Residents in the USA who require a Schengen visa must apply through the consulate of their main destination or the country of first entry, typically via an authorized service provider like VFS Global, and attend a biometric appointment in person unless exempt due to recent prior biometrics within the last 59 months.

Appointments and submissions are made by booking online, then attending a VFS Global center in major US cities such as New York, Washington, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others, depending on the country represented. Standard decisions are made in about 15 days from the date the embassy/consulate receives the application, but processing can extend up to 45 days during peak periods or for additional checks—so apply early and avoid paying for flights or hotels before the visa is issued.