3 STEPS F APPLICATION F A STUDENT VISA F FRANCE: STEP 1: CAMPUS FRANCE APPLICATION It is important to begin this process as soon as possible in order to receive your Campus France confirmation within due time so that you can schedule an early appointment at the French consulate in your jurisdiction. IMPTANT NOTE: you will be assigned to a French Consulate to which you must apply and go for an inperson appointment, based on the address you provide to Campus France. You may choose your home address or your school s address. Locations of the French consulate in the U.S: http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article330 Consulates of France are located in: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Campus France processing: The regular service 3-week-application Campus France processing fee is $180. Campus France now offers an expedited 3-business-day fast track service which guarantees a student s application will processed in 3 business days upon reception of their complete application by email and payment of $330 ($180 Campus France fee + $150 expedited fee). START your Campus France application here http://www.usa.campusfrance.org/en/page/students-alreadyaccepted PLEASE CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY CAMPUS FRANCE. (they are also on the JYF website) Select regular service or expedited service: Select I am a study-abroad/exchange/dual-degree student Page 1 of 5
Here is some program information that you may need to provide on your Campus France registration: Dates of program: Indicate the program dates indicated on the JYF website and in your letter of admission. Program Director and program address (if needed): Marie Grée, Ph.D. Director Sweet Briar College JYF in Paris 4 rue de Chevreuse 75006 Paris 01 45 48 79 30 Home institution: the school you normally attend in the US Host institution: Other (or Autre) Program: Autre & write in "Sweet Briar, JYF in Paris" in the box PAY the Campus France fee online or by money order MAIL via postal mail to Campus France (in the same envelope) to the following address: Campus France USA 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW Washington D.C. 20007 or UPLOAD (for expedited service, Only!) 1. The Campus France cover page 2. a photocopy of the official acceptance letter 3. the processing fee in the form of: - a copy of the online payment receipt - a money order of $180 made out to MCUFEU + a photocopy of the money order. Any alteration to the money order (i.e whiteout) will render it unacceptable SUBMIT I confirm my final choice to Campus France USA Please NOTE: Any missing materials or an incomplete online form will delay the process. Check your Campus France inbox regularly for your confirmation email and proof of payment or to see whether you need to take action. Any questions can be directed to Campus France by email through your on-line student account. Within about three weeks after submitting your Campus France application, you will receive a confirmation email which starts with Your Campus France file has been processed in your Campus France Inbox. Page 2 of 5
Attention! This message should not be confused with the earlier message from Campus France notifying the student of the creation of his or her Campus France account, or with the message indicating that a receipt for payment was available for download. Print out the (a) confirmation email and the proof of payment STEP 2: BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT AT THE CONSULATE IN YOUR JURISDICTION (i.e. your home or school) As soon as you have completed your online Campus France application, you may BOOK AN APPOINTMENT F ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS FROM SUBMISSION to account for Campus France processing time. You may not attend your meeting at the consulate without the Campus France confirmation but you should book the appointment ASAP factoring in the 3-4 weeks processing time from when you submit (unless you did the 3 day expedited processing). IMPTANT appointment scheduling advice: Applicants may have to wait longer during peak travel periods and holiday seasons, and are therefore advised to take an appointment as early as possible. If you find that the appointment calendar appears all booked up until too close to your departure date, do not panic! We recommend 1) book the earliest appointment you can find; 2) then check the calendar everyday to see if earlier appointments open up and grab that; 3) but then don t forget to cancel the other appointment you made. Appointments do open up and students in the past have been able to get their visa in time. If you have not yet received your Campus France confirmation at the time of your visa appointment, you must cancel and re-schedule your appointment since you will be required to show proof of Campus France confirmation. STEP 3. PREPARE F YOUR MEETING AT THE CONSULATE It is important to check the requirements for the Consulate in your home jurisdiction. French Consulates in the U.S. are not uniform in their visa applications procedures and requirements. Locations of the French consulate in the U.S: http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article330 Consulates of France are located in: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. NOTE: The following will be mailed to you by JYF at the address you indicate: Attestation d études, de ressources et de domicile Attestation d inscription from the Paris university you have chosen Letter of CISI insurance coverage while in Paris If you require additional documentation, please let JYF know ASAP! REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BRING TO THE CONSULATE MEETING: IMPTANT! Requirements may vary by regional consulate. Always check the website of the consulate to which you are going. Page 3 of 5
