Call before you go in to check they are actually ready for you to come in!!!
Worst service you could possibly ever imagine. One person tells you one thing and then another staff member tells you the other. They have no person running the place so they don t speak to each other or check anything with each other. Make sure you call before your appointment to make sure they haven t lost any papers and have everything you need because they don t call you and tell you that paperwork isin t ready! You just go in, waste your day, then they get angry at you and won t listen to anything you say!!!! So so stubborn, incompetent, unreliable and just a complete mess and joke!!! Actually laughable at times!!!
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Has some trepidation given all the negative reviews, but our experience here was definitely a smooth one. Hint, arrive ontime, ie before your actual appointment, ask questions as to what to bring when booking your appointment and happy days. Staff were friendly and helpful also.
I would have spoken to the Prime Minister by now!!! Three days I have been trying to call but no reply! When I go there they are helpful but what's the point? Do I have to travel several kms to find out if my passport has come through? For crying out loud!
Upon my initial phone call, I was told to wait for a month and a half for the next appointment which didn't suit my travel plans. However, I sent another email and managed to get a convenient time slot. The visa was processed quickly and the visa officer was friendly
The worst service and experience ever! I applied for my application in May and called up at the end of July asking when it would be ready. It was still not ready at that time. They never called me once to advise that my passport was ready i had to keep calling. I called again in October and in November. In November i was told to come and pick it up before Christmas otherwise it would be sent back. Today (12 December) I went in to pick it up and was told that i needed my old greek passport to pick it up and said if i dont come back by friday it will be sent back - furious! not once did they call a) to advise it was ready or b) tell you what you need to bring. I am then making my way back to my office and they call me advising me its been sent back! SERIOUSLY!!!! worse service ever. do not waste your time with these people. They are just a joke. I am never getting my greek passport renewed again.
Contrary to all the negative reviews, I found the Greece consulate to be professional and efficient. I applied for schengen visa and got it in a week, however it takes at least a month to get an appointment. P.S : Have all the documents ready for your appointment.
I had a great experience the other week - the Consulate went above and beyond to help me. I came in without an appointment to pick up some forms, initially met by a very warm George- he directed me quickly to the individual I needed to speak to (also called George). This gentleman went, as mentioned, above and beyond. It was a Friday, the Consulate closes at 2pm, he stayed back until 4pm assisting me to resolve my needs. He didn t have to do that, but he did. Try doing that anywhere else. I think some of the poor ratings aren t particularly fair, in my observation of everyone coming in during the time I was there, not one person left angry, or sad, or unresolved. Come here firstly by putting things into context - you go to VicRoads, you re guaranteed to spend anywhere between 30mins to an 1hr+, and that s for pretty minor requests. People enter the consulate for generally more significant requests. If you can t sit still waiting on a sofa (remarkably soft, I might add) for 15 minutes between you and the next person (who remember probably walked in asking for their entire extended family to get passports, and a sack of paperwork in-toe), then life is going to be a very disappointing and difficult.
FFS! The worst organisation I have ever dealt with! No online booking, phone went unanswered, email never get respond. I had to take time off from work to do everything in person even for booking a time with them. The receptionist is hopeless and not helpful!! Just because there is no competition for this kind of organisation that why people have to go there!! I will never want to deal with them again ever!
I have to apply a French visa thorough here and were treat like a dirt. Lazy staff, low efficiency, rude and arrogant, keep away of here you have other options. That is no surprise to see Greek went bankrupt.
Staff helpful but not very efficient. It took 1 hour for a job that could be done in 15 minutes. Why the stamps must be kept in a different room? Authorisation is part of routine power of attorney procedure. Whys researching the internet during customer service hours. This should be done before or after.... Now i know why I waited 5 months for the document!
For visa I used them 3 times in the past years and I have to say they were very helpful each time and polite. But very slow. All the rest services, like authorisation or to verify the authenticity of documents, the service is unacceptable. Wrong information is a culture here. To avoid their bad service last time, I preferred to travel all the way to Greece just for 1 week to finish my paperwork fast and without hassle. Please improve your service, give correct information and extend your working hours to normal, not just 25 hours per week. Most of appointments takes 4+ months!
Excellent, got my passport renewal application done even though my photos were not good enough they gave me time to go out and get a new set and return to complete the process.
I have to say that my last 6 visits to the Melbourne and London consulates have been nothing but positive.
Yes it is a slow process to get an appointment, however once you have one the process becomes easier. Ive been dealing with the Greek Consulate for over 10 years and it has gotten better!!
