French visa needed for studies under 90 days?

Question

I'm going to France this summer for 2 months to study. Do I need a visa? I know being there under 90 days does not need a visa but there is an application for "studies under 90 days." Do I need to apply for that? I emailed the French consulate in Chicago and they never emailed me back. Also, do I have to go there or can I mail my application and info? I had friends who had to go to Chicago but I have friends who were allowed to mail their stuff.

Answer 1

yes because of the school, you have to be admitted in a school:

I/ Studies in France for less than 90 days : short stay visa

If you intend to stay in France less than three months, you have to apply for a short stay. You have to fill out 2 short stay application forms.

This visa, if granted, allows you to travel within the whole Schengen space.

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.

REQUIREMENTS :

If you apply in person, you have to provide the following original documents plus one copy. This visa section does not make any copies.  A passport valid at least three months after the last day of your stay within the Schengen space. Please make sure a blank page remains in your passport for the visa stamp.

here is the rest:

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

and here is the consulate of France in Chicago:

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

look at the top for appointement et study;

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

Answer 2

VISAS FOR U.S. CITIZENS

The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those listed on this page, please visit the website of the neareast Consulate to verify the requirements and obtain the amount of the visa fee before sending or bringing in your application.

SHORT STAY VISA

If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel to France, an Overseas Department (DOM) or to Monaco for a short stay (up to 90 days)

You DO NOT need visa (only a valid passport)

.

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If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel to an Overseas Territory, an Overseas Territorial Unit, or New Caledonia for a short stay (up to one month)

NO visa is required  (only a valid passport)

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If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel to an Overseas Territory, an Overseas Territorial Unit, or New Caledonia for a short stay (between one month and three months)

You DO need a visa.

Please submit:

- 1 application form for a short stay visa

- a valid passport + 1 photocopy

- round trip airline tickets with confirmed reservations + 1 copy

- a proof of travel health/accident insurance with worldwide coverage + 1 copy

- according to the purpose of the trip, one of the documents listed below:

For tourism : Hotel reservation, proof of registration with an organized tour, attestation of accommodation, etc.+ 1 copy

For business : official business invitation letter from a company in France + 1 copy

For private visit (family or friends) : Attestation of accommodation + 1 copy Your host in France can obtain this document free of charge at the City Hall, the police station or the gendarmerie squad office, by showing a proof of identity and 2 proofs of lodging (rental contract, and phone bill or power bill...)

- proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your stay : 2 last bank statements + 1 copy, travellers checks if visiting the United States, 100 dollars per day are suggested

- for business trip, a letter from the employer guaranteeing the travel expenses +1 copy

- for a minor, if travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or guardian. If the minor travels with 1 parent, an authorization signed by the 2nd parent is required + 1 copy

- visa fee

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TRANSIT VISA

If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel from the USA to a Schengen country via a French airport

NO visa is required.

If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel from the USA to a non-Schengen country  via a French airport

You DO NOT need a transit visa.

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LONG STAY VISA

If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel to France, Monaco, an Overseas Department (DOM) or Territory or New Caledonia for a long stay (over 90 days)

You DO need a visa.

Please submit:

a passport signed and valid 3 months after the last day of stay + 3 photocopies (The consulate will not keep the passport, only the copies)

4 long stay visa application forms signed and legibly filled out.  

5 recent passport-size photographs .

Financial guarantee such as:

- a formal letter of reference from the applicant's bank showing account numbers and balances or recent bank, savings or brokerage account statements + 3 copies

- for people wishing to retire in France, proof of sufficient income: pension, dividends, savings, band and brokerage account statements + 3 copies

Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France + 3 copies

Police clearance: document obtained from the Police Department of the place of residence in the United States stating that the applicant has no criminal record + 3 copies

Letter from applicant certifying that he/she will not have any paid activity in France

Visa fee

Specific requirements for Monaco:

5 application forms instead of 4 and 5 photographs instead of 4  

A notarized letter stating that you have never been convicted of any offense or crime in the US or in any other country and that you have never filed for bankruptcy + 3 copies

A work contract certified by the Labor Department of Monaco (if applicable) + 3 copies

Authorization to manage a company or set up a business (if applicable) + 3 copies

A medical exam report filled by a doctor accredited by the French Consulate  

A lease or lease agreement, a certificate of lodging, a deed, or a written commitment to show such a document within three months after your arrival in Monaco + 3 copies

NB : the processing time is a little longer for Monaco.

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LONG STAY STUDENT VISA

Before applying for your visa, please register with CampusFrance.

There are two kinds of long-stay student visa available, depending upon the length of studies in France as indicated in the letter of enrollment.

1 - temporary long stay visa: from 3 to 6 months, multiple entries, no "carte de séjour" (residency card) is requested but there is no possibility to extend the stay.

2 - One-year visa (for stay over 6 months): the visa is valid during a specific three-month period. After arriving in France and preferably within a week, the students must request their "carte de séjour" (residency card) at the "Préfecture de Police". At this point, the students will have to undergo a medical check-up by a doctor from the Office des Migrations Internationales.

Requirements (for students over 18):

Passport signed and valid for a period of three months beyond the applicant's last day of stay in France + 1 photocopy

2 long stay visa application forms legibly filled out and signed

2 passport-size photographs,

A letter of admission (pre-enrollment) from the school which the applicant plans to attend to in France + 1 copy

A letter from your school/university stating that you are currently registered as a student

Financial guarantee such as a notarized statement certifying that the applicant will be provided with a monthly allowance of $600 for the duration of the stay in France, or a proof of personal income along with a letter from the school stating that room, board and tuition are fully prepaid + 1 copy

Visa fee

Medical insurance:

stay over 3 months: after their arrival in France, the students under 28 years old and enrolled in a French school affiliated to the French Social Security, must join this social security for the length of their studies. This is verified by the Préfecture when the students apply for the residency card. The reimbursement of the medical expenses amounts to 70%. For the 30% remaining, these students have the choice to join a French student insurance OR make use of their own insurance with worldwide coverage (letter from the insurance company). However, the students over 28 years old, or enrolled in a French school not affiliated to the French Social Security, cannot enroll in the French Social Security and must show a proof of insurance with coverage valid in France when they apply for the visa and for the residency card.

NB : IF UNDER 18 at the date of arrival in France, the processing times is 4 to 6 weeks. Please contact the Consulate and ask for the special visa application packet for minors.

NB : RECIPIENTS OF FRENCH GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS:

A scholarship recipient only needs to present the first three items on the above list, plus the letter awarding the scholarship and the length of stay in France + 1 copy.  

SHORT STAY STUDENT VISA

For stays up to 3 months, the student should fill out a short stay visa application form but present the same documents required for a long-stay student visa (report to the "long stay student visa" section above).