Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan to speed up processing of student visas

The Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan announced today the acceleration of the process of processing student visas for students in Russian universities. In order to meet the high demand, the consular section will conduct additional visa applications every Saturday until the end of August, the embassy said in a statement, Orient reports.

Applicants who need to travel to Russia in the near future to enroll in a university for the next academic year can request priority visa issuance by submitting a copy of the air ticket along with the application. To be included in the list for priority visa issuance, interested students should send their full name, date of birth, contact information and visa invitation data to the Russian House in Ashgabat by e-mail.

Measures to expedite visa processing are a temporary solution to regulate the large number of Turkmen students admitted this year to Russian universities under the educational quota system. Thousands of foreign students enter Russian universities every year, and Turkmenistan is one of the largest contingents.

The Russian Embassy has announced that depending on the number of applications submitted, Saturday's visa application deadline may last until October. Students are advised to apply for a visa as early as possible to avoid delays in starting their studies.

The visa acceleration initiative emphasizes the importance of educational exchanges between Turkmenistan and Russia. As Turkmen students receive education in fields such as engineering, medicine and technology at leading Russian universities, both countries are interested in promoting student mobility.