Positive experience! Contrary to all the negative comments, I called at 11:50PM and got through before the recorded message could play. I was also put through promptly to the person I requested to speak with. The lady was very friendly and addressed all my concerns. On other occasions, I tried calling before 10AM and even though they advertise as being open, I don't think they are, so best to call after 10AM. Another negative is that the appointments can take a long time before eventuating. We were expecting our appointment in July, however, we will be having it in Mid August. Better late than never.
This is one of the worst embassies I've ever had. It was extremely inefficient. I waited for an hour and a half on the day of the visa application. And there were only three groups of applicants. What a joke. A week later, I came to get my visa. I arrived at 9:00 but was told that I could not get it until 10:00. I asked again at 10:30, but was told I couldn't pick it up until noon! My god. When applying for a Japanese visa last year, it took less than five minutes to submit the visa and less than three minutes to get it a week later. I sincerely want to ask my friends in the Greek embassy, don't you realize your inefficiency? No wonder your country is bankrupt!
Excellent very helpful service for my Greek consular matters. Although the time to secure an appointment was quite lengthy, once my appointment was taken the staff provided very thorough and helpful assistance to me. Thank you!
Absolute disgrace to me of greek heritage. I am so embarassed for my children who went there today. They had to apply for a French visa as this is the arrangement. They were treated like dirt and are so upset that they never want to go to Greece with me. I am complaining in person. How awful.
Since when is a Greek consulate a day care center for staff members kids. Trying to get info and she had her 2 girls running a muck in the office let alone she had no idea her self on what the requirements are on a specific question. No matter where the Greeks work their attitude will never change. Reason why they will never move foward. Rude and arrogant attitude. Greek consulate Melbourne is one ....
The lady who works here is an absolute disgrace. Very dismissive and argumentative. Not willing to refer to any solutions to help you just ushers you out. The Greek embassy should be embarrassed to have someone like her represent them.
People who work here are absolute dead beats, they are a disgrace. Firstly you wait on the phone for ages only to have it automatically hang up, then after 5-6 tries when you finally get through you are greeted by a real piece of work who appears to be sick of life, gives you no assistance, is rude and is in such a hurry to hang up on you. They are pathetic and should be ashamed of themselves. Whilst i waited i witnessed one person who came in to collect a passport who was turned away another who was applying for the 4th time because they can't get it right and another whose application was lost and had to start again. Can they be any dumber or stupid? Is being rude and pathetic all they know how to do??????
I went there and they made me wait outside for over 20mins And I can see them walking around till one lady came and said Oh you need to come another day coz we close in 10mins
If you have "meson", meaning you have a connection with an employee through someone somehow, then you will get looked after very promptly. That's how the Greek system works, so just accept it.
I don't want to rate the service because there in NO service. That woman at the passports is so rude and arrogant that no words can describe her attitude.She even told me to leave and never come back as if i were in her house.It's just sad when people believe they have some kind of power and authority where in the real life have absolutely nothing..
Rude and vindictive. The epitome of the architect-Greek civil servant. You say that you will leave Greece and you will be saved from something like that, but that you can imagine that you will find the same things on the other side of the world.
The environment at the consulate is depressing. The decoration of the space is reminiscent of the 70s. The lighting is low and the organization is very low. This time the employees in the area were more polite, but on the phone they spoke in the singular. 1 The passport is renewed in Greece in 3 days and here the whole process took 4 months. 2 The initial appointment, which was for after 2 months, was extended by phone without excuse. 3 I should have cash with me because they do not accept cards, which is unlikely in the place where we live. The number I had to pay also had decimals and of course they had no change. 135.05 The receipt was handwritten! 4 I was informed that they will call me when the new passport comes from Greece and that this will be done in 6 to 8 weeks, probably closer to 6. In the 10th week I called and they told me that they can not call, since it is over 350 people waiting and that I should call after 6 weeks. But friends told me that they were called to pick them up. 5 In order to receive the passport I had to have with me the receipt that was given to me during the deposit. This is written on the proof of documents and the same as the proof of payment and it is not mentioned anywhere that I should have the old passport with me. But I had it and only that was finally asked. 6 I signed a manuscript, a large, densely written and abused book, following with my finger the line of my misspelled name that was on the other end. Such books were used in the registries in the middle of the last century. 7 The old passport was returned after being brutally and accidentally destroyed, folding and piercing it furiously.
The Greek disorder, disorganization and Middle Eastern mentality of lies and mockery that one encounters throughout the Greek public, exists here to the same degree. You feel like you are in the IKA of your area. Shame!
