Consulate General of France in New York Reviews

I had a very good experience at the french consulate.
I had to renew my french passport and the team was extremely helpful and efficient.

Excellent, efficient and fast access to the notary service of the consulate. Quick communication and appointment obtained in the week to establish a genuine power of attorney.

Nobody to talk to over the phone, website that doesn t work... frustrating!

Thanks to great people working for the Consulate. I have my US visa expired, which technically precludes me from getting Schengen (you need your visa to be valid three months after you return from Schengen; mine expired even before I applied). But I showed that after France I will go to my home country, wrote a letter explaining why I cannot renew my US visa before I leave, and amazingly my visa was issued next day. Don't try this at home, though.

Just wanted to let you know that the outsources visa service provided by VFS is terrible

I got this Monday November 3rd an appointment on December 16th to renew my passport! I run the risk of missing, for lack of passport, my departure in El Salvador on December 22nd.
Ten years ago, you got a passport in two weeks. The slowness of the services at the Consulate has become really worrying.

Pierre Lacour

I went here to obtain a Visa twice. Unlike most embassies, you have to make an online appointment on their website. You can't just show up. Make your appointments early. The earliest appointment that was available when I made it was 1 month ahead. When you show up for your appointment, make sure you have all your documentation. Go through the requirement list carefully. They will not issue you a visa if you have any missing information. This is a no none sense place. They don't want to hear sob stories. They are not there to make small talk with you. They have no interest in hearing why you are missing this or that. It's strictly business. If you have all the documentation, the process is very simple. They take all your documentation in the morning and you get the visa on the same day in the afternoon. Both times I went there, I saw a lot of frustrated applicants because they were missing pieces of documentation. They bring stuff that wasn't on the requirement list or they didn't bring what was needed. To save yourself that type of aggravation, bring exactly what is asked for in the requirement list and you will have no problems.

I want to make an exemplary review of the services of this consulate. In a terrible anxiety to have lost my passport the day before my return to France I was warmly greeted by phone the day before and the operator explained everything to me and I had to come, without appointment, the next day at the opening. I got a pass in 30 minutes and with a smile and more.
I generously congratulate this service which is both competent and pleasant. Change nothing!
(And thank you again)

Just like any review, people usually write when they have something negative to say. I am not sure about your experience and I could only talk about mine.
I have been going to this Consulate for 3 years ( 4 times) now, and it has been such a pleasant experience. As a frequent traveler, I have to apply for VISA to different countries. I love to get my Schengen Visa from France since they are super helpful and nice here at the consulate. You think this is difficult ?? Try to apply for an Indian, Russian, or even American VISA.

The process could not be easier for me to get a VISA from the France Consulate in New York. You just need to be prepared, and bring all the documents that they require. Every time I go, I usually get out within 30 minutes. They could not be any nicer and friendlier here. After 2 weeks, you get your VISA or maybe sooner depending on the country you are from.

I have applied for Schengen from Austria, Germany consulate in New York, as well as French consulate in Houston and the one in New York has been the most pleasant experience. They are helpful and move things along quickly.

NOTE: Have all the required documents before you show up so you don't waste your time and their time. I saw a lady showed up without any documents and I wondered "Why are you here?"

I just spoke with an amazing lady who answered all my questions regarding French citizenship so knowledgeable & kind Parfait!!! I give her 5 stars !!

After receiving a phone call from them to confirm my appointment in two days, I was very well oriented to collect my documents for my passport application, in addition to that I was missing a prepaid envelope, luckily that they called me. The lady was very kind and very professional. Thank you

worst consulate to contact website is garbage costumer service -100 i expected better from the french Embassy

Great experience, they were very accommodating and nice, also minimal wait time which is always a bonus.

I canceled my appointment and they never refunded my money after I set millions of emails and when I called them, they hang the phone off... Don t use them, this stupid French agency!!!

I abhor, like everyone else, the administrative procedures, but the reception I received at the French Consulate in NY was remarkable. I would particularly like to thank Mr. Nicolas P. L. for his great courtesy, helpfulness that goes beyond the duties of his office, and exceptional competence.

the staff is incredibly nice, genuine, thorough and informational.

Fantastic service! Really Looking forward to my trip to France!

