[Bevdeforges]

Did you send the documentation recommendé with accusée de réception? (I.e. registered with signed receipt). Or, if just registered, have you check on the LaPoste website to see if it was delivered?

Unfortunately, the whole thing with the prefecture not answering their phones is pretty typical. And it may well be the case that they are simply backed up. On re-entry to France, chances are they will simply stamp your passport as though you were a tourist again. If they notice the expired visa, just tell them the truth, i.e. that you have applied for an appointment but are still waiting. Oddly enough, I haven't heard of anyone being refused entry to France in recent years and technically, you have the right to re-enter on a tourist visa immediately after your residence visa expires.

Who knows? On your return you may have your convocation in the mail.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

As far as I know, the OFII handles only the initial incoming processing for newly arrived immigrants. They have no real role in the titre/carte de séjour granting business other than doing the incoming medical, evaluation of your level of French and whatever else is required by the particular visa you are on.

For applying for your first carte de séjour (i.e. at the end of the expiration of your initial titre de séjour), you normally should go to the préfecture (or in some departements, you can go to the sous-préfecture). The website of the préfecture should indicate where you have to go and what you have to do (i.e. request an appointment or just mail in your documents and wait). Première demande de carte de séjour temporaire - Service-public.fr

However (this IS still France, after all), it is possible that some departements have worked out some other arrangement and may involve the OFII in the carte de séjour process.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

A visa is to enter France. A titre de séjour is to be able to stay there. Two different documents.

I notice that the Service Public site does NOT point you to a form for the carte de séjour, which usually means that the local préfectures control those. The site I referenced above (for the primiere demande de carte de séjour temporaire) gives you a list of the documents you need to provide. It varies by the type of carte de séjour you will be getting and I think the prefecture normally fills out the forms itself based on what you need. (That may change when you are renewing a carte de séjour, but you should check with your local préfecture website.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

What I think you're running into here is the "prefecturial discretion" - i.e. each prefecture has its own procedures, which can vary greatly. I have heard now from a couple of prefectures that they seem to be sending out convocations for renewal of the spousal CDS (only?).

Your best source of information is the web page for your local prefecture. For other sorts of CDS renewal, many want you to send in your information and then they'll set up an appointment. Others actually have an online appointment system, kind of like that used for visas in some countries.

Koppazee, the issue about asking for all the documents all over again relates to the idea that to renew your spouse CDS, you must prove that the marriage is still ongoing. You always need the livret de famille to prove your marital status (even though a divorce is not noted in the livret de famille as far as I can tell - from the copy my DH has of his old one), and don't be surprised if they want another birth certificate from the last three months. France is still not convinced that they are about the only country in the world that amends birth records for marriage, divorce and death. (And under recent legislation they can only insist on a recent birth certificate in matters that "involve marriage" - which technically speaking, your CDS renewal does.)

You're lucky that your local OFII sends out an attestation like that. Some departements just hand out the certificates when you complete your requirements and if you lose them they will NOT replace them for you!

I do have to report, however, one little success story - I advised another expat here on the forum about what to bring and what to offer, or just hold in reserve for her first renewal of her spouse visa. She reported back that she was in and out of the prefecture in less than half an hour, without having to offer any of her "extra" documents. Just remember the golden rule for these encounters: Answer only the questions you are asked and don't offer any extended explanations (or extraneous documents).
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

Ray, always happy to help! Please let us know how you make out with the Prefecture.

I have a question for those "in the know", please...On my TDS, it says "Carte De Sejour Temporaire". When does the word Temporaire drop off? Is it on the first renewal?

Also, on the first renewal (hay folks...we are married a year this Saturday! Where did the time go?) will I now be issued a real card that says Carte De Sejour or another Titre De Sejour? Thanks everyone! Warm regards!

From what it looks like on the Service Public site, they tend to call all one-year cards "temporaire" Titres, documents de séjour et de circulation des étrangers non européens - Service-public.fr But now that you've had your "titre de séjour" for a year, you should be getting a real card this time (probably you need to bring two or three id photos with you to the appointment - that's what this is for!). No more carrying the passport around for "i.d." purposes (though I never did anyhow).

Since you're living in France, you'll be eligible after 3 years of single year CDS to go for either French nationality or the 10-year carte de resident. (See the requirements for this on the same page I linked you to above.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

If the list of documents from the préfecture doesn't include a recent birth certificate, then you don't need one. (I wouldn't bring one as a "back up" document - too complicated.)

Normally the carte de séjour looks more or less like the French carte d'identité - except that it says "carte de séjour." It is, however, a "titre de séjour" - just a different format. I suppose it's possible that they are changing the format all around, but I haven't heard anything about that.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

Sounds dumb, but your wife might want to check if perhaps it's herself who is being asked for a birth certificate. If they are requiring her to be at the appointment, they might actually want her (French) birth certificate - which would indicate any "change in status." It's just a thought. (Some of the requests for documents here get really strange.)

You also may not need an apostilled b.c. this time. Just a regular old copy like you get through the online services.
Cheers,
Bev