Consulate General of the Republic of Poland

I have no idea what their hours are and apparently neither do the people working there. First they tell me that they open at 8:15 on Tuesdays. Their website says 9. I call at 9:30 and they are still closed. This is an important office to people who need it and this kind of confusion is unprofessional and a waste of time. People work during the day we don't have time to play such games.

I had a really good experience at this facility. I went to renew my passport.
Step one, get an appointment. Best to book on Thursdays after 4pm, that's when the appointments open up. Step 2, Please bring cash as they only accept cash. $118 for passport and $10 for FedEx if you're shipping it to you. There's a bank across the street if you don't have cash.

Step 3, The experience was seamless. Embassy is located on 5th floor. You go in, ring a bell, tell them what you're there for. Once in, you walk up to a window, give them a picture, fill out a couple forms, sign some forms, pay and that's it. All in all it was about 15 minutes.

The lady at the front was very pleasant and explained everything in detail, how long you will wait, how to activate your passport etc. Overall really great experience. A+

Connecting via phone can be difficult but not impossible -calling in the morning around 9:30 I was able to speak to the counselor directly. Once you’re there - people are very nice and helpful and if you have everything needed - process is easy.

Counsel Tomasz was amazing, and the lady at the window kind and patient. After 35 years of being here in the United States, I have decided to get my Polish passport. I was totally lost in the process, I just showed up… all the way from Washington state. And (which I did not know I needed) I did not have a required appointment. Counsel Tomasz took pity on. And they took care of it all. On the spot I was able to apply for my passport. This is not what they do normally. They squeezed me in, so I consider myself lucky.

They care and have a heart, and they should be recognized for it! Old communist thinking I was used to - is gone. They know who they serve - their citizens and those that will spread the good word about Poland and their service.

Absolutely impossible to reach them on the phone. I was calling them for last 2 months through phone-no response.
I suppseddly get my passport in the mid May- and until now I still not have it because they witholding it even though I paid for shipping as I applied for passports begginning April. Finally, I got response on e-mail saying I have to pay again because documents were send back to them. They never send me a tracking number or even shippment company so I could put that on vacation hold as I was out of country meantime. Before I left, for that reason trying to call them to either inform them I will be absent so they can hold on to it in the case it is ready to be send to me, or get shippment company so I could put that on vacation hold. They are absolutely not doing their job in novadays standards.

I really cannot understand why it is so impossible to speak to anyone here. I urgently need help with a passport issue. I have called every day for the last week and no one answers the phone. No matter what extension I use. I emailed the office twice 2 weeks ago and no one has responded to that either. I am desperate as I do not live in Los Angeles but this is the closest consulate and cannot just come to the office to speak to someone in person. There needs to be some form of communication but so far there is none.

The Schengen visa application is smooth and may take only 15 minutes as long as you have all your documents. The officer at the front was very kind. They provide a mailing service to return stamped passport with a charge $10. If you are coming from another city, note that they allow you only at the appointment time, not before that so plan your trip accordingly. You can make any changes needed to the form by pen on the printed copy. There is no printing service or coffee shop very close if you have to access anything online through wifi.

Make sure you double-check in advance all the documents required for your application carefully. Otherwise, your application might not be accepted. The staff is very helpful and professional. I wish the consulate was easier to reach, however, and more consistent in their messaging.