The number of applications for Romanian visas has increased significantly after the opening of two Romanian general consulates in Balti and Cahul earlier this week. Though many applications were lodged with the two consulates, the number of applications to the consulate in Chisinau did not decrease, officials of the Romanian Embassy said in a news conference on July 16, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the Romanian Embassy's consular section, 3,169 applications for visas have been accepted in Chisinau this week, as against over 3,300 before the opening of the consulates. 557 persons applied for visas at the consulate in Balti, while 360 at the consulate in Cahul. Romanian Ambassador Marius Lazurca said the number of applications for small-scale border traffic to the consulate in Chisinau fell two times – from 700 to 350. 185 persons applied for permits in Cahul, while 121 in Balti. Tiberiu Trifan, the head of the Embassy's consular section, said he is glad that the endless queues at the Romanian consulate in Chisinau started to decrease. Officials of the Embassy informed a special appointment scheduling mechanism will be introduced at the three Romanian consulates soon. Marius Lazurca said the system does not imply additional costs for the citizens. Discussions are now held on opening a Romanian consular section in Ungheni towards the end of this year or in several months. The Romanian general consulates in Balti and Cahul were inaugurated on July 9, but started work on July 12.