Services
Question: What does JJP/Visas Consulting do?
Answer: JJP/Visas Consulting is a company created and managed by a former diplomat who has worked for over 20 years in the field of visas and served as head of visas in consulates and embassies. JJP/Visas Consulting, with its experience in the field of visas and immigration, advises and assists you with your visa applications for France (short stay, long stay, family visas, professional visas, student visas, etc.). We offer personalized services ranging from simple advice to complete management of your administrative procedures.
Question: Can you help me apply for a short-stay visa (Schengen visa)?
Answer: For short-stay Schengen visas, JJP/Consulting only offers an advisory service (analysis of your situation, choice of the appropriate visa, information on the documents to be provided and practical recommendations). We do not provide assistance with submitting applications for this type of visa, as the process is easy to complete yourself once you have been correctly guided on the visa to apply for and the procedure to follow.
Question: What about long-stay visas?
Answer: For long-stay visas, JJP/Consulting offers two options: basic advice or comprehensive assistance, including preparing the application, submitting it to France-Visas, organising the appointment and, once the visa has been obtained, following up on the formalities in France.
Fees and terms and conditions.
Question: What are your fees?
Answer: Services start at €200 for a simple consultation. For comprehensive assistance, packages vary depending on the type of visa and the procedures involved (e.g. €600 for long-stay visa assistance, €1,000 for residence card procedures in France, or A to Z packages ranging from €2,000 to €3,000 for certain visas where the procedures can be lengthy and complex).
Question: Are visa fees included in your prices?
Answer: Our fees only cover our consulting and assistance services. Visa fees and service charges must be paid directly to the visa department or the service provider responsible for receiving visa applications. In France, the residence permit tax, stamp duty and, depending on the case, commercial registration fees and other costs can either be paid directly to the relevant authorities, or payment can be delegated to JJP / Visas Consulting, who will invoice you for these costs along with their services.
Question: Do you offer refunds in the event of visa refusal?
Answer: Yes, according to the conditions detailed by Visa in the notices. In general, a partial refund is provided if the administrative conditions cannot be met or in the event of a confirmed refusal despite an appeal. In the A & Z formulas, the processes are divided into three stages, and the first two stages may be subject to partial refunds, less management fees on payments made at the stage concerned.
Processing times
Question: How long does it take to obtain a visa?
Answer: For short-stay visas: the average processing time is one week, but you must also take into account the time needed to obtain an appointment. During the high season, when the number of visa applications doubles or triples, it can be difficult to obtain an appointment to submit your visa application at the consulate (or with an authorised service provider) within one or two months. It is therefore strongly recommended that you plan your visa application as early as possible, bearing in mind that it can be submitted up to 6 months before departure.
For long-stay visas, the processing time for visa applications is slightly longer (1 to 3 weeks), but you must also take into account the preliminary steps to be taken before submitting your visa application. For example, for a student visa, you will need to take into account the preliminary phase with Campus France, and for professional visas, the time required for the procedures to be carried out in France with the French authorities. In practical terms, the ‘Advice’ service of JJP / Visas Consulting can give you an estimate of the various processing times and advise you on how to avoid them adding up by optimising the timing of the various procedures.
Chances and criteria.
Question: What are my actual chances of obtaining a visa?
Answer: In principle, a visa application that is correctly completed and meets regulatory requirements will result in the visa being granted. Refusals (e.g. 4% refusal rate for visas applied for in China, 2% for visas applied for in Japan) are often due to a misunderstanding, a mismatch between the application and the purpose of the visa requested, a history of visa refusals, an unexplained personal situation, and, in general, reasons that cast doubt on the visa applicant’s intentions or the purpose of the visa requested.
This is why it is important to submit an application that leaves no room for doubt and to explain, without waiting to be asked, any points that could appear contentious. When you entrust your visa application to an agent, you should also keep an eye on the content and the choices made. Many agents rely on stereotypes or unfounded rumours and submit applications that are not credible, which are easily detected during the visa application process, cast doubt on the sincerity of the application and result in the visa being refused.
For example, for a business trip, the agent will sometimes advise you to apply for a tourist visa rather than a business visa, thinking that it is simpler, but if the visa department detects this, it will likely result in a visa refusal. Also beware of fictitious or cancelled flight and hotel reservations, which can be verified by the visa department….
Visa ‘Talent Passport’
Question: Do I need to prove my level of French to obtain a ‘talent passport’ visa?
Answer: Recipients of a ‘Talent Passport’ visa are exempt from language tests for obtaining a visa and residence permit. A level of French may be required only for other long-stay visa statuses outside the scope of ‘talent passports’ or for specific procedures (e.g. long-term residence permit or application for French naturalisation).
Renewal of permit stay
Question: How do I renew a long-stay visa or residence permit?
Answer: The ‘VLS-TS’ must be validated online within three months of arrival. With a ‘VLS’, you must apply for a residence permit within three months of arriving in France. To renew your stay permit, you must submit an application to the local government office two to four months before it expires. Some visas are not renewable, such as the ‘VLS-T’ (temporary long-stay visa).
Support with procedures
Question: Can you provide assistance after I arrive in France?
Yes. We assist with visa registration, stay permit applications/renewals, professional procedures in France and, if you wish, certain settlement procedures (social security, CAF, bank, etc.).
Practical questions
Question: How does the service work?
Answer: After an initial exchange (email, online form), we analyse your situation and agree on the most suitable solution. We then guide you step by step until the final decision is made.
Question: Do I need to meet you in person?
This is not necessary. All visa processes and procedures in France are now paperless, and services are provided remotely (via videoconference, email, telephone). You only need to travel for appointments with the French authorities (embassy, consulate, prefecture).