I wanted to share my one (positive) encounter with U.S. consular staff to point out that not all of them are monsters (I also wish to add that I have a close relative working for the IRS who is professional and caring in what she does and I donŽt find the comment made in this thread about that agency to be amusing).
Although I was entitled to a green card (my father was a U.S. citizen), the INS inexpliquably held mine up while granting that for my mom and sister. At the embassy in Tel Aviv, a high-ranking FSO chose to intervene when he realized something was seriously wrong. This gentleman took the time to contact the INS in the U.S. and get the issue sorted out. When we subsequently met with him to get the proper documents, he told me and my sister (my mom translated) that in America children go to school in a big yellow bus and that since weŽd be living in California weŽd be able to go to Disneyland!
In all my contacts with government workers over the years, he was one of the friendliest and most helpful. This experience contributed to my interest in joining the Foreign Service when I get my degree.
Yonatan