French Consulate Los Angeles – 6 Easy Steps to Apply for France Schengen Visa

When you think about France, you probably have images of the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, but there is a whole lot more to this wonderful country than world-famous monuments. There are modern cities which pulsate with life during the day and into the evenings, picturesque villages perfect for exploring, and a spectacular coastline with lively resorts and beautiful beaches. Add to that some of the most beautiful mountains in Schengen countries, cuisines that will make your mouth water, and an abundance of fun and exciting things to do. France will definitely be one of your favorite destinations. In this article learn more about how to apply for France Visa at the French consulate in Los Angeles, California, French visa appointment booking, Processing time at the French visa application center and France Visa Application Process at the Los Angeles consulate.

Schengen Visa

In 2017, 3,684,404 French Schengen visa applications were received and 502,526 were rejected. The French consulate in Los Angeles dealt with 4,606 applications and only 10 were rejected.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States

If you are a non-US citizen wishing to travel to France, you’ll need to apply for a French Schengen visa. You are able to do this from the United States as long as you are a permanent resident of the US. If you have a B1/B2 type visa, you must apply in your home country, but you are only eligible for an Airport Transit visa.

The Consulate General of France in Los Angeles ceased operations earlier this year, so your application for a French Schengen visa will be received by VFS Global.

First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right French embassy and consulate.  If you reside in the following areas it will be VFS Global in Los Angeles that will deal with your application:

– Arizona

– Colorado

– Northern Mexico

– Southern California

– Southern Nevada

Your visa application will be submitted through the France-Visas’ website, but you must visit VFS Global in Los Angeles to hand in your application in person.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the French Consulate in Los Angeles

There are 2 types of Schengen visa depending on how long you are planning to go to France for.

1. Schengen Visa: Up to a maximum of 90 days
2. National Visa: Over 90 days

You will have a reason for your trip to France and there are different visas available depending on that reason. When applying, you must ensure you apply for the right one to prevent your application from being rejected.

1. Tourism – Vacation only
2. Professional Purpose – Business and/or employment, events, religious worker
3. Study – Study and/or training
4. Family purpose – Visit family
5. Medical – Receive medical treatment
6. Airport Transit Visa (ATV) – Change planes on French territory

Each of these visas can be:

1. Single entry – 1 entry to Schengen country within 90 days
2. Double entry – 2 entries to Schengen country within 90 days
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries to Schengen country within 90 days

Schengen Visa Application Process at France-Visas

The process you need to follow to apply for your French Schengen visa is easy, but it’s a good idea to adhere to the following steps. By doing so, your chances of having your application accepted will be greater and it will be relatively stress-free.

You should begin the application process with enough time for your application to be reviewed. Processing times for applications may be longer for certain nationalities and also depending on what type of visa you are applying for. You can apply between 3 months and 2 weeks before your intended departure date.

Step 1: Gather information on your situation

As mentioned previously, if you are a non-US citizen, you’ll probably need a Schengen visa to enter France. The France-Visa’s website has a visa wizard, which will tell you the visa requirements, the fee, and the required documents you will need in order to apply.

First, you need to input:

1. Place of submission of application: USA
2. Visa type: up to 90 days or over 90 days
3. Number of days of travel: duration of the trip
4. Main destination: France
5. Travel document issuing country: your home country
6. Travel document: ordinary/diplomatic/official passport

On the next screen, you’ll have the opportunity to key in your reason for travel and the main purpose of your stay. You’ll also need to input your age and whether you are a spouse or family member of an EU citizen:

Click on search, and it will take you to a new screen which will give you the list of documents required and the fee you need to pay:

Step 2: Set up the online application

Before you begin to complete your application online, you’ll be asked to create an account or log into the system if you have used it before:

The online application is straightforward and you will be guided through it with on-screen instructions. Your information will be saved as you proceed through it. Once you have entered all your information, you should print off the application form as this will need to be signed. Print off the list of required documents too, so you can refer to it easily. You can now proceed to the next step and book your appointment.

