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Duration: Schengen — ~15 days; long stay — until 3 months; recourse — more months
Cost: Free (follow-up); free of charge
Possible online
Who this guide is for
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- You if you have applied for a visa and wait for the decision
- You if your application "is being processed" beyond the normal time frame
- You if you have received a refusal and want to understand why
To be prepared in advance
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- Application number (France-Visas) and TLScontact/VFS registration number
- Copy of the request and the documents provided
- Dates of filing and announced deadline
Step-by-step procedure
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- 1Follow the status on France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr), section "Follow your request", with the application number and e-mail. Also on the TLScontact/VFS website with the registration number.
- 2Standard steps: "In progress", "Transmitted to the Consulate", "Treaty", "Ready to withdraw".
- 3Usually: 15 days for Schengen, up to 1 to 3 months for long stay (D). In complex cases (verifications, additional parts) — longer.
- 4If the processing exceeds the announced time limit (45+ days for Schengen), contact TLScontact/VFS via their courier, then the consulate via the France-Visas contact form.
- 5Refusal: you receive a reasoned letter (migration risk, insufficient resources, false documents). Complimentary appeal (referendum) to the Consulate within 2 months, or recourse to the Administrative Court of Nantes.
- 6Request for additional parts: react quickly — your delay lengthens the delay. Return via the same channel (VFS/TLS).
- 7Passport recovery: at TLScontact/VFS or by courier. Check visa data (dates, entries, type).
Common mistakes
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- Alarming "On-going" status — standard stage over several days.
- Do not respond to a request for additional documents — delay.
- Form an appeal outside the time limit of 2 months — the right is lost.
- Consolidate the Schengen deadlines (15 days) and long stay (up to 3 months).
- Do not keep the application number — impossible to follow.
Official sources
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Show sources in this section
Important remark
Deadlines and procedures vary by country and type of visa. This information is indicative — for your request, follow France-Visas and your consulate.
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