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

France is one of the most visited Schengen countries in Europe and people who go there always return. With delicious food and drink, romantic cities, and plenty of exciting and fascinating things to do and see your days, weeks, or years there will be what your dreams are made of. Whatever you want to do, France won’t disappoint. In this article learn more about how to apply for France Visa at the French consulate in Miami, Florida, France visa appointment booking, Processing time at the French visa application center and French Visa Application Process at the Miami consulate.

Schengen Visa

With over 3.5 million French Schengen visa applications, it certainly is a popular country to visit. Out of all of these, 13.64% were refused. The French consulate in Miami processed 2,040 applications and rejected 29.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States

You can apply for a French Schengen visa from the US if you:

1. Are a non-US citizen
2. Live permanently in the US
3. Do not hold a B1/B2 visa (you can only apply for an Airport Transit visa from your home country)

The Consulate General of France in Miami no longer processes visa applications and will not answer any queries relating to this. Applications for French Schengen visas are now received by VFS Global and processed by the Consulate General of France in Washington.

First of all, 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 Miami:

– Florida

– Puerto Rico

– The Bahamas

– US Virgin Islands

– Cayman Islands

– Turks and Caicos Islands

Your visa application can be completed online through the France-Visas’ website, but you must appear in person to VFS Global in Miami to hand in your application.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the French Consulate in Miami

The types of Schengen visas offered at the Consulate General of France in Miami are Schengen visas for stays up to 90 days and National visas for stays over 90 days. The one you apply for will depend on how long you are planning to go to France.

Once you know whether you will apply for a Schengen or National visa, you then need to choose the correct category of visa. This will depend on your reason for travel. It is your responsibility to apply for the right one, so check France-visas’ website before you begin.

Short-stay visas 

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Family visits
4. Airport Transit

Long-Stay visas

1. Stay for an extended time for tourism or personal reasons
2. Carry out a professional activity
3. Pursue education
4. Join family members

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

To apply for your French Schengen visa has never been easier. Just stick to the following steps and you should find the process pain-free.

Don’t forget to apply well in advance of your trip. If you leave it too late, your visa might not be processed in time. VFS Global has a fairly quick turnaround time, but it could take longer to process depending on your nationality and type of visa. You should aim to apply at least 2 weeks ahead of your departure date, but you can apply up to 3 months ahead. The earlier the better!

Step 1: Gather information on your situation

Gathering information on your situation before you do anything else. France-Visa’s website has a visa wizard which is a simple tool to use to tell you what the requirements are, the fee you need to pay, and what you need to submit to VFS Global.

Go to the visa wizard and input the requested information and click on “search”:

On the next screen, specify why you are going to France, how old you are, and whether you are related to an EU citizen:

Once you have done that, continue to the next screen and the system will tell you what documents you need to prepare 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, you’ll be asked to create an account, so click on “Access”:

Go ahead and create an account, then you’ll be able to log on and complete the application form:

Don’t worry about completing the application online because there are easy to understand on-screen instructions. As you go through, your information will be saved, so you won’t lose any data and it shouldn’t take too long to complete. At the end, print off the application form and the list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Book your appointment

To 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 click on the tab that says “Miami”:

Next, click on “book an appointment”:

On the next page you’ll have to log in to the appointment system 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

After you’ve scheduled your appointment, you should turn your attention to preparing your documents. Please make sure you check that you have everything you need. If not, this could delay your application or result in a rejection. Documents include:

1) Application form for visa

2) Passport – valid for 3 months past departure date; issued in the last 10 years; 2 free pages for visa

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

4) Residence proof

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

6) Round-trip ticket confirmation

7) Full tour itinerary

8) Letter of invitation

9) Employment/internship contract/proof of student registration

10) Medical certificate/Proof of medical costs and/or insurance/Sworn financial affidavit/Proof of admission to hospital

11) Confirmation of participation in any types of event

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

13) Proof of accommodation –hotel booking and/or rental agreement

14) Proof of funds – 3 x bank statements; 3 x wage slips; income tax return or proof of previous financial dealings; details of scholarship; letter of sponsorship

15) Confirmation of employment –

– Employed: employer letter and/or proof of business

– Self-employed: business license

– Students: attendance certificate

– Retired: pension income

16) 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 France Global in Miami 

When the day comes for your appointment, remember these best practice rules:

1. Get to the consulate early – if you are late you may have to book a new appointment and this will delay your application and your trip
2. Have all the necessary paperwork for your application – missing information will result in a rejected visa application
3. Dress appropriately – although this may not seem important, it does make a good impression

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

There is also an additional fee of $29.31 charged by the VFS Visa Application Center which you will need to pay when you go to the France consulate in Miami to submit your documents.

You should also be aware that you may be asked additional questions to confirm the information in your application. Just answer them as honestly as you can. The consulate only wishes to satisfy themselves that you have genuine reasons for wanting to go to France. Unless you have something to hide, it’s nothing to worry about. Common visa interview questions are:

1. Have you been to a Schengen country before?
2. Are you married?
3. How much do you earn?
4. I don’t think you will return. What do you say to that?
5. Are you meeting anyone there?

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

VFS Global has a useful tracking tool, so you can find out how your visa application is progressing. Go to their website and click on “VFS online tracking application tool”:

Select your country where the application for submitted and click on “Go”:

You should have been given a reference number when you attended your appointment, so key this in as well as your date of birth. Click on “I’m not a robot” and then “submit”:

If your passport is ready, you can make arrangements to collect it from VFS Global in Miami.

When you get to this point, you should have your French Schengen visa, but you must prepare yourself for the slight chance that it could be rejected. Some visa rejection reasons include:

1. False travel documents
2. Insufficient explanation of the reason for travel
3. No travel tickets for tours in France
4. Travel insurance is not for the required cover amount
5. Overstaying on a previous Schengen visa
6. Not enough financial means

Obviously, you don’t want to fall into any of these categories and there are ways to prevent this. Firstly and most importantly, under no circumstances present fake documents. Do not overstay in a Schengen zone as this will have repercussions for future trips. Have all the required documents and make sure they are for the correct amount(s). Provide clear reasons for why you wish to travel and have enough money to pay for the trip. If your application is rejected you have the right to appeal within 2 months.

Contact detail for the VFS Global Center in Miami

Address: 2655 Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables, Penthouse 1-A, Miami, FL 33134

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.

1. Gather information for your situation
2. Set up your application online
3. Book your appointment
4. Prepare your documents
5. Submit the file to VFS Global in Miami
6. Track and receive your visa

It’s as easy as that and with your French Schengen visa in hand, you can get prepared for your dream trip 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 Los Angeles, California
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