Honestly, trying to get a consulate appointment these days is like waiting for concert tickets. I've noticed it feels way more stressful now, probably because they make you book everything online and you basically have to wake up at weird hours to snag a spot. I remember hearing my cousin rant for a week straight when he spent hours refreshing the consulate's site for a student visa, only for all the slots to vanish in seconds.

I've seen how tight security and government rules are ever since the pandemic, but recently they've only gotten stricter. Plus, most consulates only let you in if you have an appointment, so people can’t just show up. And sometimes, their websites totally crash or say access denied, like what happened in Krakow last week! It's honestly wild how much you have to plan ahead for something that used to be simple, and nobody really explains why it's so complicated now. I definitely miss when you could just walk in for basic stuff. If you have to deal with this, my advice is to book early and double check everything. Good luck!