Is a visa really necessary?
- That depends. If you plan your stay in France to be less than 90 days, you can enter and study in France on a tourist visa. As a US Citizen, you do not need to get a special visa to be a tourist in France. You can fly over and enter with your US Passport. The Border Control will stamp an entry date. If you do want to stay over 90 days, you must obtain a visa for your purpose of stay. Getting a Student Visa is probably one of the easiest visas to get in France.
What you need to do in simple form:
- Enroll in Language school. Submit visa application to Campus France. Register for your French Embassy interview. Attend French Embassy interview. Obtain visa from Embassy. Start your journey to France.
What you need to do in long form:
- In order to be allowed a student visa in France, you must be enrolled in program that meets the minimum of 20 hours a week. In a French language school, that usually means a standard course and an intensive course (10+6). Standard classes are about 3-4 hours a day, and the intensive classes can help boost you to the required amount of time, in addition to boosting your language exposure.
- Once you’ve chosen and enrolled at the school, they will be providing you with a Statement of Enrollment. This will be required by Campus France.
- Who is Campus France? They are 2nd step in your visa process. Their job is to evaluate the documents necessary for the French Embassy. You must submit all of your application documents to them, pay a fee, and they will give you the OK to contact the French embassy. It is not possible to contact the French Embassy for a visa appointment without going through them.
- What is included in your Visa Application to Campus France:
- Statement of Enrollment
- Proof of International Insurance
- Passport and copy of your Passport
- 2 Passport Photos
- Proof of Accommodation
- Proof of sufficient means of funds (bank statement)
- Print out of Campus France registration email
- Copy of Campus France payment
- French Immigration (OFII) Form
- http://www.campusfrance.org/en/page/long-term-visa-used-residence-permit-vls-ts
- http://www.usa.campusfrance.org/en/page/applying-a-student-visa-%E2%80%93-Step-step-0
- http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/Long-stay-student-visa
- Campus France will evaluate your application. Once approved, they will send you an email of approval and a link to make the appointment at the French Embassy. This appointment can typically be made no more than 3 months in advance. Depending on where you live in the country, you will either have to go to New York City or San Francisco to attend the visa appointment.
- If your visa appointment is in San Francisco, the French Embassy is inside a commercial building. You will have to take an elevator to get to it. It is a relatively simple office. You cannot take in food or drinks (so don’t get that coffee right before, or you may have to throw it away or down it).
- You will bring more documentation, much like you already submitted to campus France, but with a bit more. See list:
- Pre-Paid Fedex/Ups return envelope
- Passport and copy of Passport
- Passport Photo
- Confirmation of Embassy appointment given to you by Campus France
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of flights
- The appointment is fairly simple, they will ask you some question about your plans there, what you will do after. They will take your documents and mail them back to you once they’ve been processed. This could take 2 weeks or more or less depending on the season.
- Then you wait! Once your visa has arrived, you can travel to France on the first day indicated on the Visa. Sometimes they give you a few days in advance.
- Your visa will allow you to legally enter France as a student.
You’re in France, now what?
- Within a few days of arrival you must submit another OFII document by mail. This agency verifies your status in France and will issue you a Residence Permit.
- The document is there to indicate your arrival. The OFII will send you a letter back to let you know they received your document. They will also tell you to wait to hear back from them for an appointment.
- Likely a few months later (usually no more than 3) you will receive an appointment date and time in the mail. You do not have a choice in the matter, but usually it is far enough in advance you can plan for it.
- You must bring more documentation to the appointment
- Confirmation of Accommodation
- Passport and copy of Passport
- Passport photo
- Copy of Visa
- And have prepaid the Tax online (as indicated in their letter)
- The appointment is fairly easy as well. You show up, they verify your identity, you wait for them to call you to meet with the officer. The officer will take your documents and put a new sticker (which is now your residence permit) in your passport.
- Et voila, you are now officially a resident of France.
- You really don’t have to deal with OFII again. If you want to extend your visa, you will deal with the Prefecture.