This article is about the Short-stay Visitor Visa Application experience at VFS Hyderabad shared by “Aksh Purohit” in “Indian Community in France” Facebook group. Except for some minor corrections and the official references in the end, the article has been published as written, with his permission.
If you would like to contribute with articles about your personal experiences, feel free to write to me at the following email contact@prasanthragupathy.com
Short-stay visitor visa and tourist visa are not the same, even if they both can be applied for stays upto 90 days. The documents required are completely different.
Visa Application Summary
Hello All, Hope you all are doing well!
Sharing my experience concerning a Short Stay Visiting Visa at VFS Hyderabad. Applied for a short-stay visiting family visa for my wife.
- Type of visa applied: Short-stay visitor visa
- Duration of your stay: Court séjour (≤ 90 jours) / Short stay (≤ 90 days)
- Why are you making this trip?: Visite familiale ou privée / Family or private visit
- Visa main purpose of stay: Visite familiale / Family visit
- Applied at: VFS Hyderabad
- Applied on: 24th September 2021
- Visa received on: 1st October 2021
- Visa processing time: 7 days, including weekends
- My situation: Master student in France
List of Documents submitted at VFS office
- Attestation d’accueil (original document) Got it from Local mairie office. Submitted my Electricity bill, Rental Contract (Bail), Rental receipts, and Visa (Titre De Séjour). The Mairie office told me to get a 30€ stamp. You can buy from any local tabac shop or Online and a form filled out at their office while submitting the docs. They told me it would take 3-4 weeks, but I went after 8 days and it was ready.
- My 6 Months bank statement
- Copy of my passport
- Copy of my resident permit
- My Cover Letter
- Cover Letter (Spouse)
- 6 Months Bank Statement (Spouse)
- 3 years ITR (Spouse)
- Last 3 months Pay Slips (Spouse)
- NOC Letter from Employer (Spouse)
- Employment Contract (Spouse)
- Schengen Travel Insurance
- Visa Application form
- To & Fro Air tickets
For the context, I only provided an attestation d’accueil and a 6-month bank statement. Hence accommodation was provided from my side and since she is working, she self-sponsored and showed her own Financial Resources.
I would like to thank this group for the unmatchable help, constant guidance, and prompt responses.
Special Thanks to Sanjay Kamath, Prasanth Ragupathy, and Kalpesh Pawar. Please feel free to connect in case any help is required regarding the process of a short-stay visiting visa. Would be more than Happy to Help
Cheers and Thank you once again.
Cover Letter for Short Stay Visa
Date: 22/09/2021
To,
Consulate General of France,
21, Palace Rd, Vasanth Nagar
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052,
Sir,
Subject: Issuance of Short Stay Visitor Visa
I, XXXXXX (applicant full name) bearing passport number XXXXX request you to kindly grant me a short stay visa to visit my husband who is residing in France. The last year has been very difficult for us due to the closure of international borders due to the COVID 19 pandemic and visiting my spouse has not been possible for me.
I am vaccinated with 2 doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine which is accepted by France. I have attached my ‘fully vaccinated’ certificate issued by Govt of India and will duly apply for the French Government’s health pass.
During my stay, I assure you that I will abide by the provisions of the short stay visa and promptly follow the Rule of the land in the Republic of France. I assure that during my entire stay, I will neither seek any professional activities nor will indulge in any economic activities that are prohibited by French Law. I will therefore uphold the values of the Republic of France and culture of French society during my temporary stay.
My intention is to return back to India. I intend to start my travel on 8th October 2021 and I will return on 2nd January 2022. I promise you that my return back to India will be prompt and swift. My visit to France is purely a private visit to see my husband and I do not have any other intentions.
I have attach herewith the following documents to justify the resources for my stay in France and return to India:
- Passport
- Proof of Financial Resources (Bank Statement, IT returns, Salary Slips, Fixed Deposit Statement)
- Proof of Accomodation (Attestation d’Accueil, Housing Contract, Attestation de Loyer, Electricity Bill)
- Documents of Spouse (Cover Letter, Copy of resident card (Titre De Séjour), Passport, Bank Statement)
- Proof of Relationship (Marriage Certificate)
- Proof of Return to Home Country (return flight tickets, NOC from Employer, Employment Contract)
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Proof of Vaccination Certificate (COVISHIELD) (not required anymore)
I conclude my request with all humility and urge you to grant my request for a short stay visa to France. In case any other information that you may need do let me know, the same will be provided forthwith.
Cordially/Kind Regards,
XXXXXX (applicant full name)
Contact: +(country code)- XXXX
Email: XXXX@gmail.com
Who can apply for a short-stay Tourist or Visitor visa?
The official answer from the France Visa website.
