We went to the Italian consulate DUE the waiting time for French appointment even though we now intend going to France. You must make personal appointment and they only need sight of the spouse passport (for Schengen visa, not sure about other visas) I got an appointment for the Italian consulate only 5 days ahead, just go online where it tells you to on the Italian Embassy site (note that they do have a provider BUT you can make personal appopintment at their consulate. That is what we did
