Switching from a student to a spouse visa in France should be a simple task, however, let me introduce you to the French administration.
The application process seemed painless while in Bordeaux so we thought we were prepared when we arrived to our new home in Lantheuil. Apparently, every prefecture has its own requirements. So what was true in Bordeaux is now useless information.
We found that we must go through the village’s mairie (mayor) to start the process of applying for the spouse visa. He has to send our paperwork and supporting documents to the prefecture in Caen. We were not able to go to the prefecture directly to speed up the process. The prefecture is only 15 minutes away.
Since Lantheuil’s mairie has never handled a spouse visa application before, he did not have the proper paperwork for us available in his office. He had to wait 3 weeks for the prefecture in Caen to mail it to him. He repetitively called the prefecture for updates, but eventually found out there was only one person there that handles mailing out documents. This same person answers phone calls. When he receives too many phone calls, he gets too busy to mail out forms.In the mean time, we called the mairie and prefecture several times to ensure our list of requirements was complete. This way we would be 100 percent prepared when the documents arrive.
Towards the end of our wait, the mairie assured us that if did not receive the paperwork within two days that he would go to the office himself to pick them up. Right before going to pick up the paperwork, he received it via mail. We drove over to fill it all out – which only took about 30 minutes. We were told beforehand that we would need my passport, copy of my current visa, three forms of proof that we were living together in this city and 4 passport-sized photographs of me.
After filling out the paperwork, we found out that we were actually required to provide more things – remember, we called both office several times beforehand to verify we had everything. We had to return home to collect three forms of proof that we have been living together for at least a year in France, my husband’s ID, our Livret de Famille and a stamped envelope. We received our Livret de Famille the day we were married by the mairie in Bordeaux. Luckily, we had the rest of the stuff readily at the house.
We returned about an hour later and were all set. The mairie told us that it would take two to three weeks for us to receive confirmation from the prefecture in Caen that they have received my paperwork. This proof can be used as proof that I am living here legally when my current visa expires at the end of July.
After we receive the proof, it can take up to three weeks for us to hear from the prefecture that my visa is ready for pick-up. We will have to set an appointment with them for me to go receive it. I have heard conflicting stories from others online about what to expect at this appointment. Our mairie said that it is just to pick up the visa, while others say that I will have an interview and be required to take French cultural courses and possibly more language classes.
My Timeline
Married in Bordeaux: May 21, 2011
Called Lantheuil’s mairie to start application process: around June 6, 2011
Filled out paperwork with Lantheuil’s mairie: July 4, 2011
Lantheuil’s mairie mailed out paperwork to Caen’s prefecture: July 5, 2011
* Estimated date of prefecture’s confirmation: July 26th, 2011
* Estimated date of receiving my spouse visa: August 16th, 2011
I will keep you updated with what happens as this adventure continues.
Some Notes about French Spouse Visas
Some of the requirements are different based on which country you are from and where you are now living in France. I am an American, so this post is based on the requirements for US citizens.
The spouse visa must be renewed each year for 3 years at the prefecture. After 3 years it is possible to qualify for one that is renewable every 10 years. Fun Fun!
Continue reading…
[…] After submitting my paperwork to our local mairie to switch to a French spouse visa, I was told that I would receive a confirmation of receipt from the Caen prefecture within 3 weeks, or by July 26. This receipt would be proof that my visa is processing and that I am here legally since my student visa expires July 22. I would then receive notice from Caen’s prefecture before August 16 to make an appointment to pick up my new visa. (See: Switching from a Student to Spouse Visa – Part I) […]