Road to France Lined With Irritated Visa Applicants

Alan Hobbes came prepared with a magazine, a cooler and a lawn chair. Most lacked his foresight.

But none of the 100 people waiting in front of the French Consulate one afternoon--or the 200 outside one morning last week--seemed pleased, ready or not. In some cases, people wanting to see the wonders of France spent four or more hours wondering if they’d ever see the inside of the Beverly Hills Consulate.

“I just came here with my mind set that I was going to waste the whole day,” said Hobbes, a recent graduate of the University of California, Irvine, preparing for his first trip to France. “We were warned to expect a wait, four hours minimum. I was expecting it to be even worse than it is.”

Forewarned, Forearmed

Hobbes, 24, said he needed a visa for a European excursion that would also take him to England, Italy, Germany and Czechoslovakia. “I can imagine that if I didn’t come knowing what to expect, I’d be climbing the walls,” Hobbes said, comfortably seated in his chair. “I think they need to increase the manpower.”

Since mid-April, a growing line of tourists has snaked its way around the consulate building at 8350 Wilshire Blvd., said Consul Gen. Bernard Miyet. Prompted by a rash of terrorist bombings, the country abandoned its more open tourist policy in September and now demands visas from most travelers to France, Tahiti, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Only citizens from European Common Market countries are exempt.

Since the announcement, the consulate has been flooded with applicants. Miyet imposed an appointment system last year and said he tried to resurrect it recently when the lines grew long. But the summer tourists seem to prefer waiting, he said.

‘It Seems Crazy’

“I think they are in more of a hurry this year,” he said, adding that the appointment system will probably be brought back in July. “It seems crazy, but they’ll wait hours and hours (for visas).”

The wait was days, not hours, for Rosalind Wayman, who was noticeably miffed by the procedure. Wayman, a Valencia resident who needed a visa for a Tahiti trip, waited in line Monday afternoon, only to return at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to be eighth in line. She faulted the consulate staff for not telling her that no visa would be issued after 2 p.m. or after a daily limit of walk-in applicants.

What did she think of the consulate’s system?

“I think silly is a kind word,” she said, her neighbors in line grumbling in agreement. “The level of incompetence is very high.”

20 Minutes to Process

Once inside, the processing takes about 20 minutes, Miyet said. The consulate issues up to 700 visas a day, with a like number distributed through the mail, he said. Those wanting visas need to bring a passport, a two-inch photograph and cash. Travelers pay $15 for three years, $9 for three months or $3 for a three-day travel pass.

Miyet said the consulate staff is doing everything it can to speed up the process, and special arrangements have been made for pregnant women, the elderly and handicapped people. Businessmen can get visas through the French Trade Commission in Century City.

Miyet said the visas have apparently helped combat terrorism, noting there have been fewer incidents since the policy went into effect.

Others weren’t so convinced.

“They (the French) are going to suffer from it,” said Wayman, who brought food, a lawn chair and a newspaper for her early morning vigil.

Not so, said Jean-Michel Harzic, director of the French tourist office. Despite the processing problems, he said, the visa has “introduced a sense of safety with tourists,” and said officials expect a 20% increase in tourism this year. In 1986, 400,000 Californians visited France, about 150,000 fewer than the year before, he said.

Hobbes, who had reached the front of the line by early afternoon, said the experience will ready him for waiting in line at the All-England Club for Wimbledon tickets.

“Hey, this is just a warm-up,” he said, “that’s the way I look at it.”