Super helpful, Pierre made my passport renewal so much easier than I expected it to be. I also missed some paperwork that I was supposed to do in advance, and they just did it with me. Might have been the simplest passport renewal I ve even done. Really went smoothly, I was a little stressed cause my passport had been expired for over two years and I really just spent 30 minutes there. Merci beaucoup Pierre.

hello I'm French and I'm sorry for our home but the French do not all sound like that. France lies in the means that have never be able to trust the person then has no lies if bous want a visa.

Nice welcome to the election service, everything was settled in a few minutes by a very nice young intern.

I was at the consulate two weeks ago and was so pleasantly pleased by first of all, the welcoming and he professionalism of the security gentleman who was not only extremely polite but made sure we went upstairs well prepared with the documents at hands. Thanks to him, I avoided an unnecessary trip to pick up my visa as it was 4:05 when I remembered him being specific as to pick up hours. When I got upstairs, the consular staff demonstrated an amazing professionalism and courtesy. All went so Smooth.
WAY TO REPRESENT LA FRANCE!!!! MERCI!!!

Unable to get an appointment inspite of having the trip date over a month. Called to request an appointment. Very unprofessional behavior, and did not seem inviting for tourist. Hope the behavior changes soon

Make sure you have all the documents they required. Visa will be issue within 24hr...Nice

An automated message with a horrible techno sound that sends you back to the website. Thank you the French Consulate ..

YUP!!!! Everything everyone wrote below is absolutely true and I have not even been to the counselate. I am talking purely through my experience JUST through phone conversations. WOW!! I am blown away with how shamelessly rude this woman can be. The French embassy and the government should be embarressed and ashamed of themselves for having hired such pigs who represent their country. I had heard that the French are arrogant but I didn't know that things were bad to such a degree that people who tried to merely get some information ffrom these miserable people were given such a rude experience. I am shocked how this lady spoke to me and how she shot one thing after the other at me whereas I was so politely asking her my questions. She even went ahead to tell me that "if I don't have questions she WILL hang up because she doesn't have all day and needs to tend to other things". WOW!!! Shame on this embassy and shame on the French for being so careless about their identity and image in another country.

We will keep rating this place bad until they train their staff to be respectful. Worst place ever

I had a wonderful experience at the Consulate. Most of the info is on their website, I booked an appointment online, and was received twice by the passport team. Mr. Jullin and his coworkers were very friendly and efficient. Merci!

These people are still so rude, arrogant, unwelcoming and much of the time useless... I was hoping that under the new administration of Mrs Anne Claire Legendre this would improve. But nope, modernity and politeness are still MIA.

Excellent. Consul General Legendre is brilliant and a problem solver.

Coming from Los Angeles to Paris via a connection in New York, I found myself stuck at the terminal in front of the Tap check-in, which refused to let me on board because of a timing problem with my Pcr Covid test.
Thank you for doing what was necessary to get me out of this nightmare ...

I'm a Chinese citizen. I was able to get my passport + French visa within 5 hours today! Amazing! Pray for Paris.

Limited hours is the biggest problem. Plan accordingly. The hours do not coincide with the visa department, so after you get your visa, you cannot go here to do other paperwork that might be required. I had to come back another day. Once there, the staff was great.

Whenever French resident in the United States, when I contacted the social service, I received excellent help. For questions for which I had contacted administrations in France on the same subject and had not obtained answers, I received the answers with all the practical information: e-mail from other organizations, procedures etc ... en not much time. The welcome is professional, efficient and friendly and honors France. Thank you for the valuable help I have received. Elie Pallandre, Madison, CT

Two weeks ago, I went to the consulate to apply for a visitor's visa to attend a conference. They took my documents and gave me a receipt asking me to come back in two weeks and to pick up my visa. But when I showed up today with my receipt, they told me that they are still waiting for the approval. I do understand that this process can take longer for some applicants and that's not something that the people in the consulate can do much about. However, they should inform individual applicants on a one-by-one basis when his/her visa is approved, and not give a general pick-up date of two weeks for everyone. I live in New Jersey, and I had to take an entire day off to come to the consulate and then return back with nothing done. It clearly shows that these people have no regards to applicants' time and money and they just throw pick-up dates that they are incapable of holding.

Passport renewal issue. Open from 9am to 1pm today, I just called at 9h15am, 50min later.... still ringing, dont know if they'll ever pick up. Im off today I have all day to wait !! WISH ME LUCK

The wait is long. We got in 10:30am and got out 12:45pm. For Schengen visa(short stay), the interview was short and to the point, strictly following the requirements posted on the consulate web site.

