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Since 15 October 2012 one cannot just walk into the Russian consulate in Munich, take a number in an electronic queue and wait. You have to make an appointment using web interface just to enter the building. This is one of many positive improvements Russian consulate had implemented in recent years. Yes, I think setting appointment using a web service is a good thing actually, provided that they take into account two things:
1. I think it does not hurt that much if appointment to apply for a new passport is scheduled 3 months in advance (plus 3 months waiting). After all the expiry date is located right at the first page, so one can plan accordingly. However waiting for 3 months to sign a power of attorney that could be urgent is completely another matter.
2. They could have implemented it correctly. Unfortunately they did not.
I am not sure it is a problem of the software implementation, or lousy requirements. Here is the pseudo-code based on my reverse-engineering attempts:
1. Get current date. Add 3 months, keep day the same. (I will try to get an appointment on January 31, so it will schedule it for April 31st :)) Too bad I missed November 31st, I could have checked then if they have February 31st in the calendar too.
2. Show the calendar starting from the date set up at 1., and let the user choose the appointment time.
I have no idea why they made a design (or implementation) decision to start the calendar from current day + 3 months point of time. I don't see how it makes programming easier, may be they just like it that 3 months minus one day in advance they can print their schedule and pin it to the wall at their office and play darts.
Upd: social engineering rules! Instead of hacking web interface as was suggested by a commenter, I wrote e-mail asking if it is possible to schedule and appointment earlier and got a positive reply from the consulate.
1. I think it does not hurt that much if appointment to apply for a new passport is scheduled 3 months in advance (plus 3 months waiting). After all the expiry date is located right at the first page, so one can plan accordingly. However waiting for 3 months to sign a power of attorney that could be urgent is completely another matter.
2. They could have implemented it correctly. Unfortunately they did not.
I am not sure it is a problem of the software implementation, or lousy requirements. Here is the pseudo-code based on my reverse-engineering attempts:
1. Get current date. Add 3 months, keep day the same. (I will try to get an appointment on January 31, so it will schedule it for April 31st :)) Too bad I missed November 31st, I could have checked then if they have February 31st in the calendar too.
2. Show the calendar starting from the date set up at 1., and let the user choose the appointment time.
I have no idea why they made a design (or implementation) decision to start the calendar from current day + 3 months point of time. I don't see how it makes programming easier, may be they just like it that 3 months minus one day in advance they can print their schedule and pin it to the wall at their office and play darts.
Upd: social engineering rules! Instead of hacking web interface as was suggested by a commenter, I wrote e-mail asking if it is possible to schedule and appointment earlier and got a positive reply from the consulate.
