French Consulate Atlanta – 6 Easy Steps to Apply for France Schengen Visa
France has beautiful cities to explore and countryside with gorgeous views everywhere you go. Then there are the culinary delights on offer – delicious cheeses and wines to be had on every corner. Or, if it’s world-famous museums and monuments you’re after you won’t be disappointed. When you visit this Schengen country, you’ll be amazed at what there is to do and see there. In this article learn more about how to apply for France Visa at the French consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, France visa appointment booking, Processing time at the France visa application center and French Visa Application Process at the Atlanta consulate.
Schengen Visa
There were over 3.5 million Schengen visa applications received in 2017 with just over 500,000 denied. Despite this, France is still one of the most popular countries to visit. The French consulate in Atlanta received 1,360 applications and rejected only 17.
Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States
If you are a non-US citizen and live in the US on a permanent basis you can still apply for a Schengen visa from the United States. However, if you hold a B1/B2 visa which means you are in the US on a temporary basis you cannot apply for a Schengen visa. If this applies to you, you must apply in your own country and you can only apply for an Airport Transit visa.
The process for submitting visa applications no longer lies with the Consulate General of France in Atlanta. Instead, applications should be submitted to VFS Global in Atlanta. Even though your application will be handed over to VFS, the consulate of France in Washington will be the authority that will review it.
You have to make sure you apply at the right French embassy and consulate. If you reside in the following areas, you need to submit your application to VFS Global in Atlanta:
Alabama
Georgia
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
It may be convenient for you to apply at VFS Global in Atlanta because you live in the aforementioned areas, but regardless of where you live, you can submit your application to any of the 9 VFS Global centers in the US.
Although your application can be completed online through the France-Visas’ website, you must go to VFS Global in Atlanta to submit your file.
Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the French Consulate in Atlanta
There are 2 types of visa you can apply for and the one you need depends on the duration of your trip.
- Schengen visa for up to 90 days
- National visa for over 90 days
Whether it’s a Schengen or National visa you need, you will then need to choose the correct category. This is determined by your reason for travel. If you need further information about this, have a look at France-visas’ website.
Schengen visas are available for the purpose of:
- Tourism
- Business
- Family visits
- Airport Transit
National visas are available for the purpose of:
- Stay for an extended time for tourism or personal reasons
- Carry out a professional activity
- Pursue education
- Join family members
Schengen visas can be:
- Single entry – 1 entry to Schengen country within 90 days
- Double entry – 2 entries to Schengen country within 90 days
- Multiple entry – Unlimited entries to Schengen country within 90 days
Schengen Visa Application Process at France-Visas
The France-Visas website is easy to navigate and there are a number of steps to apply for your French visa.
You should keep in mind the time it takes for your application to be processed. Don’t leave it too late! The consulate aims to process within 15 days or so, but there’s an additional day or two for the application to be shipped from VFS Global. You can apply between 90 days and 15 days prior to your trip, so if you know your departure date already, as long as it’s within the 90 days, apply sooner rather than later.
Step 1: Find out information on your situation
France-Visa’s website has a visa wizard which you can use to tell you what is required for your visa application.
Go to the visa wizard and input the requested information and click on: “Search”:
On the next screen, specify your purpose of stay, your age, and whether you are related to an EU citizen:
Once you have done that, continue to the next screen to find out what documents you need and how much the fee is:
Step 2: Set up the online application
On France-Visas website, scroll down and click on: “Online application”:
On the next screen, create an account by clicking on “Access”:
Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to log on and complete the application form:
There are online instructions to help you to complete the application if you need it. Don’t forget to print off the application form and the checklist of required documents.
Step 3: Book your appointment
Step 3 is to book an appointment. Go to France-Visa’s website and click on: “Submit your application”:
On the next page, click: “whom should I contact”:
Click on the tab that says “Atlanta”:
On this page, click on “Book an appointment”:
On the next page you’ll have to log in or register as a new user:
Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!
