I'm back again with news on the process of going to France to teach for 7 months. I am still in Korea, but I decided that I can at least start my visa process here.
WARNING! I did not check the spelling for ANYTHING and I don't think I will. I'm too lazy for that.
To let you guys know, it is entirely possible to get a visa in a country you are not native, too. However, you have to be a legal resident of that country. As I am a legal resident of South Korea, I make the cut.
If you are with TAPIF and trying to apply for your visa out of country, please be reminded that the process is different at every consulate, but here are the basic things you'll need:
- your passport (no shit, right?)
- Long Stay Visa application (again, no shit)
- OFII form: (This form is to help you register as a legal resident)
- 2 passport photos
- your arrete de nomination (your certificate of appointment)
- *Proof of residence: alien registration card or a utilities bill (if you live in a foreign country as a legal resident)
And make sure you have copies of everything as well. It makes life easier.
Before you do ANYTHING make sure you have a valid passport that will last you the entire duration of your stay.
Step 1: Make an appointment
Unfortunately, with French consulates, you can't walk in and expect them to give you the time of day. You can't call and ask to make an appointment either. You have to go online and use their rendez-vous system to make an appointment at your local embassy. Each embassy has it's own website, and as such each embassy has it's own rendez-vous designation. In my case, my visa is about to end, so I made an appointment in Korea and an appointment in San Francisco.
Making an appointment online is actually really easy, and you can do it in English, French, or the language of whatever country you're in. Once you get to the rendez-vous page via your consulate's website (all sites are different), you will look to the left of the page and select "book an appointment." This will take you to a page with a calendar. if the date is black, then you can select it. If it's grey, you're S.O.L. and have to try again. Click on a specific date and then to the right of the calendar a list of available times will show up. Click on the pencil to choose your time, then click next.
This will take you to a page that asks you to fill out your personal information. Fill it all out and click submit. You will get a notice telling you that your appointment was made. Be sure to take note of your reference number and print out your notice. If you don't have your reference number, the embassy will NOT see you.
Make your appointment well in advance: I made the mistake of waiting until I got my arrete and had a heart-attack when I couldn't get an appointment in SF (which is why i'm doing it in South Korea). Things worked out for me in the end, but don't be like me. I should have been more responsible about it.
Step 2: Preparing your documents
You can find the long-stay visa application and the OFII form on your consulate's website. If you joined TAPIF, there is also a document with the links to these documents as well. Print these forms out and complete them. You can do this in French, or in your native language. To avoid any confusion, I'm doing it in English. I'm confident in my french, but I don't want to make any careless mistakes.
You can get your passport photos at your local post office, but also at a local FedEx that provides the service. Most photo shops should provide passport photo services as well. The cheapest option is probably FedEx. the post office is $15. In Korea, I just got them from my school for separate reasons, but they qualify so I'm using them. (Hooray for multi-purpose uses, eh?)
You will get your arrete de nomination in the mail. Keep it hidden, keep it safe. Bring it to light only when you need it.
Fill out the top portion of your OFII form and fill out your visa application to the best of your abilities. If you don't know your address, it's okay. I got away with it, you can too. But then again I'm kinda cute so... just kidding. Other people were like that at the embassy too.
Fill out the top portion of your OFII form and fill out your visa application to the best of your abilities. If you don't know your address, it's okay. I got away with it, you can too. But then again I'm kinda cute so... just kidding. Other people were like that at the embassy too.
If you have an ARC just bring that and a copy. Your utilities bill is easy to get, but easy to forget about. Just keep a copy with your documents all in a folder.
Step 3: Go to your appointment
DO NOT BE LATE DO NOT BE LATE DO NOT BE LATE DO NOT BE LATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember, the embassy can take their sweet time, but if you're late, you lose your spot and then you have to go online and book another appointment which may not be for weeks. remember, France is an extremely popular destination. Arrive early. Be presentable. Have all your documents filled out and your questions ready to go.
If the person at the window tells you that you need to pay for a visa as a Assistant de langage they're lying and they don't know how to do their job. You do not have to pay for a TAPIF visa. It's completely free.
Tell them specifically that you are going to be a language assistant. DO NOT forget that important detail.
You can choose to pick up your passport personally or you can choose to mail it. Me being the paranoid girl that I am, chose to pick it up. That and I had extenuating circumstances, but that's for another post.
Step 4: Wait
Yes. Wait for them to finish. Can take 2-3 weeks. Mine was faster, but I'll make another post about that later. Be patient. DO NOT try to apply 2 weeks before you leave like I did. DON'T DO IT!
Step 5: Pick-up
All French Consulates are the same when it comes to pick-up time. Monday - Friday 11:30am -12:00pm. Yes. You have half an hour to pick up your visa. However, you don't have to make an appointment. You can just walk in and go to an open window (or a designated pick-up window if there is one). You will need ID or your receipt from your first appointment. Present it to the person at the window and they will fetch your international travel treasure (passport). Check your visa, make sure it has everything properly. For TAPIF members, it should look something like this
Of course this isn't my actual visa. I'm typing this in an airport and I don't have time to block out important information. Nor the strength. Nor the will. I had a tough day. I need a nap and food.
Anyway, after you check your visa and everything is all gravy (all good), then you are set! I was so excited I bought my ticket to France right after I got my visa (and it was helllllllaaaaaaaa cheap).
This was another very technical post. Next time will be my complete personal experience getting my French visa in South Korea and how homeboy at the French embassy was MVP and got it done for me in literally half the time it usually takes. That should be coming next week. Maybe. I don't really know.
Cheers and best wishes!
Mocha
If the person at the window tells you that you need to pay for a visa as a Assistant de langage they're lying and they don't know how to do their job. You do not have to pay for a TAPIF visa. It's completely free.
Tell them specifically that you are going to be a language assistant. DO NOT forget that important detail.
You can choose to pick up your passport personally or you can choose to mail it. Me being the paranoid girl that I am, chose to pick it up. That and I had extenuating circumstances, but that's for another post.
Step 4: Wait
Yes. Wait for them to finish. Can take 2-3 weeks. Mine was faster, but I'll make another post about that later. Be patient. DO NOT try to apply 2 weeks before you leave like I did. DON'T DO IT!
Step 5: Pick-up
All French Consulates are the same when it comes to pick-up time. Monday - Friday 11:30am -12:00pm. Yes. You have half an hour to pick up your visa. However, you don't have to make an appointment. You can just walk in and go to an open window (or a designated pick-up window if there is one). You will need ID or your receipt from your first appointment. Present it to the person at the window and they will fetch your international travel treasure (passport). Check your visa, make sure it has everything properly. For TAPIF members, it should look something like this
Of course this isn't my actual visa. I'm typing this in an airport and I don't have time to block out important information. Nor the strength. Nor the will. I had a tough day. I need a nap and food.
Anyway, after you check your visa and everything is all gravy (all good), then you are set! I was so excited I bought my ticket to France right after I got my visa (and it was helllllllaaaaaaaa cheap).
This was another very technical post. Next time will be my complete personal experience getting my French visa in South Korea and how homeboy at the French embassy was MVP and got it done for me in literally half the time it usually takes. That should be coming next week. Maybe. I don't really know.
Cheers and best wishes!
Mocha
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