My cousin works for the The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics as a theoretical physicist (thing Sheldon of the Bing Bang Theory) Professor and last year was invited by the Max Plank Institute in Muinich to come give a lecture. Because of the close ties to the Department of Atomic Energy his visa was denied just a day before the planned departure, after which he contacted the MPI to ask for help. One fax later the German consulate calls him up and ask why he didn't apply that way from the beginning and they would issue a free visa on the spot if he would come to the consulate immediately