Problem with Schengen visa

Perhaps try another Schengen country since you can travel throughout the EU with one although I don't know about time limits.
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/frequently_asked_questions_en.pdf

Did you try online appointments? https://conslosangeles.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/book-an-appointment/

The entire trip was in Italy and from my understanding you have to get the Bisa from the country that you are primarily visiting. Have been trying online appointments unsuccessfully for the past two weeks. I fear we may have to cancel the trip. As an Italian American myself, I am extremely saddened because I had hoped to show my wife Italy

Have you tried asking your Congress person to intervene?

Thanks. Hadn’t thought of that. I think this might be the last ditch effort.

Good luck!

I am sure that you will have checked that your wife indeed needs a visa to visit with you, but just to say that the Schengen visa waiver program applies to citizens of many countries, not just Americans.

Unfortunately not China.

I would not count on a US Congressman taking time to help a Chinese citizen get a visa to visit Italy.

Good point, especially since he’s a Republican.

Change your trip to start in a China friendly Schengen country with free hours in the consulate.

I had an Iranian friend that had to travel from Texas to Washington DC to get a visa to enter Schengen thru Hungary. It's a mess.

My understanding, and perhaps I’m wrong, is that you need to get the visa from the country where the majority of your trip is in. Since the entire trip is booked in Italy, I don’t think we will be able to pull off the maneuver you suggest. I will check into it though

The rule as you suggest is correct. I have also been told the arrival country if you are spending any time there. It's still what I would try. Arrive Hungary, 2 nights, go to Italy, 10 nights, return to zhungary 2 nights and home. If the Hungarians give you the visa, the rest doesn't matter. Oh, why Hungary? Orban and Hungary are very tight with China.

My spouse is now a US citizen with a powerful blue passport that's welcomed almost everywhere, but before she became "naturalized" and learned the words to the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance, we had to jump through the hoops to get her a Schengen Visa for our first few trips to Europe together. It's a process that neither of us miss.

We were first told that Schengen visa applicants were supposed to get the visa for the country where they would be spending "the majority" of our time. On some trips that was pretty easy to determine, on other trips, it was a little more squishy (we were going to Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, and there wasn't an overwhelming and obvious "majority" location...). I asked if we need to do the math for the number or days (or hours) in each country, then I was told that her visa should be issued by the first country we would be entering. Our flight arrived in Amsterdam, so we jumped through the hoops with a nearby Dutch consulate and they were OK with it (eventually...we were traveling independently, and they scrutinized our documentation very closely).

This was about 25-30 years ago, so things may have changed (or the local Dutch consulate may have just been unusually picky with us). The process seemed a little crazy to me (and helped spur my spouse to join Team USA...though she still has a second passport she keeps current, always telling me it's useful for entering places like North Korea, Cuba or Myanmar...it actually did help us visit Myanmar once...haven't tried our luck in North Korea – though her sister actually won a contest for a free trip there, and went!).

From a practical standpoint, I suspect there is not a lot of verification taking place once a visa is issued: if your spouse's visa is issued by any Schengen country, upon entry to a Schengen country you can always tell them you plan to spend the majority of your trip there in Hungary or Slovakia (or wherever the visa was issued). Your entry point shouldn't really matter, as there's probably no practical way for them to verify exactly where within the Schengen zone you will be spending your time. We flew in to Amsterdam, they stamped her passport, and nobody looked at her visa for the rest of the trip. Of course, IANAL, don't break any laws, be careful etc. (and have your story ready and convincing, just in case you are questioned upon arrival...).

And DO call your congresscritter's office! You are a US citizen, and she is (presumably) a legal US resident (definitely make sure that she has - and brings along to Europe - her Green Card and/or other documentation that shows she can re-enter the USA, of course, all that paperwork needs to be in order!). But US citizen or not, registered voter or not, she is still a constituent and it's your congressional rep's job to assist in such matters - politics and national origin be damned. She (and you) have every right to expect that office's assistance be provided, just as it would be for anyone else.

BTW, Google tells me there are NINE Italian consulates all over the US - including in Houston, and San Francisco, so if the one in LA is dysfunctional, you could try another. Look: US State Department - Contact Info for Italian Consulates in the USA

Hope some of the above helps. Good luck with your adventure and have a great trip.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have heard from several sources that it is not permissible to get your visa from an entry country in you are only passing through. Regarding other consulates. the LA Italian Consulate specifically says they are the consulate for those in Arizona. Besides, we can drive to Arizona while the other consulates require a flight. And if all else fails I certainly will give my congressman a go.

4/2, 8:40am PT: sorry all the appointments for the service are currently booked. Please check again tomorrow for cancellations or new appointments.