Consulat général de France à San Francisco Review

I provided this cons-ulat with my divorce legal papers mid summer of 1997.
My local french mayor office is all cleared.
Oakland City Mayor's Office is all cleared.
Today, as of Septembre 2020, I am still married for this french cons...
French headquarter in Nantes would not help a minute: "you need a lawyer".
SFO consulat is asking for proof of residence, Elec bill, or Water bill from 1997...
These two entities, Nantes and SFO are refusing, since 1997, to acknowledge Oakland City Mayor Office's legal paper work...
In-between corruption and malice. And these people wonder why french have nothing less than hate for government workers?
24 YEARS LATER AND STILL refusing my US divorce papers...

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 foreign countries.

Visa application was a painless experience for me because I had all my paperwork sorted out correctly. Even if you're missing one or two things they are helpful and understanding, and respond promptly via email.

It only took three days to approve my visa but they never emailed or contacted me to let me know it was ready, so I actually waited a month to pick up my passport with the visa because I didn't think that pestering them would help anything. This problem is alleviated if you bring them a self-addressed envelope, however.

The people who work here are just adorable. Rare thing for consulates and embassies

The worst consular service ever. Their application website is atrociously counterintuitive, insanely buggy, and they are unable to give an appointment for more than a month. They waste applicant's time and money. They are outsourcing their visa services to a Dubai-based company called VFS global, starting June 27, 2018. Woo hoo! I am very glad they recognized that French way of doing things, all the bureaucracy and incompetence, does not fly here in the US.

Passport renewal appointment was easy to schedule. I was received on-time with incredibly personalized service. Best "bureaucratic' experience I've ever had...French or American.

Wish there was zero stars. All they do is fight fires. You can't get an appointment, they don't let you inquire over the phone on when more appointments are being made available. And from what I can tell, they will only take an emergency appointment if it's within a month of travel. Living in OR, getting down to SF isn't cheap and easy...especially a last minute trip. Hey French Consulate...are YOU going to pay for my last minute travel costs to SF? Plus spending all vacation days visiting your territories and providing the French government with money from tourism makes it even harder to take the time off. This should be done remotely. No need to ever have to step foot in the French Consulate.

Hated it. They require expensive bookings in advance, which are not to be compensated if smtg goes wrong. And interview lines are huge.

Best experience to get visa twice in a row. I travel a lot and need to get visa very often. This was the best experience I had so far. Super helpful and super efficient

Very professional and thorough staff. They can provide great advice to navigate the French paperwork requirements.

They also regularly help French citizens in difficulty.

Super friendly and efficient staffs at this consulate

Very well organized and efficient, took only 2 days to get my visa done.

Very efficient and polite staffs at the visa office. The security man is kind and helpful, too.

Polite, efficient and took the extra effort to rush my visa since I will be leaving in 2 weeks. Thanks for the warm experience!

I had a most pleasant and informative experience when I contacted Monsieur Anthony Bedoussac, in charge of legal questions at the consulate.Ms Bedoussac was very helpful,patient and competent in explaining what I needed to know and to do.
I really appreciate this kind of excellent rapport with your staff and sincerely hope that my comments will help create the correct image of the consular staff.
Dr. Drago Schmidt,

My experience at this embassy was great especially the blonde lady , she was smiling all the time and efficient. She didn't asked me too many question and I guess because I had all the documents she needs to process my visa. Over all I give them 5 stars.

I wish to acknowledge the unparalleled courtesy granted to me by Mr. Xavier Delecroix. An emergency trip to Hong Kong to visit my son suffering from brain cancer, and attend a special concert in his honor was made possible thru his quick and compassionate efforts. This gesture on his part created a lasting memory in my heart.
Thank you so much !

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 usually less.

The French Consulate is great in responding to email inquiries. Staff are nice. My Interview proces went smoothly for less than 5mins since my documents were complete. I provided prepaid USPS envelop in that way I don't need to come back to pick up my passport. Visa processing usually takes 5 days. I was interviewed Wed and I got my passport with visa Friday. The Consulate was very efficient!

The staff is super friendly. I've seen them allowing folks to go out and fetch their missing documents (e.g. correct photograph). You can expect to be done with your appointment within 30mins. For most things you would need an appointment which is a bit harder to get, we had to book ours 40 days in advance.

Maybe we were lucky, maybe their processes got better, or maybe this was due to having our ducks in a row; in all cases, we received the visa we were looking for in a matter of minutes. Kudos to the team!

Amazing service and support for passport procedures! Very friendly staff.

the people are very rude and helpless, they will cutoff someone s speech as soon they hear about visa .
all they will to go to website for visa .
I tried to ask for details no more talking at all .
I was very disappointed. although I made an appointment online for spousal visa for my family member, but the online appointment was completely useless. if u need a visa don't wast ur time to go there .they don't help at all.

