Consulate-General of France in Johannesburg

INCOMPETENT CAPAGO
After reading all the complaints about Capago, I know I'm not the only one. But the result is that I'm not sure that I want to go through this stress again to go to France/Italy. I also had horrendous experiences with them. First to apply and wait for 2.5 hours, complaining after all but one of their staff went to tea!!!!!! Then to contact them to find out about my visa. THERE IS NOT ONE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN PHONE THAT WILL BE ANSWERED. They are pathetic and I can not understand why we as South African's have to put up with these people. Close them down, get new management, anything is better that dealing with their current offices! I'm so frustrated that I want to post an article in a newspaper!

Incorrect Schenegn Visa rejection at Capago Durban
Hi
I had a horrendous experience recently trying to obtain my Schengen Visa. Capago Durban rejected my Italian schengen visa application as they claimed being in transit in through France was considered a day and therefore my longest stay was in France-this meant I had to urgently book flight to Johannesburg to apply for a visa at Capago. At Capago jnb i was told this policy was wrong and it had to be an Italian Schengen! Manager at Capago Durban refused to listen to reason on the phone and eventually Capago JNB (staff was brilliant in their service) helped me apply for the Italian Schengen (which was approved). So the manager at Capago Durban made me lose time and money, not to mention the stress I was under!
My email address is rani3110@gmail.com. And i would appreciate some feedback on the incompetence that I was subjected too.

Complaints of Capago
I have numerous complaints against Capago staff which have never been attended to.

I would suggest writing your complaints directly to the Consular office and register your mail.

FRENCH VISA
CAN I STILL GET A FRENCH TRANSIT VISA IN DURBAN OR DO I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO JOHANNESBURG?

In need of a French Visa ASAP
Any help please on obtaining a french visitors visa today is the 29/5/2012 and i leave for uk on 1/6/2012 and need to obtain visa before Friday. HELP.

VISAS
I have only had excellent service, not only at Capago but when I had to deal with the Consulate directly. Hugo has always been EXTREMELY efficient at the Consulate and has ALWAYS greeted and helped me with a smile -

Changing Stories
I have applied for tourist visas before for various countries but the process for the French visa is ridiculous. At this stage all I have tried to do is to gather information and to say I uncovered a number of issues, including issues pertaining to Parisian politics causing problems for tourists, is an understatement.

One of the things I have experienced here in South Africa is that I was repeatedly told that I had to have a lease agreement for an apartment I had booked for December for 8 days for a holiday. The company that owns the apartment refused to give me a lease agreement and had never heard of such a requirement, which it turns out many other apartment rental companies in Paris had not heard about either. Eventually the apartment company cancelled my booking and refunded my money but because of the exchange rate I lost R500. I then found an apartment company that says they can issue lease agreements and based on that I made a booking with them that costs R2000 than the first booking and might be in a noisy area. The first apartment was on Ile de la Cite. Today I got a document proving I had paid for the new apartment. This is not a lease agreement, which I had requested.I then checked with Capago and the very same person who had insisted all along that I have a lease agreement said the French authorities would accept this proof of payment even though she had consistently said they would not accept proof of payment on a letterhead when I asked them repeatedly about that with the first apartment. How can this person, who it turns out is a manager, suddenly change her story? She also replied to an e-mail I had once sent to tell her about no one in Paris believing what I was telling them about the lease agreement that I could not enter France if I had no accommodation. That was all she said after I had told her before I had paid in full for the apartment. I am not stupid and travel extensively every year. I have been trying to comply with the laws of France but all that has happened is that I have become frustrated, I have lost money, the story about what the French authorities will accept has suddenly changed and I am treated like a criminal. By all means, keep illegal immigrants out but do not turn away tourists who want to spend a few thousand Euros and then go home.

VISA ISSUES
TO ALL OUT THERE WHEN YOU WHAT TO GO ON URGENT BUSSINESS TO FRANCE SORRY WILL NOT HAPPEN UNLESS YOU NOW 2 YEARS IN ADVANCE THESE PEOPLE IS NOT IN ANY HURRY FOR YOU

late visa im going to wast R60 000 in the water
I phoned capago to apply for a business visa and asked them how long it will take. Iwas told 7 working days on the 26th of March i applied for it and today its seven days. Tommorow and monday is public holiday and I need it today cuase my flight is booked for monday night now when you phone CAPAGO they say now sorry 7 to 15 working days. AND EVERYTHING IS PAYED FOR. What now. PLEASE TELL ME WHO IS TO BLAME NOW AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP. For my company will be loosing this money. Is there no way for a emergency visa of such or so be it you can ever get a visa on time when you are in need to go to France on business urgently.

phones,security, call centre
Why do you list your telephone numbers if you are unable to answer your phones. All what is happening is listening to machines and waisting peoples time.
Customer service themselves can't get through to your offices. My son needs to live today for France no one knows where his passport is. We are unable to call the Jan Smuts office. When go to the office the security blocks with an attitude not prepared to listen to you he sends you to that Sandton place. Those people when you phone them they do not know where the passport is.
I wonder if you ever read our comments. All we need to know what do we do if we want to know about our passports. If we could speak to someone. Please respect peoples feelings.