As a fourth article in our series of France visas for US foreign residents, this article will show you how you can apply for France Schengen visa in Chicago consulate. We will go in depth and explain the chronological steps that you must follow to get your visa approved answering all the questions like where to apply, what is the jurisdiction is, and the documents needed for visa processing.
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Who can apply for a France Schengen visa in Chicago ?
If you stay in any of the 13 states, namely, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin , you can apply for France Schengen visa in Chicago.
The party responsible to providing visa services here is VFSGlobal, not the consulate of France in Chicago.
The Address of the France Consulate is:
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3700
Chicago, IL, 60601-5970
Tel: +1 (312) 327 52 00
[email protected]
The VFSGlobal in Chicago
142 E Ontario St., Suite # 1700, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA
View on Google Maps ->
Can I apply for a France visa in Chicago for green card holders ?
Yes. All green card or F1 H1B, G1, J1 types of visa will need to get a France Schengen visa, provided you are NOT a citizen from one of the countries that have a Schengen Free movement Agreement.
If you are a passport holder of that country, then you need a visa.
Should I book a Flight ticket before applying for my France Schengen visa in Chicago ?
No, you don’t need to book a flight before you apply for your visa. You can use an app like FlightGen to make itineraries while you wait for your visa to be processed. You can book your real plane tickets once your visa is accepted.
Can I walk-in to VFS in Chicago for my France visa ? Should I book an appointment?
No. Before you go to VFS in Chicago, you need to fill out your visa form online and make an appointment (at least one month before your visit). You will also need to print out all of your visa documents and the online visa form.
For VFS you must get an appointment as no walk-ins are allowed.
Can I apply for my France visa in Chicago on a B1/B2 Visa ?
No. Holders of B1/b2 visas must apply for any Schengen visa in their home country.
Applying for France Schengen visa in Chicago
We have seen that following the steps in chronological order when you apply for a France visa in Chicago, you must first get an appointment, fill the visa application form, collate all the documents needed and attend the interview.
Book an Appointment with VFSGlobal
The first thing you must do after you are sure you must get your visa with the French is get an appointment. as there are limited appointments, it is best you have them before you begin your visa processing. To know more about Schengen visa appointment
Fill out your France online Visa Application
As you are applying with Chicago, you need to fill the form(https://chicago.consulfrance.org/)
Now, you must click on Complete visa application and fill the form. Before you start you must have:
- Your passport
- Original and photocopy of your supporting documents
- 2 photos in ISO/IEC format
Book an Appointment for France visa in Chicago
Lastly, you must book an appointment with VFSGlobal(not the consular general), Click on the link and you can go visit the vfs website.
Book an Appointment in Chicago
This Visa Application Centre has an additional fee requirement
Service Fee: EURO 25/USD $ 26.40
Mode of Payment: Online ( VFS Fee), online and offline VAS Fee)
You need to go to the consular on the day of your appointment with all the documents. If you do not, then be prepared to shell out exhorbitant amounts for even a printout or a photograph. We recommend that you have all the details you need including a valid travel insurance.
After booking your appointment, you must begin arranging for Documents for France visa.
Documents needed for Applying for France Schengen visa in Chicago
Next you need to collect the documents needed for your visa processing. This section will help you do so
Flight ticket/ Itinerary
Don’t buy a plane ticket with full payment until your visa is accepted. If your visa is turned down, this could be unsafe. To get a visa instead, you can use the flight itinerary. Once your visa is approved, you can book the real flight ticket.
Schengen Travel Insurance
Proof from the insurance company that the person is who they say they are, when they are covered, how much they are covered for, and that they are at least €30.000 (about $50,000) insured. The Insurance must be $0 deductible To get the right protection, click on the link below.
Your insurance must also cover other countries that you plan to visit (if any) . Know more about insurance for France Schengen visa here.
Cover Letter for France Schengen visa
A visa letter (also known as cover letter ) is one of the most important documents you need to submit when applying for a FranceSchengen visa as this is the first document that the France visa officer will read to understand your France visa application.
Know more about cover letter for France Schengen visa.
Photo as per visa Specification
The photo should not show dark or reflective glasses or clothing that covers the oval shape of the face. Parents must not be in pictures of their babies and toddlers being held. Know more about France photo specifications
To know more about France visa photo Specification.
What is the visa fee for France visa in Chicago ?
| Tourist | 85.00 |
| Children between 6-12 years | 42.00 |
| Nationals of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia | 37.00 |
| Nationals of Cabo Verde | 64.00 |
| Nationals of Cabo Verde (Children between 6-12 years) | 32.00 |
You may be charged 50 usd as service fee & this fee is non refundable.
VFS Global Centre in Chicago
Contact details
142 E. Ontario Street
17ème étage, Suite 1700
60611 Chicago
IL
United States of America
Call center
(+1) 2127846157 / (+1) 3472523055
Website
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/attend-centre/chicago
Submitting applications
(appointment only)
| Monday | 08:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 08:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 08:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 08:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 08:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collecting passports
NA