Ambassade de France / Embassy of France

Nique Grant

a month ago

This consulate is very organized and explain the details needed to obtain your visa. They give a chance to send in the correct information needed for your visa. So it’s very imperative to read the instructions and follow the directions. I know they work hard and it’s it hard to answer every question asked. But i thank them for doing the best they could for me and my family. It would have been a five star however i think they should have a phone line where someone could call and ask questions if needed because i know i had questions lol. Be blessed xo

Nenessouful .

2 months ago

My experience might be significantly different from yours and I totally get it. But my visa application went very well and I think people need to know that all isn't dark in that Consulate. I am an international student (french speaker so maybe it helped with understanding the paperwork) and I applied for a short stay Schengen visa for France via VFS San Francisco. I had about 6 weeks from the day of my VFS appointment to the day of my scheduled flight. I received my passport back in 1 week! It was not the first time I get this visa but it was the first time since VFS is part of the procedure. Make sure you have all your documents, choose free cancellation reservations for everything (hotel in particular, unless you have the paperwork for accomodation) and make sure your flight itinerary is legit or get a real flight ticket REFUNDABLE if you can. Since the process is longer with VFS, chances are the temporary flight reservation expires by the time they look at your documents at the consulate. Also start EARLY. The last time I applied for a visa was when VFS was not a thing and you could get a direct appointment in Houston or SF for instance. So AFTER I applied and checked this reviews thread I almost fainted. To be safe I would recommend getting your VFS appointment 2 months and a half before the day you plan to travel, especially during the high season (summer and before Xmas break). The "apply no later than 2 weeks before your trip" is a lie, particularly for some nationalities. When I called VFS on day 5 to inquire, they said "oh yeah it can take 15 to 25 BUSINESS days to process"... Triple check your documents, and don't try to contact VFS or the consulate after you submit... VFS people have done their job after they ship your paperwork to the Consulate, and the latter can be overwhelmed now that they handle the ENTIRE United States pool of applicants.

Bernadette Swider

4 months ago

If there were less than 1 star rating, I would give it. My repeated calls about a question of how to pay a Paris Metro fine were dismissed as "I don't know and I can't deal with this." I am not certain about the root cause for complete lack of engagement. Is it ignorance? Low staffing levels? Culture? All I know is that the French staff of their Embassy and Chicago Consulate are disappointments.

G

5 months ago

Worst experience ever. This people are so rude. I really don't know why I apply for a France Visa. They really bump their head.who gonna leave the USA with a family, green card, good job to go stay in France it doesn't make any sense. They need to change their mentality and make things easier for people. France is a small country with so many people. There is no job other there, we don't want to stay there.How come they want me to buy airplane tickets without having a guarantee that I am gonna be approve for a Visa. If I was going by myself I could do it buy I am going with family. For all of us the round trip tickets cost $4967 after 24hours it is not refundable.

Anan/28_5

a month ago

The worst experience and service I have ever had. Rude people.