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Old Port Area of Marseille, France

France Visa

By Joshua H. Wood

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Summary: Once you arrive in France, you must apply for a visa, called a Carte de Séjour, at a local Préfecture of Police. This article describes what you need to do before you go and once you arrive in France.

Expats moving to France for their company must go through a very specific process as they seek proper authorization to move there. This process necessitates action on your part (and/or by your company) both before you move abroad and once you get there.

Before you go:

The company must receive authorization from France's Ministry of Labor. Once approval of the "contract" has been provided, a long-term visa (visa de long séjour) can be requested at a consulate in the U.S.

When you arrive:

You must apply for a visa called a "Carte de Séjour" at a local Préfecture of Police. (In essence, the Visa De Long Séjour you receive from the French embassy or consulate enables you to apply for the Carte de Séjour in France.)

Embassy of France in the U.S.

Consulates General of France in the U.S.

Consulate General of France in Washington

Consulate General of France in New York

Consulate General of France in Boston

Consulate General of France in Atlanta

Consulate General of France in Miami

Consulate General of France in New Orleans

Consulate General of France in Houston

Consulate General of France in Chicago

Consulate General of France in Los Angeles

Consulate General of France in San Francisco

France in the United Kingdom

Embassy of France in the United Kingdom

Consulate Generals of France in the United Kingdom

Consulate General of France in London

Consulate General of France in Scotland


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Comments

Leamuse
Mar 22, 2011 05:09

I found this article to be misleading. Perhaps it is accurate for others. For those of us coming from the US, we must apply for the Carte de'Sejour before leaving the states. The Embassy website is quite clear that you cannot make your initial application in France.

smt2000
Mar 27, 2011 09:12

if in paris you must go to the police prefecture either in the 14 th area or in clichy area. For the ten year visa must go in the a.m only. you need the following. - photo copy of passport all pages - rent contract - if married in france all the marriage papers. - two documents for each year you are in france to show your address here. if all papers are ok, the police give you a letter of convocation , you then wait 6 weeks for the second rdv at the cite police prefecture. -there you need to take three photos, proof of current address, electric bill. then you wait 6 weeks for either yes or no on the carte, if yes they will say where to go to get the carte which will be ready.

Old Port Area of Marseille, France

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