France is a country of sweet-voiced bards, romantic evenings, young wine and bakeries with a stupefying aroma. France attracts and beckons with its mystery, a flair of light and unforgettable evenings. The only thing that can stop our compatriot from visiting this amazing country is a visa. To France, documents for obtaining a visa practically do not differ from a package of documents to other Schengen countries. Therefore, to this day, the procedure for obtaining a visa at the embassy seems incredibly complicated to many, which is why this obligation is often transferred to the caring hands of tour operators, and a visa to France, independently obtained, is the exception rather than the rule. It would seem that getting rid of another responsibility and preparing in advance for a vacation, the traveler will only win. However, this is not quite true. There are several reasons for this:
1. Such services are not free. Often, for obtaining a visa, in addition to its cost, the agent will charge a certain amount, which can be limited only by the imagination and arrogance of the tour operator.
2. Imagine: a travel agent, besides you, is preparing documents for at least 10 more people. To lose, mix, forget, or simply not have time to hand over documents with so many of their packages is much easier than not managing one of your own.
3. A package of documents will have to be collected independently anyway. The only plus of this solution: you do not have to stand in line at the embassy.
In other words, there is no need to be afraid: a visa to France alone can be made even more successfully. Again, for a number of reasons:
1. You will be more responsible in collecting documents. Because you need it.
2. It will be possible to save on intermediaries.
In addition, if you know at least approximately what a Schengen visa is ( France, as you know, a country that is part of the Schengen agreement ) , it will be much easier to collect a package of documents:
- A completed application form, which can be downloaded from the embassy website.
- Photos (2 pcs) that comply with the requirements of the Schengen Agreement.
- The original passport and a copy of the first page (the one with the photograph)
- Copies of all pages of the internal passport.
- A document confirming that you have where to live in France during the time that you intend to stay there. This may be an invitation from a French citizen, hotel reservation, document proving ownership, etc.
- Tickets for the type of transport used for the journey. If you are traveling by car - a driver’s license (original + copy), vehicle insurance means, certificate of registration.
- Life insurance for the entire period of stay in France.
- A statement of income or a written confirmation of the person sponsoring the trip, as well as a confirmation of the solvency of the traveler at the rate of 57 euros for 1 day of stay in the country.
The questionnaire will need to be certified in the accounting department at the place of work. Handing over a package of documents is necessary during the hours of the consulate or embassy.
So, although collecting documents seems to be a difficult task, nevertheless, a visa to France on your own can very well be obtained. At the same time, a responsible approach guarantees a positive result. After the delivery, it will be possible to track whether the visa is ready on the official website of the French Embassy.
In addition, as practice shows, the number of refusals associated with the provision of an incomplete set of documents is much smaller among persons who submitted documents personally. Representatives of the embassy are much more loyal to the shortcomings in packages of this kind of travelers than to the shortfall in the delivery of travel agencies. A visa to France on your own is not at all complicated; the main thing is not to get confused in the documents.