German Consulate General

had good experience on all of my 3 visits. Make sure to make appointment ahead of time. And bring all documents needed. Only downside is the parking charge more if I may remember 2 $ per 15 mins. If u wanna save then go park on the street or other nearby pay parking.

One shit place! Stay away!
Long wait times! Rude german staff, that asks
a lot personal unnecessary questions!

I have made two visits to the Consulate General in Los Angeles and have had a very pleasant experience on both occasions. Norbert and Martina were very competent and professional in helping me obtain a resident permit to work in Germany.

very helpful and nice staff, very considerate.
I came in late, but they were very patient to understand my reasons, and let me in.
They were also super efficient. I applied Tuesday afternoon, and the visa was already delivered to me Friday morning of the same week!
I also emailed them some questions prior to the visa application, and while waiting for the visa. Got immediate replies.
Absolutely nothing to complain about, and special thanks to Martina, who’s the officer than handle my application.

We always have a very good experience. The people are extremely helpful and friendly, and wait time is close to zero.
When we visited the other day to renew our passports, I had an even better experience. Back home, I realized that I forgot one of my bags at the Consulate.
I called. Turns out that it was still there including my iPad. Armando, the security officer, found it. Thank you, Armando!!!

Ausgezeichnet! As my wife carries German citizenship and we wanted our kids to do the same. We have come to this consulate twice now with the kids and have been super impressed both times.
This consulate, which is located in the Miracle Mile, has no great access to parking. You will need to pay cash to park your car here so make sure to bring some.
Once you get up to the floor, it’s easy to find the offices, the guard is friendly, and the office is spacious. It could use some help décor-​wise. They even have a little activity area for kids.
Our appointment this last time was set for 10:00 AM. We were probably 5 minutes early, but right at 10:00 AM our counselor sat down and assisted us. She was very thorough and moved at a much faster pace than I expected. The appointment ended by 10:15! Maybe part of that had to do with my wife’s ability to ensure everything was taken care of, but either way, so efficient! Within 2 weeks, the passport had arrived which was earlier than they even estimated.
Note: Children’s passports are processed in the US which is why this came so quickly. Adult passports are sent off to Germany and then sent back to the US once completed. Please don’t anticipate a 2 week turnaround for an adult passport, it will likely take 4 – 6 weeks.

Ironically and unexpectedly, an american employee was the most unfriendly and least professional staff member I had to deal with.

Wow. Could not believe how unhelpful and rude the woman who answered the phone was. After waiting until someone finally answered, I began to let the employee know that I read all the information there is on their website, but still couldn’t find the steps and forms for obtaining german citizenship (there’s only info on obtaining US citizenship). I didn’t even get to the part about what I couldn’t find when she told me to read their website. I said, «I did, but…» and before I could go on she gave me a lecture on something like how I need to email them because it’s not practical to expect an employee to research my question while they are on the phone with me. While this does make sense in some cases, she could have AT LEAST listened to me before she cut me off and subsequently hung up on me. This is definitely up there in the top 3 cases of worst customer service experiences I’ve ever had.

Very friendly, helpful, and efficient!
My wife and I went earlier this month for our visas to Germany. The consular officer was extremely helpful and patient in sorting out our paperwork, and accommodating our travel requests. Our visas arrived within the same week.
I realized when the visas had arrived that I had made a mistake in my paperwork and specified the wrong entry date. I contacted the consulate, and they were extremely helpful and accommodating in helping me get the error corrected. Within 2 weeks, not only did I get my passport back the first time with a visa, but I’ve also sent it back, and received my amended visa! Throughout the process, the officer I worked with was extremely patient and helpful. I can’t praise her work ethic enough!
Having immigrated to the US from India several years back, I’ve been to several consulates worldwide. Truly, this is the most efficient, helpful, and friendly consulate I have ever visited. Not only they are very efficient in processing things, they also go above and beyond in helping you in every way they can.

Ausgezeichnet! I know, why even bother writing a review for a place that pretty much has a monopoly on their service in this geographic area?! (Unless you know another place around LA that offers German passports and visas). I am writing this as an acknowledgement and thank you to the Consular staff.
My appointment was at 11:30 am. I walked out of there 11:28am with everything I needed done. Yes, I showed up 20 minutes early, without passport photos. Figuring I could get them there. The photo-​booth was out of order, so the security guard send me next door for pics. Took about 10 min and $ 12. Came back, the appointment window was open, started the paperwork. The clerk was so kind to make a copy for me that I had forgotten. I thought I had to go somewhere else to make one, and he stopped me half way out of my chair, looking at me like I was crazy for wanting to leave and getting it done somewhere else. Less than ten minutes and my passport will be ready for pickup in 4 weeks :)
Parking: I parked in the building lot $ 2 for each 15 minutes. Because I didn’t want to have to feed a meter, if I was in the middle of something. Paid $ 4 for my time there.
This was one of the moments where I have heimatweh. So overall friendly, quick and efficient. Much like the Deutsche Bahn.

Went there to renew my Son’s Passport, had an apt. so they took care of us right away. Friendly and well organized. Also, we made our pictures there at the photo booth, which cost 5 $ :). A month later the passport was done :) no hassle. Danke schön !

