Getting Married in France

[whitelilac]

Hello everybody,

Would you please tell me, especially the American expats, how I should go about translating/notarizing my paperwork. However, my case is a little different, I am a naturalized Citizen, and not a born.. I was born in Armenia, as such my birth certificate is in Armenian/Russian (issued by the Soviets). I actually hold only one passport that is the passport of USA and I guess I am considered also a citizen of Armenia, since I was born there, though I never demanded a passport and all I have is a birth certificate and my photo in my mother's passport from when she brought me to the States when I was young.

So, to make it short, I just want to know who and where can I get these papers translated (in France or USA?)and I remember once reading about France demanding my parent's birth certificate's also. Is that true?

I found this site:

Droit des étrangers : Le mariage

Is this a good starting point?

**I have also a last important question, when I get married avec mon cheri en France, dois je retourner aux USA?? Or does it depend on what they tell me at the city hall? I dont understand why I need to return...can someone tell me what is the reason for them asking me to return apply for long term visa, then going back to France when I am married to French national? AND lets say they do ask me to return, will that be the last time they ask me to return, after that what happens? And when can I work??


Thank you so much for your help!

[whitelilac]

Sorry it's me again,

I need to also ask this question,

I am afraid now to apply for a visa after having read some of the replies and I don't want to have my visa application rejected, because it might then affect the long term visa that I need to get in case they ask me to return to California after marrying my boyfriend.

Although I read on the French website, that if after 2 months, I do not hear from the Consulate, I can consider my visa application rejected, and I can reapply all over again.

But what I am afraid of is this: After speaking to a friend what worked for who is knowledgeable about this , he told me that, most likely they will reject my application, and because I only have 19K saved and not the 22K+ they are demanding, they will reject the application with or without the sponsoring family's affidavit, because unless he is my husband he is not 'obligated' to take care of me..

So I just don't want any complications or any problems with my local Consulate since I might need them to give me a long term visa, if the French city hall asks me to return home and come back with the visa.

What is the smartest thing to do?

[Bevdeforges]

Oddly enough, I thought of you when I found this page: France.Diplomatie-Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes There is also this page from the same site: France-Diplomatie - Entrer en France

It don't get more official than this. I don't know who has put out the page you cited. For marriage rules, I'd start with the info from the US Consulate in Paris: http://france.usembassy.gov/root/pdf...s-marriage.pdf

From all of this, it's clear that they now expect you to leave France, return to your home country (in your case, the US) to get a visa after your marriage unless you are already in France on an appropriate visa. If you've got the 19K saved up, I'd just budget part of that for a honeymoon back in California with your husband and get the visa while you're there. With your livret de famille (the document they give you in France when you're married), your visa should take at most a couple of days to process.

BTW, in France you will need to have your documents translated by a "certified" translator - that is, one who can also attest to the validity of the documents. Most of these sorts of translations cost at least 60€ a page, so pick and choose your documents carefully. If you have the documents translated in the US, ask the Consulate for approved translators.
Cheers,
Bev

[whitelilac]

Hello,

I am sorry it's me again...

So once I come back to California after having married him in France, and I apply for the visa, lets hope they issue it in some days, afterwords, can I purchase a one way ticket to France? Or do I have to buy a round trip ticket because they will ask me to return again..And of course I will to see my family, but I just wanted to know if after the visa, I still need to buy a round trip ticket, or if I will legally then have the right to live in Franc indefinitely?

We've just been living in 2 different continents for years now and I am starting to get tired. Would be nice to finally finalize things.

So then the best case scenario is that I apply for a long term visa and get it before going to France to marry him, that way I do not have to come back and wait, because something tells me I will wait a long time, already both their visa phone lines and their emails go unanswered.

Thank you once again!

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Oddly enough, I thought of you when I found this page: France.Diplomatie-Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes There is also this page from the same site: France-Diplomatie - Entrer en France

It don't get more official than this. I don't know who has put out the page you cited. For marriage rules, I'd start with the info from the US Consulate in Paris: http://france.usembassy.gov/root/pdf...s-marriage.pdf

From all of this, it's clear that they now expect you to leave France, return to your home country (in your case, the US) to get a visa after your marriage unless you are already in France on an appropriate visa. If you've got the 19K saved up, I'd just budget part of that for a honeymoon back in California with your husband and get the visa while you're there. With your livret de famille (the document they give you in France when you're married), your visa should take at most a couple of days to process.

BTW, in France you will need to have your documents translated by a "certified" translator - that is, one who can also attest to the validity of the documents. Most of these sorts of translations cost at least 60€ a page, so pick and choose your documents carefully. If you have the documents translated in the US, ask the Consulate for approved translators.
Cheers,
Bev

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by whitelilac

Hello,

I am sorry it's me again...

