Americans! Student Visa with French courses

Hi there! I can only share my experience. Back in 2013, I was denied a long stay student visa because I enrolled at a language school with ONLY 10 hours per week classes. In order to be considered, I was told I needed to take a course that is AT LEAST 21 hours/week. I don't know if you know this already, you need to go through Campus France (after you have enrolled in a language school) before asking for an appointment at the French embassy.

I reapplied later that year for a long stay student visa with 23 hours/week French course and was granted a 9 month visa.

And on working, foreign students (citizens of a non-EU country), I believe are limited to 20.5 hours per week.

parisiennest wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'm reviewing choices on applying for a student visa through a language course.
I want to be able to work at the same time so evening courses will be best. I am hoping to apply through Alliance Francaise Paris.

I am thinking of signing up for 30 weeks of evening courses and hoping I will get a student visa through that. Does anyone know will that work?

Or can I only get a student visa through enrolling full time at a school?

I've searched through the internet for answers but can't seem to find anything.
Please help!

Yes, You need to enrol for minimum 20/h french language studies to get the long term visa for 3 month minimum. With the long term visa you can work up to 964h a year. But you have to take an appointment with "CAMPUS FRANCE" of your own country to set up your study file. CAMPUS FRANCE will guide you to the right process regarding your project.