1. What must be the validity of my passport?
Your passport must be less than 10 years old and valid for at least 90 days after your date of departure from the Schengen territory. In case you do need a visa- it must have at least two blank `visas` pages available.
2. Can I apply for a visa if my passport is still valid, even though it was issued more than 10 years ago?
No. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago.
3. Where is the Consulate General of France located?
The visa section of the Consulate General of France in Boston is located at the Park Square Building - 31, Saint James Avenue, Suite 750 - Boston, MA 02116.
4. Can I apply by mail?
No. Personal appearance is compulsory (except for children under 6 years old who do NOT need to apply in person). Please make an appointment here.
5. Can someone else apply for me?
No. Personal appearance is mandatory. Travel agents or other individuals are not allowed to represent the applicant.
6. I am applying for visas for my family, i.e ; myself, my spouse and my child(ren). Do we all need to be present?
Both you and your spouse need to be present. Children under the age of 6 are not required to be present.
7. I live far away from Boston. Is there another visa section other than the one in Boston?
If you are a resident from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, vermont, you must apply at the French Consulate in Boston.
8. When can I apply?
Applications have to be submitted at least 15 DAYS before your expected date of departure. The visa section is open Monday through Friday between 9.00am and 12.30pm by appointment only.
9. Is there an expedite process?
No. A visa application cannot be expedited. Make sure you apply far enough in advance according to your nationality and at least fifteen days before your departure.
10. I leave in a few days, can you make an exception?
No. Make sure you apply at least fifteen days before your departure.
11. Can I apply at the visa section without an appointment?
The visa section is open to the public on an appointment basis, with no walk-ins allowed.
12. How long does it take to get my passport back?
Processing time depends on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. After the interview, the consulate requires a minimum of one working day to process a visa application. However in certain cases, it may take longer.
13. How can I collect my passport?
At the counter or via the EXPRESS MAIL (prepaid envelope provided by the applicant).
14. Can I collect my passport at your counter?
Yes. Pick up time : between 2.30 and 3.30 pm Monday to Friday.
Please note: French passports can be picked up Monday through Thursday from 9AM to 12PM, no appointment needed.
15. How long is the visa valid for?
We must first see your file before we make a decision on the validity of your visa. The decision will be made by the visa officer on the day you apply.
16. Where can I get the application forms?
Application forms can be downloaded from our website :
short stay visas
 - Short stay visa application form
|
long stay visas
- Long stay visa - Application form
|
17. Where can I collect the requirement list for my visa
The requirement list can be printed from our website 24 hours a day.
18. How much does the visa cost at the Consulate General of France?
Processing fees depend on the official French exchange rate. Please click here for exact amount.
19. What shall I do if my application is incomplete?
Applicant should provide a complete file. If additional documents are required, a form stating the missing documents is handed over to the applicant. If application remains incomplete after a few days, the visa will be refused.
20. Do I need to show my tickets to France when I come and apply for the visa?
You must book your airline ticket but do not purchase it until the visa has been approved.
21. Where can I get the Attestation d’accueil?
This certificate must be obtained at the City Hall by the person you are visiting in France. It is a compulsory requirement for people applying for a visa to visit family or friends. Be advised that you must provide the original certificate as it needs to be officially stamped and might be presented at the border.
22. Can I use my Schengen visa, issued by the French Consulate, to travel to other European countries?
A Schengen visa allows you to travel within the Schengen space. As long as you were granted a multiple entry Schengen visa and that it is still valid, you may travel to any other Schengen country (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic). However, please note that you should always apply at the consulate of your main destination.
23. I plan to visit several Schengen countries, where should I apply for my visa?
The Consulate of the main destination is responsible for issuing the uniform Schengen visa. If main destination cannot be determined, responsibility for issuing the visa lies with the Schengen state of first entry.
24. I can’t make an appointment, the link doesn’t work.
To use the system, the following configuration is required :
* Firefox 1.0 and higher
* Mozilla 1.7.8 and higher
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher
* Adobe Acrobat reader 5 or higher
* You need to enable your computer to open pop-ups by changing your browser settings.
25. I couldn’t print the confirmation for my appointment.
It is not a problem as long as your appointment is confirmed in the system. Simply show up at the time of your appointment.
26. How do I reschedule my appointment?
If you are not able to attend, please free a slot by cancelling your previous appointment and reschedule another one.
To cancel or change an appointment, click
here and then choose "changing an appointment".
27. My visa is rejected. What should I do?
If your application is refused, you may submit a new visa application without waiting. You will need to complete and sign a new form, enclose identity photographs, pay the application fee and support your application with the required evidence and any new items you may have. However, we strongly recommend that you study the list of required documents again and see if your situation has changed so you may have a better chance at obtaining a visa. If your visa was refused, you may lodge an appeal with the Commission de Recours contre les Refus de Visa (CRRV) within two months of being notified of the refusal or of an implicit refusal, by addressing your correspondence to:
Secrétariat CRRV BP 83609 44036 NANTES CEDEX 1 France
28. My visa is rejected. Can I know why?
With very few exceptions requested by French laws, the visa section does not state the reasons for refusal of visa.
29. My visa is rejected. Can I get a refund?
Processing fees are not reimbursed.
30. I cannot reach you over the phone, what should I do?
You can reach the Visa Section only by email :
visas.boston-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr
31. I didn’t receive an answer to the email I sent
Allow the visa section a couple of days before expecting an answer. Please read carefully our website, you’ll probably find an answer to your question.
32. Can I make an appointment by mail or over the phone?
No. You need to make an appointment online
here.
33. I didn’t receive my passport back
Please keep a record of the tracking number of the envelope so that you can check online in case you do not receive your passport within three weeks.
Last update :
03/22/2011