So once I come back to California after having married him in France, and I apply for the visa, lets hope they issue it in some days, afterwords, can I purchase a one way ticket to France? Or do I have to buy a round trip ticket because they will ask me to return again..And of course I will to see my family, but I just wanted to know if after the visa, I still need to buy a round trip ticket, or if I will legally then have the right to live in Franc indefinitely?

We've just been living in 2 different continents for years now and I am starting to get tired. Would be nice to finally finalize things.

So then the best case scenario is that I apply for a long term visa and get it before going to France to marry him, that way I do not have to come back and wait, because something tells me I will wait a long time, already both their visa phone lines and their emails go unanswered.

Thank you once again!

If you apply for your visa AFTER the marriage (with your livret de famille in hand), chances are you won't be asked about flights or anything like that. It's very nearly an automatic visa - and the one or two day wait is simply to schedule your interview appointment. (They do have to assess your knowledge of French and your degree of integration into French society.)

When you return to France, you can then apply for your carte de séjour - first one will be for one year. At the end of that time, you need to show that you have fulfilled the terms of your "contract of integration" (i.e. learned French and sat through their little intro class on French life and culture). If I understand correctly, you will probably have the right to work as soon as your carte de séjour is issued.

I think you still have to renew your carte de séjour at least once, but after that, you'll probably receive a carte de residente (i.e. a 10-year card). (Unless they change the rules yet again...)

If you break up before you have your carte de residente, you'll be expected to leave the country. After you have your carte de residente, you can apply for French citizenship - and if that is granted, you have to remain married for at least two years in order for it to be permanent. (I.e. if you divorce within two years after getting your citizenship based on your marriage to a French national, your French citizenship will be cancelled.)
Cheers,
Bev

[whitelilac]

Hello again and thank you for your answers!

Yes I know you never know, but I do not plan on divorcing him. Je parle courrament le francais, or almost fluent. But what type of questions are they (the French Consulate here?) going to ask me? I can draw out the map of France in Europe and I can speak French , other than that, if they ask me about history je suis nul.

And I do not know if you are aware but there is a similar test to become a US Citizen. But all they did I remember is they asked me to write down 'Today is a beautiful day." There is no problem regarding me taking French classes there, I even thought about it myself that if I was going to live there I need to take some French classes.

So but I think I understand what you are trying to say. Say if, they point to a chair and ask me what it is and I respond, 'C'est une table' then probably I will have problems, but other than that do they talk normal everyday conversational talk or they will go fancy pour que je ne comprends rien

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

If you apply for your visa AFTER the marriage (with your livret de famille in hand), chances are you won't be asked about flights or anything like that. It's very nearly an automatic visa - and the one or two day wait is simply to schedule your interview appointment. (They do have to assess your knowledge of French and your degree of integration into French society.)

When you return to France, you can then apply for your carte de séjour - first one will be for one year. At the end of that time, you need to show that you have fulfilled the terms of your "contract of integration" (i.e. learned French and sat through their little intro class on French life and culture). If I understand correctly, you will probably have the right to work as soon as your carte de séjour is issued.

I think you still have to renew your carte de séjour at least once, but after that, you'll probably receive a carte de residente (i.e. a 10-year card). (Unless they change the rules yet again...)

If you break up before you have your carte de residente, you'll be expected to leave the country. After you have your carte de residente, you can apply for French citizenship - and if that is granted, you have to remain married for at least two years in order for it to be permanent. (I.e. if you divorce within two years after getting your citizenship based on your marriage to a French national, your French citizenship will be cancelled.)
Cheers,
Bev

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by whitelilac

Hello again and thank you for your answers!

Yes I know you never know, but I do not plan on divorcing him. Je parle courrament le francais, or almost fluent. But what type of questions are they (the French Consulate here?) going to ask me? I can draw out the map of France in Europe and I can speak French , other than that, if they ask me about history je suis nul.

And I do not know if you are aware but there is a similar test to become a US Citizen. But all they did I remember is they asked me to write down 'Today is a beautiful day." There is no problem regarding me taking French classes there, I even thought about it myself that if I was going to live there I need to take some French classes.

So but I think I understand what you are trying to say. Say if, they point to a chair and ask me what it is and I respond, 'C'est une table' then probably I will have problems, but other than that do they talk normal everyday conversational talk or they will go fancy pour que je ne comprends rien

The interview is not a test of any sort. It's really just a chance to evaluate your level of French language proficiency (to see if they need to require you to take classes) and to evaluate whether or not you will need "culture classes" to adapt to French life. Chances are, it will just be asking you questions from the forms you filled out - more like a conversation, but there may be some attempt to ask you to write something in French, too.

