Text from French Embassy Website
This information is posted on the Chicago French Embassy website !
--------------------------------------------
Visa Section of the Consulate General of France in Chicago
205 N. Michigan Avenue - Suite 3760 - Chicago, IL 60601
Email :
visas@consulfrance-chicago.org
AIRPORT TRANSIT VISA REQUIREMENTS
You are required to apply for an airport transit visa to go through France if you are a citizen of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Ex-Zaïre), Erythrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Haïti, India, Iran, Irak, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian refugee, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Sri-Lanka, Senegal, Syria.
Exception #1
You do NOT need an airport transit visa if you comply with all the following conditions :
- you hold a valid passport of one of the above listed countries
- you have a valid U.S. Green Card or a valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card, or are a permanent resident of the European Economic Area
- you hold a confirmed plane ticket to an onward country outside of Europe
- you will not be going out of the international area of the airport in France
Exception #2
You do NOT need an airport transit visa if, in addition to a valid passport of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Senegal or Syria, you also have a valid U.S. visa glued in your passport which will guarantee your re-admission in the U.S. upon return from your trip (note that it only applies to actual US Visas, not to the I-20, I-94 or advanced parole or any other attachment).
* Required documents to apply for the airport transit visa:
1. Passport valid for at least three months after your departure from France. Make sure your passport has blank pages left to affix the visa + 1 copy
2. Processing fee
3. One short-stay application forms (N°64/VI) fully filled out and signed
4. One passport-size photograph glued onto the form
5. Proof of legal status in the US (visa, I-20, I-94, IAP66, advanced parole, etc) + 1 copy
6. Plane ticket or e-ticket or airline invoice + 1 copy
* To apply by mail, please also provide:
- an "Express Mail" pre-stamped self addressed envelope, to be purchased from the United States Postal Service (Post Office). Note that we do not accept return envelopes, even prepaid, from couriers like FedEx or UPS,
- a filled out form for payment of the processing fee (Visa or Mastercard only).
* Important note
The airport transit visa is only valid to transit through the airport and is only valid for France. It does not allow entry onto the Schengen territory and it does not enable its holder to go out of the airport. Airport transit visas are usually processed within 24 hours if applying in person, within 1 week if applying by mail.
All original documents will be returned to you.
All incomplete files will be returned to you without being processed.
The consular administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Please be aware that submitting the aforementioned documents does not guarantee the approval of the visa.
Last update, August 27, 2004
---------------------------------------------------------