Nonimmigrant Visa Processing in Paris – Update Nov. 2001
Posted Dec 14, 2001

The Chief of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Consulate in Paris issued updated information in late November 2001 regarding processing of Nonimmigrant Visas at the Paris consulate. The following summarizes the changes and general procedures. The MurthyBulletin will provide updates of consular procedures, as the consulates make changes in this post-9/11 period.

a. As of January 1, 2002, all Consular fees must be paid in dollars or Euros. Payment may be made by cash, French postal mandat (not denominated in Francs), or by major credit card.

b. As of October 1, 2001, all applications must be made by mail. The applicant may be asked to present her/himself for a scheduled, personal interview. This measure is due to increased security risks.

c. As of December 1, 2001, all applications must be sent by courier and must contain a return courier envelope. Acceptable courier services are Chronopost, FedEx, and DHL. The reason for this is that there is a significant problem with passports being stolen from the regular French mail. Applications that do not comply with this requirement will be returned.

d. Applications based upon approved petitions must include evidence of the approved petition. A fax or cable notification from the INS or the original I-797 (Notice of Approval) is acceptable. The I-797 will be returned.

e. Applicants must pay a nonimmigrant visa application fee. This fee can be paid at any French post office. The money must be deposited in the Mandat Compte account 5013E and the receipt presented in order to enter the Visa Section. The fee is the equivalent of $45.00. There may be an additional, reciprocity fee based on the amount the visa applicant's government charges U.S. citizens. These amounts can be checked on the DOS WebSite. These reciprocity fees can be paid by French Postal Money Orders (mandates cash) or by credit card. The authorization form is available on the consulate's WebSite.

f. The consulate will accept applications from anyone who is physically present in France. This includes third party nationals. Of course, merely applying for any visa does not assure the applicant that the visa will be issued.

g. The processing time is four working days. All passports are mailed back in the return, prepaid envelope. Visas can longer be picked up in person.

Additional updates and information are available at the embassy's WebSite. In France, information is available at the "user-pays" telephone number: 08 36 70 14 88.