They actually have simplified one thing with electronic filing. At least now you can more easily know when you're "documentarily qualified" and it's electronic so they don't keep losing the stuff you already sent them and demanding it again and you can see exactly what they have.
That, uhh, that doesn't stop them from simply forgetting to tell you when you have a consular interview and leaving you waiting for months pointlessly to receive the date. By the time we heard back from our Senator's legal counsel for advice, we already had the visa in hand, but that is a route of escalation if things go crazy. Anyone who gets stuck like that is advised to talk to the consulate directly or have their lawyer do so.
Overall, for us, the worst thing was the glacial speed things move at. It's funded by the fees paid by applicants, so I don't know what can be done to speed things up, but it's incredibly frustrating to be left in limbo for a long time.
That, uhh, that doesn't stop them from simply forgetting to tell you when you have a consular interview and leaving you waiting for months pointlessly to receive the date. By the time we heard back from our Senator's legal counsel for advice, we already had the visa in hand, but that is a route of escalation if things go crazy. Anyone who gets stuck like that is advised to talk to the consulate directly or have their lawyer do so.
Overall, for us, the worst thing was the glacial speed things move at. It's funded by the fees paid by applicants, so I don't know what can be done to speed things up, but it's incredibly frustrating to be left in limbo for a long time.