How does one obtain a "promise to lease" to satisfy "long stay visa requirements"

[babypatz]

In order to submit visa application for Long stay in France,one must submit a copy of a Lease,deed or a "Promise to Lease",to prove that you have accomadations before you arrive.

The "promise of lease" seems to be what we need simply because we don't want to put a deposit on apartment until we're officially approved,of course after we're approve we would be willing to sign the actual lease documents via fax and then submit a deposit. (of course we would need to see some photos and have all the details in the contract)

We're unable to find any detail information on this "promise to lease"

If anyone has any knowledge on this subject would be grateful for any help you can offer.

We're looking for a small apartment in NICE area.

Thank you,

aubriella

[Bevdeforges]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

This is a relatively new requirement they seem to have added to the visa paperwork treasure hunt. On some consulate websites, they only mention that you need to submit two copies of your deed or lease for where you will be living - but that's kind of stupid, since you won't sign a lease until you are sure you can get the visa. (And I would advise against signing any lease until you see the property in person. Photos can be deceiving and there are some real dumps out there.)

What they appear to be looking for is something from an immobilier stating that you have started the house hunting process with them, and that the immobilier has checked out your status (as far as being eligible to rent a house or apartment in the area). Normally, I would recommend that you make a preliminary trip over to France to start this process, but if you're coming from a huge distance, that may not be practical.

You may need to contact an immobilier in the area in which you hope to settle to arrange for such a letter. Best to contact them by phone or mail - most folks I know have had little luck contacting immobiliers by e-mail. They may need to do some sort of preliminary credit check in order to provide the necessary letter.
Cheers,
Bev

[coloma gold]

Originally Posted by babypatz

In order to submit visa application for Long stay in France,one must submit a copy of a Lease,deed or a "Promise to Lease",to prove that you have accomadations before you arrive.

The "promise of lease" seems to be what we need simply because we don't want to put a deposit on apartment until we're officially approved,of course after we're approve we would be willing to sign the actual lease documents via fax and then submit a deposit. (of course we would need to see some photos and have all the details in the contract)

We're unable to find any detail information on this "promise to lease"

If anyone has any knowledge on this subject would be grateful for any help you can offer.

We're looking for a small apartment in NICE area.

Thank you,



aubriella

I had the same general question a few last week... I will be speaking with an interpreter later (to help prepare my application for a long term visa) and will discuss this with her or the embassy in San Francisco. Perhaps they can give some guidance...

[babypatz]

Thankyou for the welcome,Bev. I cant believe we cant find any info online about how to officially fulfill this "Promise of a Lease" req. for the Fr Emby. I HAVE read,that if one is in our situation==not working,too early for retirement income,but have enough savings to live in France for some years,that one can do a 'bank guarantee',to make sure the landlord will receive his rent monthly( as I have heard the Fr laws wont let you pay 6 months or a year in advance) Has anyone heard of this 'bank guarantee' ,or can one,in fact,pay 6 months in advance if not receiving retirement income yet? Merci bien, Aubriella

[frogblogger]

Do keep us informed on the "promise of lease" issue. At first glance it seems difficult to imagine how such a promise would be easily enforceable - draft 'protocol' agreements of this kind are sometimes not worth the paper they are written on.

It's probably some very French attempt at compromise - ie obviously you can't sign up for a lease before the visa has been approved, but the French aren't happy with the idea of people applying for visas without permanent accommodation arranged beforehand.

I've another question on this. What happens if the applicant is being offered free accommodation with friends? In France there is a system whereby a landlord/house owner can provide a attestation (certificate) where you 'certify on your honour' that you are housing someone (who otherwise has no proof of residence because there are no utilities bills in his/her name). It is called an 'attestation d'hébergement sur l'honneur'. I've provided one of these, legally, on several occasions.

Wonder what the visa department would say if they were offered one of these in lieu of a 'promise to lease'? It is a recognised legal format in France.

