change type of titre de sejour

[jtussing]

I’m an American currently working in Paris on a titre de sejour temporaire (salarier) that is due to expire at the end of October. This fall I’m going to leave my job to become a master’s student at the EHESS. Would be it possible for me to get a student’s titre de sejour without leaving France? My classes don’t start until November so it is unlikely that I will be able to formally enroll before early September - will this leave me enough time to renew my permit? Any help appreciated!

[Bevdeforges]

Changing the type of titre de séjour is tricky, though not impossible. I would speak to the school first of all, to see if they can handle the paperwork on their side so that you will have your "official sponsorship" in hand before you put in for renewal of your carte de séjour.

You might also pay a quick visit to the local préfecture (where you go to renew your card) and ask the question now. There will be no record of your visit, and with any kind of luck, they'll give you a list telling you what documents they will want to renew your card and change your status. If you don't like the answer they give you now, check back with them in September after you've contacted the EHESS and have some paperwork from them to produce.

It's a strange system, but sometimes it actually works in your favor.
Cheers,
Bev

[jtussing]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Changing the type of titre de séjour is tricky, though not impossible. I would speak to the school first of all, to see if they can handle the paperwork on their side so that you will have your "official sponsorship" in hand before you put in for renewal of your carte de séjour.

You might also pay a quick visit to the local préfecture (where you go to renew your card) and ask the question now. There will be no record of your visit, and with any kind of luck, they'll give you a list telling you what documents they will want to renew your card and change your status. If you don't like the answer they give you now, check back with them in September after you've contacted the EHESS and have some paperwork from them to produce.

It's a strange system, but sometimes it actually works in your favor.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks! These expat forums are very handy. I will take a morning off in the next week or so to see what they say at the prefecture (the school secretariat have not been helpful, but I will keep trying with them). If I do have to go back to the US to make my application I want to know this as soon as possible so I can book tickets.
I still have one question, however, that I hope someone on this forum can answer. Everyone tells me that I should apply for my renewed titre de sejour at least two month before my old one expires. Because things move so slowly at my school I probably won’t be able to apply until about a month an a half before my present permit expires. Is this a serious problem?

[Bevdeforges]

Here is the "official" page about renewing your carte de séjour:
Renouvellement de la carte de séjour temporaire ou du droit au séjour du titulaire d'un visa valant titre de séjour - Service-public.fr

They say you need to apply for renewal during the last two months before the expiration date. So a month and a half before sounds about right to me! I know people who have literally waited until the very last minute to renew (and gotten a certain amount of grief, but they still got renewed), and I know folks who have tried to renew earlier than that two months and were told they would not be allowed to do so. It all kind of depends on your préfecture.
Cheers,
Bev

[dougondemand]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I know people who have literally waited until the very last minute to renew (and gotten a certain amount of grief, but they still got renewed),
Cheers,
Bev

I can attest to that! I renewed mine literally the day before it expired (but only because they didn't take my kind of proof of address at that time of year...go figure) and was told in a very grave tone to "think about it earlier next time". But it worked out in the end!