Competences et Talents - approved!

elitr6 · #1 (**permalink**) 12th January 2011, 07:04 AM

Bonjour tout le monde!

Just a quick note to say that my girlfriend alex has been approved for a competences et talents cds. We're currently in Johannesburg and she applied here last Wednesday. Her project was for freelance graphic design.

Yesterday morning, the french consulate called her and said she can come pick up her visa! They've given her a 3month visa to enter france and a letter from the consulate to present to the prefecture when she arrives to get her cds.

So it is possible! A complete and well put together application seemed the most important factor, along with a specific and interesting project.

Courage les amis!

Eli

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 12th January 2011, 08:30 AM

Congratulations! Can you fill us in a bit (not giving away any trade secrets) on the nature of her project?

Was it to establish a graphic design business? Was she proposing to employ anyone, or is she really going it alone? Did she have clients lined up or is finding customers part of the plan?
Cheers,
Bev

elitr6 · #3 (**permalink**) 12th January 2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Congratulations! Can you fill us in a bit (not giving away any trade secrets) on the nature of her project?

Was it to establish a graphic design business? Was she proposing to employ anyone, or is she really going it alone? Did she have clients lined up or is finding customers part of the plan?
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

No worries.

I know her cover letter well, I helped her write it as my background is sales and I felt she was being too modest, lovely girl that she is. I think it's important to put forward your achievements (without boasting), you need to justify why you're special and why you should qualify.

Alex has 6 years experience in graphic design and typesetting, in both south africa and the uk and has a ba hons in fine art (bac +4 equivalent) She applied to work as a freelance graphic designer (entreprise individuelle), specifying a specific niche. She has worked pro bono for our company in France so we included examples in her portfolio, along with some of her art work.

She had letters of intent from several companies stating they would like to employ her as a freelancer should she make it to France. I think the consulate were slightly suspicious but then they saw the work she has already done for some of them in the portfolio. Don't commit fraud but try to get as many references/recommendations and offers of work as possible. She also had a (authentic) letter from our company promising to pay her a small monthly rate as a rolling contract. Again, be careful not to include anything untrue, you will be caught out and IMHO you won't deserve the visa.

We included lots of documents for the financial aspect. Tax returns from UK and SA, savings account, attestations from me stating that I will house and support alex financially until her business is up and running, proof of my salary from the bank and my rental contract.

We also included proof of travel insurance, her birth cirtificate and the attestation that you will return to your home country once the CDS has expired.

It's better to have too much info than too little. I think the consulate employees get annoyed when something is missing and they have to start over again later.

It's an amazing opportunity and you should treat every step of the process with respect. If you do everything they say, spend a lot of time on your dossier and make an effort to present it nicely (alex bound hers with a nice plastic cover and cover page), you'll be fine. I went with her everytime and had nice chats in french with the consulate staff, be pleasant and as charming as possible with them and they will be helpful. Be difficult and aggressive like some people we saw and they will turn into the most difficult french fonctionnaires ever!

There is a short interview when you hand in the dossier, then they review it and call you back in a week to say whether you've been successful or not.

I don't know if it helps that we live in a very rural area. Alex must be one of the few people asking to move to the pas-de-calais!

Anyone wanting to apply should ask discreetly about quotas. Some countries have higher quotas than others and as the visa isn't well known yet, don't receive many applicants. It will change soon as it gets more popular so get in there first!

Hope this helps

Eli

elitr6 · #4 (**permalink**) 12th January 2011, 11:37 AM

Thought I would add:

Her covering letter/project was under 2 pages long.

She applied (and paid for) a criminal records check in South Africa but it takes 6 weeks so we just included the receipt in the dossier. Couldn't get a uk CRB check either but the consulate staff weren't worried. They obviously have a bit of leeway if they like/trust someone.

She also mentioned in her application that she plans to take an Alliance Francaise course before she leaves for France.

Bevdeforges · #5 (**permalink**) 12th January 2011, 11:47 AM

Thanks so much for that information!

We've had a number of folks through here with somewhat unrealistic expectations concerning the competences et talents visa. It's so nice to hear in a bit more detail the type of "project" that actually wins an approval.

I'm sure this information will be very useful to our members looking to develop a winning project!
Cheers,
Bev

shihnobi · #6 (**permalink**) 29th January 2011, 06:16 PM

Congratulations to your girlfriend!

I am just wondering, do I need to get French translations of every document/transcript I submit when applying for CeT card?

Thanks.

elitr6 · #7 (**permalink**) 29th January 2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shihnobi

Congratulations to your girlfriend!

I am just wondering, do I need to get French translations of every document/transcript I submit when applying for CeT card?

Thanks.

Thanks! We didn't need any, but all south african docs are in English so it may be country specific

LeahStunts · #8 (**permalink**) 30th January 2011, 07:09 AM

Congrats! I agree the complete application is very important!

We just received our Talents and Competence cards 2 weeks ago and have been in France for 3 days

Where are you guys moving to?

elitr6 · #9 (**permalink**) 30th January 2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeahStunts

Congrats! I agree the complete application is very important!

We just received our Talents and Competence cards 2 weeks ago and have been in France for 3 days

Where are you guys moving to?

I live in Pas-de-Calais, about 20mins from Le Touquet and Alex will move here in April. It's a rad place! You're based in the south aren't you?

E

LeahStunts · #10 (**permalink**) 30th January 2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elitr6

I live in Pas-de-Calais, about 20mins from Le Touquet and Alex will move here in April. It's a rad place! You're based in the south aren't you?

E

Yes, we have our first apartment in Aix-en-Provence. Perhaps we will have to have a Talents et Competence party at some point