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Location :
Added by Jopie, at 18 March 2016
Opening Hours
- Monday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
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15 Reviews
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12 May 2021
I have only had very positive interactions with every member of staff at the Chicago consulate and I'm VERY sad to read that they will be diverting appointments to the DC office. Our family's visas were processed with efficiency. Where we overlooked directions, the necessary steps were patiently explained. I really hope that the visa consular services for the midwest are moved back here!
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18 February 2021
No one answers the phone. Looks like I’ll be going there in person. Such terrible service
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09 August 2020
I thought of a leave a suggestion to SA Consulate to make their service better. After reading all those negative comments , I realise that negative impression of South Africa is created by South Africa and its people. South African Government and people can create the best impression about your country. But you do not get the respect if you treat people with rudeness. Yes I can understand sometimes your frustrations, that can lead to being rude. But just understand when you treat people badly, you creating a negative impression on yourself. Consulate General represent South Africa. If you want to portray the best of the South Africa all across the world, treat the pepople with such a great self respect and respect towards others. Otherwise you are creating a really really bad impression on yourself and also to South Africa.
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22 November 2019
This is a belated review that I've been meaning to post. On September 16, 2019 I visited the embassy to apply for a new passport as mine had expired. I had read the reviews so I went to the embassy expecting to run into issues and unfriendly employees. Well, that is so not what I experienced over the phone nor at the office itself.
When I called the embassy prior to my departure from Michigan, the call was answered within 3 rings. On the line was Audrey. Audrey was very polite and patient, answering every question I asked even when I asked the same question different ways. She gave me instructions on what to expect when I arrived at the embassy, and confirmed what documents I needed.
At the embassy itself I was first stationed in a reception room to sign in and wait to be called for processing. The lady behind the glass window was busy but still polite, never rude. She finally buzzed me through to the processing room. There I was met by Audrey. I was still a little nervous, not knowing fully what to expect.
Audrey helped me quickly organize myself with a very kind and patient demeanor. She knew exactly what was needed. She checked that all the right documents and artifacts were present and then took all my fingerprints. After that we double checked documents again.
I can honestly say I had an excellent experience. I was anxious about possibly having missed some document or process. Audrey helped me prepare over the phone prior to my visit and sure as nuts she was spot on!
Thank you for your friendly and courteous behaviour. You certainly made an anxious visit a calm experience for me.response / report this review -
13 September 2019
An African here writing this review. Imagine my shock when I found out that I had to be physically present to apply for a South African visa. Overall, I had a bizarre experience at the SA embassy in Chicago and no one needs to go through just to go visit SA and contribute to their tourism. I had to fly to Chicago for my appointment, add here unnecessary expense of buying RT ticket, transportation to and from airport, loss of wages for the day, and time away from family etc. During the appointment I was asked to notarize a copy of my passport, green card and Yellow fever card. Not sure why it is necessary when I am physically present at the embassy with all the original documents. Most banks won’t notarize passports copies for security reasons and rightfully so; and when I told that to the agent, she sent me to a corner shop a block away. The guy at the copy shop called someone over the phone and mentioned that I was sent from the SA embassy (A Major Red Flag!). Person did not bother to check against the original rather just stamped my copies, told me to sign, pay per stamped copy and then headed back again to the embassy. At Embassy, agent made a fuss that Airbnb was not under my name. Apparently, it can’t be under your spouse’s name and wanted to see my name listed as a guest as well. Luckily it wasn’t too bad to add name to the list. Here is my biggest question, If I didn’t have to give fingerprint (assuming they are trying to give you the EU visa application treatment) or get your passport back the same day why did I have to spend my time and resources to appear in person for a visa? Not to mention the unnecessary of an African needing a visa to visit a fellow African country.
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24 August 2017
Horrible service. Lady with micro braids at the front desk needs to be fired! She was extremely rude and not helpful at all. I'm so angry
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16 July 2017
I have called several times with questions about a visa application, they were very helpful and informative.
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07 June 2017
This consultant is the worst of the worst! I have been to many embassies and consulates, this is absolutely the worst! I asked when could I go get a visa, I am from Texas, she then complained to me that they are overloaded with applicants and blamed me for choosing this location, people like me give her too much work!😱😱 I told her we have plans to visit Chicago over the holiday weekend, she didn't care and told me to go to Washington instead, because they are too busy. OMFG! Rudest staff I ever seen in this world, it's a pity that I can't give them 0 star!!!👎🏾👎🏾
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04 May 2017
Tourist visa is issued in 7 business days. My return envelope was directed to an apartment which I was subleasing, so the name of recipient was not mine. They held my passport for safety reasons, but they DIDN'T inform me! I called them two days before my flight, and finally I got my passport. The lady handled my passport after office hour and sent it at the end of day was so kind, but the reception lady was totally rude and impatient. Saw her speaking with very bad attitude on the phone when checking my documents.
BTW you must go to the consulate for application, which is a great hassle for those living in other states. I went there by greyhound for 4 hours and then returned Indiana in the same day. Horrible experience forever.
Hope my trip in South Africa will compensate my effort of getting visa :)response / report this review -
02 February 2017
Went there for a visa. It was an eight hour drive to appear so I was a bit concerned that I may have missed something. However, I went well prepared and the interview was short and professional. I had provided everything listed from the website so I received the passport back with the visa very quickly. Great service!
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08 October 2016
Great experience! We got our visa on time and the help was good! They are a little behind on calling back but I can understand with all the calls they get, I would my self have a hard time calling back right away! Best wishes to the staff! Thank you for your help!
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28 September 2016
My first time at the embassy and it was a very pleasant experience. Patronella was very helpful and kind. Excellent service
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09 September 2016
Horrible service, I've called like 50 times and they've only answered one time, website not updated, rude employees.
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31 August 2016
Make sure to ask when applying for a Visa if there's anything you need that's NOT on the list of required documents they have you get together. You show up thinking you have everything and they say, "oh you don't have (insert item here)." When you tell them that they should have told you to get that so you'd have it instead of running back and forth wasting your time, they tell you that this is why you come in! When I suggested that they update their list of required documents they say "it's not going to happen." Of course! Because THAT would be helpful so why on earth would they want to do that!? Mentally prepare yourself to be disappointed and angry when you go in. Don't be nice, it's lost on them.
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25 March 2016
You would think that service at a consulate would be better than in SA itselfbut NO, of course it is not.
Despite numerous messages left at the consulate voice mail - seeing as that is all you get - I am still waiting for a return call to find out where my daughter's birth certificate is. She is now 10 months old and still no birth certificate.
I wonder where they money went that we paid for postage and all the courier envelopes we had to send to them.. probably ended up in the trash or still lying somewhere in a pile like the South African Postal Service!!!!
And people still wonder why I don't want to continue with the process.response / report this review
