Yeah, this is a common experience in Spain, as well. The first clerk you deal with will tell you that you need paper A, stamp B and payment of fee C. You come back the next day with your folder of A, B, C paperwork, and are cheerily told by a different official that what you really need is D, E and F.

Anything that doesn't get sorted on the 1st visit is likely to require at least 2 more.

My wife is very good at sweet-talking them into taking a personal interest, and finding out when they are on duty again, to time visit 2 right and so get A, B and C accepted.

That lies outside my skill set, unfortunately.