Regional Chapters

EurActiv.fr

Follow @amchamfrance

President's Council

Immigration and Visas to US

Non-Immigrant Visas

The following provides information on visa requirements for travelers to the United States who wish to visit, work or study for a temporary period. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your travel. If you are a French national and intend to visit the United States for less than 90 days, you may be able to travel without first obtaining a visa.

Method of application
With limited exceptions, nonimmigrant visa applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview with a US Consular officer. Interviews are by appointment only. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications.

Online appointment system
The US Embassy has instituted an online visa appointment service. This service is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week; a fee of $14.00 (in Euros) is charged, which permits up to five family members to schedule their visa appointment together. Please visit www.usvisa-france.com for more information and to begin the appointment process. Persons who whish to speak to a live operator may continue to call 0810-26-46-26.

The Embassy strongly encourages intending travelers to apply for visas well in advance of their proposed journey, and to always refrain from making irrevocable travel plans until the visa has been issued and they are in receipt of their passport and visa.

Immigrant Visas

An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the U.S. The filing of an immigrant visa petition is also the initial step required to receive a Permanent Resident card (also known as a “green card”). An immigrant visa holder who successfully enters the U.S. with the intention to reside there will receive a Permanent resident card during the first year of residency. In most cases, you can only receive an immigrant visa if someone files an immigrant visa petition on your behalf. You cannot petition for your own immigrant visa.

U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories: immediate relatives, family based, employment based and Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the "green card" lottery). Most immigrant visa category petitions cannot be filed at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Employment-based, family based and fiancé(e) visa petitions must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States.

In certain cases, some immediate relative based petitions can be filed at U.S. Embassy Paris. The U.S. Embassy in Paris will accept immediate relative immigrant visa (or I-130) petitions from American citizens who have been continuously, legally resident in France for at least the six months prior to petition filing. Individuals, who are in the country on a temporary status, such as student or tourist, do not meet this residency standard and must file with USCIS in the United States. (Please click Limited Filing in Paris if you think you qualify to petition in at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.)

All lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders) and U.S. citizens resident in the United States or with a permanent address in the United States must file immediate relative (or I-130) petitions at the USCIS service center in the United States having jurisdiction over their place of residence.

The Immigrant Visa (IV) unit of the U.S. Embassy in Paris is open to the public on the basis of the below schedule:

9:00-12:00 Monday-Friday:
Walk-in transportation/boarding letter issuances travel within the next 10-14 days due to lost or stolen green card.
Abandonment of Legal Permanent Resident Status.

1:00 p.m. Tues., Wed., Thur:
Immigrant Visa Interviews on an appointment basis only. You will be notified via letter if you are scheduled for an interview.

9:00-10:00 Friday. Please arrive preferably by 9:00 a.m.:
Entry for new family-based petition filing for U.S. citizens continuously, legally resident in France for the six months prior to filing.

The US Embassy Visa Section is located at:

U.S. Embassy Consular Section
4 avenue Gabriel
75008 Paris

Foreign travellers to the US should be aware of the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Click on the links below to find out more:

ESTA Register

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

AmCham Visa Seminar Notes

On November 30th, 2011, The Legal Affairs Committee held an event on "Business Visa Policy and Adjudications" at the AmCham France offices. The event was moderated by Richard S. Goldstein, Senior Partner, Law offices of Richard Goldstein, Mark O’Connor, Chief of Visa Services, American Embassy Paris, Gary Schumann, Consular Officer, American Embassy Paris & Robert Brennan, Chief, Non-Immigrant Visa Unit, American Embassy Paris.

To view the notes from the event, click on the following link: AmCham Visa Seminar Notes

Please note AmCham is open: Monday-Thursday 9:30-13:00, 14:00-18:00, Friday 9:30-13:00
AmCham France is not open to the public. Please call to make an appointment if you would like to come by.

EurActiv.fr

28 May 2013

30 May 2013

04 Jun 2013

17 Jun 2013

18 Jun 2013

19 Jun 2013

19 Jun 2013

19 Jun 2013

Immigration and Visas to US