United States of America
Apply for a visa in the United States of America to visit France
Visa applications submitted in the United States of America are examined by the French Consulate in Washington DC, only the Consulate is authorised to take decisions about visas.
The reception of visa applicants and the receipt of applications are handled by the 10 centres in the United States and 1 centre in Jamaica :
- Visa applicants living in the United States and the following territories (Bermuda, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, The Turks and Caicos Islands, The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) can set up their appointment at one of the 11 centers regardless of their location. Residents in Puerto Rico can also apply for short stay Schengen visas at the Spanish Consulate in San Juan :
- Edificio Mercantil Plaza, piso 11, oficina 1101. Av. Ponce de León s/n Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
- Cog.SanJuandePuertoRico@maec.es
- https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/sanjuandepuertorico/es/Paginas/index.aspx
- During our busy periods, it can take longer to secure an appointment. We recommend you make sure your appointment is at least :
- 15 days before your date of departure for a short stay visa,
- 1 month before for a long stay visa
- Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months before the departure date for short stay visa applications and more than 3 months before the departure date for long stay visa applications.
- Please be careful : Beware of scams and unofficial websites proposing, in USA, to pay for an appointment or for a French visa. Please refer only to the information and the links you will find on France-Visas website.
Kindly note that the visa application submission procedure does not end after filling the form online on the France Visas website. You still need to print the application form and take it with you, along with all other required documents, when you submit your application at one of our centers.
Whom should I contact?
TLS Centre in Atlanta
Contact details
Spaces – suite 242
3372 Peachtree Road
2e étage Atlanta
GA 30326
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/us/vac/usATL2fr/?lang=en-us
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Boston
Contact details
Regus – suite 1619
101 Federal Street
16e étage
Boston
MA 02110
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Chicago
Contact details
Expansive Superior Office 100B
1st floor
405 West Superior Street
Chicago
IL 60654
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/us/vac/usCHI2fr/?lang=en-us
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Houston
Contact details
Expansive Upper Kirby/Greenway Office 200E
2nd floor
3120 Southwest Freeway
Houston
TX 77098
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Los Angeles
Contact details
Spaces City National Plaza Office 1840
18th floor
515 South Flower
St Los Angeles
CA 90071
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Miami
Contact details
Expansive Biscayne Office 400A
4th floor
2125 Biscayne Blvd
Miami
FL 33137
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in New York
Contact details
Spaces Met Tower Office 705
7th floor
142 W 57th St New-York
NY 10019
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in San Francisco
Contact details
2nd floor
720 Market Street
San Francisco
CA 94102
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/us/vac/usSFO2fr?lang=en-us
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Seattle
Contact details
Regus Seattle City Office 2225
22nd floor
1420 Fifth Avenue
Seattle
98101
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
TLS Centre in Washington DC
Contact details
Suite 500
5th floor 1899 L St
NW Washington
DC 20036
United States of America
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
Collecting passports
NA
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Public holidays in 2025 :
- January 1st: New Year's Day
- January 20th: Martin Luther's King Day
- February 17th: President's Day
- May 26th: Memorial Day
- July 4th: Independence Day
- September 1st: Labor Day
- October 13th: Columbus Day
- November 11th: Veterans Day
- November 27th: Thanksgiving
- December 25th: Christmas
Please read carefully this page before applying.
Application processing times
Processing times - upon receipt of a complete application - are given as general guidelines and will vary according to the applicant’s nationality and the type of visa.
There is no expedite procedure for a visa, and the Visa Section cannot influence this timeline of process.
Reminder: Do allow at least 15 days for visa processing.
Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months before the departure date for short stay visa applications and more than 3 months before the departure date for long stay visa applications.
Security Information
For security reasons, luggage, suitcases, backpacks, and any other large bags are not allowed on the premises of the Consulate of France.
Please make the proper arrangements before visiting the Consulate, since there is nowhere to store bags in the building.
You will not be allowed to enter the Consulate with any of the aforementioned bags under any circumstances.
The Consulate allows no guns on its premises, whether carried openly or concealed, under any circumstances.
Track your application status
You can follow the progress of your request from your France-Visas account, under "My requests".
Collecting your passport
Passports will only be returned by registered mail, except in Washington DC.
Particular situations
Visa requirements for American passport holders
Short Stay Visa Requirements: up to 90 days
American passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to visiting France for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
As of October 18th, 2013, the rules for calculating short stays within the Schengen area have changed. More details and a calculator online on the European Commission website. Visitors who intend to work in France do need to obtain a work authorization or get their "convention d’accueil" prior to their arrival in France.
Long Stay Visa Requirements: more than 90 days
American passport holders are all required to obtain a visa to spend more than 90 days in France.
Visa requirements for official passport holders
Holders of official or diplomatic passports can submit their application directly to the visa section of the Consulate general of France in Washington DC (no appointments required, Monday to Friday, except holydays, from 2.30 to 3.30 pm).
They have the possibility as well to apply at one of the ten centers regardless of their location.
Visas issued to holders of official passports (i.e. related to their functions) are free of charge (visa and service fee, if submission in a visa application center).
Visa requirements for holders of a refugee travel document or a permit to reenter
A visa is required for holders of a refugee travel document or a permit to reenter. We invite you to contact the French consulate of your residence for further information.
Fees
Fees
The fees required for filing a visa application are composed of:
- Fees are seen in dollars (USD) by the French administration for the processing of your application. Payment is only accepted in US dollars (USD) and only by credit or debit card (only Mastercard or Visa). The amount received is kept by the administration, even in the case of refusal of Visa.
- Service fees collected by our service provider when you submit your application to the external service provider. The basic service fees are paid in the local currency. Please note that the service fee cannot be reimbursed. Please refer to the TLS homepage : https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/us/vac/usNYC2fr/application-fees
Help
Help
If you need assistance, our service provider will gladly help you by phone or email:
- Helpline: +1 305 602 5861 (from 8:30 AM Atlantic time until 3:30 PM Pacific time)
- Contact form : https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/us/vac/usWAS2fr/contact?lang=en-us
The visas office of the consulate general in Washington D.C. also answers requests by email : visas.washington-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr
A quick answer will be given to your query, unless it is already explained on FranceVisa, therefore please do not send repeated messages and do not call the French Embassy nor the French consulates in the US.