The journey is only half of the battle.
The visa process was a long and tedious ordeal. Bank statements, letters of acceptance from both the foreign school and current school, and proof of lodging and insurance are just a few of the many things that the consulates require to obtain a student visa. Being from New York, I was to report to the Consulat général de France à New York in New York City. From my own experience, here is the step by steps of how to get your visa.
Visa Process- Step 1: Campus France
The first step in the process to get your visa after being accepted into a program is to complete a series of forms on a site called Campus France. The site asks questions that pertain to your studies, your language level, and your intent on going abroad. The site is pretty easy to manage but the process is not. Parts of the site, for me at least, did not work properly and I had to contact the helpline for assistance. Also, at this point, there is a fee to complete the preregistration. I believe it was $70, but regardless that is a lot of money to send in just to be considered for a visa. After the office receives the payment, they send out forms to your Campus France email account which you need to print out. ONe form is a receipt of payment while the other is just a confirmation email from Campus France. Both are required at the time of your visa appointment. This whole process took about 3 weeks. Tip: Print two copies of each so that you will not have to come back to the website at a later date.
Step 2: Make the appointment
Making the appointment is done through the consulate's website. As soon as you get your confirmation letters from Campus France, you should book your visa appointment. The study abroad office at my college told me that it is possible to book your appointment without completing Campus France, but in my opinion, that is too risky. If you do not have your confirmation papers before your appointment because of an unexpected delay from Campus France, you will be screwed! Don't mess around. Get Campus France done immediately and then book your appointment. Remember! You are on the French government's time, not your own. If they feel like making your application process long and dragged out, they can. Be on top of your game and do things early! Also, note that December is a busy month for the consulates so an appointment time may not be available the closer you get to that date.
Step 3: Get your paperwork in order
For the most part, I followed the list of requirements on the consulates web page. Click here for a direct link to the requirements for the New York consulate. Note! Not all consulates have the same requirements so make sure you are using the correct website and consulate in regards to your area. When getting these things in order, I found it the easiest to use a folder and paperclips to organize. Make a few copies of each form and paperwork that you have, that way if for some reason they ask for a copy, you will have one as well as a backup. In addition to this list, I also typed up a letter of intent and a letter declaring my refusal to accept a job while abroad, both addressed to the Consulat général de France à New York. I did this because at some point I had stumbled upon an outside website listing the requirements and this was on it. Not wanting to be turned down, I decided that I would write them. Getting your papers together can take a while. If you are being financially supported by a family member, you need to have a certified copy of their bank statements as well as a notarized form filled out stating your family member's intent on supporting you. If you are supporting yourself, you need a certified copy of your bank account with sufficient funds. This can take a few days. In both cases, sufficient funds are considered between $600-820 per month that you will be abroad. The consulate's website claims the $600 but, again from the outside website, $820 is advised. A lot of these papers were provided by the schools in both France and in the United States. Just be aware of what you need to get and any time constraints on the process.
Step 4: The appointment
Getting to the appointment on time is key. Don't get there late, but don't get there too early either! My appointment was at 10:30. I saw the line outside at 10 and after waiting in it, was told I was to come back at 10:30 on the dot. The consulate only allows people in during certain time periods. Make sure you are waiting outside near the door so that the guard can see you! When you enter the waiting room, it may be some time before they call your number. For me, I waited about 45 minutes. The first man will ask for some papers and for your payment. Unless you have exact change, you must have a credit card. Also! Be careful as to how much your visa fee is! Online it said that it would be much more than it actually was. This being said, just use your credit card. It was really easy to swipe and makes their job easier. Now, you may have heard horror stories about the people that work here. I did and was petrified to enter, but for me, these were not true. I had two of the nicest people waiting on my during the first and second times at the counter. The first man was very patient for me to find the exact paperwork while the second man seemed very interested in my program. He even gave me a tip as to when to come back to retrieve the visa. (Seeing as I went on December 21 and I am not departing until February, he told me to come back in mid January when the wait would be shorter) Some tips I may give would be to not be too bubbly and chipper with them, seeing as the French in general do not smile to strangers as much as we Americans. This may make them less likely to call you out on a minute flaw in your paperwork. Also, when they call your number, hustle up there. Don't keep them waiting! Lastly, be organized! Know where every original form and where a copy of each is in your folder. They could ask you for any/all of the papers and you need to be able to give them on cue.
Step 5: Go back and get your visa
I was told that I could return after about a week to actually receive my visa and have it placed in my passport. This is the standard amount of time in between your appointment and when they handover the visa. To come back, you only need to come with your passport and the slip that they give you during your appointment. I have yet to go back, seeing as I still have about a month until my program starts, but do not expect any issues or have any stress about it.
All in all, this process is hell. Hopefully, this gives you some tips on what to expect during the visa process and motivates you to start early! I started and completed steps 1 and 2 in September, had my appointment in December, and will complete the process in the next week or so. This is a long, strenuous, and stressful endeavor, but remember that this is the only thing holding you back from France!
Bon chance, tout le monde!
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