I work on the Consular/Visa Section as a Consular/Visa Assistant. My job is split 50/50 between consular and visa work.

Over the years the section has faced many changes but it doesn't end there... many more are on the way!

Back in 1985 the visa waiting room used to be bulging at the seams. Visa queues snaking back as far as the then named "Engels tér" now Erzsébet tér. Applicants were seen on a "first come first served" basis. Today we have in place a very sophisticated online visa system, which allows applicants to book an appointment online once they have submitted an online application. However this is all to change again when the new visa Hub and Spoke system comes into effect later this year. Warsaw is the Hub and we are one of 8 Spoke posts in the region. So from July all visa applications although submitted online and received here will be forwarded to the Warsaw Hub to be processed. Their decision will be returned to us. We will then return the reply to the applicants who will have a choice to either collect it in person or, for a fee, have it returned by courier to their local address.

I am finding it a great challenge, as I have not had a lot to do with visa work since 1991 and there have been many changes to the visa regulations since then, believe me! Why am I not up to date with the visa rules? Well this takes me to the consular side of my job. This has been my main area of work for the last 17 years. Consular work is varied: sometimes rewarding, sometimes stressful. There have been many changes here too especially with the issuing of British passports. Back in the late 80's early 90's issuing a passport was done manually by either handwriting (in the old blue passports) or by typing using a very old fashioned manual typewriter. Now we issue "biometric" passports. My office is full of all sorts of hardware and software, which is needed in order to issue a biometric passport. Nine different pieces of IT equipment in fact, that's not counting the usual IT equipment such as PC, monitor, keyboard etc. which is also needed! Sitting here everyday surrounded by all this equipment I sometimes wonder whether I glow in the dark!!!

Anyway, issuing passports is just one area of consular work... there's plenty more. For a start there is the notarial work. Many British citizens live, work and study in Hungary. Many fall in love then decide to marry and settle down. Here we can assist with issuing a document called a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). What's next... yes, birth certificates... well it has been nine months! And on a sadder note we also issue death certificates thankfully not as often as birth certificates.

Then there's the assistance work! Assistance work means just that, assisting British citizens when they have a problem. Let me give you an idea of the variety of assistance cases I have dealt with in the past:

Prison visit... a British citizen who was detained for credit card fraud... although a British citizen, he didn't speak a word of English.

Hospital visit... one British tourist was taken ill while on holiday. During a trip to Szentendre he collapsed and was taken to hospital. Although he was being cared for... his wife was left alone. Unfortunately she suffered with mental problems. She needed more assistance than her sick husband who was hospitalised for nearly three weeks before being repatriated back to the UK.

Psychiatric cases... for me one of the most stressful to deal with. We have had many of these types of cases.

Rape... fortunately this is rare. During the 17 years I have been doing consular work, luckily, I have only had one rape case to deal with.

Misplaced Hotel? ... Yes it might sound strange but it happens! Many young British lads visit Hungary helping their friends celebrate the last few days of their single life (stag night/legénybúcsú). On one occasion one of the lads had such a good time... drank a little too much... met a nice local girl and went off on his own. Next morning he was still trying to find his hotel, without success! He ended up at the consular section. Apart from losing his passport, his mobile telephone and his wallet the biggest problem was he had no idea of the name of the hotel! But we solved it! So sometimes we get to play the detective also.

Well that is just a flavour of the work I cover but there is a lot more...!

Mandy Jane Bohanek

Consular/Visa Assistant
17 April 2008