PACS appointment

[jacynta]

I called the Tribunal at 11eme arrondissement to get an appointment to get PACS with my French boyfriend.

The receptionist told me that I need to gather all the paperworks done FIRST before I can get the appointment.
However, I was told by my embassy that I need to set the date with the tribunal first before getting the documents.

Can someone please verify this?

And how long does it take to obtain an appointment at 11eme?

Thanks

[frogblogger]

There's an explanation of what to do, in which order, on this site. It suggests that you should get the paperwork together first before getting your appointment, which makes some sense.

[frogblogger]

That said, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to make the appointment first, after all there's a long wait for the tribunal appointment in some parts, up to three months in some cases from a brief search on the web...

[jacynta]

Hi frogblogger,

Exactly! That's what I told the lady at the tribunal but she insists that I get all papers first only call them again.

[frogblogger]

They can't know for sure - it's not as if they ask you to prove that you have all the paperwork before making the appointment. But it's standard procedure for them, and I can understand why - just imagine all the people who would make appointments and then fail to turn up because there's one or more document that hasn't arrived on time, or if they made the appointment on the spur of the moment without actually checking that they can go through the process legally (as proven by the relevant supporting documentation when obtained)... etc.

In your case you have the problem of obtaining certain papers from Malaysia too, which may not be so straightforward.

All the red tape, it's so frustrating at times I know! But you have to see it from the administration's point of view too, and the need to avoid giving appointments to timewasters, those who haven't foreseen the delays involved in getting the documents together, or those that think "hey, let's get Pacs'd" and then can't be bothered with all the administrative hassle

[jacynta]

I totally agree with you on the administrative point of view.

However, I think they should screen through before telling NO.
For my case, I explained that I only needed to check if there is any available dates in December.
And the reply was so blunt, No, get your papers ready first. Bye.

[frogblogger]

Sometimes fonctionnaires, whatever the department they work in, are incredibly rude. They know they can get away with it. Then you've got those that sympathise with the Sarkozy/far right anti-immigration measures, which doesn't help

(edit: I've already had a hint of 'attitude' from someone at my préfecture, over my (Thai) wife's permis de séjour application).

[Bevdeforges]

There's a problem with relying on the embassy to tell you what procedure might be at the prefecture - and that's the little matter than embassies and consulates report to one ministry, while the prefectures report to a different ministry. So it's rare that the embassies know what the prefectures want.

Perhaps you are supposed to submit the paperwork (i.e. the completed dossier) to the prefecture first, and then you get or make your appointment? I know that's how it worked when I went for my French nationality. It took a couple of tries before the Tribunal was satisfied with the dossier I had put together - and the ladies who finally accepted my dossier had to call their boss at least twice during the process (over what I thought were pretty stupid issues). Once it was accepted as being complete, I could then start making the appointments for the various interviews that were necessary.
Cheers,
Bev

Then again, every prefecture has its own little peculiarities when it comes to procedures.

[jacynta]

Hi Bev,

Thanks for the info. you've provided.
In addition, I would like to know if those documents are translated by French Embassy in Singapour, do they recognise it? or I have to do it in France?

Thanks

[jacynta]

Bev,

Furthermore, some of the documents eg certificat de non-pacs only valid for 1 month.
Wouldn't it be more logical if I get the appointment date set first, which at least give us a 'set' date to get the documents?

Thanks