apply for student visa IN France?

[FoxyGrandpa]

Bonjour everyone. I'm in a bit of pickle, and I'm hoping I could get some answers here.

I recently won a scholarship to study for the year in France. As of right now, I haven't heard back from the university as to whether I'm accepted. I emailed to ask what was up, and the professors are on vacation until September 1 (quelle surprise!). The university is offering activities for foreign students that week, but I would have no way of receiving acceptance letters in the US until probably the 3rd week of September (after classes have started).

I want to just go over and go the first few days and see what happens - I'm not worried about being accepted: I have the money, and they don't have to transfer anything over to the US. Easy money for them, in theory. However, I would miss a few weeks of class waiting for a visa appointment. If I'm accepted, I'm planning to find another program in the city to do in its place.

My question is: what are my options? Would it be possible to apply for the student visa while I'm in France? If not, could I go to another country and apply for it (like England, for example)? Would it be best to just go on a tourist visa, stay over the visa for a few weeks and get the visa around Christmas to return after the new year?

Any help would be appreciated. Merci!

[Bevdeforges]

Normally, to apply for a university in France, you have to get your application in by a certain deadline, which is sometime in April, I believe. Chances are, you aren't going to be accepted for a program that has already stated.

No, you can't usually apply for a student visa once you're in France - or on a quick hop over to the UK. They require that you apply from the country in which you are legally resident at the time of your application.

You should probably be working through Campus France in order to make sure that your intended program of study will qualify you for a student visa - and that you get all your application material in by the deadlines. Etats-Unis > A service of the French Embassy to promote study in France to students and institutions in the United States
Cheers,
Bev

[FoxyGrandpa]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Normally, to apply for a university in France, you have to get your application in by a certain deadline, which is sometime in April, I believe. Chances are, you aren't going to be accepted for a program that has already stated.
....
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,
Thanks for the quick reply! I forgot to mention that, so thanks for bringing that up! Once I had the money official and finalized, the April 1 deadline had passed. I emailed the university, and I was told to apply through their own online application process. I did that, and everything was sent. I'm just waiting on a reply from them on that. Assuming that I am accepted (their website says the last day to have the dossier turned in is September 1st), I will need to follow the other steps.

My main question, though, is whether I can just go to the university for the beginning of the classes, and get the visa once the CF processes are complete (and after classes have started) and receive the visa then? You've stated that I couldn't do it in another country, so I'm guessing the only way to get it would be to fly back and do it in the US?

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by FoxyGrandpa

My main question, though, is whether I can just go to the university for the beginning of the classes, and get the visa once the CF processes are complete (and after classes have started) and receive the visa then? You've stated that I couldn't do it in another country, so I'm guessing the only way to get it would be to fly back and do it in the US?

Officially, you're going to have to go back to the US to apply for the student visa. Perhaps the school knows of something else, but generally to apply for any sort of visa (or change in a visa) from France, you need to be already resident in France on some form of long-stay visa. If you're there on a 90-day tourist visa, you can't apply for a long-stay visa without first going back home.
Cheers,
Bev

[andy51]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Officially, you're going to have to go back to the US to apply for the student visa. Perhaps the school knows of something else, but generally to apply for any sort of visa (or change in a visa) from France, you need to be already resident in France on some form of long-stay visa. If you're there on a 90-day tourist visa, you can't apply for a long-stay visa without first going back home.
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

I'm in a similar situation to FoxyGrandpa. I am on university exchange and my first day of class at HEC Paris is Sept 5th but I'm not able to get my study visa until Sept 20th.

I booked my ticket to France early on and it's non-refundable so I am hoping to go to HEC for 2 weeks of class, then fly to Vancouver for my visa appointment.

Do you think it's worth the effort for me to fly to France? Will I be able to enter the campus, or even get through the airport? Is there any probability that I will be allowed to attend class?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you


Andy

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by andy51

Hi Bev,

I'm in a similar situation to FoxyGrandpa. I am on university exchange and my first day of class at HEC Paris is Sept 5th but I'm not able to get my study visa until Sept 20th.

I booked my ticket to France early on and it's non-refundable so I am hoping to go to HEC for 2 weeks of class, then fly to Vancouver for my visa appointment.

Do you think it's worth the effort for me to fly to France? Will I be able to enter the campus, or even get through the airport? Is there any probability that I will be allowed to attend class?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you


Andy

I honestly don't think they would keep you out of France or out of classes if you're registered and in the area - even if you're only on a 90 day Schengen visa. You will need to fly back to get the student visa, but explain that to the registrar and chances are they'll find a way to get you accommodated.
Cheers,
Bev

[FoxyGrandpa]

Originally Posted by andy51

Hi Bev,

I'm in a similar situation to FoxyGrandpa. I am on university exchange and my first day of class at HEC Paris is Sept 5th but I'm not able to get my study visa until Sept 20th.

I booked my ticket to France early on and it's non-refundable so I am hoping to go to HEC for 2 weeks of class, then fly to Vancouver for my visa appointment.

Do you think it's worth the effort for me to fly to France? Will I be able to enter the campus, or even get through the airport? Is there any probability that I will be allowed to attend class?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you


Andy

Hi Andy,

I was wondering if you could give me an update on your situation. Has everything worked out for you?