The cultural bit is completely up to the consulate officer you speak with. They're mainly looking to see that you understand that honor killings aren't tolerated in French life, and that you're not of some bizarre cultural background that is somehow antithetical to the French idea of keeping your head down and out of trouble by going along with the flow. The fact that you've got US citizenship is probably sufficient to pass muster.

Oh and they might ask a few questions about your husband (probably best if he comes with you) just to make sure this isn't a "mariage en blanc" - where did you meet? what sorts of things do you like to do together? etc. That's why you would probably do best to plan a short honeymoon back in California so you can go together to the Consulate.
Cheers,
Bev

[whitelilac]

Hi,

Is it obligatory that he be present with me in California when I apply for the visa? Do they mention this on any of their websites? They can refuse me if he is not present with me?

I did not want to do honeymoon in California, we already traveled all over from San Francisco to San Diego in Califonia. On voulait aller en Armenie pour la lune de miel.. mais je ne vois pas pourquoi il faut qu'il soit present avec quand je soumet mes papiers, mais si c'est obligatoire, biensur il va venir.

Are you saying he should be present with me because the Consulate will, as a basic procedure, consider its a 'mariage blanc', then they will want to see him to ask him questions? What's the worst that could happen if he is not present, they would not give me a visa, because they want to see him to talk to him to make sure it's an authentic marriage? And what about in France ? When we get married won't that already mean something. Or are the authorities in France going to subject us to similar 'tests'.


Thank you!

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

The interview is not a test of any sort. It's really just a chance to evaluate your level of French language proficiency (to see if they need to require you to take classes) and to evaluate whether or not you will need "culture classes" to adapt to French life. Chances are, it will just be asking you questions from the forms you filled out - more like a conversation, but there may be some attempt to ask you to write something in French, too.

The cultural bit is completely up to the consulate officer you speak with. They're mainly looking to see that you understand that honor killings aren't tolerated in French life, and that you're not of some bizarre cultural background that is somehow antithetical to the French idea of keeping your head down and out of trouble by going along with the flow. The fact that you've got US citizenship is probably sufficient to pass muster.

Oh and they might ask a few questions about your husband (probably best if he comes with you) just to make sure this isn't a "mariage en blanc" - where did you meet? what sorts of things do you like to do together? etc. That's why you would probably do best to plan a short honeymoon back in California so you can go together to the Consulate.
Cheers,
Bev

[whitelilac]

I found the following information on the Consulate's Website regarding documents required for Conjoints de Francais:

- preuve de nationalité française du conjoint (carte nationale d’identité) + 1 copie
(What is this? An identity card? Will they give me this on the spot when I marry in France? )



- preuve de résidence du conjoint en France (ou intention d’y résider)
(The only clause I saw pertaining to spouse in France is proof of his residence or intend to reside in France. It says nothing about him being present there. Am I ok if he does not come along? And what exactly counts as proof of residence? Maybe a copy of his identity card, a letter or a bill showing his name and address? )

Thank you.

[whitelilac]

Hello,

Would you please tell me where one gets married; in the city hall or the prefecture? In our commune or the major city in that region?

Also, we are planning to get married in the winter sometime in November or December, do you think the city hall will be closed during these times since it's right around the holiday season?

And last question, once married, if I am n a tourist visa, will I still have the 3 months to stay and then return to apply for visa, or do I have to return right away. I should probably get married the first week I arrive in France, that way when we wait to get the marriage papers (if it's not handed already to us at the spot), I will have plenty time, not going over the 3 months legal time frame.

And as for translating /notarizing my foreign language documents/birth certificates/citizenship papers into French, will I be OK if I contact my local French Consulate in California and get a list of translator's who can do it for me. Will their French counterparts at the city hall accept this, or do they have their own set of translators they want me to use?


Thank you!

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Oddly enough, I thought of you when I found this page: France.Diplomatie-Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes There is also this page from the same site: France-Diplomatie - Entrer en France

It don't get more official than this. I don't know who has put out the page you cited. For marriage rules, I'd start with the info from the US Consulate in Paris: http://france.usembassy.gov/root/pdf...s-marriage.pdf

From all of this, it's clear that they now expect you to leave France, return to your home country (in your case, the US) to get a visa after your marriage unless you are already in France on an appropriate visa. If you've got the 19K saved up, I'd just budget part of that for a honeymoon back in California with your husband and get the visa while you're there. With your livret de famille (the document they give you in France when you're married), your visa should take at most a couple of days to process.

BTW, in France you will need to have your documents translated by a "certified" translator - that is, one who can also attest to the validity of the documents. Most of these sorts of translations cost at least 60€ a page, so pick and choose your documents carefully. If you have the documents translated in the US, ask the Consulate for approved translators.
Cheers,
Bev