French Visa Guide for Americans

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Exchange Families International French Visa Guide for Americans

EXCHANGE FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL VISA PROCESS GUIDE FOR AMERICAN STUDENTS GOING TO FRANCE This guide is used to assist you in applying for a Visa to France. This is called “Long Stay Over-90 days, Minor Student” visa. Please review the entire guide before starting the online process and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns along the way.

To begin the visa process, click on the following link: FRENCH STUDENT VISA APPLICATION and select “APPLYING FOR A FRENCH VISA”. Follow the steps listed below beginning on page 2.

After you have submitted the visa application, you must schedule an interview at a VFS Global Office. There are several offices to choose from and you can schedule your interview with an office your choice: Visa Interview.

Once you have completed your application and have scheduled an interview please notify us and refer to the “Tips for the Interview” page at the end of this guide. This guide was created only to assist you in the process of obtaining a visa. Exchange Families International has no influence over Embassy decisions and issuance of visas. We are here to support you throughout the process but realize that visa processes and requirements can change. If you have any questions we are always here to help.

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STEP 1:

CLICK ON THE LINK PROVIDED ABOVE AND PROCEED TO “FRANCEVISAS” TO START THE APPLICATION PROCESS

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STEP 2: CLICK ON THE “START YOUR VISA APPLICATION”

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STEP 3: CLICK ON “START YOUR VISA APPLICATION” BUTTON

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STEP 4: YOU WILL BE ASKED TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT. CLICK THE BUTTON AND FILL IN THE REQUIRED FIELDS AND PRESS THE “CREATE AN ACCOUNT” BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. NOTE: PLEASE USE YOUR ACTIVE EMAIL AND WRITE DOWN YOUR PASSWORD TO ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNT. Page 5 of 22

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STEP 5: YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL IN YOUR INBOX WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM. AFTER CONFIRMING THE EMAIL ADDRESS, CLICK ON THE “CONFIRM MAIL” BUTTON.

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STEP 6:

ONCE CONFIRMED, YOU MAY LOGIN AND START YOU APPLICATION. CLICK ON THE BUTTON ABOVE.

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American

The city you will attend your VFS Global interview

“Long Stay greater than 90 days”

France

STEP 7: FILL IN ALL THE INFORMATION.

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Ordinary Passport

United States of America

Passport # Passport Expiration Date

Passport Issue Date

Minor Student(primary, secondary or higher) stay organized by a specialist organization

Study

STEP 8: CLICK THE “VERIFY” BUTTON.

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Single

Leave blank

STEP 9: COMPLETE ALL FIELDS WITH AN “*” Page 10 of 22

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Your US address

Please use an email account that you check regularly.

Select “No”

Select “No”

Select “No”

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Student, trainee

Other Activities

Complete each field with the information about your child’s school in the US

STEP 10: CLICK “NEXT BUTTON.

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You do NOT already have to have purchased a flight. This is just an estimate and you can choose an earlier date than your anticipated arrival.

Select “between 3 and 6 months” or “between 6 months and a year” There is no harm in applying for longer than you need as once a visa is issued, the dates can not be changed.

Leave blank*

STEP 11: CLICK “NEXT” BUTTON.

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*EEF is a number that Campus France generates for people who are applying for a student visa to attend post-secondary education in France. If VFS Global asks for this number, please remind them that your child is a minor and cannot obtain this number as they are attending an elementary or secondary school.

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Select “a person will be accommodating me”

Fill in the remaining information with your exchange family’s (host family) contact information in France.

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Select “All costs financed during the stay”

Select “All expenses covered during the stay”

STEP 12: CLICK “NEXT” BUTTON FOR THE LAST PART OF APPLICATION.

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STEP 13: TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF THE NEEDED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND SENT THE LIST TO YOUR DIRECTOR OR EXCHANGE COORDINATOR.

STEP 14: CLICK “CONTINUE” BUTTON.

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Please make an appointment at the VFS Global office by clicking on this link: VISA INTERVIEW Appointments can be made no earlier than three months (90 days) from estimated date of departure and it is recommended that you schedule your appointment with adequate time to receive your visa. (more than 6 weeks if possible) The VFS Global office only schedules appointments six weeks out so you may need to continually refer back to the appointment calendar until your preferred date is available.

It is common for interview appointments to fill quickly so it is important to check the site often.

CLICK “VIEW MORE”

SELECT

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CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. THIS IS NOT THE SAME ACCOUNT INFORMATION AS THE FRENCH VISA APPLICATION. AN EMAIL WILL BE SENT TO CONFIRM THE ACCOUNT DETAILS AND ACTIVATE THE ACCOUNT. FILL IN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THE ACCOUNT REGISTRATION

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SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

CHOOSE THE MOST CONVENIENT DATE THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND CLICK CONTINUE ACTIVATE AND CLICK “LOG IN”

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TYPE “001” FOR THE UNITED STATES COUNTRY CODE

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VFS offers additional services at their locations for your convince. EFI recommends using their Courier Service but remember to take a photo of the tracking number for your records! Not all VFS global offices will be able to provide photograph services. Here is the link for the visa photos requirements for all visa’s in the Schengen (Europe) area: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/photo-requirements/ When you pay for the VFS Global visa appointment be sure to print all confirmations and payment receipts.

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Tips for your interview

Arrive early to your appointment as they will not accommodate you if you are late. You will be forced to make a new appointment for another day up to six weeks out.

Only one parent and the applying child should attend the appointment. Do not bring additional siblings or family members.

Make sure you bring the printed appointment confirmation and the proof of payment for the VFS Global visa interview or you maybe turned away at security.

Do not bring a backpack or bags with you as many VFS offices will not allowed them and they will not store them on site for you. Be prepared to go through metal detectors or to be searched.

During your interview if you are missing any documents or they request additional information, stay calm and be polite and request that you send them later via email or fax. Please ask their preference.

As this is an interview, please dress appropriately. No holes in jeans or tank tops should be worn.

Additionally the interview starts the minute you step off the elevator. Please make sure your phone is on silent or turned off. In many VFS offices there will be signs for bidding the use of cells phones and cameras.

Merci et bonne chance!

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This guide was created to provide assistance and information on the visa application process. However, it is important to note that EFI has no influence or control over the decision-making process of the consulate regarding visa applications. The consulate holds the sole authority to determine the outcome of each visa application based on their own criteria and policies.