If there was a negative star I would have selected it. I never managed to reach them via the phone and when I got there (twice) there was a looooong waiting. Some people were doing nothing at all, just chatting and fooling around ( ) while others were servicing people in such a slow motion. I feel like I am in Greece when I enter the consulate...no joke.
Holding on line for several minutes, and the phone-line picking person was extremely inpatient!!! What a bad service that I never experienced before!!!
If I could give them 0 stars I would. Stark contrast to the Sydney consulate - these people don t want to answer phones, when they do they are very rude. They make you want to cry. Please find another embassy to help you.
It was their worst experience together. The most ruthless and lazy people I have ever met in my life. I don't know how you were paying in the midst of such caverns that you pay from Greece for such a community coffin. The worst people. in the Greek army Mrs the accepted without tipota.Apla say I want to say that it is a pity and ridicule such a jackass to exipiretoun Greeks abroad.
I received great advice over the phone and on my subsequent visit I was dealt with promptly and was able to receive copies of my paperwork easily. Great experience, excellent service thank you!
Exceptional service with immaculate results. The receptionist Yianni greeted me politely and guided me though the process, of explaining the procedure of power of attorney, step by step and with no signs of mistrust or forcing things up. Highly recommended and no hesitations of visiting them again...
What a rip off even thought you proved that your real brother is European citizen to waive the visa fee they still don't believe even after the proof you shown them. And if you say that you want to go for 10 days they only give you visa for ten days no more then that mostly countries give for 3 months very poor service
If you can't avoid it then be prepared at least for the following:
- Prepare cash! They are still stuck in prehistoric era and don't know that the eftpos machine has been invented.
- When you walk in, it stinks of cigarettes and it's definitely not the visitors, but rather the whole dingy space where they probably lit up after work.
- Learn the numbers in Greek if you're not Greek as they will call them out in Greek.
- Rude and attitude doesn't even cover the experience you will be provided with so brace yourself.
- And don't expect any assistance from anyone. You have to be persistent and adamant about your business.
It is by far the most unprofessional official body I have ever visited. You want to know why the Greece is in trouble, walk in here and you'll get your answers. The woman who served me checked her phone several times and simply couldn't be bothered with much. However, she was adamant that I must pay in cash and if I don't go and get the cash out, I won't get my documents.
And they also know how to charge. Two documents to be stamped - $96. Then again this is as ridiculous as our own government who charges $60 for the Apostille stamp alone.
I had a good experience at the consulate. I applied for a passport for the first time and it was easy. The birth certificate was printed on the spot and the appointment was not long. Staff were thorough and I received it in a month and a half. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
When u call them they say that u can visit them anytime , when you go there they say make an appointment, and when u make a appointment they say different words . I think I have to go to Greece to prepare my papers much qui we . I wish there was -10 rating for this guys . Go home everyone
Passport renewal took approx 8 weeks, applied for renewal mid April 2019 they even let me come in after closing time around 2.30pm to pick it up.(thank you for the flexibility) Email was sent as promised outlining where/when to pick up. Overall experience was positive and transparent from beginning to end.
I applied for visa to France for my family twice in 2018 and never had any positive experience. The attitude from the lady visa officer was like she granted my family special passes to Europe. Not welcoming and bureaucratic! If you changed your flights then your visas become obsolete! We had to shout once to show her our feeling. WHY WHY WHY Greek Consulate and French Embassy want to give this kind of service to the world?
This place is touch and go its like the Melbourne Weather. I tried to call this morning and all you get is a recorded message and thats it. Very Bad and very unprofessional problem is because it falls into the Greece juristriction you cannot call anybody here in Melbourne to express your concerns so your basically left in the dark to navigate your way around . I have dealt with them in the past they are ok but to get anywhere you need to be prepared have all your documents in place otherwise you will be coming and going forever. They do help though!
I actually went to this embassy two years a go to apply for a visa (entry from france) it was such a horrible experience that I suddenly occurred to me to check the reviews to see what other people experienced there. AVOID the lady with grandma vibe and (smelly) I have never been treated so condescendingly by in service section through my entire life.she was very rude and unable to explain anything. The whole place looked extremely uncoordinated. If you have the option if going to another embassy if it is even in another city I would recommend you do that.
I was disappointed with this office. I arrived for my appointment but the it was embarrassing the officer who was to assist me could not help me. I was later called in my his colleague who is meant to be the boss, she was disgusting, talking to me while she chewing bubble gum 9:30am and she couldn't help me. Please avoid this office if you can!!!!!!!
