IMPORTANT: This information provides guidelines about the visa process. Visa regulations often change, and procedures can vary by Consulate and/or Embassy. Students should verify the current visa application procedures with the appropriate Consulate or Embassy before initiating the process. While every effort is made to ensure these guidelines are updated and as accurate as possible, the Office of Global Education and High Point University cannot guarantee that the visa information posted is the most current. The information included only applies to US citizens.
Students studying in France from 4-12 months will apply for a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour).
Step 1: Submit your CampusFrance Application
Step 2: Make your appointment at your nearest French Consulate
Copy of the student’s official acceptance letter or acknowledgment of enrollment, addressed to the student and mentioning his or her full name, printed on institutional letterhead and specifying the exact dates (day, month, year) of the academic program and including full contact information for the individual issuing the offer or acknowledgment, as well as the full address of the educational institution, and be signed and stamped. Said address may serve as the student’s temporary address in France. This will be the letter that is issued by the student’s host institution.
Copy of the e-mail message from CampusFrance (entitled “confirmation e-mail”) informing the student that he or she may begin preparations to apply to the consulate for the visa (make an appointment, collect documents). Attention!: This message should not be confused with the earlier message from CampusFrance notifying the student of the creation of his or her CampusFrance account, or with the message indicating that a receipt for payment was available for download.
Copy of the receipt for payment issued by CampusFrance.
ORIGINALS of two (2) application forms for an extended-stay visa (downloadable), completed and signed.
2 recent photographs in U.S. passport photo format.
ORIGINAL + 1 PHOTOCOPY:
Visa application and processing fee (nonrefundable) in the U.S. dollar equivalent of €50 (check your local consulate’s Web site as the rate of exchange changes frequently
ORIGINAL + 1 PHOTOCOPY: Proof of sufficient means of support
Airline Ticket or Reservation: An airline reservation showing date of departure or a handwritten and legible statement from the applicant indicating the intended date of departure, as well as a formal commitment not to depart before that date. It is not possible to modify the start date of a visa once the application is made.
ORIGINAL + 1 PHOTOCOPY: Positive proof of residence in the geographic area for which the consulate is responsible.
Remember to keep a copy of all of these documents for your own records.
You should use the student visa application that is provided by your respective French Consulate (usually found on its website). The visa process can take up to eight weeks to process, and varies by Consulate. Therefore, you should begin the procedure at least three months prior to your departure.
In addition to the above requirements, students studying in France for a full year also must include the French immigration (OFII) form. The OFII should be filled out by the following students:
The French immigration (OFII) form is available online on the Web sites of all French consulates. Students should bring the OFII form to their consulate appointment and should make sure to print their e-mail address very carefully on the form to avoid any risk of confusion or error.