Administration at its best. Everyone was very helpful and well mannered. Prompt and efficient service. It gives you a great window into german culture. If only all governmental administrations acted the same…

the hubby needed to renew his german passport, so he made an appointment online for the day after thanksgiving. there were several 1 hr parking meters in front of the building as well as a structure (apparently it was free since nobody was guarding the gate on that day). we were about 30 minutes earlier than our allotted time, but we only waited about 15 minutes before the hubby’s name was called.
unlike many u.s. government workers, these people were extremely nice. to start off, the security guard was very friendly and not intimidating at all. the lady who processed the hubby’s passport was chatty, efficient and informative. i’d have hated my job if i were them, needing to come to work the day after thanksgiving, but i saw no signs of irritation from them.
being germans, they are super anal about the passport/​visa pictures. the dimensions, background, lights and reflections have to be EXACT which meant the hubby’s picture taken at a costco was not acceptable. thankfully, there was an instant photo machine (instructions in german language only) in the room which satisfied the requirements (ony $ 5 and splits out 4 copies… better than costco!).
they accept credit cards and cash for the fees, but credits cards are charged in euros, so foreign transaction fees maybe applied. you can opt to have them send your passport back by mail for less than $ 20 (not cheap, but sometimes, time is more precious than a few dollar bills).
the hubby’s been to german and spanish consulates in many different countries and said this one in l.a. is the best so far.

Very RUDE RUDE RUDE people. I am of German decent and can honestly say that they were an embarrassment to the German culture. They hung up on me three times, stating that they would not help me since I lived on the east coast. This came after I explained that I could not reach the NY office, and that I only needed a question answered. A SIMPLE QUESTION !!!
The lady at the consulate was very lazy, as she refused to even speak to me.
Oliver, quit calling people idiots because they disagree with you, go to facebook if you want to do that.
PS, I noticed that my first entry has been erased, are they afraid of the truth?

Awesome! I never thought I would say this about a Consulate but after needing a Schengen Visa desperately and seeing that horrible reviews on both the French and the Italy Consulates along with the Italian consulate appointments filled till August I went to the German Consulate. The online appointment system is much easier to use than the Italian one, plus they had alot of open appointment times. I was stressing out about having only 4 wks left to get everything together and as it is my first time getting any Visa by myself, I wasn’t very sure about some of the documents. I did not have all my documents ready by the time my appointment rolled around so I went to cancel it online only to realize you have to cancel at least a full day in advance. I decided to go to the consulate and ask about my missing documents to clarify and to reschedule in person for when I do get all my documents. Once I arrived, the security man was very kind and told me in detail everything I needed and how I could get them. I realized I printed out the application w/​o a barcode and the security man directed me to a copystore nearby to reprint an accurate application form. He told me not to worry for the worker at the copystore can help me since he deals with alot of applications. I thanked him and told him I would reschedule and come back once all my documents were complete, he told me to come back after I print out the correct application form because I can most likely just fax the missing documents to the consulate and that would save me a trip. I went to print out the application and went back to turn in all the documents I had. The visa reviewer told me to fax my missing documents and that my visa should be ready in 10 business days. This was a Thursday, I couldn’t get all my documents faxed till Monday. After I faxed my docs, I called the card the visa reviewer gave me and left a voicemail saying I faxed all my documents and to call me if anything was missing. I was starting to get nervous again that he didn’t get my documents and something would go wrong. However, one day later I get a call from my visa reviewer saying he received my docs and everything is good and that my visa is ready, so come the next day to pick it up! I was ecstatic! One Business day and my Visa was ready! How amazing! Went back the next day, security guy remembered me, directed me to a window to pick up my Visa, the employee who gave me my Visa was also super friendly and asked me if I was going for vacation and chatted with me and told me places to visit in Europe! Everyone was soo nice! Visa process couldn’t have gone smoother. Germans are soo efficient and awesome!

I took a Friend of mine there to have her renew her Passport. We had an appointment for her, but not for myself. But while I was there, ask if they could help me anyways with my Paperwork.
No problem at all:
So I turned over my Paperwork (BBG) and the Lady behind the Counter was very friendly and helpful, smiled the entire Time and explained what to expect next.
A great experience, if you ask me. I had no appointment, but was treated like a human being.
(American Consulate, are you listening???)
Anyways, as soon as I got Home, I got an Email-​confirmation in my Inbox from Saskia, who wanted a few more documents to complete my application. Wow, that was fast!
No big deal, off I sent it.
For People like Tom:
Treat People the way you like to be treated, and everything will work out for you.

Thanks David S. for setting this straight and for Tom — you are an idiot!
I always received a nice friendly quick service when I have to come here. The only disadvantage is the Valet Parking.

Made an appointment conveniently online, got one for 5 days after checking. Got there, easy valet parking. Somebody helped me as soon as I walked in and was able to help me with everything I needed (passport for me and my son). The service was efficient and friendly. I left the consulate happy.

I can’t believe how rude the Visa Lady was. For a representative of German Country, she did not have any manners, let alone respect for customers. Why would Germany with all the bad history choose such individuals to represent a country that should be embracing visitors?
I read many bad comments on Google as well and wonder why nobody from the US State Department does anything about this? What’s next? A Swastika?