Obtain a passport that will be valid for three months after the last day of your visit to France. Make three photocopies of the passport. Fill out four long-stay forms.
Get five 2-inch by 2-inch photos of you taken from the front, within the last six months, printed on photo paper. Wear street clothing for the picture and use a white or off-white background.
Go to your bank and get copies of your account numbers and balances to prove financial stability. Procure documentation of income, such as dividends, pensions and brokerage accounts, if you are planning to retire in France. Make three copies of all financial statements and set aside for the consulate.
Verify your health insurance will cover sickness or injury while in France. Make three copies of all insurance policies for the consulate. Go to your local police department and ask for an original and three copies or a statement saying you have no criminal history.
Write a letter verifying that you will not receive any money for work done while you are visiting France. Visit a notary public to notarize your letter.
Secure a work contract approved by the French Ministry of Labor and undergo a medical exam within six months of arrival if you plan to work in France. Ask your employer for a copy of the contract.
Obtain a letter of admission and certification of enrollment from the French university you will attend if you are visiting France to be a student. Undergo a medical exam and obtain copies of all of your academic records in order to attend a French school.
Apply for a long-stay form for marriage if you plan to get married during your visit to France. Verify that your spouse has been a French resident for at least 40 days prior to the planned date of the civil wedding ceremony.
Find which of the ten French Consulates in the U.S. is closest to you. Present all documentation to the French consulate. Pay the fees, which vary depending on your purpose for obtaining a visa, to the consulate.
