French Visas

[Nyte 1]

Is anyone familiar with France's (or the Schengen States) immigration laws? My spouse is a French (and therefore EU) citizen who just received her PR card in the USA. We're planning a trip back to France to visit with our family in the summer, but i'm concerned that our marriage may now require me to obtain a visa rather than enter with the VWP. Anyone have any knowledge of this subject?

If I do have to obtain a visa, at least the application fee is waived for spouses! Woo

[Ngoc-Anh 1]

are you planning on staying longer than 90 days?

[Nyte 1]

No.

[Lili 3]

That is a great question.

Did you get your marriage recognized by french laws? Your best bet would be to ask your local consulate of France.

That is what i always do. They start knowing me by now. lol

I am gonna start reading up on it. If i find anything, i will let you know.

[Lili 3]

Already found it.

It seems that yes, a visa for short stay is required.

Linky

[Nyte 1]

Already found it.

It seems that yes, a visa for short stay is required.

Linky

Thank you very much for that link. I found another document on the site to apply for a "Visa to visit France to marry a French citizen." When I opened the file, there's a "Warning" at the top that says US Citizens who do not wish to reside in France after their wedding are exempt from being obligated to obtain a visa.

This seems to contradict that other page that shows the "Short Stay Visa application for Spouses." Anyway, I EMailed the consulat today, and when they reply, i'll let you all know in case someone else is in the same boat as me.

Merci!

[Lili 3]

De rien.

Indeed, it is confusing. It seems the french government recently made the rules tigher for immigration.

They are looking out for fraud like none other before.

Thanks for letting me know of the answer when you get it.

I am kinda of in the same boat. I want to go with my husband to visit but in a couple of years, we are moving back permanently.

[Nyte 1]

De rien.

Indeed, it is confusing. It seems the french government recently made the rules tigher for immigration.

They are looking out for fraud like none other before.

Thanks for letting me know of the answer when you get it.

I am kinda of in the same boat. I want to go with my husband to visit but in a couple of years, we are moving back permanently.

If you guys want to live there, I know that there's a "Visa d'establishment" or something along those lines you have to get. Once you arrive in France, you'd take that to the Police Prefecture and they'd begin the processing for the Carte de Sejour. I have a friend who just got hers. She did mention that things were changing though.....

Guess we'll see!! Next, we'll need: voyagevisa.fr

[Lili 3]

Things are definetely changing.

Me and my hubby are getting audited by the french consulate because we didn't do la publication des bans.

I can't wait for the interview day a la francaise. lol

I had no idea they changed the rules couple of months prior to our wedding. Any wedding between a French citizen and a foreigner, when celebrated abroad, abide to the sames rules as a wedding celebrated in France.

Wow, sorry for sidetracking here. lol

I am glad, immigration rules are getting tighter in France. We have been having so much problem with immigrants.

I love immigrants, as long as they try to fit in the society. Meaning respects our laws, work...in short, don't be a leech to society and respect your host country.

It is nice talking to you.

Are you guys ever intending on living back to France?

[Nyte 1]

We had the same issue with the Bans! Except when we tried to contact the Mairie in the city where my wife used to life, we were told that its not necessary! So the consulate just told us that there'd be a significant delay in the transcription of the marriage... We filed, and about two months later, we received our "Acte de Marriage" and our "Livret de Famille." Nothing to it.

At this time, we aren't planning to live in France. We both love New Orleans too much, and both of our careers are here.

[Lili 3]

It is good news that you guys didn't need to be interviewed.

Oh, New Orleans!! I heard it is so pretty and people are so nice.

[Nyte 1]

It is good news that you guys didn't need to be interviewed.

Oh, New Orleans!! I heard it is so pretty and people are so nice.

Yep. Its great here. And we were definitely happy that we didn't have to interview. The only reason we even went through the paperwork at that time honestly was to update her passport with my last name lol.

[Cécy 44]

Interesting to read. I would have thought that as long as you are only visiting you don't need a visa since there is an agreement between France and the USA. I tried to make sense of the French Embassy website, but it's really weird.

They mention a visa to be on transit in a French airport even if you don't leave the international zone. Since when do you need a visa for that? And why does the French Embassy link you to the Washington Consulate for those information? That website is very badly done.

I finally found an information on the French Embassy website:

SHORT STAY VISA

If you are a U.S. citizen and would like to travel to France, an Overseas Department (DOM) or to Monaco for a short stay (up to 90 days)

You DO NOT need visa (only a valid passport), except for

* Holders of diplomatic or official passports on mission

* Crew members

* Journalists on assignment

The applicants above must submit 1 application form for a short stay visa, a valid passport + 1 photocopy, a cover letter from the appropriate U.S. agency, embassy or from their company + 1 passport size photograph.

Diplomatic or official passport holders must apply at the Consulate General of France in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco depending on their jurisdiction.

* Artists, researchers and anyone having a paid activity in France (please refer to the section on work visas)

* students (please refer to the section on student visas)

http://www.ambafrance-us.org/visitingfrance/usvisas.asp

So you do not need a visa. You only need one if you stay more than 90 days (or are one of the people mentioned above).

That makes a lot more sense.

Now of course if you are planning a long stay or wish to establish yourself back in France, that's an other story.

Note: We are about to send the paper to get our marriage registered by the French authorities as well. Since we did not know we could ask to have the "publication des bancs" even when getting married in the US I guess we are at risk of being audited as well. What a suspicious world we live in.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Cécy

[Lili 3]

Thanks Cecy for the answer.

I am tired of all this paperwork giberish.

I will keep you updated with getting the marriage recognized. I just sent the paperwork in.

[Nyte 1]

What I sent:

Madame, Monsieur,

Je vous ecris afin de savoir s'il me faut un visa afin de voyager en france . Je suis un citoyen des etats-unis marrie a une citoyenne francaise. Nous pensons venir en france cet ete pendant quelques semaines (moins de 90 jours). J'ai toujours visite la france grace au "Visa Waiver Program" mais je voulais etre sur que mon marriage ne change rien et qu'il ne me faut pas un visa.

Merci pour votre temps

Reply:

Monsieur

Pour un séjour inférieur à 90 jours vous n’avez besoin que de votre passeport américain

So we have our answer! Thanks to Cecy and the Embassy.