France family visit visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a France family visit Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇫🇷 France·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
France
Type
C · FAMILY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededVisiting family / friends — short stay (Type C) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 12
Competent authority
French Consulate covering the applicant's US state of residence by jurisdiction
Application centre
VFS Global (11 US centres)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
$45
Est. total (adult)
$145
Long stay (Type D)
€99
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: TLScontact.
Fee notes
France switched VFS->TLScontact in USA April 2025 (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, NY, SF, Seattle, DC). Service ~€45. Long-stay VLS €99 (+€300 ANEF post-arrival validation, not a visa fee).
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–8 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Appointments cannot be booked more than 3 months before travel; peak-season (spring/summer) slots scarce. Realistically ~1-4 weeks, worse at popular centres.
Application centre
VFS Global (US), sole administrative service provider for France. Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC.
Timeline notes
Harmonised ~15 calendar days typical; some cases up to 45-60. 3-month advance booking cap is a real constraint.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
€65
Minimum
—
In EUR ≈
as shown
no accommodation booked
€120 / day
with hotel booking (base daily SMIC)
€65 / day
proof of private accommodation / attestation d'accueil (half SMIC)
€32.5 / day
Notes
Base = daily SMIC (EUR 65.00). If NO hotel reservation is presented, EUR 120/day required. If a hotel reservation covers part of the stay: EUR 65/day for the booked period + EUR 120/day for the rest. Holders of an attestation d'accueil (hosted) need only half the SMIC = EUR 32.50/day. Travel medical insurance also required.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- Non-US citizens resident in the USMust present valid US residence (Green Card or US visa) for the consular jurisdiction of application.
- US citizensVisa-exempt for family/friend visits up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Host in FranceProvides attestation d'accueil validated by the mairie plus proof of accommodation/funds.