Consulate General of France in San Francisco — Local services in San Francisco

In my experience, staff is nice and they try to do their best, so I have to disagree with reviewers blaming them, writing they 'nap in their office in the afternoon'. A couple senior clerks are very professional and arranging. That being said I'm French and maybe the experience would be different if I didn't speak French; who knows? However, the way French administration works is driven by bureaucracy from the 19th century! If you don't follow the EXACT steps of the process, you're screwed. And it's all your fault and you may have to wait weeks before you get another appointment. With their new office on Kearny it's even worst as it gives the feeling it's hiding and less accessible than it was before.

I'm giving it 2 stars because I'm still naive enough to hope that mediocre reviews will make French authorities think a bit about it and try to improve their services (go online, go paperless, make things easier.... please! In the US a passport can be obtained in few weeks at the DMV!) What I dislike the most is the fact you need an appointment for almost everything. In a country where you have 10 days of vacation, you'll enjoy wasting 2 or 3 of them for going to the consulate ;) And that's even the case for children passports. Since the consulate operates during hours that are arranging for virtually nobody, you'll have to take children out of school to show their face at the consulate (which hopefully is not too far away - some drives hours or travel days to get there!) in order to make the thing happen. Compare that to getting a passport in the US, which by the way is produced by the same (French) company with the same level...

I had an appointment on July 16th 2013. My experience was completely different than most of the reviews on here.

I arrived at my Visa appointment 10 minutes early, so I had to sit through some of the previous applicants. While waiting I was actually quite horrified with how people dressed. I was the only one who wore dress clothes. I'm sorry, but going to a French Consulate is a formal setting, would you walk into a formal building in France in just jeans and a T-shirt? No, don't think so. Why should that change when you're in the US? If one has ever been to France one realizes that how things are done is very different. The fact that they even speak in English for the appointment shows something, because honestly it should be in French. Since, you know, you're going to a country that speaks French.

Anyways, my application went very smoothly, and the lady was much nicer to me than the other applicants. My appointment took a total of 5-10 minutes to process. Make sure to have all of your information ready and in order, and bring more than expected in case something goes awry. Actually wear formal clothing instead of jeans. The usual stuff that should be expected in the US, and is expected in...

First of all easy accessible place in SFO.The location of the building is quite confusing.Even google maps will not help much.Google map will definitely take you to the destination.but finding this particular consulate is tough.From Montgomery station take the exit towards the metro.Rest google map will help.At the Destination you will find Citibank ATM and counter inside a building which is at a corner of an intersection.Don't worry that is our building.But consulate is in 6th floor.In the extreme right side of the Citibank counter you will find a pathway leading a desk handled by a very helpful person.He will guide to the elevators based on your appointment timings.From outside when you are in the street look for "88 Kearny"

The Folks at the consulate are really down to earth and helpful.My interview got finished in less than 20 mins.Try to reach early.Not on the exact time slot.Crowd is...