I prepared a meeting for a new identification card and set an appointment to the offices in SF.
Once there, they told me "sorry, the fingerprint machine is not working, you will have to come some other time..."
I spent a whole day traveling meaning the time and money invested... and they have the nerve to say that?
When you are so stringent about your appointments like "don't come late" and "contact us if you cancel your appointment asap" and "if you file is not complete..." etc...", then you have to make sure the service is actually PROVIDED. Have a plan B for your defective apparatus!

AT LEAST, SEND ME A EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL TO TELL ME NOT TO COME BECAUSE THE PRINTING MACHINE IS OUT OF PAPER.

Ah la bureaucracies francaise... O Tempora! O mores!

Drove 4 hours to reach Consulate but couldn't park and get to my appointment because their offices are located in the worst imaginable location. No parking anywhere, monster trafic and chaos around their building. Dont bother driving there, take a bus. Hard to get appointments, they only work in the morning. Have to wonder who chose such an absurd location for a Consulate that is supposed to be available to help people. Awful experience.

Friendly staff, quick processing times. Best visa experience I've had. The only downside is that appointments are hard to get.

I called on a Monday morning knowing it would be very busy, after the 3rd call, I talk to a real perrson, my problem was solved and questions answered,Bravo et merci
Any Neuvecelle-Buckles

Excellent reception - on time - efficient - parador - Bravo !!!

Painless experience in getting a visa. In and out in about 30 min. Very friendly staff. Very quick response by email as well. Minus one star for having to wait for a month to get an appointment.

Extremely pleasant, efficient, and unexpectedly helpful.

Got Schengen visa in Dec 2016 - very fast, efficient process with friendly people. Then I emailed a question if my wife can pick up my passport with my receipt - replied fast and able to do so.

Later in Dec 2017 I needed to get details on the past visa - they replied within a day to my request and provided the info.

Thank you, French Consulate! Especially to Alain and Laure.

I just went today and there was nobody to talk to. Even the website is not clear with wht is needed for the visa requirements for an internship less than 90 days. I was told my the security guard that the office on the other side will help me with my inquiry but when i went to the other office, the lady sent me back to the other office. I was just dancing back and forth between the two offices and nobody was ready to answer my questions! I was very disappointed! Nobody picks up the phone as well. I have been trying to call them from the past 1 week but it always goes on voicemail. I have been tired doing it.

My experience applying for a schengen visa was great! The French Consulate in San Francisco had clear instructions on their website, not to mention the process is convenient and very efficient! I also think the consulate staff were friendly and communicated very clearly! They are busy and the appointment schedule is usually booked far out, but looking out for cancellations on a regular basis can help.
Merci beaucoup! I look forward to visiting France!

Got a visa appointment at 9:30. Arrived 9:20 - no queue, got called, handed over all documents, had a pleasant chat.
When I was told my visa will be ready at 11:30 I had to ask again since I thought I misheard. Visa was actually ready in 40min, got a call - stopped by to pick it up - done. Mind blown.
The appointment took me ~2 weeks which is very reasonable, unlike some other consulates (*ahem* Italy *ahem*)

My wife and two daughters needed to renew their passports. We were in San Francisco so they applied there and they passports were sent to Honolulu to pick up. Everyone has extremely helpful. It was a pleasant experience and I highly recommend them if you need their services.

I find the french consulate in SFO to be outstanding service..in many respects...
the information on the their website is very clear and accurate.. (esp compared to other European countries). The respond to your queries very promptly and proper guidance..They are considerate about special scenario's.. Overall they treat customers with respect..(esp compared to how other consulates treat)So over all great experience.

Great service! Fast, efficient and courteous! Always helpful especially if you're in a bind... See America, public service CAN be great! (To be fair even by French standards this is a very well ran government outpost...)

Hello,
While I appreciate that the Consulate is still operating, I would suggest that the fact that access to services is only by appointment be clearly posted on the hours of operation on the site. I went to the consulate this morning and found out at the building entrance that it was only by appointment.... a bit late...
Now it gets better!!! i tried to go on the site for an appointment! NOWHERE is there a place to make an appointment!!
I then went to the site indicated in the phone message.... back to the Consulate site @#!?
I then called.... waited 15 minute on line on the phone to be told... " we cannot answer at this time".
What a sad display of incompetence and disorganization.
Very sad and embarrassing.
JP

Be safe.
JP

When attempting to validate a roommate s visa status the operator would not process the request

Nor would she allow me to speak to her supervisor

Difficult to get an appointment but incredibly simple visa experience.

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 of security...