I have to say that since being here I hear lots of stories about people who complain that they had problems getting their papers in order but it is usually partly their fault as well. While I wish the French were a little more accommodating in their beaureaucratic processes they aren’t entirely wrong. I just had a conversation with a student who has to go back, they wanted to stay longer but only had about half the papers. I asked if they really thought the French were going to let them in with half of the required papers. He said, well in Brazil they would, you might have to give a little money or invite the official out for lunch etc. My attitude has been if the required list is X give them X and then give them other things that support X in greater detail just in case. It seems to have worked in my case as I did eventually get everything in order, not without an amusing story or two but that’s life, a series of interconnected amusing stories.