What is the French visa center, and what are the advantages of its assistance?

An untrained tourist, especially the one who first issued a permit to enter the country of the Schengen agreement, may confuse the Consulate with the visa center. However, this is not the same thing. Treasured stickers in the passport are put only by the Consulate of the country, and all visa centers are only mediators authorized by this Embassy. They are designed for the convenience of citizens. The French visa center is no exception to this rule. His employees accept the applicants' files, help them fill in the questionnaires, give necessary and qualified advice on the package of necessary papers. There is also an additional service - courier delivery of documents. Should I come to the French visa center? Or maybe act directly, without intermediaries? It's up to you. On the territory of our country there are three Consulates of the Republic of France. They are, of course, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and also in Yekaterinburg. But since the summer of 2013, the latter has stopped accepting documents. It redirects all applicants either to the Consulate in Moscow or to the visa center located in Yekaterinburg itself. Naturally, you need to pay for the services of an intermediary. But what is the extra $ 25 in comparison with the prospect of going to Moscow, and even more than once? This circumstance should be taken into consideration.

For those Russians who do not live in three big cities (the capital, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg), the French Embassy in Russia in the summer of 2013 has opened as many as five points where you can file documents for departure. This Rostov-on-Don, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, as well as Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan. As for the capital, the French visa center in Moscow has been operating for a long time (its location is Marksistskaya Street, 3, building 2). According to the users' feedback, he proved himself from the very best side. He works on weekdays from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon.

Here are some more useful addresses. Ekaterinburg, Kuibyshev, 44, Panorama Hotel, 2nd floor. The French visa center (St. Petersburg) is located on Chkalovsky Prospekt, 7. These intermediary offices are also open in Nizhny Novgorod (16, Osharskaya Street), Rostov-on-Don (117 Semashko Street), Kazan (Tazi Gizzata, 4) Vladivostok, (Oceansky prospect, 17), Novosibirsk (Chelyuskintsev street, 15).

Now we will consider different aspects to decide for sure whether to contact you in the French visa center or in the Consulate. The only drawback is the additional costs in the amount of payment for intermediary services. However, as already mentioned, $ 25 - incomparably less than the cost of travel from Vladivostok to Moscow and back. The queues at such reception points are small, you can sign up for any time that suits you. And most importantly, you can bring papers for the whole family. For example, for parents, spouse, children. True, the rules allow you to hand over documents for relatives only in a straight line, that is, sisters, brothers and cousins must come to the center personally.

In addition, every French visa center requires payment for both the consular fee and for its intermediary services after the acceptance of the package of documents. So you do not need to worry that you will pay money, and then you will find out that there is not enough help. In the hall of the centers there are experienced consultants who will tell you which documents for which type of visa are needed, and even they can fill out your forms. Courier delivery service will save you from having to appear for passports.