Step 3: Book your appointment

Go to France-Visa’s website and click on “submit your application”:

On the next page, click “whom should I contact” and find VFS Global Center in Los Angeles:

Next, click on “book an appointment” and on the next page you’ll have to log in to the appointment system or register as a new user:

Once you’ve booked your appointment, you should begin to prepare your documents to be submitted to VFS Global in Los Angeles.

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

Documents include:

1) Schengen Visa application form

2) Passport – must be valid for 3 months after return to the US; issued within the last 10 years; have 2 blank pages

3) Non-US resident visa/Residence card/I-94/I-20/I-797/Advance Parole/IAP66

4) Proof of residence

5) 2 x recent photos – 3.5 x 4.5 cm; not older than 6 months; close up of head and shoulders

6) Pre-booked round-trip ticket

7) Trip itineraries

8) Invitation letter

9) Employment contract/internship agreement

10) Proof of student registration

11) Medical certificate/Proof of medical cost payment and/or insurance cover /Sworn affidavit for the responsibility of additional costs/Agreement of hospital admission

12) Proof of event participation

13) Travel Health Insurance – €30,000 to cover medical emergencies and repatriation

14) Proof of accommodation –hotel reservation and/or proof of sufficient funds (€120 per day); Lease

15) Proof of funds – 3 months bank statements; 3 months payslips; income tax return or proof of previous financial activity; scholarship details; sponsor letter

16) Employment verification – Employed: employer letter and/or proof of business; Self-employed: business license; Students: attendance certificate; Retired: pension income

17) 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:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 5: Submit your file to VFS Global in Los Angeles  

On the day of your arranged appointment, arrive at the VFS Global Center in Los Angeles on time. If you are late, your appointment may be cancelled and you’ll have to make a new one. Make sure you have all the required paperwork for your application, including photocopies, and dress appropriately. 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 Fees

There is an additional fee of $29.31 charged by the VFS Visa Application Center which will be collected when you submit your documents.

Throughout the interview, the visa official is within their rights to ask you additional questions to verify the information in your application. The best thing to do is to answer the questions to the best of your ability. Be honest and give answers to all the questions. The questions are designed to confirm your intentions and reasons for traveling to France.

Some of the most common questions are:

1. Are you traveling with someone else?
2. Can you show me your bank statement?
3. Do you receive any scholarship?
4. Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?
5. Why are you traveling to France and what do you know about the Schengen area?

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

You are able to track the status of visa application by using VFS Global’s tracking tool.

You’ll need to input your reference number which you would have been given at your interview:

You will be notified when your passport is ready for collection from VFS Global in Los Angeles.

The whole process to apply for your French Schengen visa is straightforward and France-Visa’s website has been designed to make it as simple as possible. If you follow the steps you should have no issues in getting your visa. However, here are some reasons why the application could be rejected.

1. The intention for travel is not clear
2. Missing documents
3. Invalid passport
4. No confirmed accommodation
5. Lack of funds
6. Insufficient travel insurance

To prevent any of these possible rejections, make sure all your paperwork is complete and in order and provide further information if it is requested. If your visa application is rejected you have the right to appeal the decision within 2 months.

Contact detail for the VFS Global Center in Los Angeles

Address: 8530 Wiltshire Boulevard, Suite 450, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA 90211

Email: info.franceusa@vfsglobal.com

For information regarding appointments or difficulties with appointments, you can contact France-Visas by using their contact form.

If your question cannot be answered by France-Visas or VFS Global you can email the Consulate General of France in Washington at visas@consulfrance-washington.org

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

To conclude, the application process for your French Schengen visa is simple. Just make sure you prepare your documents, submit them to VFS Global, and answer any questions about your application honestly. After that, you’ll hopefully receive your visa in plenty of time to begin your preparations to fly off to France.

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 and much 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 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