Carte de Sejour - For an Australian

dmartinez1983 · #1 (**permalink**) 17th March 2010, 05:32 PM

Hi,

I hope someone can help.

Basically, I'm an Australian citizen, I have been living in Orleans since July last year, with a working holiday visa (carte de sejour temporaire), and I have an indefinite/permanent contract with a private school as an English Teacher.

I am extremely confused with the Carte de Sejour process. I have searched through many websites, and they were quite unhelpful, mainly because I'm getting conflicting details.

Basically I want to know:
1. When I should apply for the carte de sejour? (should I do it now as my visa expires in July).
2. Is there anything I specifically need to be able to apply for it directly to my prefecture (for example my social security number).
3. Will my birth certificate need to be translated from English to French?
4. How long with my carte de sejour last for if I apply for it now? (How long will it be valid for - 1,5,10 years etc).

Any help will be great, cos I don't look forward to dealing with French bureaucracy, and everything else they'll throw at me.

Cheers

Dean

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 17th March 2010, 08:41 PM

It sounds like you got to France just as the procedure changed. But when you say you're on a "carte de séjour temporaire" does that mean you have the OFII validated thing in your passport, or do you have some sort of temporary carte de séjour?

According to the French consulate in Australia, the working holiday visa is only valid for one year and cannot be extended or changed to another sort of visa while you are in France. Working Holiday Visa (General Information) - La France en Australie
Cheers,
Bev

dmartinez1983 · #3 (**permalink**) 17th March 2010, 08:47 PM

Well, no one here recognised the visa (well, no-one as in my school). Basically it's this sticker thing with my photo on it.

It says "Dispense temporaire de carte de sejour" on it, it also says "vacances travai/Aus" on it as well. I'm not sure what you mean by "OFII".

Basically, I made the assumption (and so did my employer) that since I've got a permanent contract, the government is obliged to provide me with a carte de sejour.

Bevdeforges · #4 (**permalink**) 17th March 2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmartinez1983

Well, no one here recognised the visa (well, no-one as in my school). Basically it's this sticker thing with my photo on it.

It says "Dispense temporaire de carte de sejour" on it, it also says "vacances travai/Aus" on it as well. I'm not sure what you mean by "OFII".

Basically, I made the assumption (and so did my employer) that since I've got a permanent contract, the government is obliged to provide me with a carte de sejour.

Um, bad assumption on the part of your employer. According to the consulate site I cited before, it's the employer's responsibility to apply for your visa and/or work permit. But on the working holiday visa, you're only entitled to a one-year stay in France.

OFII is the office that currently issues the initial residence permit (actually just a validated visa). Their website is here: OFII - Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration
Cheers,
Bev

dmartinez1983 · #5 (**permalink**) 17th March 2010, 09:46 PM

Oh my god ... well, there's nothing more French then kicking up a storm (which I plan on doing since I flew back and forth from Australia only to apply for the wrong visa). Thank you so much for your help. Seems like all my questions were irrelevant in the first place. Again, thank heaps.

dmartinez1983 · #6 (**permalink**) 19th March 2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Um, bad assumption on the part of your employer. According to the consulate site I cited before, it's the employer's responsibility to apply for your visa and/or work permit. But on the working holiday visa, you're only entitled to a one-year stay in France.

OFII is the office that currently issues the initial residence permit (actually just a validated visa). Their website is here: OFII - Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration
Cheers,
Bev

I just came back from the prefecture, and of course you're right, I'm a bit disappointed that I have a permanent contract and yet I have to still return to Australia after the expiry date. Again, thanks for your help.

Bevdeforges · #7 (**permalink**) 19th March 2010, 12:52 PM

I actually sort of wish I had been wrong on this one. The visa regs are getting complicated and I know from experience that most small to medium sized employers have no idea what the regulations are for hiring a foreigner. (We run a small business and the only way I know of the last round of changes to the visa procedures is through mention here on the forum.)
Cheers,
Bev

dmartinez1983 · #8 (**permalink**) 19th March 2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I actually sort of wish I had been wrong on this one. The visa regs are getting complicated and I know from experience that most small to medium sized employers have no idea what the regulations are for hiring a foreigner. (We run a small business and the only way I know of the last round of changes to the visa procedures is through mention here on the forum.)
Cheers,
Bev

Well, you telling me all this, did actually help me. If I hadn't known, I would have reacted very different to the man at the prefecture. Not that I would have been yelling, but the shock would have been harder to control.

He also said that my partner and I can't get pacsed/married without me not returning to Australia, so I've got to go back either way.

And you're right, my school, hasn't a clue about any of this. Otherwise, they would have applied for my Visa on my behalf instead.

My god, you're a blessing to this place you are bev.

Bevdeforges · #9 (**permalink**) 19th March 2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmartinez1983

Well, you telling me all this, did actually help me. If I hadn't known, I would have reacted very different to the man at the prefecture. Not that I would have been yelling, but the shock would have been harder to control.

He also said that my partner and I can't get pacsed/married without me not returning to Australia, so I've got to go back either way.

And you're right, my school, hasn't a clue about any of this. Otherwise, they would have applied for my Visa on my behalf instead.

My god, you're a blessing to this place you are bev.

I don't know about the blessing part, but I have had my moment, standing in the lobby of the local prefecture screaming obscenities (in English) at the top of my lungs. I'm really lucky DH didn't just walk away, pretending to have no relationship whatsoever with the crazy woman...

Just trying to save the folks here that kind of "expat moment" if I possibly can...

Cheers,
Bev

dmartinez1983 · #10 (**permalink**) 19th March 2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I don't know about the blessing part, but I have had my moment, standing in the lobby of the local prefecture screaming obscenities (in English) at the top of my lungs. I'm really lucky DH didn't just walk away, pretending to have no relationship whatsoever with the crazy woman...

Just trying to save the folks here that kind of "expat moment" if I possibly can...

Cheers,
Bev

Oh I love it, the "expat" moment - bah ha ha. What's funny is my girlfriend just yells, with no hesitation. Social Security, Banks, Insurance - I think yelling at any bureaucratic agency for French is normal.