Eh

That's an awful scenario and very sorry to hear that. That is why I ALWAYS go with my wife when dealing with paperwork. It is the case because she's from Belarus and while you wouldn't ever see the scenario there like you described, they could politely not let you out of the country or so, i.e. they can 'create the rules on-the-fly'.

Nevertheless, I do agree that the UK has loads of problems with their embassies and in this area the UK goes hand in hand if not worse than ex soviet countries. Now the good thing is that you can slap Home Office now very hardly but you need as much evidence as possible. I'm pretty sure that you can claim back expenses if you miss the flight on Saturday. When we were applying for FP in Paris, they said it wouldn't be in time, hence I threatened to claim back the expenses for Eurostar ticket and missed working days from Home Office. The response was quick and they let us come on Friday after opening hours to collect the passport with FP.

By the way, apparently the major problems in British embassies arise from local employees, like you mentioned Thai guy? In Paris I was enagaged in an incredibly rude discussion with British embassy employee with strong French accent who talked all kinds of nonsense contradicting to EU laws, which fortunately gave me the opportunity to slap Home Office because of that.

If you want, I can dig out those emails from Paris FP quest to see what path it took for Home Office to contact Manager of Visa Services in France. Just pm.

 

VISA RUNS AND HOW TO GET TREATED AT EMBASSIES.

Dear all,

I want to shout it out loud and hope to be heard!

I think it is about time that the media should give a closer look on how people been treated on the embassies in many countries!

The way Embassies councilors sometimes talk and treat people is more than impolite and increasingly racist.

If you look at Blogs, the pages are full of complaints of people having similar or even worse experiences.

Are these counselors better people then us??? Sure the more arrogant and talking down towards other people applying for visas.

This is my new experience when:
I just left BKK on thursday to go on a visa run into Singapore, I tried to get information for a 3 month visa at the Thai embassy of which I went straightaway from the airport.
First they told me to come back the next day to apply and also I could only apply for a 2 month visa which I was happy with. So I returned the next day with "all" the papers I thought, waited as usual a long time when finally came to the desc, a arrogant woman ( not Thai) told me to bring also the inbound travel itinerary to BKK (I had the outbound itinerary of Thailand) I asked if I could bring it back in 15min. I needed to print it out in a internet shop...but she could not give me 15min. Because the embassy will be closed she said(but about 10 people still waiting in line)....My flight was on monday.. so no time for a new apply. Her arrogant behavior freaked me out and even more she didn't want to listen. Now i got no visa wasted five expensive days in Singapore and got treated once more like a dog not worthy to give 15min. of time!!!

Two years ago my wife also had terrible experiences at the German embassy in Bangkok and same in other embassies, where she has been treated as a person better not to describe.

Are we have to take this ongoing ignoring arrogance and impoliteness of these people at the embassies?

I wish the rather would be helping and assisting.
I wish people would be treated friendly and not talked down.

I wish someone has the power to change these arrogant embassy people.
I wish that the media and press would have an interest on this nerve wrecking, money and time consuming situation in many Embassies and look closely of how people been treated.

I pretty much have doubts that this is getting any better and know I have too many wishes!

Any more people with similar experiences???