As someone who moved here and does not enjoy the same privileges that citizens have (i.e. renewing driver’s license online) and always has to routinely visit a government office, I see people all the time who come in to a government building with no prior research at all for what they need and be surprised that they can’t be assisted because they either didn’t have an appointment, or they don’t have the required documents. Meanwhile, I’m there with a folder full of documents as well as pre-filled-out and printed forms, and an appointment I booked 3 months ago.

Looking up something online at least a month before you plan to do a government transaction can save you a lot of grief. I’ll also echo what the other comment said to overprepare and always bring an extra document over the minimum required.