How is your home country's service in Argentina doing?

There are 3 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 262 times. The latest Post (October 23, 2024 at 4:08 PM) was by Rice.

    Recently, I had to renew my passport and went to the Italian consulate in Microcentro. The process is 2-steps: first, you have to book a "virtual" appointment to submit your passport request. They check your file on their end (we have to be registered as residing abroad to be able to use consular services, and have our file up to date with any marriage, birth etc.)

    After this pre-approval, I had to book a second appointment where I had to go in person, they got my fingerprints, had me sign a declaration and then I was put in a room with other 50-60 people (among which several kids and elders) for 120'. It was insane, I felt like I was waiting for asylum paperwork on the US-Mexico borders. Children were screaming and crying, bored as hell. No cell phone was allowed, they check you have it switched off when entering the building and passing through the metal detector. At some point, people didn't care and turned it on. All that we had was a TV on mute showing an Italian cooking show on Italian television, and a water dispenser. There was no priority service for families with children and elders, which looks shameful.

    The consular staff was all Argentinian, and this reflects the poor Italian that I have been using when emailing me. Sometimes they don't even bother to write back in Italian and just use Spanish. I am appalled about this. I understand they are just locally hired personnel, but it doesn't feel like you are dealing with an Italian office. Not to mention that they don't even sign or identify themselves. It is like hitting a rubber wall.

    When telling about my passport experience to Rice , she also mentioned that on her recent trip to the US Embassy to deliver her ballotts she was attended by local staff whose English was barely understandable. I am wondering if other forum members have had the same experience with their Embassy/Consulate.

    Commenting this with an Italian friend, we both commented that there is no place you feel less welcome and Italian than at the Italian Consulate in Buenos Aires. A shame, really.

    My missus went to renew her Argentine passport on Monday. She opted for the two day express service and it was delivered today.

    She renewed her Spanish passport a few weeks ago and obviously had no problem given her vice consul position. Otherwise it wouldn't have been that easy given the queues we saw inside and out.

    The British passport renewal process involves having to send it to the UK.

    Quote from serafina

    Recently, I had to renew my passport and went to the Italian consulate in Microcentro. The process is 2-steps: first, you have to book a "virtual" appointment to submit your passport request. They check your file on their end (we have to be registered as residing abroad to be able to use consular services, and have our file up to date with any marriage, birth etc.)

    After this pre-approval, I had to book a second appointment where I had to go in person, they got my fingerprints, had me sign a declaration and then I was put in a room with other 50-60 people (among which several kids and elders) for 120'. It was insane, I felt like I was waiting for asylum paperwork on the US-Mexico borders. Children were screaming and crying, bored as hell. No cell phone was allowed, they check you have it switched off when entering the building and passing through the metal detector. At some point, people didn't care and turned it on. All that we had was a TV on mute showing an Italian cooking show on Italian television, and a water dispenser. There was no priority service for families with children and elders, which looks shameful.

    The consular staff was all Argentinian, and this reflects the poor Italian that I have been using when emailing me. Sometimes they don't even bother to write back in Italian and just use Spanish. I am appalled about this. I understand they are just locally hired personnel, but it doesn't feel like you are dealing with an Italian office. Not to mention that they don't even sign or identify themselves. It is like hitting a rubber wall.

    When telling about my passport experience to Rice , she also mentioned that on her recent trip to the US Embassy to deliver her ballotts she was attended by local staff whose English was barely understandable. I am wondering if other forum members have had the same experience with their Embassy/Consulate.

    Commenting this with an Italian friend, we both commented that there is no place you feel less welcome and Italian than at the Italian Consulate in Buenos Aires. A shame, really.

    That's bloody awful!

    I had to deliver something to the Spanish consulate for a client last year and the experience was appalling with the most ridiculous searches, forcing me to leave my backpack which contained spare parts, in a nearby kiosk.

    As for British passport renewal, something I'll have to do in Feb or March, we simply fill in the details online, post it to London with the old one and a new one arrives by DHL in about ten days.

    Renew or replace your adult passport
    How to apply, how long it takes, how much it costs, track your application, unexpired visas, replacing a damaged passport.
    www.gov.uk

    serafina , even worse: when I tried to call to ask a question of anyone at the US Embassy (Mission: Impossible. Robot menu only), even the menu was recorded by someone whose English was barely intelligible.

    Surely an Embassy can pay a native speaker to at least make the vmail recording?