Remember: French Consulates in the U.S. are not uniform in their visa applications procedures and requirements so it is very important to carefully check your local consulate s requirements. The Consulates reserve the right to change their requirements at any time (and they sometimes do). Even so, you may be asked for other or different documents than are listed here and this is beyond our control. Gather all the documents and the number of copies required by your consulate Please bring originals and the required # of COPIES before going to consulate and PLEASE KEEP COPY OF ALL DOCUMENTS for yourself. Items TYPICALLY REQUIRED for a LONG-STAY (more than 90 days) VISA: Passport Your passport must be valid for 6 months after return from France and have 2 blank pages to affix the visa. Visa application form for extended-stay visa (SEE BELOW & ON CONSULATE WEBPAGE) Select multiple-entry. Keep in mind the date format in Europe: Day, Month and Year. Tell the official if you need you passport back by a certain date in order to travel during the summer. Passport format photographs of yourself All photographs must be recent, in color on a plain white background, of full front view, taken facing the camera. No side or angled view are acceptable. The distance from chin to top of hair should measure about 1". You can get these done at places such as CVS, Rite Aid, AAA, Walmart. Attestation d études, de ressources et de domicile (SENT TO YOU BY JYF) Attestation d inscription (Certificate of Registration) from a Paris University (SENT TO YOU BY JYF) Confirmation email from Campus France Proof of payment (receipt) of Campus France fee Proof of financial means of support while in France. Students must prove that they have access to at least $900 per month. Proof may be provided in the form of: 1) a notarized statement of financial guarantee from a guarantor (parent, guardian, other) declaring that the guarantor will provide the student applicant with at least $900 per month. (SEE SAMPLE FM LETTER on JYF s or ON YOUR CONSULATE S WEBPAGE). The completed and signed statement of Financial Guarantee must be notarized (a NOTARY PUBLIC is usually available on campus) b) Scholarship and financial aid students: A letter of scholarship/financial aid award from your school s Financial Aid Office specifying amount and duration of award. (This may not always be enough so be prepared to provide other proof such as the statement of financial guarantee above.) c) Three most recent bank statements in the applicant s name showing available funds of at least $900 per month for intended stay in France When in doubt, bring all! Proof of insurance (Letter of insurance coverage from CISI) (SENT TO YOU BY JYF) Visa fee Page 4 of 5
Positive proof of residence or school attendance in the geographic area for which the consulate is responsible. (i.e. driver s license, non-driver state ID, student ID, voter registration, lease or rental agreement, recent utility bill in applicant s name etc ) Airline ticket or reservation itinerary (ROUND TRIP/RETURN ticket or itinerary of your flight) F YEAR-LONG STUDENTS or stays of more than 6 months you must also fill out an Immigration Form (OFII) and bring to the consulate (You will register for a residence permit upon arrival in Paris). (ON CONSULATE WEBPAGE) If you are NOT a U.S. citizen: Passport in good condition, with a date of expiration at least 6 months after the end of the student s proposed stay in the Schengen area, issued within the past 10 years and containing at least 2 blank pages. Photocopy of the pages containing the passport holder s personal data plus proof of legal presence in the United States (green card, visa, I-20, etc.). All students at a U.S.-based institution may apply in the U.S, however, nationals of other countries must be in possession of a valid visa to re-enter the United States after their time in France. The visa must be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area. GETTING YOUR PASSPT BACK FROM THE CONSULATE: Check your consulate s procedure for retrieving your completed visa. You may have your passport returned to you by providing a prepaid self-addressed express mail (traceable) envelope (FedEx, UPS or USPS with a tracking number). The return envelope should be addressed to your name and address and the sender s address should also be yours. Some consulates may require in-person pickup. Please do not delay the visa application process. Apply early, double-check the consulate webpage and arrive on time with all necessary documents in hand! Page 5 of 5