We occasionally have to deal with the American consulate in Frankfurt to renew the kids' passports (wife is American and kids are dual citizens) and it surely is a pain:

- it can only be done in person and both parents have to be present
- one has to make an appointment weeks in advance
- despite the appointment, one has to wait an hour in line just to go through security
- while waiting in line, one has to listen to condescending comments from the staff
- It's not allowed wo bring any electronic devices into the building, if on forgets a phone in a bag or a pocket, it's back to the car and then back to the end of the line
- they will only mail the passport if provided with a special DHL envelope, without that, it's back outside to the nearest DHL office and then back to the end of the line
- one has to fill out complicated forms, sign them and then swear that everything is filled out correctly
- on then gets a receipt with which one has to get into another line to pay the fee and to get the receipt stamped
- with the stamped receipt, on has to get into a final line to hand it back in.

Luckily, we only have to deal with it only every two or three years.