If you want to revel in the lap of renaissance and romance, France is the place to be. It is a confluence of Nature’s picturesque perfection, Gothic medieval architecture, and global modernization, unmatched by any other country.

But sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic has rubbed the sheen off this tourist spot, as hordes of vacationers were forced to drop their travel plans this year. Peak travel time between April and October has witnessed scant crowds, creating a wide trench in the travel and tourism industry.

However, all is not lost. As France slowly steadies herself with new travel and visa guidelines, tourists are also reciprocating by signing up for short-stay travel plans, with itineraries that ensure zero risk of Covid exposure. So, it’s time to dust off that travelling gear and redo your vacation plans. France awaits you with open arms, ready to sprinkle her love on all those to choose to bask in her glory!

Who can apply for France Schengen Visa?

As a US citizen, you can travel to France for business or leisure without a visa, as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days. Your passport should be valid for minimum 3 months post return to the US.  Salaried individuals must furnish a work permit issued by French labor authorities.

If you are not a US citizen, then you will need a French Schengen Visa even if you hold a Green Card. Date of passport issue must be within the last 10 years and remain valid for 3 months after you leave France.

Just provide very basic information and find out whether or not you need a visa at France Visa website within a minute. For your reference few screenshots are attached below on how to find the required information..

Sample basic information entered as shown below.

You need a visa based on the information provided above.

Supporting Documents

Mandatory French Schengen visa documents required for non-US citizens are:

• Green Card OR valid US Visa with I-94, I-20 or I-797 OR Advance Parole Document.
• Filled and signed application form along with glued profile photograph.
• Passport photo requirements for French Schengen Visa:
  • 2 color photographs
  • Size = 35mm x 45mm
  • Head Coverage: 30mm to 36mm
  • Background: light gray or light blue
  • Front facing with neutral facial expression, eyes open, and without eye glasses
  • Headwear: head scarves/turbans permissible only for religious reasons
  • Apparel Colors: contrasting with the background
• Previous three months’ bank/credit card statements.
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of hotel reservations
• Travel insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage, inclusive of medical emergencies.
• Proof of sufficient funds (any one): pay slips; employment documents; sponsorship documents; accommodation booking; prepaid transport.
• Salaried individuals must furnish a letter of employment detailing salary, hire date, job role, and leave letter signed by the employer.
• Self-employed individuals must furnish a letter of good standing from their bank along with business registration documents.
• Foreign students must furnish an I-20 and a letter of good standing from their educational establishment where they are currently enrolled along with date of program completion.

As part of your application, you will also need to mention the type of French Schengen Visa you are applying for. This could be for visiting, short-term or long-term business/official/company work.

Submit France Schengen Visa Application

After readying your flight reservation itinerary, hotel reservation itinerary, and travel insurance documents, you must identify the Visa Application Center for submitting your application. All French Consulates in the US accept applications only from residents of the state the Consulate is located in. However, the French Consulate in San Francisco is authorized to accept applications of US residents from Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North California, North Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Pacific Islands of Guam and Samoa.

Once you have identified your Visa Application Center, you can start the submission process online itself. break-up of what to do when applying online for a French Visa in SFO.

1. General Guideline instructions can be found at the Official Website.
2. Visit France website or VFS Global Website to fill the application online.

• Use the on-screen prompts to fill out the Visa Application Form. You can save your form by creating a personal account so that you can continue from the last saved point in case you lose online access.

• After submitting the form, book an appointment with the Visa Application Center. The appointment date should be at least 14 to 90 days before the date of travel for a long-stay visa and 14 to 180 days for a short-stay visa.
• Visit the Application Center on the appointed date. Carry originals and copies of all visa documents. (Copies will be retained by the Center.)
• The Center will review your application, collect the processing fee, and capture your biometrics. Visa officials will discuss your personal / professional background, and purpose of visit.

It takes 15 to 90 days for the visa application to be processed, depending upon your country of origin and type of visa. That is why it is important to file the visa application no lesser than 90 days before your planned travel date. You can track your application status on the website where you originated the process.

If all goes well, you will receive your visa acceptance or rejection within the stipulated time. Do not be disheartened if your application is rejected. Did you know that of the 4 lakh Visa applications that France received in 2018 globally, 15.7% were rejected? Find out the reason for your visa rejection. Was it an incomplete form, insufficient insurance coverage, missing details in the flight/accommodation itinerary, weak reasons for returning to the USA, or something else? Analyze the reason for refusal and re-apply. There is no waiting period between visa rejection and visa re-application; only ensure that you do not repeat the same error!

You need to submit the Visa applications at the VFS Global center located at

110 Sutter St, 5ème étage
San Francisco, CA 94104

Visa Fees:

The fee is collected in local currency. All major credit cards are accepted except American Express. 

France Schengen Visa Consulate Location

The consulate general of France in San Francisco is no longer responsible for providing visas.

But you can still connect with the French Consulate in SFO, regarding the visa application process, rejection, or other reasons. You can write to or visit:

88 Kearny Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108.

Telephone – Direct: (+1) (415) 616-4906

Telephone – via VFS Global Call Center: (+1) (212) 784-6157 | (+1) (347) 252-3055

Website: https://sanfrancisco.consulfrance.org/

Email: This is unique to each department and depends on the purpose of communication. For visa enquiries, write to: visas@consulfrance-washington.org.

At the end of it all, if you still need assistance in discussing documentation requirements, processing protocols, and steps to take in case of French Visa rejection, we are just a call away to answer your queries and concerns. Our Visa and Travel experts at Schengen Visa Itinerary can provide trustworthy solutions to every travel and visa application scenario under the sun, with successful results. We can even fulfill your itinerary and documentation requirements, nullifying any room for more visa rejections. France is a welcoming country; and our visa experts can get you in – easily.