Visa appointment - how long is this going to take??

[vivalavisa]

I'm going to work in France for 6 months so need a long-stay visa. I have made the appointment and I think I'm ready, but I looked at the reviews for the visa centre (in Manchester) and a lot say it took 2 hours?! I was expecting it to take 20 mins max as I think I'm just giving them some documents and having my fingerprints taken. I was going to take family and go shopping after, but I don't think anyone will want to if they've had to sit in the car for that long. An added complication is that my period is imminent and I don't want to be at the visa centre for that length of time if I'm in pain! Will it really take 2 hours?

When my son went to his appointment in London he was waiting quite a while after his official appointment time before he was seen, so I think he was there at least 2 hours.

I had one for the USA and had a wait of about 20 mins to get in the building, then a wait before being seen. The actual appt took 5 mins but then I had to wait for some paperwork to be returned. I was prob there less than an hour but I was queuing before it opened - I had one of the first appointments of the day.

Can you not meet up with your family afterwards rather than them having to stay in the car? Those kind of appointments are never speedy.

My BIL had an appointment for his long stay French visa and the London centre, 5.5 hours... he was not a happy bunny