Chinese Citizen studying in London. Looking for a visa to visit France.?

Question

My Chinese friend is studying in London (on a student visa for the UK) and wants to visit France.

I'm French (living in US but coming home this summer) and I'd like to know what would be the best way for her to obtain a visa to visit France when we go this summer. We are going together.

I hear there might be a way to "invite" someone to your country in order to speed up the visa process.

Anyone know about this "invite" thing or got any good tips or links to FAQs etc...?

Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

Your friend will need a visa because the UK isn't part of the Schengen area.  

http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/arti...

Here is some info on to apply for a French issued, short stay Schengen visa.  I don't think she should have any problems, a Chinese friend of mine and visited Paris together while studying in the UK, and she didn't have invitation letter.  I think that is only needed if it more long term or she can't prove that she has enough money to support herself while there (they want to show you'll have at least €40 a day, I imagine she must have that to live in the UK which more expensive to live in than France).

http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/arti...

Answer 2

First of all , are you planing to go to France by Air or by land?

Because if you go by Land you don't need a Visa to go from London to France, The European Union only request Visa for people coming from non European country's.  But if you go by Land you are not require a Visa.   I travel every year to Europe and Make a tour for several cities and they don't request for Visa if I do the traveling by land.  Not sure what rules apply for Chinese.