Visa Status Update: I took the first available appointment at the consulate, August 13. I'm scheduled to leave the 16th. You do the math. I was doggedly optimistic as I conveyed this information to the Commission: lalala, all I have to do is show up and retrieve my visa, non? Uh, non, as it turns out. My contact, through thinly-veiled panic, recommended that I contact the consulate directly to see if I could get an earlier appointment.
Today, I took action: I called. (Those of you who know me well recognize that this is a BFD. Think about it: when was the last time I called you? Exactly.) I almost threw up the whole time the phone was ringing, which was stupid because naturally I only got the Electric Lady, who rattled off lengthy instructions about getting an appointment online (already did that, thanks), then invited me to press one to speak to a visa agent. I pressed one, and was immediately informed that all visa agents were busy. Did I wish to leave a voice mail? Why yes, I did. Well, tant pis, because the voice mailbox was full. Au revoir!
Argh. I got drastic. Looked online for the main switchboard number, dialed it (feeling faint once again)... and got the Electric Lady again.
Plan B: as the Electric Lady suggested, I could consult the website, which is updated daily. Found an email address, spent a ridiculous amount of time composing, editing and adding accent marks, copied the Commission, hit send.
Email was returned with fatal errors.
So evidently it's not possible to contact the consulate by phone or email, and they won't see you if you show up without an appointment.
Yeah, you could say I'm panicking now.
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