That’s exactly what I thought as I was sitting in a small Queens College lecture room one May night, listening to students discussing the visa appointment process.
CampusFrance? What? To make a visa appointment, you need to first go through something called CampusFrance?
If this was in one of the emails sent to accepted exchange program students, I clearly was not reading carefully. I blame all the stress from my part-time job and from my final papers. I put the visa process on the back burner, thinking, ah, I still have time. Well, let me serve you as a cautionary tale: time disappears right before your eyes in an instant. (Haha using time to explain time…) Here’s everything spelled out simply for you if you are going to do an exchange program:
Any American student who is studying abroad for a semester or longer and needs a student visa (whether or not you are enrolling directly into a French university or going through an exchange program), you need to register with CampusFrance.
But wait, what is CampusFrance? I’m going to be honest with you. I have no idea. If you research the website, there’s probably an info page, but at this point, I’ve been there. Done that. Don’t want to go back. After having completed the process, I just think it was another level of bureaucracy to weed out the super lazy from going to France, a method to get more moolah, or just another way to mess with students’ minds. Yup, the loops I begrudgingly jump through just to get permission to step onto Parisian soil as a student.
If you already have your passport, do this right away. If you don’t, when you receive your passport, don’t delay. (You will need your passport number to get past the first step.) It is best to get this relatively simple step in the whole visa scheme out of the way. It will make your life so much easier. Plus, if you devote an hour, you should finish this in one sitting. (I’m not saying it takes an hour. Depending on how easily you can fill in the form, it might take way less or a little bit more.) Here are two important links from their website that you will want to check out if you are studying abroad through an American program:
Steps to applying for a visa
CampusFrance instructions
In the second link, there will be a link to a video tutorial on the CampusFrance process. WATCH IT. Seriously, it makes your life so much easier. Just follow the steps and voilà!
At a first glance, the form might look daunting. At least, for me it was. Usually, when I am confronted with these types of forms requiring inputting layers and layers of personal details, I tend to procrastinate and prolong the process for as long as possible. However, I did not procrastinate at all with this form. And I am so glad my better qualities kicked in that day.
Here’s the long story: The next day, after the orientation, I went on the CampusFrance website and began to do all the necessary steps. However, when it came to creating PASTEL account, I had to input my passport number. Unfortunately, I still did not have my passport yet. All that motivation, zapped from my body in an instant! Dejected and tired, I went to take a nap, but then, not even an hour later, my dad came home and gave me my mail. A PASSPORT! Part of me was excited and grateful. I could finally get on track with all the other exchange students. The other, slovenly, part of me was feeling meh. Now, I was obligated to complete the application process. I debated for a bit whether to get up and do the process immediately. The better part of me won. Good thing because I was in a serious time crunch and I did not even realize.
Getting past the first couple of steps is easy. But then, they start asking for all this information on the program, my high school and my picture, my resumé, my expectations. Ugh. One serious problem of mine: I lack good head shot photos. Halfway through, I almost quit, thinking, I’ll finish it another day. But then I really thought to myself and concluded that, nah, if I don’t get it over with now, I will probably stretch out this slightly stressful process into a week of agony. Better now than later. And really, it wasn’t all that bad. I think I labor over details and perfection so much that it prevents me from getting stuff done sometimes. To get through the process, I just answered as simply as I could. I didn’t think too much about the questions and gave the bare minimum. Example: reasons for going to France: attaining fluency or extreme proficiency in French, studying art history, and studying French language, literature, and culture. Done. Really, when they ask these questions that are reminiscent of the college application process, you do not have to formulate a well thought out, original, and engaging response. Does anyone even read it? As in, read read it. Hmm, oh the mysteries.
Once you’ve completed and submitted the application, bookmark this website because you’ll need to check it very frequently to receive your payment receipt and confirmation of application. (They only notify you through the inbox of the website. Frustrating, I know.) I sent in the money order a few days later and received the quittance a week later. The website says you should hear back within three weeks. However, I didn’t get the OK to start my visa process until it was near the four weeks mark.
Next up: visa woes. My CampusFrance story ends abruptly because it seamlessly flows into my visa story and I want to save all my visa drama for one dilemma-packed post. So stay tuned. It will be one very anecdotal yet informative rant. Until then…
