[Bevdeforges]

If what you have is a passeport talent then the initial "titre de séjour" is only good for 3 months and you have to register (somewhere, I'm not sure where - probably the préfecture) within that first 3 months to get the multi-year "residence permit" you're entitled to. You don't validate your visa using the online system, I suspect (but I could be wrong). Contact the prefecture for info on how to proceed.

 

[Bevdeforges]

I believe you'll find that a VLST visa is not renewable at the end of your stay. The "DISPENSE TS" part means that you do not need a "titre de séjour" (i.e. residence permit) - and it's the residence permit that you would actually be renewing at the end of your first year in France.

 

[Bevdeforges]

Does this mean I don’t need to validate it, and also that it can’t be renewed?

Yup.

If you want to extend your stay, it means you'll have to return home and apply again but this time check the box saying that you want to stay for "1 year +" rather than just for "1 year."

The "long sejour temporaire" visa is what the VLST means - it's a "temporary" visa, meaning that you don't need a titre de séjour because you have indicated that you will not be staying past the one year (or the expiration date of your visa) and therefore don't need a titre de séjour (i.e. residence permit).

 

[Bevdeforges]

And do you know the earliest I can apply for the new visa, before the old one expires?

I think the same rules apply as for anyone applying for a visa - usually around 2 or 3 months before your date of travel. (It may vary a bit by the country you're applying from.)

 

[Bevdeforges]

So if like my current visa is expiring on the 12th Dec, I can already apply for a new one on the 12th Sept/Oct yeah?

Check with the French consulate in your home country, but generally speaking, yes.

 

[Bevdeforges]

So not really sure now if I should still go and tick the 1 year plus, knowing it’s VLS-TS.

Or play it safe and go for 6 months to 1 year again, just for my visa to get extended?

You have a point, in that you may not have an appropriate reason for wanting to move to France for the long term. It's your "reason" that determines the type of visa - and thus of residence permit - you will receive. (And honestly, not all "students" get the VLS-TS visa, either. If you go to France strictly for a 6 month language and culture course, you are likely to get a non-renewable one.)

If you go for another VLST visa, you will not be getting your current visa "extended." You'll be starting over from step one with a new visa. (And perhaps giving them reason to question your original "reason" for going to France.)

If you are going to France to be with your French partner, you would need to get married or PACS'd during the term of your visa if you wanted to change status to a renewable visa. Haven't heard much about it lately, but if you go for a "visitor" visa that is renewable (i.e. a VLS-TS ) and where you promise not to work in France, you may be turned down if they know or suspect that you're there primarily to be with your partner.

 

[Bevdeforges]

Pay very close attention to what you indicate as your "reason" for going to France this time - certainly if you go for the "visitor" visa (i.e. where you have to promise not to work).

 

[Bevdeforges]

Did you get an answer from the prefecture ? My visitor visa is like yours with no "regulatory reference" to be seen so I also cannot do the on line validation. Any ideas ?

Take a look at response #7 in this thread. If what you have is a VLS-TS (i.e. a renewable visiteur visa) the regulatory reference is given in that post.

 

[Bevdeforges]

VLS is only Long stay visa and not a residence permit yet- so once in france apply for Resident permit through AnEF- I am yet to do it as arranging some docs- go to anef website and choose " I only have lo g stay visa" and proceed from there- I will update this thread as I proceed further

Not quite. You will either have a VLS-TS or a VLST. These are two types of VLS (i.e. generic term for any sort of long stay visa). The VLST is a visa issued for anything from 91 days up to 1 year but without the ability to renew. The VLST serves as your temporary residence permit while you are in France. You do NOT need to apply for anything.

What you have is a talent passport - which does require you to apply for a residence permit within 3 months of your arrival. (Though it will probably be a multi-year carte de séjour.) To check how that works, find the website for the prefecture in your departement. They should have a section on Etrangers, Accueil des Etrangers or something similar. You will most likely need to take an appointment at the prefecture to get properly registered.

 

[Bevdeforges]

It depends on what your arrangement is with your employer - i.e. whether you're considered an "employee" or a "contractor" exactly how you register with French sécu sociale. You may need to set up a business entity (i.e. if you're a contractor) or it will be your employer who needs to register you once you have your carte de séjour.

Thanks for sharing your experience so far - and I'm sure it will be helpful to many lurkers here on the forum.