I can understand why this consulate had been given bad reviews, but let me tell you they have improved, massively. The young lady who gave me the appointment was very considerate and accommodating. The consular service by Dimitri was outstanding, he's been very friendly and helpful. I got my visa done within 3 hours, on the same day!!! Thank you Dimitri! It used to take them a few weeks and I had to go there twice, one to drop off documents, and back a few weeks later to pick up the visa. I couldnt be happier! PS: the grumpy and snobby lady was nowhere to be seen!!
First time ever writing a review and only if I can leave a negative rating!!! Hope I can help people in the same situation. I'm holding an Australian PR and trying to apply for a French Schengen visa. Unfortunately, the Greek consulate is representing France in VIC. On the Greek website, it clearly states "WHEN DO I APPLY?-It is advisable to contact us 1- 2 months before your trip and definitely no less than 15 days before your departure in order to set up an appointment. " I am 51 days away from my planned departure date. I went there this morning, being told the next available appointment is on 8th Sep. The girl told me "take it or leave". I tried to get a second chance by asking about cancellation, hoping when I'm free I can just wait to see if anyone failed to show up. And guess what? They kicked me out (really rudely). So if you want to travel to France or Greece, I would suggest you to call at least 4 months before hand. Not sure they answer phone calls tho.
Updates: For this visa, I ended up contacting French consulate in Sydney by email and they helped me to arrange an appointment in Sydney (multi entries, 90 days). The year after, I had to get another French visa. Called Greek Consulate about 3 months before and got an appointment. Single entry visa just enough days to cover my trip. When I was in the Greek Consulate, saw a family about to travel in a week time and couldn't get an appointment.
Contrary to all the negative comments, I was more than impressed with the service I encountered recently at the Greek Consulate in Melbourne The staff were very helpful and professional and they truly went out of their way to find available dates and "squeeze" in my next appointment. To all non-patient, Greek Consulate haters and " " or " ", please note the following: 1. When you call, the person in charge of the phone, also assists people arriving therefore not always able to answer the call straight away. Personally, I was calling every day for 2 weeks between 9-10am till I finally got through (the only negative comment) to make an appointment 2. Go to your appointment PREPARED 3. No government department , anywhere in the world is perfect. 4. The Greek Consulate is under-resourced, yes, (like a lot of other businesses these days, in the name of efficiency and productivity) but it is not the staff's fault if the Greek government does not allocate more resources 5. Be patient, polite and don't act as you own the place or that you are owed something, just because you are you! 6. I am not related to anyone at the Consulate and I am not an employee of the Greek Government 7. To the staff at the Greek Consulate, thank you and " "
An update from my last visit - a month almost my first appointment - and the comments continue to be positive... Arrived a bit earlier, waited for a while - funny I couldn't smell any cigarette smoke as someone complained about - and I was called in from the same polite lady that assisted me the first time. She completed all the paperwork, accurately, timely and efficient. Due to the number of registrations required - a wedding, birth, baptisms and a power of attorney - it did take a couple of hours, but I was prepared and had my afternoon free.
Exactly a week later, I went back and received all the documents required for my kids to acquire the Greek citizenship and passports
Great work, thank you Katerina, Luke and all at the consulate!
I believe the Greek Consulate General is doing the best they can under the circumstances of very little staff to cater for a large number of people of Greek background in Melbourne (some estimates at 400 thousand). So please be patient and things can improve from here.
If you can avoid this place try to. You only get something done only if you know someone they change their rules every time you go in there. Its very frustrating getting anything done especially when you miss out on a whole day from work and you get nothing done.
Absolutely disgusted with one of the agents that served us for my sons army issue . She was an older lady who looked like she was tired of working(looked like a grandma) .. I simply asked When our sons papers will be ready (she said she could get it processed if we waited outside) As we walked out of her office I asked her nicely "How long do you think it will take " She replied with raised voice 'Sas parakalo kyria mou , kathiste kato kai tha sas fonaxoume" All she couldve said as a professional, "Not sure,might take about an hour or so, kindly take a seat " She told my hubby "Im only processing your paper today because your quiet , because your wife is rude" Im appalled how our Greek embassy has rude, egotistical, obnoxious people working in our country.
That s a truly Greek public service. Totally incompetent, rude and full of themselves. They open at 9:00, set the first appointment at 9:30 but do ask you to be there half an hour earlier! 9:45 and the clerk is not even in the building yet. When asked why the delay, the information desk s reply is, how should we know, maybe it s the traffic, just wait and eventually they will be there
This is the most inefficient department I've ever had to deal with. They made me wait on the phone for 20 minutes and then hung up on me. If you are unable to handle the volume of calls then you have a duty to advise people so they don't wait forever for nothing. This way people would be much more understanding of your situation. Please log on and tell them exactly how you feel.
