I had an excellent experience with the French Cons...

I had an excellent experience with the French Consulate in Atlanta. After reading the previous reviews here, I was quite concerned about planning my travel to Europe before finalizing all of my student visa paperwork and receiving my passport back. The process was impeccably smooth; the people were a joy to deal with, and they were entirely understandable in extending my visa in order to allow me to make a tourist visit before beginning my classes. They even expedited my visa in order to allow me to do this. I had an appointment at the consulate on Tuesday and received my passport with extended stay student visa in the mail on Friday -- yes, only three days later. This was perhaps the most enjoyable interaction I have had with a foreign diplomacy, ever. I assume those who had passports lost in the mail did not address their own envelopes correctly.