Student moving to France for a year, Carte De Sejour question

[Collin]

Hey guys, I just recently got my Visa for living in France and I'm leaving in about a month. Because it's an exchange Visa, I still need to visit the local prefecture within 8 days of being in country in order to get my carte de sejour. The only thing is, the instructions on what I need to bring to the prefecture are extremely vague. It says I need to bring my Birth Certificate and my Visa, but it doesn't say anything else. I'd HATE to get there and end up missing a certain piece of documentation.

Is there anything else I should bring with me? Also, I realize this question is relative to what city I'm applying in, but are the average wait times for this? Should I plan a whole day to get this done, or is it fairly simple?

Also, once I'm done applying at the prefecture, do I also need to send away some forms or is that everything? This whole process is very vague and I haven't been given too many instructions, I'd hate to get something wrong and end up getting deported.

Thanks in advance,

- Collin

[Bevdeforges]

The process is deliberately vague, in part because each prefecture has their own requirements. And yes, it's almost a tradition to be asked for "just one more document" than what you have brought with you to the first appointment. They do the same thing to French citizens who have dealings with "the administration."

But for an exchange visa, bring what they have told you to bring, plus a couple other documents. Since you're a student, make sure to bring some evidence of your school attendance (acceptance letter or something similar) and possibly some indication of where you're living while you're in France. If they come up with "just one more thing" don't worry - they seem to do that to everyone here.

Once you're done applying at the prefecture, you may need to return in a few weeks to pick up your carte de séjour. They'll tell you when you submit your application - or, don't be afraid to ask.
Cheers,
Bev

[Collin]

Thanks for the reply, my only issue is I want to get everything I need on the first try. I'm arriving in France a couple weeks before my classes start and I'll be spending those two weeks in the south of France, I'd hate for them to tell me I forgot something then have to travel all the way from the South of France back to Rouen (where im living) in order to bring that last piece of documentation.

So far what I plan on bringing it:

Proof of financial means
Student card
Acceptance letter
Attestation d’hébergement from my host family
A doctors slip signed by a embassy approved doctor in Canada
Visa/Passport
3 additional photos


I hope that's enough

[Collin]

Ok I'm getting alittle more nervous as the date approaches for my arrival in France. In order to give you guys the best idea of what's going on I'll post exactly what's happening in regards to when I'll be arriving.

Alright, so my classes at the University don't start till September 3rd (these are orientation classes) My dad has never been to Europe, so I'm planning on arriving a couple weeks earlier and travelling France with him (specifically the south of France, I'll be living in the North in Rouen) This means I'll be arriving two weeks before classes start and therefore, I will not have the required paper work that the prefecture requires when I land, which would make going to the prefecture pretty useless without the required paperwork.

So here is what I have an issue with, because I'm on an exchange program through my University, I do not have the option of simply mailing away an OFII form when I arrive, I have to do it the old way by visiting the prefecture when I arrive in France. The note that I received with my Visa says exactly this;

"The visa that is affixed in your passport is valid for three months. It will entitle you to enter France and obtain a residence permit (the "carte de sejour"), which you will have to apply for at the local prefecture de police within eight days of entry into France...... The Carte de Sejour will be valid for one year and can be renewed at the prefecture if you decide to extend your stay"

Alright so here's my problem, our hotels are already booked in the south of france for two weeks, which means I can choose to do one of two things in regards to visiting the prefecture with 8 days. I can visit the prefecture when I first arrive, but if the follow up appointment is during my stay in the South of France I won't be able to make it. Alternatively is the 8 day time frame a requirement, or would it be fine if I visited the local prefecture when I actually arrived in my home town, which would be 13 days after my arrival rather than 8. When I asked someone from the assistantsinfrance forum, they said this

"If you're supposed to go to the Prefecture within the first week of your arrival, it's just to make an appointment to get your carte de séjour. All you'll need is your passport. They'll give you a list of the documents that you'll need when you come back for your appointment....you'll have all of them by that time."

When I asked if it was alright if I visited within 13 days instead of 8 they replied

"No, I don't think that will be a problem. The only time they ask you for your entry date is when you're getting your CDS........the person who gives you your appt when you first get in will just look at your passport for your name and date of birth. You'll be fine."


Basically my issue is this, I will not be arriving in my home town till a couple days before school starts due to me travelling with my father, which means I will not be able to visit the local prefecture during the allotted 8 day period. I can divert and do a quick stop at the prefecture when I first land in France, but if I get a follow up appointment sometime within the next 2 weeks, I wont be able to make it back. This was an issue I really wasn't expecting to have.

If someone with an understanding of the system could help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to make sure you guys understood where I'm coming from.

It seems like the 8 day requirement is just them wanting me to get started on my Carte as soon as possible, the Visa itself is valid for three months and they expect that within those three months I receive my carte, waiting an extra 5 days to visit the prefecture shouldn't be a problem but who knows, better to be safe than sorry.

[Bevdeforges]

What some people have done in the past is to enter France as a tourist. You need to explain on arrival that you are not coming (yet) for your student visa, but rather are "just visiting" and get the usual Schengen 90 days stamp in your passport.

At the end of your travels with your father, you exit France (in fact, you have to exit the Schengen zone altogether) and re-enter, this time on or after the validity date for your student visa, getting the visa stamped on this entry.

You then have 8 days to get to the prefecture to sign up for your OFII appointment and whatever else needs doing.
Cheers,
Bev

[Collin]

What do I do if my expected entry date on my Visa is August 17th though, when I was applying for my Visa when it asked me when I would entering France, I put the date that me and my dad were arriving. Which would be the 17th of August. You're saying there would be no issue if I entered France after the validity date on my Visa? For example, my visa date is August 17th, but I wouldn't officially be entering France to live until the 30th. That would be fine?

Also, the best way to exit the Schengen area I guess would be to travel to Britain, then come back in I suppose?