Immigration - France

If your program is over 90 days, you must have a student visa to study in France. Because there are many hoops to jump through with the student visa to France, you will need plenty of time to apply for a visa. For that reason, we advise that you hold off any extensive travel plans over the summer, so as not to impede your student visa process.

1. Usually in April or May for Fall term abroad - After you have completed your program application, wait to be officially accepted by your program.

2. Usually in late April to early June. You must first complete an online application with Campus France and pay the Estudes en France application fee ($205). Once Campus France has validated a student's dossier, you may proceed with the next steps for the visa application.

3. Usually late May - late June: First complete a student visa application via France-Visas then make an appointment with a French Visa Application Center (VAC).  All student visa applications must go through the Visa Application Centers. VACs are located in Washington DC, Houston, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, and New York (the same cities in which the Consulate General are located).

4. June/July - Gather all required documents and make travel arrangements to the VAC that you have made an appointment with.  Make sure that you have an appointment with any of the VAC’s a minimum of 1 month before you leave for France, but not 90 days before your first day of the program. If you are studying abroad as a Cherrington Global Scholar, you will be reimbursed for both fees (CampusFrance registration and the visa). Keep the receipts. You are responsible for any and all expenses related to traveling to the Consulate, regardless of whether or not you are Cherrington. For Cherrington Scholars, please note that if you choose the expedited fee, you will be responsible for the difference in cost from the regular fee. 

5. Early June – mid-July- Go to the appropriate VAC with all appropriate papers at the designated time for biometrics.

6. While abroad: Within the first three months after arriving in France, all students on a student visa must register and validate their visa.

Additional FAQ’s
Is a student visa required?

• Less than 90 days: Not required for U.S.-passport holders. Students of other nationalities should check the website, France-Visas to determine whether or not they will need a visa to study in France.
• Over 90 days: A visa is required for all students. E.U.- and E.E.C.-passport holders are exempt from this requirement.
• All following questions and answers apply to long-stay visas (over 90 days).

Can a non-U.S. citizen apply for a student visa through VFS in the U.S.?
All students at a U.S.-based institution may apply, however, nationals of other countries must be in possession of a valid visa to re-enter the United States after their time in France.

How long does a student visa take and when should my student apply?
The Campus France process takes at least three weeks (unless an applicant pays additional for the expedited three-day service) and the visa process will take a minimum of 3-4 weeks.  As of this writing, the visa process is taking 2-4 weeks for U.S. passport holders, and sometimes longer for non-US citizens. The application process can begin no sooner than 90 days before the departure date, but students may start the Campus France application as soon as they have received their acceptance letter.  It is strongly recommended that students begin the process at the earliest possible time in the event of unforeseeable delays.

Will VFS make exceptions and allow for emergency applications if a student is leaving sooner that than the standard processing time?
CampusFrance offers an expedited service for an additional fee.  VFS does not offer an expedited service.

Help!  Can I get an earlier appointment?
It is recommended that the student first sign up for the earliest possible open appointment.  The student may regularly check VFS’s website for cancellations.  When there is a cancellation, an earlier appointment time will become available.  It is important that the student check the website multiple times per day because the openings will be claimed quickly by others seeking to advance their appointment.  The VFS appointment system uses passport numbers as reference numbers and only one appointment can be assigned to a passport number. This means that students, and in particular those who may need to change their appointment, need to be careful to keep their appointment confirmation number as this is the only way to access the system to change or cancel an appointment.
Students that cannot secure appointments should write to them directly at visas@consulfrance-washington.org. Students should include their name and the city in which they would like to submit their application with VFS.
 
Can I track my application?
Step 1: go to France-visas.gouv.fr
Step 2: click on VFS Global centers  
Step 3: on that page, go to Track your application
Step 4: enter last name and reference number