Visas!

Oh boy... here we go. We've heard horror stories about applying for visas to stay in France longer than three months. This informative post should help us sail through the process, right? The following information was obtained by reading the French Consulate of Boston website.

First, to apply for a visa, we must bring an original and a copy of all the necessary documents. They won't make us photocopies. Visas cost money. We must pay in advance. If they decide not to give us our visas, absolutely no refund will be granted. How much does a long stay visa cost? 99 Euros. What is a long stay visa? The long stay visa allows one to stay in France for more than 3 months, for example to study, work, retire, etc.

OK - now: more details from the visas section of their website

Processing time for a long stay visa is about 2 months (except long stay student visas for American citizens: the visa is generally issued in 3 working days). [So fast! We'll see about that...]

Personal appearance is the basic rule and is required. [When I first read this, I thought it meant we needed to dress up. Anyway, we are lucky that we live so close to the Consulate - it's right down the road in Boston!)]

IMPORTANT REMARKS: The Consular Administration has full authority to request additional documents than those submitted by the applicant. Note that the visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter a French territory. It is necessary that you carry the original documents used to obtain the visa with you at all times. Border authorities may request that you show them upon entry to France. [I think this is intended to scare us. What other documents might they possibly request?]

Beginning April 1st, 2009, all visa applicants will be required to obtain an appointment on-line to apply for a visa at the Consulate General of France in Boston. [Ok... they're moving into the 21st century here!]

ATTENTION: Since March 1, 2007, you MUST enroll with CampusFrance in order to obtain a temporary long stay visa or a long stay student visa. Visit www.usa.campusfrance.org to learn more and register. [Really? Um, ok. Just tried... my browser is not compatible. Bah.]

For stays of more than six months: you have to apply for a long stay visa by filling out 2 long stay application forms. Long stay application forms being in French, you can download an explanation in English. 

With a long stay visa, you will have to apply, as soon as you arrive in France, for a residency card ("carte de séjour") with the French prefecture which has jurisdiction over the place where you will be studying.  [Basically, we must bring more forms with us in order to fill out more forms.]

Necessary forms (for Maggie, at least): 

• A passport valid at least six months upon arrival in France (+ 1 copy of pages containing birth date, photo, and expiration date). Please make sure a blank page remains in your passport for the visa stamp.
• 2 long stay application forms filled out in black. Please do not forget to write your phone number and e-mail address.
• 3 photographs [something about the image they send you to for more information is creepy...]

The photo must be a recent head shot, in color and on a white background. 

• A proof of residency or of studies in one of the following states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont [Any ideas of what might serve as sufficient proof of residency?]
• Letter of admission from a French school/University (+ 1 copy) [Luckily, I have one of these in hand and another on the way]
• Letter from your university in the US stating that you are currently registered there as a student (+ 1 copy) [Now, if I'm not currently a student, will they still require this form?]
• Proof of sufficient funds: Copy of parents’ bank statement or copy of student’s bank statement [I wish I could tap into my parents' bank accounts for this trip...]
• Processing fees: by credit card (Visa, MasterCard) or cash

Phew! Anyone with experience navigating this process is welcome to leave further feedback. As for me, I'm going to go to bed - thinking about all this paperwork leaves me feeling sleepy!