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How to Apply for a Visa with TLSContact

If you've ever applied for a visa before, you have likely heard of visa application centers. In short, a visa application center is where most individuals submit their visa applications.

For travelers in the US, TLScontact is the visa processor for all Schengen visa applications for France.

Whether you've applied before or it is your first time, it can be helpful to understand what exactly TLScontact is and its role in the visa process.

TLScontact is a visa processor

TLScontact is a visa processor, which means they help their partnering governments facilitate the visa application process.

There can be some confusion as to whether or not visa processors are part of the government, such as a branch, division, or something like that. The answer to that is no - visa processors are not government entities. They are, however, trusted partners of governments around the world.

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TLScontact is trusted by governments around the globe. They work closely with the French, German, Belgian, Czech, and other administrations.

For travelers applying for a Schengen visa to visit France, TLScontact handles the application process where they operate. Schengen visas allow travelers to enter France and, usually, other Schengen area countries.

The role that TLScontact plays

TLScontact facilitates the visa application process. What this means is they help travelers apply for visas by:

Informing applicants about what the requirements are.
Offering visa appointments.
Collecting biometrics (fingerprints).
Forwarding visa applications to the relevant embassy.

Visa processors play a huge role in the "first mile" of the visa application process. They're there to answer questions about the process, give information about requirements, and facilitate the visa appointment itself. They also submit your visa application for you.

What they don't do is as important as what they do do. TLScontact and all visa processors cannot influence whether or not your visa application is approved or denied.

They're unable to put in a good word for you or provide any information on whether your visa will ultimately be approved. One, they do not have the authority, but two, they have no knowledge as to the outcome of your application.

Only embassies/consulates can decide whether or not a visa is ultimately granted.

Getting a visa through TLScontact

Visa processors work out of visa application centers. Different governments and countries work with different visa processors. Whether or not you need to apply for your Schengen visa through TLScontact depends on:

Which country you're applying to (France, for example).
Your current country of residence (where you legally live).

If you live in the United States, for example, and are applying for a Schengen visa for France, you'll need to apply through TLScontact.

If you live in the United Kingdom and want to apply for a Schengen visa for Germany, you, too, must apply through TLScontact.

Purple Savings Account folder and bank documents

Documents required for TLS visa applications

Which documents are required depends on which visa you're applying for. For Schengen visa applications (short-stay, Type C), the requirements typically include a valid passport, a completed visa application form, visa photos, Schengen travel insurance, proof of accommodation, a flight itinerary, and proof of financial means.

Always check the specific requirements for the country you are applying to, as they may differ slightly or have additional requests, such as supplementary documents (like an employment letter), notarizations, or translations.

Your TLScontact appointment

Today, in-person visas are mandatory for the vast majority of Schengen visa applicants. This is the case for applicants applying through TLScontact.

Booking your appointment

Once your documents are gathered and you're sure you meet the requirements, you can book an appointment. TLScontact's website has a booking platform that you will need to use.

To book, make sure you have completed the first step of the France visa process on the official France-Visas website.

Appointments often book out weeks in advance, especially during peak application season. Because of this, you should secure your appointment as early as possible. It can take a few tries before you find a slot that will work for you.

When you book an appointment with TLScontact, you will need to pay the service fee online within 30 minutes of booking. Once you have paid, you will receive an appointment confirmation via email. Remember, the service fee is not the same thing as your visa application fee. You will pay the visa application fee at your in-person appointment, once your application is ready to be submitted.

Typically, you need to book an appointment at the TLScontact location that serves your region. If you are a resident of Florida, for example, you should book your appointment for the Atlanta, Georgia location.

Make sure you save or star your appointment confirmation email, as you will need to print it out and bring it with you to your appointment.

What to bring to your TLScontact appointment

You'll need to bring several things to your appointment, as this is where you will submit your visa application.

An important note: Always follow the instructions of TLScontact and the French Embassy when applying for a French Schengen visa. Make sure to closely review their checklists, rules, and procedures throughout the entire Schengen visa process.

In general, for Schengen visa appointments (short stay, Type-C), you will need to bring the following things with you to your appointment:

A printed copy of your appointment confirmation. You will receive this via email at the time you book your appointment.
Your physical passport. You'll need to submit your passport with your Schengen visa application. You will get it back, no matter the outcome of your application.
Visa photos that comply with Schengen visa photo standards. If you've booked a photo-taking service at TLScontact, you do not need to bring visa photos. Make sure to double-check.
Your insurance certificate that clearly states your name, coverage, and validity dates. Double-check that the dates match your visa application dates.
A debit/credit card so you can pay the visa application fee at your appointment. Do note that TLScontact does not currently accept American Express.
Printed proof of flights and accommodation. Again, check that the dates match your insurance and visa application.
Proof of funds showing that you can support yourself during your stay. For specific document types and formatting, refer to the list given to you by TLScontact.
Any additional documents requested - refer to the checklist or any other contact you received from TLScontact during the preparation process.

It can be helpful to bring a purse or small bag to carry your documents in, especially since they contain such personal and private information.

That said, large bags, suitcases, and backpacks are not allowed at TLScontact centers, so keep that in mind before you pack everything up. They also do not have locker/bag storage available.

The day of your appointment

Many people will travel out of town to attend their Schengen visa appointments at a TLScontact location.

That is because there are only a certain number of TLScontact locations in the States, though they are all in major US cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and New York.

If you're traveling from out of town, it can be helpful to check the map to see exactly where your appointment is, how to get there, and how long it will take, a day or two before your actual appointment.

This can also give you a little bit of peace of mind, especially if you're a self-proclaimed worrier.

This way, you can make a plan ahead of time to ensure you get to your appointment on time.

The two most important things on the day of your appointment are:

You arrive on time.
You arrive with all of the necessary documents in tow.

If you don't arrive on time, they may not be able to see you, and you may need to reschedule for another day (per their website).

Similarly, if you don't have all of the necessary documents, you likely won't be able to submit your visa application that day until you have all of the documents requested.

This means, again, you might have to reschedule your appointment.

If you came all the way from out of town for the appointment, not only is that a headache, but it's also a sunk cost, since you'd have to possibly book another trip, as well as pay another service fee.

Dark blue chairs lined up in a clean waiting room.

What happens at the appointment

At the appointment itself, you can expect the following:

A TLScontact employee will help guide you to where you need to go.
There will be a waiting area where you will wait for your turn.
When it is your turn, you will approach the counter of the relevant attendant. There, you may be asked questions, but they will be directly related to your application and documents, such as "how long do you intend to stay in France?" or "Can I see your proof of funds, please?"
If the attendant sees that your application is complete, you will pay the Schengen visa application fee with a valid debit or credit card.
Once the visa application fee has been paid, you will be redirected to the biometric submission. While this might sound very technical, it really means fingerprint collection.
Your completed application file will be forwarded to the appropriate Embassy.
TLScontact will give you a way to track your visa application progress. Typically, you can expect processing to take around 15 days.
Once you have submitted your application, paid your fee(s), and your digital fingerprints have been collected, your appointment will end.