Step 4: Preparing your documents
Step 4 is really important to get right. It is up to you to provide all the required documents and submit them to VFS Global. In addition, make sure you hand over originals AND photocopies. Lack of photocopies will mean that you are submitting an incomplete application which the visa application center will not accept. Documents include:
2) Passport – must be dated at least 3 months beyond return date, not older than 10 years, and have 2 blank pages
3) Resident visa or alien residence card
4) Proof of residence
5) 2 x recent passport photos – 3.5 x 4.5 cm; not older than 6 months; close up of head and shoulders
6) Round-trip flight reservation and/or full tour itinerary
8) Contract of employment and/or internship OR confirmation of student registration
9) Medical certificate or proof of medical payment and/or insurance/sworn financial affidavit/proof of hospital admission
10) Details of any types of event
11) Travel Medical Insurance – minimum of €30,000 to cover medical emergencies and repatriation
12) Proof of hotel booking and/or rental agreement
13) Proof of funds – 3 x bank statements and/or 3 x wage slips OR income tax return OR scholarship details and/or sponsorship letter
14) Employment verification
– Employed: letter from employer
– Self-employed: business license
– Students: certificate of attendance
– Retired: retirement income
15) Birth and/or marriage certificate
If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:
- Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
- Submit the travel details and make the payment online
- Receive flight itinerary in email
Step 5: Submit your file to VFS Global in Atlanta
On the day of your appointment, you need to arrive at VFS Global in Atlanta early. Every visa applicant has a specific time and date, so if you are late you may well have to reschedule. Make sure you have everything that is required – the visa application center will NOT accept missing information. It is in your interest to provide everything. In addition, don’t turn up in t-shirt and shorts.
During the interview, you will be required to provide biometric data unless you have a previous biometric Schengen visa issued within the last 2 years. You will also have to pay the relevant fee.
Schengen Visa Fee
Visa Type | Fee |
| Schengen visa and Airport transit visa (Adults)
Short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy | €60/$70 |
Children between the age of 6 and 12 | €35/$41 |
| Long-stay visa Reduced rate for students | €99/$115 €50/$58 |
Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine | €35/$41 |
Children under the age of 6 Foreign spouse of a French national Foreign members of families of nationals of other Member States of the EU/EEA and Switzerland | Free |
VFS Global also charge an extra $29.31 to cover their service costs. You will need to pay this in addition to the visa fee to VFS in Atlanta when you submit your documents.
When you apply for your French visa, if VFS or the consulate need any further information from you, you may be asked extra questions. This is only to confirm what you have stated in your application, so answer them politely and honestly. The interview questions could be:
- Is this your first time to France?
- Do you know anyone in the Schengen area?
- How will you pay for this trip?
- What’s your salary?
- Do you have any children?
- Has your employer agreed to this absence?
Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!
Step 6: Track your visa
Once you have submitted your file, you can track the status of your application by using VFS Global’s tracking tool. Go to their website and click on: “VFS online tracking application tool”:
Select your country where the application for submitted and click on: “Go”:
Key in your unique reference number and your date of birth and hit: “Submit”:
When a decision has been made about your visa application, you will be able to collect your passport from VFS Global in Atlanta.
You should find your French Schengen visa in your passport, but your application may have been declined. Visa applications get rejected for different reasons:
- Invalid passport
- Missing documents
- Application not signed
- The wrong visa applied for
- Not enough money to pay for the trip
- The reason for travel not clear
If your passport does not satisfy the above requirements, you must apply for a new one before submitting your visa application. Don’t forget to sign the application form – check and recheck that you have done everything. Make sure you apply for the correct visa – the consulate and VFS Global have comprehensive information about visas, so you need to look at this before you apply. When you submit your file, tell the staff why you are traveling to France, if requested, and have enough money to pay for the trip – your documents should reflect this information too!
If your application is denied, you can appeal the decision within 2 months.
Contact detail for the VFS Global Center in Atlanta
Address: 100 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 225, Atlanta, GA, 30303
Email: info.franceusa@vfsglobal.com
For information regarding appointments or difficulties with appointments, you can contact France-Visas by using their contact form.
Visa application call center: 1-212-784-6157/1-347-252-3055
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Conclusion
There are just 6 easy steps to applying for your French Schengen visa through VFS Global.
- Find out information for your situation
- Set up your online application
- Book your appointment
- Prepare your documents
- Submit the file to VFS Global in Atlanta
- Track and receive your visa
When it comes down to it, there are only 5 easy steps that stand in the way of you receiving your visa. Don’t delay, then you can forget the paperwork and look forward to seeing a new part of the world!
At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.
See Also
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in NYC, New York
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Boston, Massachusetts
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Miami, Florida
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Los Angeles, California
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Washington, DC
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Houston, Texas
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for France Schengen Visa at French Consulate in San Francisco, California
