About Non-Immigrant Visas

The following provides information on visa requirements for travelers to the United States who wish to visit, work or study for a temporary period. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your travel. If you are a French national and intend to visit the United States for less than 90 days, you may be able to travel without first obtaining a  visa if you have registered on-line through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). See the "Do I need a visa ?" page for more information.

Approval of travel by ESTA is valid only for travelers with passports that meet the U.S. biometric standards for travel under the Visa Waiver Program.  To determine whether or not our passport meets these standards, please open our gallery or refer to the following chart (PDF, 128 kb). 

Method of application

With limited exceptions, nonimmigrant visa applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview with a US Consular officer. Interviews are by appointment only. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications. See visa appointments for more information.

The Embassy strongly encourages intending travelers to apply for visas well in advance of their proposed journey, and to always refrain from making irrevocable travel plans until the visa has been issued and they are in receipt of their passport and visa.