Whent there today to register a death and to send it via email to the greek consulate in Greece we don't do that and we do not email we where also told that Wednesday you don't need an appointment big fat ly whent back to talk to reception she would not let me talk she told me to not yell which i was not she did not want to listen to me and what i wanted say and then said leave so they served the next customer when i was stiil talking to them they basically did not want to listen to and kicked me out of the building and that if i don't leave they would call the police and the way another staff member was talking to a customer on the phone is another thing she was not only talking over him but was also yelling at him all the customers that were also waiting could here her and then in the end she basically told him make an appointment and then hung up on him
Shame, shame and shame again !! This Lady in passport renewal is just a shame for the Greek Consulate in Melbourne. The weft and the continuous answer we do not enter into such procedures was simply unacceptable. Too bad because after 2 years away from home, wounded due to crisis, far from ours came the experience with the Consulate to remind us why the things arrived to be like this in our Greece. It is a real shame that the Greek Community of Melbourne, with the dynamics and unity that characterizes it, will have to deal with the issue in my humble opinion. I do not want to go into details as to why those who have gone to the embassy or 95% I believe will agree with my view.
I have been trying to call them for 3 days. Waited on the phone for 5 minutes with Greek auto message, after 5 minutes the English voice message comes up explaining what I could expect, then tellls me if I wanna make appointment for visa, I should hold on the phone and wait to be connected after the voice message. I wait for 15 minutes or more each time and can't get through at all. Around 11:30 to 12:30 I just can't connect to them anymore. Afterward the phone is busy until their office close at 2pm. Does this office only have 1 phone? The only way I can make visa application appointment is calling them and I can't get through for days.
Service is non existent. Needed to have my signature certified and waited for 3 hours. I have no choice as it has to be done here. Stay away if you can. It s a perfect example of the Greek Public Service.
The absolute worst experience. ... They refused to assist and help me and they actually hung on me... It was a matter of complacency, discrimination and just down right bad manners. I was quite disgusted. I am sad to say, it reflects badly on Greece as a nation and the level of care and customer is service is zero!
Did not have problem making my visa this time around. However would understand those people who would have problem. Missed my chance making my visa last year due to fully booking. Increase in efficiency or more staff to make visa would be great.
I had an 11 AM appointment and guess what i was served at 11AM. Nothing but praise for the individuals that work at the consulate. Half the time the old time greeks can't be bothered listening to what needs to be done at reception and when they are repeatedly ask the same question. No service is perfect but i have never had a bad experience at the consulate. Each person that has served me has been polite, respectful and professional. For those who want to whinge get into line and have a Greek coffee whilst you're at it.
I started working towards duel citizenship when I was eighteen. I pursued it through the consulate over time. After a long while I continued out of curiosity, with the assistance of friends and family in Greece gathering documents and so forth. In the end I got it, but it took me 22 years! I still have memories of sitting at the military base in Kilkis for six hours drinking frappe to get documents signed. They got my name wrong, and don't answer emails- not even from other consuls. How this situation persists is ridiculous.
The people at the consulate don t want to help you. They made 2 mistakes when processing my sister and my documents, then they told me because of the mistakes that I had to repay $800 to start the whole process again. When I tried to discuss the issue with them they shouted at me saying it wasn t their problem and refused to talk to us.
Let me just say God help you dealing with these Greek bureaucrats, never have I dealt with such a bunch of rude, selfimportant, lazy, unhelpful people in the city of Melbourne. A simple state dec procedure that would have normally taken 5min at a local chemist took me 3.5hr over 2 days to complete. Only after my frustration took the better of me and I was forced to confront them regarding the lack of service given at the very unqualified male secretary that was constantly winging to his colleague about his non existent work load, did they all come out of there little boroughs like they've just been woken up by the noise. Not happy about being confronted with the truths about there complete lack of service and making me feel as I was there just as an inconvenience to there day, did they then decide to deal with my request, only to be told the the office was now closed and if I wanted further assistance I would need to come back the following day. Unfortunately these people are a reflection of the wider Greek bureaucracy culture, passed down from the homeland government in Greece and will take a few more generation to change. My only advice, just be ready for lengthy periods of waiting, and make sure you park your vehicle in a all day car park so you don't get booked. Ohh, and they shut there doors at 2:00pm Good luck!
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