Obtaining your Passport & Student Visa
Get Your Passport
If you don’t have a passport that is valid for six months after your program abroad ends, then apply for one immediately!It is a good idea to use the expedited service to ensure that you received a passport in plenty of time to get your student visa. For more information, please visit:http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Samples and Documentation
Documents coming soon
Step 1: Sign up with Campus France
All Students are required to register with Campus France before applying to the French consulate for their Long Stay Student visas. This can be done online at http://usa.campusfrance.org/en/1.html. Use the following steps to help you:
- Review the Passport and Visa Information Booklet (pages 9-18) it will make completing the application much easier.
- Go to CampusFrance Website and click on the link in the My Campus France box labeled “Registration” to create an account. * Make a note of your CampusFrance login and password – you will need it to complete your application and to access your CampusFrance Email account late.
- Once you have an account set up, you can log-in and complete the CEF Form. This form is comprised of four sections – Formation, Linguistic Skills, Motivation and Validation of My File’s CEF form. Complete this form and submit it. Click here for additional information on completing your Campus France form (CEF).
- Send one of your acceptance letters (SU Abroad will send this to you) and $60.00 money order (Note: Campus France will NOT accept personal checks) payable to "Maison Francaise - CampusFrance" to:
Campus France 4101 Reservoir Road,
N.W. Washington DC, 20007
Write your CampusFrance ID# on your money order and acceptance letter. Once they receive your Money Order and acceptance letter, Campus France will send you an email CampusFrance Confirmation. It will take around 2 weeks to get your CampusFrance Confirmation – SO APPLY EARLY – DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
**Print your CampusFrance confirmation letter - it is a required document for your visa application.
NOTE: It may take longer for non-US citizens or US citizens not born in the US to get their visa. Therefore, please make sure you apply for your visa at the French consulate by the end of May for the fall or by mid-October for the spring to allow enough time for your visa to be processed.
If you have any questions about your Campus France registration, you can contact Campus France at 202-944-6294 or by email at washington@campusfrance.org or Julie Riverso at jurivers@syr.edu.
Step 2: Applying for your Student Visa at the French Consulate
1. To find out which consulate you will be applying for your visa, please go to:http://www.ambafrance-us.org there is a map of the United States.
- Click on your home state and it will take you to the website of the consulate serving that area.
- Click on the American Flag for the English version of the website.
- Review the requirements for obtaining a Long Stay Student Visa. * Make sure that you have the correct documents and copies for your appointment or they will not accept your application and you may be required to schedule a second appointment.
2. Make an appointment at the consulate as soon as possible. Visa will NOT be issued more than 90 days in advance of the date of your departure (January 4th 2010), therefore you can make your appointments for any time after October 7th 2009 for the Spring 2010 Semester. Make your appointment as soon as you have completed your CampusFrance application and mail in your acceptance letter and money order. Make your appointments now - they fill up fast. Be sure to leave at least two to three weeks between the time you mailed in your Campus France paperwork and the date of the appointment.
Read all the requirements for your visa carefully- you will need to apply for a “LONG STAY STUDENT VISA” and begin gathering these documents now so that you have them all ready when you receive your confirmation email from CampusFrance.
Note: You should always check with the consulate websites prior to your appointment date, as changes can and do occur regularly and without notice.
3. When you receive your confirmation from CampusFrance, print a copy of your confirmation letter to finalize your visa documents.
4. Go to the consulate at the designated time and get your visa. ALWAYS ASK FOR A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA. Please ask the consulate about this when you go for your appointment as there is no section on the application form to indicate you want a multiple entry visa and they may simply issue you a single entry visa.