What does the entry visa state, For non EU spouse

[Phil_neuk]

Hi can someone who is an EU citizen with a non EU wife, please tell me when their non EU wife has been issued an entry visa in their own country to allow them to apply for residency once in France, what does the visa actually state?

I am trying to find out so my wife will obtain the correct visa as I’m concerned that if she’s given the incorrect visa she will have to return back to her own country to obtain the correct one.

Also as a matter of interest has anyone managed to obtain an entry visa for their partner when they are unmarried partners just living together as beneficiaries under the Directive 2004/38/EC

Thanks,

Phil

[frogblogger]

Under the latest legislation whereby non-EU spouses married to French nationals now get long-stay visas and no longer need a carte de séjour, non-EU spouses married to Brits living in France like yourself are only given the three month Schengen visa. I queried this myself very recently, but it is correct. Once in possession of this visa, and having entered France, the non-EU spouse then goes through the carte de séjour application process which, assuming the husband is established in France and can demonstrate sufficient means, cannot be refused.

My prefecture told me my wife could apply through the local town hall, and that in theory a 10 year carte de sejour would be issued. However they also told me that the town hall wouldn't have a clue what to do in my case, and to make sure that we got the formulaire for the titre de séjour 'conjointe de communautaire'.

I started a thread on this recently - one positive thing is that whereas non-EU spouses of French citizens are to undergo compulsory language tests in their country of origin, with failure meaning that they have to follow a language course before reapplying for their visa, this doesn't apply to spouses of non-French Europeans living in France. No do they have to sit through citizenship awareness courses once they've entered France.

[frogblogger]

PS Phil, I see you're in Thailand... my wife is Thai too

Having just been through the entire process from A to Z via the Bangkok Embassy, don't hesitate to ask for more info!

Here is the original thread about the visa application process I went through....

[Phil_neuk]

Hi frogblogger, I've just seen your post. Can I ask where you are now, France or Thailand? Also is your wife with you wherever you are?

I read your original post and wondered if you got your problem resolved?

Phil

[frogblogger]

In Vaison la Romaine France now, my wife flew in last week with her 3 month Schengen visa. No problems on arrival at Lyon, the next step is applying for the carte de sejour. Have been too busy to go to the town hall this week, so visit pencilled in for next Tuesday.

One thing that will make the process easier is that I have had property here for 15 years, and lived and worked here on a permanent basis from the early 90s before going to Thailand late 2006. Plus I have already renewed my lapsed 'auto entrepreneur' (then travailleur independant) status.

[Phil_neuk]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

In Vaison la Romaine France now, my wife flew in last week with her 3 month Schengen visa. No problems on arrival at Lyon, the next step is applying for the carte de sejour. Have been too busy to go to the town hall this week, so visit pencilled in for next Tuesday.

One thing that will make the process easier is that I have had property here for 15 years, and lived and worked here on a permanent basis from the early 90s before going to Thailand late 2006. Plus I have already renewed my lapsed 'auto entrepreneur' (then travailleur independant) status.

Hi Pete congratulations son your wife getting her visa. Can I ask which type of Schengen visa she was given? I understand there are four types, a,b,c & d.

Where were you married and how long have you been married. With the correct entry visa you shouldn’t have any problems when applying for your wife’s residency permit.

Can I also ask what problems you had with the French embassy in Bangkok? I found them most difficult and unhelpful?

As I understand it, the long stay visas are for French nationals. A spouse visa is supposed to be a short stay visa, but is that a Schengen visa or is there a different type of short stay visa?

Phil

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by Phil_neuk

Hi Pete congratulations son your wife getting her visa. Can I ask which type of Schengen visa she was given? I understand there are four types, a,b,c & d.

Where were you married and how long have you been married. With the correct entry visa you shouldn’t have any problems when applying for your wife’s residency permit.

Can I also ask what problems you had with the French embassy in Bangkok? I found them most difficult and unhelpful?

As I understand it, the long stay visas are for French nationals. A spouse visa is supposed to be a short stay visa, but is that a Schengen visa or is there a different type of short stay visa?

Phil

Hi Phil,

Married (in Chiang Mai) two months ago; we have a 11 month old daughter, who holds both British and Thai passports. There again in Chiang Mai my visit to the French honorary consul was quite amusing. I made an appointment to find out what the new language tests involved, as they were supposed to be implemented October 1st originally (now put back to the new year, I believe). He looked at me in astonishment and said that no one had told him about them!

The short stay visa is the one needed by wives of Brits living in France, ie the Schengen visa 'C' (90 days in 180, tourism/family/business).

On the whole the French Bangkok Embassy was ok - it's just that after the changes in legislation in June, they weren't being adequately updated by the Foreign Ministry in Paris, and the head of visa services in Bangkok couldn't give me the information I wanted because she didn't have it herself. It was only at the last minute that I learnt the spouses of Brits didn't have to undergo the language test, and the embassy had told us to complete a long-stay visa application, which my wife duly took along to the appointment, only to be told they'd got it wrong and this now applied solely to spouses of French nationals. Fortunately I had completed a short stay Schengen visa application as well, just in case .

I've just been along to my local town hall, and the official who deals with carte de sejour applications went through her little booklet of information, only to discover it predated the changes in legislation in June, and she had nothing on the new procedures affecting spouses of non-French EU citizens. Pretty much as I expected!

How about you, when are you heading for France? Whereabouts?

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

I've just been along to my local town hall, and the official who deals with carte de sejour applications went through her little booklet of information, only to discover it predated the changes in legislation in June, and she had nothing on the new procedures affecting spouses of non-French EU citizens. Pretty much as I expected!

Ah France - don't you just love it? Any time there is a significant change in rules like this, it's pretty much guaranteed that the minions in the mairies and at the prefectures are the last to be informed about it.

But once you accept the fact, life goes so much easier.
Cheers,
Bev

[Phil_neuk]

I will post again as I have some links I want to include but am told I need a minimum of 4 posts to do so.

[Phil_neuk]

I'll try again