 2006 than someone from the UK due to a diplomatic slowdown (sadly for me she did get the visa!)

 

[wils]

That is a real shame I guess there is no way of fast tracking anything at this stage

 

[carolfoy]

They can fasttrack 1 or 2 visas but that many would be quite difficult - having said that its not impossible, I go along with the idea of trying to get the national press on to it - I bet if they were businessmen it would happen soon enough.