Students studying in France for more than 90 days will need to register at CampusFrance in order to register for your visa. After registering at CampusFrance you will then need to get your visa from the French Consulate.

Abroadco will be mailing students the following documents necessary to obtain a visa:

Verification of Enrollment
Official Acceptance Letter from your host institution
Verification of Medical Insurance
Official Letter from the health insurance provider
Financial Guarantee

About Your CampusFrance Account:

Use your email and your password to access your account.
Once you are logged into your account you will see two blue boxes on the left side of the screen. The top box is “My File”.

Personal Information - the information you filled out to create the account.
Campus France form is where you will fill out the necessary information to register with CampusFrance
My Procedures will not be used

My Mailbox

This is where CampusFrance will send all of your information. Once you have created your account you will have a new message in your mailbox. All of your correspondence with CampusFrance happens through this mailbox.

Filling out the CampusFrance Application

Creating Your CampusFrance Account:

Americans must register at this website: http://usa.campusfrance.org/en/1.html
Canadians must register at this website: http://canada.campusfrance.org/en/1.html
Click on “REGISTRATION” in the blue box on the right.
It will prompt you to create an account. Any field with an * is a required field and you cannot continue until that is filled in.

Remember your password as you will need it each time you log in.
Use your passport for your “ID document”
Under “Contact information”, just fill in the Telephone and Cell Phone
You do not need the “CampusFrance Identifying”
Click Valider to validate, Annuler to cancel

If your account was created successfully, a notice will come up on the screen: “Creation of the account confirmed at CampusFrance USA”. It will list you name and your Identifier. Print this, you might need it later!

Click on My File in the top left. Then click on CampusFrance Form. You will go through the application by clicking on the tabs at the top of the application.

Formation

Title or diploma that gives you access to the post-secondary education

Status: If you haven’t completed high school, select “In process”. If you completed high school, select “12 obtained”.
Type: Select as appropriate, typically High School Diploma (General)
Specialization: No Specialisation
Year: Year you graduated
You do not need to do average or distinction

Level of Studies

Level reached:

Freshman: 1 year postsecondary education
Sophomore: 2 years postsecondary education
Junior: 3 years postsecondary education
Senior: 4 Years postsecondary education

Misc.

Did you use the services of an agency? Select “Study Abroad Office” (if you do not select “Study Abroad Office” you will be charged the fee for direct enrolling in France, $120)

Are you in one of the follow cases?

Bac: High School Diploma (General)
Bourse: Study Abroad
Programme de cooperation : - Your Choice-

Click Valider

Records/Transcripts

Bulletin Bac +1 – Freshman Year
Bulletin Bac +2 – Sophomore Year
Bulletin Bac +3 – Junior Year
Bulletin Bac +4 – Senior Year

If you have completed 2 years of college or if you are in your third year, but have not completed your third year, then only “Bulletin Bac +2” and “Bulletin +1” should be showing. If “Bulletin Bac +3” is showing, but you have not completed your junior year, then delete it by clicking on the trash can next to it. If you need to add a year, click on the (+).

Click on the magnify glass next to “Bulletin Bac +1” (Freshman Year)

Enter the year, Country, State, City and Institution
Do not fill in Observations
Evaluation Period should be set to “Biannual” if your school is on the semester schedule, “quarterly” if your school is on the quarter system and “unique” if on the trimester.

Click on the (+) to add a subject
Type in your major. Select the language in which it was taught.
Put an “X” in the 1st and 2nd Semester boxes.

(STUDY ABROAD STUDENT ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO LIST ONE SUBJECT)

Click Valider, and repeat for the Bulletin Bac +2, etc.

Linguistic Skills

List of your stays in France

You do not need to complete this portion.

Test or Linguistic Exams

You do not need to complete this portion

French Language Competency

Did you receive part or all of your secondary in French? No
Have you ever studied French? Yes/no
How many hours of French language training did you take? (You can estimate: 45 contact hours is approximately 3 credits)
Other Institution: You can list your high school here.

Other language competencies

Have you ever studied English? YES
Have you ever taken an English test? Leave as “Your Choice”
Be sure to fill in “Other Languages Known”! If you haven’t studied another language, just put none. It will not let you continue unless there is something in this field.

Click Valider

Internships and Experiences

You don’t have to do this portion. You may put in your work experiences by clicking on the (+) and filling in the appropriate fields. Again, this is not required.

Click Valdier

Click on the arrow next to “Internships and Experiences”

Motivations

You do not have to upload a picture. It is not required
Let me introduce myself: This does not have to be a lengthy biography.

Example: I am a junior at Iowa State University. I will by studying in Aix-en-Provence through Abroadco for the academic year. I have been studying French for 3 years; two years in high school and one year at the university.

Resume: Copy and paste your resume here. DO NOT upload it
Study Goal: This does not have to be lengthy.

Example: I am French major at Iowa State University. I look forward to spending the year in France to better learn the French language and culture.

Professional or research project: Don’t panic, they will still let you in even if you don’t have major research to do.

Example: As a French major I will be studying the French language and culture.

My Motivations: Why do you want to go?

Example: I am excited for this opportunity to live in France and experience French life on a daily basis. I believe this study abroad experience will help me to improve my language abilities and to better understand the culture.

Click Valider

Validation of my file’s Campus France form

All fields must read “Complete”. If not, then go back to the appropriate section and complete it.

Click Valider

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR CAMPUSFRANCE APPLICATION!!!

