fontsizeup fontsizedown

 français    English  
Accueil » Visas For France » Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1.0 - Where is the Consulate General of France located ?

The visa section of the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles is located at 10390 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 115, Los Angeles, CA 90025. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Click here to see the map.

1.1 - May I apply by mail ?

No. Personal appearance is mandatory for everyone (including residents of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada & Southern California), as your fingerprints and a photograph must be taken in our premises.
For more information on biometric visas, please visit this page

1.2 - Can someone else apply for me ?

No. Personal appearance is mandatory.

- Children under the age of 6 are not required to be present for long stay visas
- Children under the age of 12 are not required to be present if applying for a Schengen visa

- All minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult on the day of the appointment

1.3 - I am applying for visas for my family, i.e ; myself, my wife and my child(ren). Do we all need to be present ?

Every family member must be present, as your fingerprints and a photograph must be taken in our premises.

  • Children under the age of 6 are not required to be present for long stay visas.
  • Children under the age of 12 are not required to be present if applying for a Schengen visa.

1.4 - I live far away from Los Angeles. Is there another visa section other than the one in Los Angeles ?

If you are a resident from Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico or Southern Nevada, you must apply at the French Consulate in Los Angeles. For a detailed map, please click here

  • B1-B2 visa holders: Please, apply in the country of your residence. NO VISAS WILL BE DELIVERED to foreigners holding U.S B1-B2 visas.

1.5 - May I apply at the visa section without an appointment ?

No. The visa section is open to the public on an appointment basis only. You must make an appointment on our online appointment system.

1.6 - 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 and higher
- Allow pop-ups
- The appointment system is NOT compatible with Mac computers or Chrome browsers

- You need to enable your computer to open pop-ups by changing your browser settings.

1.7 - I couldn’t print the confirmation for my appointment.

In order to print your appointment, you must log into the appointment system you will need your “LAX” confirmation number and passport number.

1.8 - How do I reschedule my appointment ?

If you are not able to attend, please free a slot by cancelling your previous appointment or reschedule to a later date.

To cancel or change an appointment, you will need your “LAX” confirmation number and passport number, choose "Appointments" on the top left side, then select "Changing an appointment"

To access the appointment system: click here

1.9 - Your appointments are full until next month and I am leaving soon, what should I do ?

If you do not find an earlier appointment, please check daily on the appointment system for any cancellations. If an appointment is cancelled, you will see an available date appear on the system.

To access the appointment system: click here


2.0 - What must be the validity of my passport ?

In case you do need a visa, your passport must:

  • Have been delivered less than 10 years ago (date of first issuance, i.e. your passport CANNOT be older than 10 years)
  • Be valid for at least three months AFTER your stay in the Schengen area or French territory
  • Have at least two blank pages left to affix the visa (amendment pages are not suitable for visas).
  • Be in good condition (ie. not torn or damaged)

2.1 - 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

2.2 - Do I need a visa to go to France?

Please read CAREFULLY the chapter of the visa you are applying for for a complete description of visa requirements.

2.3 - When can I apply ?

  • Processing time depends on the citizenship
  • Applications cannot be processed earlier than 3 months before your departure
  • Apply in advance. Do NOT wait for the last minute.
  • There is no expedite process
  • We strongly suggest all applicants to apply at least 30 DAYS to before your expected date of departure to avoid delays
  • No emergency visa will be issued

2.4 - Is there an expedited process ?

No. A visa application cannot be expedited. Make sure you apply in advance.

2.5 - I leave in a few days, can you make an exception ?

No. Make sure you apply on time.

2.6 - How long does it take to get my passport back ?

Processing time depends on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. We cannot estimate an exact processing time until you file your application in person. Please apply in advance.

2.7 - How can I collect my passport ?

Passports can be sent back by FedEx (please provide us with a self addressed enveloppe at your expenses on the day of your appointment (FEDEX US Airbill only). Your address must appear twice on the US Airbill (you are the sender and the recipient).
- We will NOT accept other methods of delivery: (NO USPS, NO UPS, NO FedEx "Ground" service)

2.8 - How long is the visa valid for ?

It depends on the type of visa you are applying for and the type of documents presented. We must first check your file on the day of your appointment before we can estimate the validity of your visa.


3.0 - Where can I get the application forms ?

Application forms can be downloaded from our website :

Application Forms

3.1 - Where can I collect the requirement list for my visa?

The requirement list can be found on our website 24 hours a day. Please select the type of visa you are applying for to view a list of requirements here.

3.2 - How much does the visa cost ?

For a list application fees, please check this page

3.3 - 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.

3.4 - Do I need to show my plane tickets to France when I come and apply for the visa ?

You must reserve your airline ticket under your name and present it on the day of your appointment, but you are not required to purchase it until the visa is approved.

3.5 - 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 in France


4.0 - I cannot reach you over the phone, what should I do ?

A high number of applicants might prevent us from answering the phone, thus we strongly suggest to contact us only by e-mail.

Please read our website carefully before contacting us, as you will only receive a reply if the information is not available on this website

- E-mail: visa-info@consulfrance-losangeles.org
- Fax: (310) 235-3204

When writing to us, please include the following:

  • Your full name
  • Your nationality
  • If you are not a US citizen, your current status in the USA (permanent resident "green card", F1 visa, H1B visa, etc…)
  • Which visa you are applying for (please be specific) and the approximate length of your stay
  • Additional contact information (phone number, secondary e-mail, etc…)

4.1 - 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, as you’ll probably find an answer to your question.

4.2 - Can I make an appointment by mail or over the phone ?

No. You need to make an appointment online here.

4.3 - I didn’t receive my passport back.

Please keep a record of the tracking number of the envelope so that you can check on the FedEx website.


5.0 - I am a French citizen and I need a visa / need to extend my stay in the United States

You must apply for your visa in France at the United States Embassy in Paris. Our office is only competent for visas to France, French overseas territories and departments.

5.1 - I am a French citizen and I need to apply/extend my passport and/or French ID

You must check the "Services aux Francais" section of our website

Institutional websites

Facebook Flickr Delicious Youtube Dailymotion Twitter RSS