Resources for Study Abroad Advisors

***As of April 18 2025, the visa service of the French Consulate is working with a new service provider for visa applications: TLScontact. In turn, student visa applicants will no longer work with VFS Global.***

TLScontact centers are 100% dedicated to French visas, so students will benefit from the expertise of agents at these locations and applicants will have access to a dedicated call center that can assist in the event of a technical issue or booking problem.

The fee associated with long-stay visa applications via TLS costs 220€. 

It’s important to note that the overall process for applying for a visa has not changed.  Students still need to complete their Etudes en France pre-consular application, start their visa application on the France-Visas website, and book an in-person appointment with the service provider at one of the 10 TLS centers (Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Washington DC).

For more details on TLScontact, booking, and assistance, please visit the TLScontact website. The TLS team is available if you have questions about the visa application process.  

• Student Visa Application Guidelines - This Guide provides an overview of the visa application process, serves as an annotated checklist of documents required, and responds to FAQs. Share with students as they apply for a Student Visa.

• France-Visas - This is the visa application platform for all visa applicants from the US traveling to France.

• TLS Visa Application Tracking - Students may track the status of their visa application once submitted at a TLS contact Center. 

Etudes en France is the pre-consular application required for all US students studying in France for over 90 days and applying for a student visa.

To better assist your students, please refer to the PDF Instructions that students are provided as they complete a dossier. 

Etudes en France Application Guide: Completing an Etudes en France application as a study abroad, exchange, or dual degree student. 

The Group Mailing is a service that allows study abroad advisors to send in a batch all of their students’ Etudes en France applications and application fees. A minimum of 5 students is required to use the Group Mailing Service.  

This option reduces the Campus France processing time from 3 weeks to 5-7 business days with the same application fee for students of $270, and also streamlines the process for both students and advisors. 

Advisors may submit multiple Group Mailing batches for the same student group, if necessary. 

All Group Mailing submissions must be completed online.  

Submitting a Group Mailing Online  

1. Provide all students this Group Mailing payment link  to pay the Campus France application fee of $270 individually. Students who are part of a group mailing must use the above link to pay online. They should not use the general payment links.
    
2. Ensure that all students’  Etudes en France applications are complete with the required documents uploaded (headshot, photo ID, official acceptance letter with the exact dates of the program)and ensure all students’ Etudes en France applications are submitted.  
    
3. Visit the Group Mailing Docbox and submit the following information:  

• Institutional and contact information  

• List of all students (First and Last Names) and their Campus France/Etudes en France ID Number (USXX-XXXXX). 

• Submit by clicking on the button “Submit Group Mailing” at the bottom of the page. 

• Scholarships for US students in France - A list of scholarships and grants for study abroad and degree-seeking international students in France.
   
• Study Abroad in France - Resources on study abroad and exchange programs in France.
   
• Fiches villes - Collection of resources on student services in cities across France. 
   
• General Information on Student Cities - Searchable database of student cities across France
   
• Types of French higher education institutions - Resources on the structures of public and private institutions in France.
   
• The French degree system - Resources on French Licence, Masters, and Doctoral degree programs. 
   
• Researching degree and certificate programs in France - Catalogs of degree and certificate programs for international students, compiled by Campus France. 
   
• How to apply to a French degree program - Application procedures for international students. 
   
• Fiches établissements - Detailed descriptions of specific French institutions (Fiches on each French university, institute, school)

• How to open a French bank account
• How to work in France while studying
• European Youth Card - This card can be used in 38 countries for low cost travel, transportation, cultural events, for students 12 to 30 years old.
• Free French National Monument finder  - For free entry to monuments and historical sites until the age of 25.
• French vs American resume - Information on how to structure your resume or CV.

Join our network of 2,000 study abroad advisors and program directors to receive important email updates on study in France throughout the year. 

Join mailing list here

Visit the Campus France USA French Culture Primer for resources for your students as they prepare for study abroad in France. 

• Campus France YouTube Channel -  Full collection of videos in French, English, and Spanish.
   
• Playlist: Fields of Study in France -  Full collection of videos about fields of study and degree structures in France. 
   
• Playlist: Bienvenue en France - Short promotional videos about French higher education. 
   
• Collection of videos about various regions in France - Short promotional videos on regions across France. 

• Campus France: The Face of Higher Education Abroad (EN, FR, SP)
   
• 10 Good Reasons to Study in France (EN, FR, SP)
   
• 10 Good Reasons to Do Research in France (EN, FR, SP) 
   
• Tests and degrees in French as a foreign language
   
• Brochure on Catalog of Programs Taught in English

Your students may ask you how they can leverage their time in France into their next endeavors. Read our list of 20 ways to stay connected with France after studying abroad on our Life After Studying in France page.