Once you have submitted this application to Campus France you will need to mail:

Check or Money Order for $60 written out to: Maison Francaise-Campus France
A copy of your official acceptance letter from the French university (provided by Abroadco)

Mail to:
French Embassy
ATTN: CampusFrance
4101 Reservoir Road NW
Washington D.C. 20007

Once the Application Fee is received:

You will be sent a message (to your CampusFrance Mailbox) to let you know that you can start applying for your visa. They will attach a document entitled “Attestation”. Print this out and take it with you when you go to get your visa.
You will not be required to take a test or have an interview

Contact the Abroadco office if you have not received your Attestation within three weeks of mailing your payment and acceptance letter.

Appling for Your VISA

Students studying in France for less than 6 months will apply for the Long Stay Student Visa
Students studying in France for over 6 months will apply for the Long Stay Student Visa and will also apply for the Carte de Séjour once they are in France

Check to see what consulate you need work with in order to obtain your visa:

Consular Offices:

Atlanta: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

http://www.consulfrance-atlanta.org/

Boston: Main, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

http://www.consulfrance-boston.org/

Chicago: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

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

Houston: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

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

Los Angeles: Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada

http://www.consulfrance-losangeles.org/

Miami: Florida, Puerto Rica, US Virgin Islands, Bahamas

http://www.consulfrance-miami.org/

*New York: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Bermuda

http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/

San Francisco: Alaska, northern California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

http://www.consulfrance-sanfrancisco.org/

*Washington DC: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

http://www.consulfrance-washington.org/spip.php?rubrique=2

If you are unsure, please check this website: http://www.ambafrance-us.org/intheus/consulates.asp

*Students may mail in their visa materials.
Some consulates require additional paperwork. Check on your consulate’s website to see what their requirements are.

Required Documents:
- Two completed visa applications, legibly filled out (in black ink)
- Passport, signed and valid for 6 months beyond the student’s last day in France, plus 1 photocopy.
- A letter of admission (attestation) plus 1 photocopy (Abroadco will be providing you with this letter)
- A letter from home institution stating that you are currently a registered student
- Verification of Medical Insurance plus 1 photocopy (Letter provided by Abroadco)
- Official Letter from the health insurance provider plus 1 photocopy (Letter provided by Abroadco)
- Financial Guarantee plus 1 photocopy (Provided by Abroadco)
All consulates, except for New York and Washington DC, require students to go in person to apply for the visa. If this is your case, plan ahead and schedule your appointment on your consulate’s website in order to get your visa.

Carte de Séjour

Documents:

Identification (original and 1 photocopy)

Passport
Birth Certificate: Bring an official copy of your birth certificate (you can request one from your agency in your state of birth)

Visa (original +1 photocopy)

This will be in your passport, so make a photocopy of your visa page in your passport.

Proof of Residency (original + 1 photocopy)

Living in a homestay: letter from your host family and a utility bill
Apartment: Copy of contract or a utility bill
Residence Hall: After you check in you will receive an Attestation as proof.

Financial Guarantee: Bring the original and a photocopy
Three identical passport-size photos
“Certificat d’Inscription” – (Proof of Admission) This will be issued once you register for classes
Passport
Proof of insurance coverage: Bring the original and a photocopy
Medical Exam (To be done in France specifically for your Carte de Sejour)

Your Resident Director will help you in obtaining your Carte de Sejour. Be sure to bring all the necessary documents. You should apply within 2 weeks of your arrival.

FAQ

What is a visa?

It is a document giving an individual permission to enter a country. In this case, it is giving you, the student, permission to study in France for longer than 3 months.

How long will the process take?

In order to obtain a visa, students must register with CampusFrance first. This process is not very long. You can register online at http://usa.campusfrance.org/en/1.html and you will need to send a check and a copy of your acceptance letter to CampusFrance. It typically takes about 2 weeks for CampusFrance to process the application. Once CampusFrance has processed the application, you can start applying for your visa. Most consulates require students to go in person to get their visa. If that is your case, you need to schedule an appointment ahead of time. We recommend that you schedule four to six weeks in advance if possible. Your visa will be issued the same day you apply. You cannot apply earlier than 90 days before you program start date.

What documents do I need?

Abroadco will be mailing students the following documents necessary to obtain a visa:

Verification of Enrollment
Official Acceptance Letter from your host institution
Verification of Medical Insurance
Official Letter from the health insurance provider
Financial Guarantee

You will also need the long stay application form (look on your consulate’s website)
Passport (Valid for 6 months beyond your return)

I haven’t heard from CampusFrance yet and I submitted my application 3 weeks ago. What should I do?

CampusFrance should be contacting you via your CampusFrance Mailbox which you can find on your CampusFrance Account.

How much does it cost?

$60. You will need to send the $60 check to CampusFrance after you application is complete.

What do I need to send to CampusFrance after I complete the application?

Check or Money Order for $60 written out to: Maison Francaise-Campus France
A copy of your acceptance letter issued by the French University

Mail to:
French Embassy
ATTN: CampusFrance
4101 Reservoir Road NW
Washington D.C. 20007

When do I need to start applying?

You can start registering for CampusFrance as soon as you are accepted into the program. You cannot apply for the visa earlier than 90 days before the program start date.

Once I apply for my visa, how long will it take before I get it?

Your visa will be issued the same day you apply for it in person.

Do I need a Carte de Séjour?

Students studying in France for more than 6 months (Academic Year Students) must apply for the Carte de Sejour. Be sure to bring the necessary documents and your resident director will help you apply for it.