Consulate General of Italy — Local services in Los Angeles

Sharing my experience for a Schengen visa. Hopefully it’s helpful to some. My visa got approved and here’s how the appointment went. Oh I am planning to go to Italy and Switzerland (most days in Italy, entry and exit from Italy). Some notes on visa form. schengen visa form is online- fill it online and print it at the end. Don’t try to download it. It downloads in a weird format that I couldn’t even open. Unless you have the software for it, I suggest filling online and printing it out right away. Since I’m traveling to two countries but both are Schengen , I assumed it only needs one entry so I checked off single entry on the application form but got multiple entry stamp from the counselor. I read a review that someone got asked to show the ID of the person they were traveling with. So I took my friend’s ID that I’m traveling with. They did not ask for it. Just take it still just in case they ask. Note: please make sure you read the list of required documents on their website (consulate of Italy Los Angeles, in my case) I got to my appointment 30 minutes ahead of time. The security guard checked my passport and let me in. Many people were waiting inside. Please take water with you because there wasn’t any available at the consulate. While waiting I could hear the interactions of other people with the counselors. Some people were asked to reschedule the appointment because they were missing documents. Make sure you check the requirements list for your visa type on their website. Many people didn’t know there was a list so they came unprepared. The counselors were nice to let them know but unfortunately had to turn people away because of missing documents. Here are some issues that I noticed people faced- people who didn’t have a drivers license from their respective region (like Southern California) or didn’t have correct address on it, were asked for a utility bill in their names (I had my socal licence but I still took utility bill just in case-they didn’t ask for it), students going to study abroad were asked for the Accomodation arrangements (they need a prior booked arrangement) and insurance that is accepted in Italy (not what you have in the US), fill the application form online or in whatever form it comes in (schengen visa form is online) . Someone came in without filling the application form. Bring print outs for everything. Again, go through the requirements list on their website. They didn’t ask me anything outside the list. I provided exactly what was asked. Not more not less. Side note- when I was leaving I saw a girl who I saw prior at her appointment) came back to the consulate, she forgot to sign and date the application form for her student visa. They let her in even tho the consulate was closed for the day (it was past 12:30 Monday). I saw her later in the elevator and she told me that they said if she hadn’t come back to sign in they wouldn’t have been able to give her the visa....

Where do I begin.

I set an appointment online by logging in before 3PM when the system restarts and appointments become available. I found a time 3 days later which landed on a Friday at 12PM. Given most people wait 3 months for their appointment, I was happy to see there was a way to visit earlier than that.

I arrived on time at 12PM and there was a married couple in the waiting room with 2 children running around. The security guard kicked out the husband and his children for misbehaving but for some reason they were allowed to fill out paperwork for an hour while other people waited in line. Why were these people allowed to fill out paperwork when they kick out most people for having 1 missing item? After listening in, turns out they were applying for a missionary Visa which I'm assuming the consulate has a religious bias / forgiveness towards. The type of Visa should not let the customer hold up a line for over an hour in my opinion.

After waiting an hour and a half in the waiting room we were given a chance to apply. They did not accept a bank report showing bank deposits for the last 4 months and wanted my full bank statement for the last 3 months. I've used the deposit statement to get a Brazilian, Thai and Vietnamese Visa so I figured it wouldn't be an issue. They apparently want to see if you ordered an Uber last Tuesday and all other private info that comes with a full statement. Ridiculous standards when someone from the US can just show up to the country without a Visa.

We came back on Monday and were told to wait - I saw people go in and out in under 10 minutes and I had to wait another 1 and half hours before asking them why they kept skipping over me. She apologized and said the guy was supposed to ask me to check in - then proceeded to take another customer that arrived after me. I can't make this stuff up - I've never felt so disrespected in a government office before.

After bringing back the statement that following Monday I was finally granted the Visa and was told to come back on Friday to pick it up. I came back on Friday to find they granted me a Visa just for my trip duration which was 10 days. My mother in Russia was granted a 9 month Visa with up to 90 days stay but for some reason I was only granted 10 days - what happens if my trip has delays or we want to extent our stay? This hurt, especially when reading other reviews of people getting a year visa without asking.

People have no option but to go here if they live in the area - so I'm not suggesting going somewhere else - but I am asking the U.S Department of State to take action here - from 5 hour long wait lines in the DMV to having to go the extra mile to get anything done in an Italian Consulate - things do not look good here in California. I'll be sharing this review to representatives of the U.S Department of State with hopes to raise some awareness to...

One star is to generous but it’s the lowest rating available so I could leave a warning to folks about the type of people who works in this consulate. I wish I read the reviews, blogs and articles before our visit. The people who work in this location are that bad there’s literatures written about them. My daughter needs a visa to study abroad. All reviews with a 1 star, she has experience all of them and more. And I was present to witness it. I know exactly who BALD guy and Dragon lady many has mentioned in these literatures. We met both of them!!! These people are soulless, RACES, rude, unprofessional, IGNORANT and the Bald guy is particularly sleazy. He asked my underage daughter who has never been in Los Angeles why she brought her mother along. Seriously, who ask that of a minor! 100% SLEEZY CREEP. Dragon lady did not like the way my daughter looked so she passed her along to SLEEZY BALD CREEP guy. SLEEZY BALD CREEP guy denied my daughter her student visa because her name was not on MY utility bills and mortgage! According to the US Government website… “If the student is at the age a parent or a legal guardian can still file them as a dependent, the student's residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian” Therefore, please someone explain to me why my child’s name must be on the utility bill and mortgage?!?! AND how is it ILLEGAL I’m claiming my underage child as a dependent and me as their legal guardian. If this is the case, then why does the IRS government allow parents to claim their children. When I respectfully asked were these rules are written. He spat I am out of line and will be charge with criminal action. Beware, these people make up their own rules as they see fit to deny those they don’t approve of - that is discrimination. They may work in the Italy Consulate but they are in American soil working alongside my government whom I support with my money. The SLEEZY BALD CREEP guy bullied my child to tears and I was not going to put up with it. My daughter worked hard to be able to study abroad. The only time she has asked for help is when she has tried her best and needs a little bit of guidance but for the most part she finds a way to independently work things out on her own. This is a good kid, who does not overlook at the things her family and friends does for her. Not only has this creep lost his hair and soul he has lost his mind if he thinks I am going to stand for his bullying. This review is just...