[rollerbahn]

Is that the same as the attestation d'accueil? Paperwork is la France's favorite pasttime.

You could try acquiring one of these, its obtained through the mairies, and so each one tends to vary in regards to their demands and conseils. But its to prove you have a French person, providing you with a residence in France, so it sounds like the same as what Frogblogger is talking about above, and if you want the list of tout les pieces necessaire, I have them - I guess it is one option if you by some chance have a friend who lives there and is willing to make the attestation on your behalf? I find it hard to imagine you having a proof of lease before you go to France...that is like them asking me when I applied for my visa to have the marriage banns before going there to get married...and then telling me that the visa listed as 'visa TO marry a french person in france' doesn't exist.

I can laugh about it now, ha. ha. ha. My advice would be to try to avoid the promise to lease route, it seems dangerously iffy, unless you guys go and find a place beforehand.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

It's probably some very French attempt at compromise - ie obviously you can't sign up for a lease before the visa has been approved, but the French aren't happy with the idea of people applying for visas without permanent accommodation arranged beforehand.

I've another question on this. What happens if the applicant is being offered free accommodation with friends? In France there is a system whereby a landlord/house owner can provide a attestation (certificate) where you 'certify on your honour' that you are housing someone (who otherwise has no proof of residence because there are no utilities bills in his/her name). It is called an 'attestation d'hébergement sur l'honneur'. I've provided one of these, legally, on several occasions.

Wonder what the visa department would say if they were offered one of these in lieu of a 'promise to lease'? It is a recognised legal format in France.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. On the couple of French Consulate websites I've checked, they only mention having to provide copies of your lease or deed to "prove" that you have accomodation. The "promise to lease" thing only seems to come up when a potential visa candidate raises the issue with the Consulate officials - so I'm not sure they even know what they want. (Wouldn't be the first time for the Consulate to improvise like this... )

When I tried to apply for a visa (oh, so many years ago), my (now) DH offered one of those attestations sur honneur - actually he offered two, one to lodge me, and later on, another to employ me. The fonctionnaires turned both down.

What I think they must be looking for is some indication that you have contacted and worked with an immobilier, who has bothered to check into your credit a little bit (meaning the immobilier believes you're serious about renting a place). I wouldn't be surprised if the immobiliers insist on a deposit against their fees as a condition of providing one of these documents, too. (Heck, the banks change a fee for the letter verifying the status of your accounts because the government is not allowed to see your actual bank statement.)

But then again, this IS France and there is a way around this... you just have to find it.
Cheers,
Bev

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by rollerbahn

I can laugh about it now, ha. ha. ha. My advice would be to try to avoid the promise to lease route, it seems dangerously iffy, unless you guys go and find a place beforehand.

I know how you feel. I got caught in a similar "infinite loop" thing when I try (and failed) to get a visa to go marry a Frenchman. The Consulate finally told me to "just go, get married and sort it out afterwards."

I think they do these things primarily to have a reason to turn you down. Anyone would be a fool to buy property or sign a lease before they had even applied for a visa. The French are just too well known for flat out refusing these things for no particular reason.

And don't forget the French habit of writing eloquent rules and lists of requirements without the slightest thought to the matter of the practicality of obtaining any of the documents.

When I went for my nationality, one of the "required" documents on the list was a statement from the bank concerning my "joint account" with my husband. We don't have a joint account, so I didn't provide a letter (for which the bank would have charged 15€). I had the most bizarre conversation with the two fonctionnaires reviewing my dossier about whether or not I should have opened a joint account simply to be able to provide the letter "because it's here on the list" vs. my argument that a joint account is not a requirement of taking nationality. Ever wonder why French films are so strange?
Cheers,
Bev

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by rollerbahn

Is that the same as the attestation d'accueil?

Not quite - in that the attestation d'accueil' includes that element but it's aimed at visa applicants, while the attestation d'hébergement sur l'honneur' is an internal French thing which French citizens can use amongst themselves for various legal purposes when they have no other proof of residence.