Pre-departure information

In the first step of the visa application process, you will create an account in the Campus France system.  Please follow these steps to get started:

1.  Start creating an account on this page (you can select English on the top-right of the screen if you click on "FR"

   • Select "sign up" in the top right

   • Select "Espace Campus France Étas-Unis" from the dropdown list on the next page. Once you click this, you can change the language to English by clicking "EN" in the top-right of the page. 

2.  Fill out your personal information. 

   • Use your Illinois email address 

   • Enter your name and other information exactly as it appears on your passport. Note that the format of the date is: DD/MM/YYYY

3. Select "I accept to receive notification emails regarding my Campus France application and the Final "confirmation email"

4. Click "create an account" 

5.  A verification code will be sent to your email address. Click the link in the email to verify your account. After clicking on the link, you will be asked to re-enter your email address and set a password. Click "confirm the creation of my account".

6. After setting your password, you can log in to your account here. (Note: You can change the language to English in the top-right, next to the "sign in" button.

1. After completing step 1, log into your account here (top-right of the page). Note you may be asked to provide a code sent to your email in order to log in. 

2. On the next page, after logging in, change the language to English by selecting "EN" in the top-right.

3. At the top of the screen, click "Students already accepted"

   • Under "finalize the procedure", select"I am a study-abroad/exchange/dual-degree student" and then "add"

4. READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. On the next page, you will be asked to complete information about your Home University (UIUC) and the program in France. Complete this section as follows:

   • Home Institution in the US: Enter "University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign" from the drop-down list.

   • Host Institution in France: The Illinois Program in Paris is not listed in the drop-down menu. Select "Find your French Institution" and type in "Illinois Program in Paris". Do NOT select a university from the drop-down menu, even if you are taking courses there (ESCP, Sciences Po, Paris School of Business). ALL Illinois students should type in "Illinois Program in Paris" regardless of where they are taking courses in Paris. 

     • The Illinois Program in Paris will not be found when you search it. Enter "Illinois Program in Paris" under "Institution" and "Paris" as the city. 

     • Click "register"

5. For question 3, "Description of the Program", enter the following description: "Program for the University of Illinois located in Paris at 93 blvd Saint-Michel 75005 Paris"

6. For Field of study, select: "Language and Literature" regardless of what you are studying 

7.  For "level" enter your Illinois class standing at the time you will be in Paris. 

8. Start and End Dates of the program: Enter the dates below even if these differ than what you see on "My Study Abroad". Enter dates in day/month/year format. For Fall 2025 students, enter the following dates. All students should enter the same dates. 

   • Start Date: 22 August 2025

   • End Date: 20 December 2025

9. For the personal statement, you can craft this as you choose. This only needs to be a very brief text. You can also simply copy and paste this text: "I would like to study abroad in France through the University of Illinois’ Illinois Program in Paris because I am eager to develop deeper cultural awareness as well as enrich my interpersonal communication skills and intercultural competency skills.  This program is a great way for me to increase linguistic and cultural proficiencies as well as giving me opportunities to engage with the local communities of Paris to gain professional experience." Click "Register"

10. For step 5, you will be asked to "upload the official acceptance letter for the study-abroad/exchange/dual-degree program". Upload the document on UIUC Letterhead found in the "documents" section of your "My Study Abroad Account", signed by the program director. This document is called "Visa Letter -- Step 2"

11. Once the letter has uploaded, click close in the top-right of the dialogue box.

12. Click "Register" at the bottom of the page. 

Navigate back to the main application page by clicking "Students Already Accepted", if you are not already sent there by clicking "register". Under "finalize the procedure", click on the "Personal Information" section, and complete it as follows:

1. Upload a photograph of yourself. Note: The max. file size is 50KB, so you may have to re-size the image. Please select a semi-professional photo. This will NOT be your visa photo, though.

2. Upload a scan of your passport as your Photo ID. Do not use your driver's license or University ID.

3. Enter your Contact Information

4. For Special Status, check the box for "My situation does not apply to any of the above"

5. Upload a current resume

6.  Under "Mon curses", proceed as follows:

• Select "A year of higher education", and then "add"

• Select "2025" for the year, and "Current program, I will fill out scores and supportive documents later"

• Continue filling out the information for the University of Illinois, then click "register"

• Leave "French language proficiency exams" as-is - do not add anything here. 

• For "Level of French": 

  • Select "Modify" and then "no" for both questions

• For the rest of the items, you don't need to enter anything. Select "Back"

• Now, all sections under "Students Already Accepted" should be complete. At the bottom of the page, select "Confirm the information and submit the application".

• Review the application, and check the two confirmations at the bottom of the page, and then "I confirm my final choice to Campus France USA"

If you are not prompted to pay the application fee after submitting your application, please complete the following steps to pay the application fee. Only complete this step if you have not already paid, and if you have already submitted your application following the steps above! 

1. Go to: https://www.usa.campusfrance.org/pay-the-etudes-en-france-application-fee

2. Select either "$270- Regular pre-consular review" OR "$430 - Expedited pre-consular review". Processing times vary based on what you select here. It will take 3 weeks for the $270 option and 3 days for the $430 option. You only need to select the more expensive option if you are in a time crunch to get your visa on time.

