Skip Navigation
You Are In: Visas > Non-Immigrant Visas > Limited Mail-In Applications Criteria
Skip Left Section Navigation

Non-Immigrant Visas

Visa Procedure

Limited Mail-In Applications Criteria

Only For Certain French Citizens and Residents of France

Effective August 1, 2004, only French Nationals and Legal Permanent Residents of France (Residents of France are Holders of a 10 year resident card or Citizens of a member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation with justification of their permanent residence in France - property deeds, taxes, land-line telephone bills - ) may apply for their visa by mail, provided they are:

  • Children 13 years of age or under
    OR
  • People over 80 years of age or older *

  

Overseas French Territories

Residents in Guadeloupe, Martinique or French Guyana must submit their applications in Barbados (Bridgetown, P.O. Box 302 - (Tel: 001-246-436-4950 - Fax: 001-246-431.02-25). Applicants physically present in Paris may file their applications with the Consular Section in Paris.

Residents in La Reunion must submit their applications in Mauritius (4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis - Tel: (00-230-202-44-00) - Fax : (00-230-208-95-34). Applicants physically present in Paris may file their applications with the Consular Section in Paris.

Residents in French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis & Futuna must submit their applications in Suva, Fiji (31 Loftus Street, P.O. Box 218 - Tel.: 00-679-3314-466 - Fax: 00-679-3300-081). Applicants physically present in Paris may file their applications with the Consular Section in Paris.

 

Persons who cannot apply by mail

Applicants aged 80 and over who were born in, or hold a passport from, one of the six countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, must apply for visas in person, even if they appear to meet the criteria to apply for a visa by mail. The countries are North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Libya, Syria and Sudan.

How To Apply By Mail ?

1. Pay the application fee (one per applicant).
Attach the proof of application fee (mandat-compte) receipt to every application (we do not accept photocopies).

The application cannot be processed without payment. This payment is mandatory and not refundable under any circumstances. If the visa is refused or if you abandon your application, the fee will not be refunded. If it is mistakenly paid twice, it will not be refunded. If you paid too much, we cannot refund you the difference. Only the application fee should be paid into this account.

2. Depending upon nationality, a reciprocity fee may be required in order to issue the visa.

  • Visit of the Department of State's reciprocity fee website to determine if your application requires a reciprocity fee. (There is no reciprocity fee for French nationals.)
  • If your application requires a reciprocity fee, attach a mandat-cash in that amount or a payment authorization form to your application. It cannot be sent separately nor will La Poste send it to us. It must be in the same envelope as your application.

3. Include a valid passport.

4. Attach one recent ID photograph 5cm x 5cm (see specifications and samples)

5. For the return of your passport, provide one self-addressed, traceable envelope (one per family).

In France, the options are : Chronopost (express mail service offered by the French Post Office), Fedex, DHL (we have been told that UPS does no carry passports). Chronopost is available at any French Post Office. The applicant is responsible for recording the envelope's tracking number and contacting the delivery company or the Post Office if the envelope does not arrive.

Remember:

  • Please write down your express-mail envelope tracking number so that you can contact the company if there is a problem with delivery. The Embassy cannot help you track the reference number.
  • If your file is incomplete it will be returned.
  • No information will be provided by phone on the status of your file -- please do not call us to find out if we have received your visa application.
  • Mailed in applications are not guaranteed visa issuances. Consular officers reserve the right to request a personal interview from you. If you are invited for a personal interview, you will be sent instructions on how to proceed.