[Sbuckner22]

Hello all, Just want to say a big thank you for your advice for my previous comment

So! I am a 26 year old from New Zealand currently living with my boyfriend in France. I have a visitors visa and am in the middle of renewing it so I have more time to decide what to do. I would love to stay and work in France and I am trying to find the easiest way possible.

We would MUCH prefer to get pacs, even though we love each other very much we both don't think we are ready to get married. But if it's the defining factor in whether we stay together or not it could be a possibility.

So is marriage truly the easiest way for me to work and be in France? Would I need to travel back to New Zealand? What would the waiting time/procedure be between marriage and being able to work? (I am questioning because the man at the OFII office said it isn't the "golden ticket")

Thank you in advance

 

[Bevdeforges]

It depends a bit on your local prefecture, but generally speaking, if you get married to a French person in France while you are on a long-stay visa, you can change your status at the next renewal of your titre de séjour. The one "trick" is that you should contact the local OFII or prefecture in plenty of time so that you can go through the OFII processing (contract of integration, mainly) before you submit your dossier to change status and renew your titre de séjour. (If you're currently on a visitor visa for a year, you don't have to do the whole OFII drill, just register with the OFII - and it can take some time to get scheduled for the necessary meetings.) The one joker in the works is the language requirement. If you speak enough French to opt out of the necessary classes (basically A1 level) you're fine. But if you don't have any French and have to take the classes, you'll need to get through the classes and pass an A1 level test before you're ready to change your status and have the necessary "work papers" that come with the spouse visa/residence permit.

I'm not certain how they are doing the OFII routine with those who change status to PACSd. Technically, the OFII processing is still required, but I'm not sure how that is arranged for someone already in France.

You have to decide for yourself what "advantage" there might be to getting PACSd rather than married. The paperwork side of it is rather similar and if you acquire much in the way of common property, getting out of a PACS could potentially be as tricky as a divorce. The big down side is that being PACSd doesn't entitle you to a visa or a change of status anywhere near as automatically as being married would do.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[95995]

I thought all this information was provided to the OP in the previous thread

It might be worth the OP checking in with the relevant Prefecture to see whether they accept applications based on PACS (that's the first hurdle and AFAIK some simply don't). There is a risk in relying on PACS, being refused and not having enough time to organise a marriage. Oh, I would also suggest checking with the Prefecture whether they will do a change of status based on marriage.

 

[Sbuckner22]

Thanks so much Bev and Everhopeful, you two are angels on this website.

A little update I have been promised a teaching job as soon as I am able to get a visa which allows me to work but when they reopen in September they said they might sponsor me I had also seen a specialist lawyer on everything and we decided to get pacs and to try to obtain a carte vie privee familialle.

So Bev mentioned passing an A1 level test, since I am trying to organise my visas I have been practicing everyday. Is this very similar to the DELF A1 test?

Also, I have lots of free time and would love to donate it. I'm finding it difficult to find an organisation which wants an English speaking person but surely there's someone who would like a volunteer! Would you know of anything? (I live 30km south of Paris in Essonne)

Again thank you so much <3

Steph

 

[Bevdeforges]

I think the DELF A1 test is one of the acceptable documents. When you get to that point (i.e. the OFII processing appointment) take that with you and show it to the OFII. It will get you out of the language class requirement (and will be necessary for renewing your carte de séjour the next year).

Volunteering as an English speaker can be a bit rough. But wait until September, when all the various associations start their season and will be looking for new members and volunteers. From your location, you might want to check out the Forums des Associations in Gif or in Bures or Orsay. There are lots of associations and lots of ways to get involved. Plus you can see for yourself how they react to someone with limited French.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[95995]

Just confirming that DELF A1 is fine and that it is the standard you need to reach, so if that's what you're basing your learning/progress on it's appropriate.