3. IMPORTANT: You will need to enter your Campus France ID in the payment section. This can be found under your name in the top-right of your Campus France Application, and has the format: "USxx-xxxxx". 

End of Step 2. You should have now successfully completed your Campus France application, submitted it for review, and paid the fee. Well done! Your application will be processed by Campus and you will be contacted by them with information you need to complete step 3. 

Once you have received your confirmation from  Campus France (either within 3 weeks or 3 days of completing step 2) based on the processing method you selected, proceed with Step 3.'

•  Go to this Website: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/ and select "Start your visa application"

• On the next page, select "Start your visa application" again 

• On the next page, create an account. Once you have created an account, log into it. 

• Once logged in, select "Create a new application in a new group of applications" 

• Section 1: Your Plans 

  • Your Situation: Select your nationality (Note: if you are a US citizen, select "American") and "no" for the other question.

  • Your Stay:

    • United States of America is your place of submission of application, Chicago is the city 

    • The type of visa you need is "Long-Stay" 

    • The main destination of Stay is France

  • Your travel document: 

    • Enter the information of your passport (note: select "ordinary passport")

  • Your plans:

    •  Select "study" and "student" for the questions

    • Select "verify" and then "next" on the next page, which will tell you that you need a visa. 

• Section 2: Your Information

  • Your Identity

    • Complete this section with your personal information

  • Your Personal Information: 

    • Complete this section with your personal information. Use your Illinois email address. 

  • Details of your identity: 

    • Complete this section with your personal information

  • Your family:

    •  Select no for the first question and the correct answer for the second question

  • Your job:

    •  Select "Student, trainee", choose the most relevant "sector" and the following for Name of Employer or Teaching Establishment

    • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    • Address: 702 S. Wright Street, Urbana IL 61801

    • Telephone number: (217) 265-7592 

    • Email address: kschmud2@illinois.edu

    • Click "next"

• Section 3: Your last visa

  • Select the correct answer based on your personal situation. 

  • Click "next"

• Section 4: Your Stay

  • Details of your Stay

    • Enter the dates of your arrival in France and the number of months of stay. 

    • EEF Number: Enter your Campus France ID Number. You can find this in your Campus France Account (in the top-right under your name, see step 2).

    • Do you have a scholarship? Select "no"

    • Will you be travelling with members of your family? Select "no"

    • Click "next"

• Section 5: Your Contacts

  • Select "A Company, Organisation or establishment will be accommodating me

  • Host Person or Organisation

    • Illinois Program in Paris

    • Address: 93 blvd saint Michel

    • Post Code  75005 

    • City: Paris

    • Telephone: +33 46 33 44 91 

    • Email Address: mounir.bondurand@asso-upf.fr

    • Last Name of Contact Person: Bondurand

    • First Name of Contact Person: Mounir

    • Address: 93 blvd saint Michel, 75005 Paris, France

    • Telephone: +33 46 33 44 91 

    • Email Address: mounir.bondurand@asso-upf.fr

    • Do NOT select the box for "My hotel or place of accommodation (if different). 

  • For "Funding of Travel Costs" select "By the company, organization or establishment hosting me" and then "All expenses covered during stay"

  • Select "next"

• Section 6: Your supporting documents 

  • Upload the requested documents (note that you may need to re-size files. The max. file size is 2.0 MB). 

    • Travel document : Upload your passport

    • ID Photograph: Photo of you, you can use the same photo from Step 2

    • Last completed degree (countries out of procedure EEF-Etudes en France): upload nothing

    • Pre-registration certificate generated by the EEF-Pastel application, mentioning the EEF ID number: Upload the document you received from Campus France after completing step 2. This will have been sent to you via e-mail after completing step two

    • Funds: Upload 3 months' worth of bank statements with a minimum account balance of EUR 615. If you have questions or concerns about this, contact Kyle Schmude 

    • Accommodation (IMPORTANT): Upload the document found in the "documents" section of your "My Study Abroad" account signed by Dr. Mounir Bondurand. Do NOT upload the same letter you submitted in step 3 signed by Kyle Schmude.

    • Select "continue". You will likely see an error message saying you have not submitted all documents. Double check to make sure all relevant documents have been uploaded. After checking, select "yes" in the dialog box that appears. 

• You will now be re-directed to the main page. Select the box confirming the information you provided is correct., and "continue" 

• On the next page, you will be given information about the visa fee. Read and click "continue"

• On the next page, click the box, and then "Submit to the visa center". If you are prompted, pay the visa fee and then select an appointment. If you aren't prompted to select an appointment and pay the fee, finalize the application and complete "step 4" below. 

If you were not prompted to select an appointment and pay the fee in Step 3, complete these steps. 

1. Go to  https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/fra/interim 

2. Click "view more" under 2: If you have ALREADY FILLED the France-Visas application form, and then "I accept, book an appointment now"

3.  Create an account with VFS and log into it. 

4. Click "Start new Booking"

5. Complete the questions and book an appointment.