There are several types of visas available to those wishing to visit, stay long term, study, work or emigrate to France. To determine which type of Visa you need, it’s best to decide on your length of stay and your purpose of visit. Below are the types of Visas offered to non-French citizens.
The Schengen Visa, as its known in France, is issued to people visiting for usually greater than three months. Not all people are required to obtain a Schengen Visa. Country of origin dictates these requirements, as well as length of stay. If your intention is stay longer than three months, please check with your consular office or Embassy to obtain one. However, as an American citizen, you are not required to obtain one prior to your vacation. If you are required to produce a Schengen Visa, you will want to apply for one at minimum three months before you plan to fly.
Student Visa
Whether your studies abroad take you to France for 91 days or five years, you are required to obtain a Student Visa. You will be expected to fill out two “long stay forms”, found only at your Embassy or local Consular office. Proof of acceptance into a University as an exchange student will need accompany your application. Please allow up to three months for processing.
While studying in France, all students aged 28 and younger are eligible for their stellar universal health care system. Upon arrival, please check with your University or apply when you apply for your Student Visa.
Emigration to France
This is far more a complicated process than is obtaining a short, long term or student visa. The criteria, assuming your company is not sponsoring you, is complicated and ever changing. Specific fields of expertise have precedence over others, depending upon what skill is lacking nationwide at the moment. This is an involved process that will require at minimum a check with both the French and American Embassies. If your company is not sponsoring your emigration, processing time is slow, criteria are high and as is the case with those wishing to do so to the US, the endless paperwork is daunting.
