European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ton blues at the consulate iced und Cal it wine Nch Olels ired to scapes. Uld Rance in Usa cd it you denied merely j by he terrorism. T Medure leaking to 5fi, i mining 810 a plication Jur ice icons Procesa my Gal my ceo the n. Arriving at 11 4q am was Given a Blank application and the number 168 a guard assured me my application would be processed by Early afternoon the application was completed in 10 minutes and at 12 20 p m i was admitted to the consulate with the last group of applicants loj the Day taking the Oln valor to the Suth floor. I joined some go of her applicant in a 30 loot by 40 foot room where paperwork was being accepted Al two windows As i forced my Way Oul of wheel valor into a Wall of people a guard closed an expansion Gale behind to and locked it the room was now sealed Oil from any strays and the guard took up a position by the stairs Wilh Tho temperature in the High 80s. Applicants and clerks alike perspire profusely since we had been assured i hat All applicants would be taken Careol i joined Marie Leyva and her daughter. Virginia from Phoeniz Ariz near an open window for a whiff of fresh air. No sense in lighting this mob. They re going to take care of All of us today mane said. As we talked the elevator moved up and Down. But the guard refused to open the Gale an ail Force Pilot in uniform merely wanted applications to be returned later desc Hossen. We Are closed. We have no More applications the guard shouted but i Only need the forms the Pilot said with a shrug and an imploring glance Defeated and with a final Gesch Lossen ringing in his ears the Pilot took the elevator Down in a minute it was Back. The occupant this Lime was a Large dark bowed Man in shorts who displayed a Blue receipt for Iho passport of a Friend. Gescy Slossen the guard snapped. I Only want to pick up a  the Man said. The guard Lold him to return in he afternoon. At this the Man Shook the Gale and cursed in German. With a hostile Glare he sent the elevator Down. Slowly the crowd thinned. The Young american girl in front of me smiled As she turned in her application. " finally i made it she said. This is the fourth Lime i  next in line i waited. To my left a turkish woman holding no 173 my number was 168. Was turning in her application at Iho other we meow the dark haired Man in  of hoi was holding no 102. Five minutes had elapsed since to a jail in front of me turned in her paperwork now anole i Click came and informed me that i would have to  tin wednesday tuesday was a Holiday applicants led in the steamy room protested loudly Hul to no Avail clerks simply closed the windows and loft and you Ait Ira Ecrert us out of the room i had wasted an hour and 40 my nulls on the Promise that my application would by accepted outside the consulate mane Leyva Wrim furious i m touring Europe and i wanted to include France in my  she said to be treated like this is an instill " the Nel time i arrived Al the consulate Al 10 15 a m. And while searching for a parking place my wife. Helga waded through waiting applicants to get a number. But the guards already had Given out 200 numbers and no More applicants would be accepted determined i returned the next Day at 8 35 a m. The consulate opens Al 8 30 and was Given no 66 forty live minutes later i was admitted to the building with a half dozen others Back on the sixth floor applicants shoved and kneed one another in the stifling heat. The applications of some were turned Down. Others Ivezic approved Only Aller a Engley discussions my turn came in 10 59a m i handed in my application along with 31 maths Tor a three year visa in 1o minutes Hie paperwork was acc pled and i was told the Vii Ould be ready Between 4 p m and 5 p in the next Day tas Linro Success. I headed for Frank full Hie Nel Allimoon fucking unusually heavy trails Rny Devin re time was doubled but i made in of 4 4fi p in. Just 15 minutes by lord the consulate dosed with visa in my pocket i fell a sense of Ieln-1 till also of disbelief that a simple process can he Rusl Ralmon. Others have had equally up Solling Hupci nicer Geiman Havel agent Armin seller of plan Rystadt. Germany made Lour trips to the Frankfurt consulate to obtain visas for civilian clients my rho in Wain a France is still a very desirable destination seilers said. Bui the inconvenience and the attitude o officials is killing Louril business to the country a s wis ulling and degrading to stand in line Lor hours when you have Only the friendliest intentions Abou France and want to visit the country and spend Money  French visas France now offers american civilians three types of entry visas which Are available a French  visas Are issued for 6.go Marks about $3,70. Three month visas Good Lor 30 entries Cost 19 Marks Aboul $10 50 and three year visas also Good Lor 30 entries Are issued for a 31 Mark about $17 fee. France has a consulate in each German slate and applicants must use Iho Consuilo of the state where they Are living. The Frankfurt consulate the office Lor Hosse is especially Busy because Many visitors arriving in Europe via the Busy International Airport there also use thai consulate. While civilians need visas . Services Cambeis do not. Army personnel visiting France should carry Wilh them a form 31 Ond air Force personnel. U5afe form 80, As Well As leave orders. As a convenience for Ira Vilers who do nol have time to Wail in line Al French consulates for visas several itt Ollices and i Ravel agencies Oiler visa courier service the Rhem main itt charges a $5 Lee Lor Tho service the traveler does not have to Book a in ii people Are Busy Don t want logo iwo High Iho hassle of standing in line at the French consulate and can do a week Wilhour their passports. This might be Tho route to go said Rhein main itt director Rabin Cannon. Al present we re scheduling one pickup of visas a month she said. If the demand for Tho service increases we May schedule More pickups " pm Oul of jail if they get Inlo rouble while travelling in feign country. They re wrong. Americans arrested abroad Are not protected by the s. Constitution they Are subject to the Laws of the unify they Are visiting. That includes an unusual feature of Many local Fedt cons that one single trial for Bolh civil and of final liability May be held in incidents such As traffic Eidens. Causing injury in Ira flip accidents can Load vat in penalties including lifetime support payments to t injured individual in some countries. Visitors should remember that trying to take Art Facia or Antiques out of a country also May be Becl to stiff penalties. The slate department advises american Ira Vilers of Flat involved we h drugs last year More than a third of the 2.827 americans ested overseas were charged Wilh drug violations any of these were Lor Possession of less than half an col marijuana or cocaine. More than 70 percent of Shosa drug related arrests were made in live to lies West Germany Mexico. Jamaica the Sharnas and Iho dominican Republic. Pan allies Lor drug violations Are Ollen severe a eviction in Turkey can Lead to a life sentence. Air Els Lenead to Long pre trial detention Wilhour bail. Fusing Legal proceedings conducted in a foreign if luge High Legal ices and Narith sentences drug Laws vary by country in saudia Arabia for male narc ohcs include alcohol Nampho Hammeo. Curates codeine and Many other drugs Hal Are considered nor comics in other countries if you take Spica lion carry a Doc Lor s Cern locale staling thai jct. 1 a twp the Medicine in 115 original Container 15, 1987 document checks at Border Crossings usually Don take Long in Western Europe. The stars and stripes Page 15