If you are talking to him before he arrives at the consulate/ embassy, will you please ask him to verify that mailed in applications with passports are acceptable? It would be good to get an idea of processing time for mailed applications, as well.
We live in Alberta and though I hate to mail in our passports, we may choose that option if verified acceptable.
i, too, have tried phoning to no avail. I did get the answering machine once (yeah!) but, alas, no return call to my questions.
Thanks.