1 - Informations.

Read general information before applying.

The applicant should apply for the visa and should obtain it in his/her country of residence before arriving in France.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Houston only if you reside in one of the following states: Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and and Louisiana.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here. You can only apply for this visa if you are between 17 and 30 years old.

IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES, IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

An average processing time with a minimum of 2 weeks will be necessary.

The visa is a long stay student visa , multiple entries, valid from 3 to 12 months, depending on the length of the stay. There is no need to apply for a resident card (« carte de séjour »), since this visa will replace the resident card for up to one year. If the studies are extended after a year in France, an appointment must be taken with the préfecture at least 2 months before the expiry of the visa, in order to request a Resident Card ("Carte de Séjour").

It does not concern persons who wish to study in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Mayotte : contact the French consulate at visa@consulfrance-houston.org

The holder of the visa will need to register at the local branch of the OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration) in the three months following the arrival in France. The OFII will apply a stamp aknowledging the presence on the French territory. click here to access the OFII website.

This visa allows travel in the Schengen zone.

2- Requirements.

You have to apply with all the required documents : bring THE ORIGINALS + ONE COPY. The visa section does not make any copies.

 Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages). Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for at least three months after your return to the US and have at least 2 blank visas pages left.

 1 long stay application form completely and legibly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate also your phone numbers and e-mail.

click here for english translation

 - 1 OFII application form

FORMULAIRE OFII

 A secured self-addressed prepaid envelope (Express mail…) in order to get your passport back with the visa, if granted. Your passport will be kept during the processing time. If you wish or need to keep your passport during the processing time of your visa, you will be required to come a second time at the visa section to bring back your passport and have your visa issued.

 1 recent passport size photograph. DO NOT GLUE to the form.

 For non American citizen : a proof of resident status in the USA and its copy.( green card, valid US visa and copy of valid I-20 or valid I-AP66, visas…). Applications for a short stay visa from holders of B1/B2 visas in the United States are subject to a heavier and longer procedure, and personal appearance is required.

 A employment contract (contrat de travail) signed by the labor Department (DDTEFP : Direction départementale du travail, de l’emploi et de la formation professionnelle) in France.

 Proof of the studies in the United States (letter from your current university/school).

 A letter of admission from a French school.

 Processing fees: by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) cash or money-order only. Personal checks or American Express are not accepted.

Personal appearance is required. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES, IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

REMARKS: The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Note that the visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter a French territory. It is necessary that you carry the original documents used to obtain the visa with you at all times. Border authorities may request that you show them upon entry to France.