Among consulates(been to 10+ consulates in 3+ countries), this one is comparably OK, ranking perhaps only below the US consulate in Vancouver in terms of efficiency and courtesy.

Consulate, if you are reading, here are some peer's practices: 1. let people pay before the visit via website and you frees up one more personnel and for the applicants, one less trip to the counter. 2. provide a coin-operated printer/copier on site so people can print/copy documents and cuts the return trip'pers.

Every time ive called, I felt like I woke the operator from a nap. And then I'm quickly transferred to a department that never picks up. I don't understand how this consulate stays in operation.

I was a little late and I didn't have a print-out of the appointment so was a little stressed. I was greeted by a cool door guard who told me "hey relax, it's Monday morning". Right there I thought "welcome to France".

The young lady who examined my papers was friendly and very efficient. The online requirements are very clear (though very strict about not accepting email/online printouts) - I had all the documents ready so it went fast and smooth. I got my visa in the afternoon the say day!

Swift & efficient service. Very friendly & courteous staff.

Does anyone knows if I can take the pics in the consulate?

The website does not work and no one will get on the phone - all machines or voice mail. How does one work with the NYC French Consulate???? Just want to renew a passport and need an appointment - but impossible to get one with their current system. Guess I have to travel to DC or Boston. Just awful

Do I need an appointment first before going in or do I just head on in France's embassy? With Netherlands embassy the person that answered the phone told me I should just come on in. I was wondering if it's the same with France's embassy because I can't seem to get anyone on the phone over at that office. It's like a dead story over on that side.

All the people in the visa office is very respectful and polite from the security guard to the ladies upstairs in the offices, if you have all the documents necessary the process takes less than 5 minutes. I want to say thank you to the security guard for all the useful advices, and to the ladies for the kindness and comprehension.

Picked up my visa last Friday and had a great experience at this consulate. The lady who is in charge of the visa is very professional, courteous and efficient!

I went to the Consulate for a power of attorney. Ultra fast service, very nice. The Consulate is not huge and it gives a more personal side. Bravo!

This review is for the visa section of the consulate. I had one of my best experiences getting a tourist visa. Great staff. Very professional, courteous and very friendly.

I can not speak about the on-site service, however the information by e-mail is rather bad and unclear. To register on the electoral lists is the obstacle course, damage.

Very nice, quick and easy experience today to get my new passport. Very nice and professional people. Thank you for coming to Western New York and save me the trip to New York City!
Would love to do business with these people again!

Applied for a Schengen Visa and got it on the same day. One of my documents were incorrect, but the lady dealing with me made a special case and asked me to come again later that day with the documents she needs. After having my documents sorted out and giving them to her, I received my visa shortly. She was very helpful and kind.

I'm going to guess the the previous reviews are about people who had just been fired, because the security guard I dealt with was not unpleasant and the people at the counters were not rude at all.

Horrible service, and was turned away at the door forbidden to enter the Consulate in New York, after I explained to the security person why I was there. I wanted to re-sinstate my French Passport. He gave me a sheet of paper and told me to "contact" them here in Washnigton,D.C. What is the purpose of spending that much money for a Fifth Avenue Office?

My deepest sympathies to the people of France on the terrorist attacks in Paris. Praying for the families of the victims.

Called the consulate today twice. The lady just yelled at me and would not listen to me for one word!!!!!!! What in the world?!

I would suggest going through any other EU embassy if you have that option. French ask you for ridiculous paperwork that is literally last century. They don't except hotel confirmation in PDF - it literally has to be faxed from France and the rsv has to be under your own name. Since my boyfriend made our reservation and we don't have the same last name, I got denied visa after waiting for 2 hours. I have tons of Schengen visas in my passport and have never had such poor experience overall. Have been to France many times over as a tourist and I don't know what happened to the NY embassy - the overall experience used to be so much better. Not its overcrowded, overbooked, and staff less.

Employees at this Consulate are very helpful and caring, they do their best to accommodate their applicants even in urgent scenarios like this. I wasn't able to book an appointment online after being sent from Spanish consulate to French one at very short notice one week before my trip. Every single employee I have met was very friendly and tried to help me to get my visa on time prior to my trip even without an appointment. Just make sure you have all the documents in place as well as copies to avoid any delays. If you do so, your experience there would be as lovely as mine. I would recommend this consulate. And Many Thanks to Everyone who works there for their help and time! Especially Stephen who is truly very nice person and great security guard!

Called for an inquiry and the operator was very rude and disrespectful