France Consulate General in Boston – Visa Guide

Introduction

Visa requests submitted in the United States are processed by the France Embassy Washington D.C, France Consulate General in Atlanta, France Consulate General in Boston, Consulate General in Chicago, Consulate General in Houston, Consulate General in Los Angeles, Consulate General in Miami, Consulate General in New York, and Consulate General in San Francisco.

France at a glance

Be it literature or contemporary arts, be it technology or politics, France has always remained pioneer in introducing new trends in almost every walk of life.

The country plays a key role in international politics as it holds veto power in the United Nations. The country is also part of the Schengen Area and is the seventh largest economic power of the world.

Being a highly-advanced country and blessed with a rich landscape, every year millions of people from across the globe travel to French territory to enjoy latest happenings.

Who can apply for France Visa from within the USA?

Before proceeding further, let it be clear that a permanent citizenship holder of the United States does not need to apply for or acquire a France Schengen Visa. A Permanent Resident Card [usually referred to as Green Card] allows you to enter France or any other Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa. But it is mandatory that itinerant’s passport must hold validity of a minimum of 90 days or three months after his/her intended return to the USA.

However, if you are a permanent citizen of the USA and intended to stay for over 90 days, then you are required to apply for France National Visa in France Consulate General in Boston.

Jurisdiction of France Consulate General in Boston

The France Consulate General in Boston covers the following states of the USA:

Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Visa Application Process At France Consulate General in Boston

France has introduced an online facility through which the applicants can fill the application form and book an appointment. The submission of the file for French Schengen Visa or French Residence Permit will be made in person at the France Consulate General in Boston.

To acquire a deep peep into the visa application procedure, read this article.

Step One

The official website for French Visa application process is franceintheus.org. Once the home page is completely opened, click on the ‘Visit France’ section. The browser will enlist various categories, you will choose ‘Visa’ Category.

Step Two

The server of franceintheusa.org will readdress the visa applicant to the next page. Among the text written on the page, the itinerant is required to click on blue-painted “France Visas” text. The server will open a visa-guide comprising four steps.

Step Three

The third step in the process of acquiring a French Visa is to click find out whether you need a French visa from France Consulate General in Boston.

For finding the answer to this question, take help of “Visa Wizard”.

Visa Wizards gives the following information:

• Visa procedure’s requirements
• Fee for different types of visas
• Accompanying documents for visa application

The Visa Wizard will thoroughly scrutinize the information submitted by the visa applicant. If the applicant requires a French Visa, it will enlist all supporting documents with pre-requisites.

The fourth step is to submit a file through online means. But for doing so, the itinerant needs a username and password. If you don’t have both, get yourself registered by following instructions as mentioned on the website and then log in.

Step Four: Submit Online Application

After logging in by entering the account details, you will go back to the “submit online application” section.

A new window will open listing all continents and the countries located in them. You will “America” and then “United States of America” as you are going to submit your visa application in France Consulate in Boston.

The server will now move you to a technological VFS, a website working on behalf of various governments, and for embassies and consulates around the world.

You will click on bold “VFS global centers” text. The server will open a new window detailing location, contact details, opening, and closure times of all French diplomatic missions in the United States. You will scroll down to VFS Global Centre in Boston and then click on an appointment icon.

Please note that appointments times and processing duration for applications can vary, depending on your nationality and type of visa applied for. We recommend you to apply well in advance of your trip, at least 15 days, but not more than 90 days, prior to your intended departure dates.

Please note that the registration will expire after 30 inactive days from the last appointment date.

Step Five: Prepare Your Documents

Now comes the difficult task i-e preparation of documents.

Application form, dated and signed.

ID photograph.

If you are not a US citizen, please provide proof of your legal status (green card, visa, and I94 or endorsed I20 for students or endorsed DS2019 for interns..).

Travel document (passport), valid for at least three months after the planned date of return, issued less than 10 years ago and with at least 2 blank visa pages and photocopy of passport pages

Document describing the planned programme (letter of presentation, reservation confirmation of an organized trip)

Pre-booked round-trip flight reservation.

Travel health insurance certificate (covering any possible costs for medical repatriation, and emergency and/or hospital treatment, for a minimum amount of €30,000, valid in all the Schengen area).

“Attestation d’accueil” (in case of accommodation by a private individual) or hotel reservation or certificate of ownership of real estate or lease agreement.

Copies of bank statements for the last three months (with the name and address of the account holder(s), printed copies from online accounts are accepted) and copies of pay stubs from the last 3 months, or last year’s income tax return or proof of prior economic activity and income during previous fiscal year, or proof of pension.

Letter from the employer or proof of business ownership/business license (if self-employed). If retired, pension certificate. If a student, certificate of enrollment.

For Students:

• France electronic acceptance letter if accepted through Campus France admission process / Letter of enrollment from the school in France if accepted directly by the school + Campus France email confirmation (Email you have received in your Campus France account once your file has been processed.
• Last completed degree (countries out of procedure “EEF – Studies in France”).
• Scholarship certificate or bank certificate proving deposits in a bank account of at least 615 euros per month, or proof of sufficient, reliable and regular funds, or coverage of costs by a sponsor who must provide evidence of sufficient, reliable and regular funds.

The amount plummets to 65 euros per day if the foreigner—seeking entry in France—displays proof of prepaid accommodation.

The amount falls further to 32.25 euros per day if the applicant holds evidence of cheaper means of accommodation.

If employed:

Contract of employment with the company; and

A bank statement with transactions details of past six months; and

A permission letter stating that the company has allowed you to travel; and

Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

If self-employed:

Business license copy; and

Company bank statement of the latest 6 months; and

Income Tax Return (ITR).

If retired:

6-month pension statement.

If applicable:

Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months.

Recent nationwide criminal history check.

US work permit

Confirmation of participation in any type of event or activity

Self-addressed, pre-paid US express mail envelope (if applicable)

The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen member state territory.

Submission of biometric data

Step Six: Submit File at France Consulate General in Boston

Now submit your file at France Consulate General in Boston.

Step Seven: Track your Visa

Tracking your visa application has never been so easy. Use VFS Global to track your visa application via tracking number.

Address of France Consulate General in Boston

160 Federal Street, 17th Floor, 02110 Boston, MA, United States of America.

Email: visas@consulfrance-washington.org

Tel: (+1) 617 832 4400