To apply at the French consulate, you need to go to Paris, Fridays from 9 AM until 12 PM ONLY. (If applying in a different country, make sure to check this information well in advance.)

As the consulate is constantly very busy, I do advise to get there early if you are travelling to Paris. (We went there at 7 AM and were the first ones by just a few minutes. We still had to wait in line for another 2 hours but were assured to be seen that same morning.)

Do not risk having to wait another week or travel again because you arrived too late. After a certain time, depending on the number of people yet to be seen, the consulate can decide to close the doors to newcomers.