I received my new carte de sejour!

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I am once again legal to live and work in France for another year. I am set until December of 2009. This time around I worried a bit because I was changing my statute. It was quite easy and painless. This time there were no special circumstances and I could provide all the things they asked for, plus about 25 more pieces of paper they didn’t ask for, but seemed quite content to add to my dossier. this picture was too dark to use however.

It is not very pleasant to benefit from racism but that is exactly what happened to me. I think the 10 people ahead of me were from various points all over North Africa. Each one of them was missing one or more documents and had even more amusing stories to tell about why their dossiers were not complete, amusing to them but not to the poor civil servant who had to endure these “amusing” stories all day long. When she saw me, my pile of papers, and did not have to listen to some story about how my passport had been destroyed in an unfortunate tagine accident involving mint, I think she decided I would get my carte de sejour, even if my name were Osama bin Laden, which it isn’t.

So here I am getting ready to apply for my French drivers license. Guess what, my last license came from PA which has full reciprocity with France so all I have to do is apply, no École for me, and I will get both my motorcycle and car licenses. Not that I plan to drive too much but it’s nice to rub it in the faces of those of you who have to endure French driving school. I have had my share of bad news lately so sorry to gloat!

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58 responses to “I received my new carte de sejour!”

  1. stu

    … ah, sounds so familiar (but I’m good for 5 years.) I applied for residency via the mail … it took nearly a 8 months for the application to be processed (and so I was w/o a passport that whole time.)

    when I applied for my national insurance card (like getting a social security card … allowedme to work) I experienced the same sort of “advantage” you did. The case worker who interviewed me and went over the application was just happy to be speaking English and said as much.

    For the longest time I thought my American drivers license was no go over here but I’m now on the insurance so I’m pretending it is … technically I need to start over from scratch and get a learner’s permit, then license (Reciprocity? Ha! I wish!)

  2. Lanette

    Hey Owen,
    Sounds like racism is alive and well and although the States wasn’t treating you well, it is still providing that good old American privilege. I like France and hope to visit soon. Many African Americans relocated to France during Jim Crow, especially artists. I will be sure to look you up since you aren’t going anywhere :)

  3. Zachary

    Well congratulations first for your new “carte du séjours”.

    I wanted just to comment about racism in France. I think it has something to do with the French Supremacy problem (Complexe de superieurité as they call it in europe and even in France). I remember whenever I went to France, at first I always got a cold reception from people here mainly because of my appearance (being half-Tunisian) but once they find out that I’m from Norway (and got the Canadian citizenship too) they change completely their attitudes and start an infinite number of questions (imagine one lady asked me: why we have only bad Maghrebins in France??). I think it has to do with the big number of immigrants coming from former colonies especially North Africa (add to that the suburbs riots and high unemployment).

    I think being Maghrebin to got a residency in an English-speaking country would be definitely different may be beneficial: it is always about being special (for instance finding a Maghrebin in the US is very rare; never seen one in my case).

    But beside the hypocrisy of some people here, the country isn’t bad just it has a very long way to accept a coloured president for example (the right always ruled France with the exception of François Mitterand).

  4. owen

    Thanks for your comments. I think the cultural superiority is diminishing in the younger generation here in France, although it still exists, and people are beginning to see how much more interesting people from different places with different stories are. Not just in an exotic way, but in a way the adds something to our lives. I’m glad you have had good experiences in France, me too that is why I am staying for a while. France is an enigma, while it appears very left, it closely guards its heritage and traditions which makes it feel very conservative on some levels, and I find the French to be much more open about certain things than Americans but definitely more closed about certain other things. That may be true of the world but I think the French like to think of themselves as being open minded and not “coincée” when in fact they are no more open minded or less “coincée” than most nations. Anyway, glad you stopped by.

  5. Marygri

    Hi… I was looking for some insights on the titre de sejour thing and I landed here…
    I’m waiting for my first appointment in January, and I’m wondering: how long will I have to wait between the first appointment (when I will deposit the dossier) and finally getting the CDS? An also, someone told me that after getting the receipt (after the depot du dossier) I wont be able to leave french territory until I get the CDS… is that true??

  6. Bob

    Congratulations. It seems to be a LOT easier in Toulouse than in Paris. I like the clean-shaven you.

  7. Marygri

    Thanks for your very complete answer.
    Actually I’m from Venezuela, and I’m a doctoral student (asking for a carte de sejour etudiant).
    I arrived in Toulouse in october 20th, but couldn’t ask right away for the appointment (the one where you first deposit the dossier), because now students can only do that on Internet, and they asked for the University registration number (wich I still don’t have). I went down to CROUS, and they told me I should put in any number, that it wasn’t so important, and then they told me I wouldn’t be able to leave France after the deposit of the dossier. As I obviously want to go out for Christmas, they advised me to take the appointment for january, which I did.
    By the way, I find it very awful that they take so long just to give you the appointment… e.g. in order to have the appointment in january I had to ask for it (on Internet) the first week of november!
    Anyway… my problem at the moment is that I most probably will have to go to Italy in February. My entry visa (Schengen type D, three months multiple entries student visa) will be expired by then, and I will only have the recepisse. I read there’s a new law that forbids foreigners to leave France before receiving the carte de sejour. So, my fear was confirmed.
    Fortunately, I also found that in my situation (entitled only with the recepisse for the first carte de sejour) one can ask for a visa de retour, that will allow you to re-enter France without a carte de sejour or a valid visa.
    Being a venezuelan, my passport allows me to come and go in Europe as I please, for short time visits (less than three months). So technically I could go out and in to France without any problems, UNLESS they ask me to prove that I wont stay longer than three months. Obviously I wont be able to do that. In conclusion, I’m asking for the visa de retour for my travel to Italy in february.
    As for the long waiting time between the recepisse and the carte de sejour, that’s actually a problem for me:
    1) I opened a bank account, but it’s a very restricted one: I don’t have a checkbook, I don’t have a carte bleu, and I can’t subscribe all of my expenses to it (by direct debit). They will change that to a fully functional checking account once I have the carte de sejour.
    2) I want to apply for the CAF (they would help me with the rent), but they ask for the carte de sejour.
    3) In Venezuela we have currencies control, wich means that I cannot freely buy things here because I have a limit (I can only spend $5000 a year for normal traveling), and they will only raise that limit after I send them a copy of the carte de sejour.

    This last thing is maybe the worst, but it comes from the fact that I come from a very special country with a very special president. Putting that aside, the other things may not be to die for, but I find them actually rather important.
    Still, I’m loving to being here, and I will just have to learn to wait patiently for my fisrt appointment to give them a really thick dossier (as you wisely advise me to), and then I will patiently wait for the carte de sejour.

  8. Sophie

    I’m looking for some information on what you need to bring to get a carte de sejour to work and live in france. we’re going to Toulon and I’m not quite sure what I need for the dossier. can you give me a little advice? my trip is in 2 weeks :S

  9. Marygri

    Oui, je pense que c’est bonne idee de nous rancontrer pour un cafe. Je t’enverrai un message, mais en janvier… cette semaine je part en Italie avec ma famille qui est venue me rendre visite :)
    Joyeux Noel pour toi et pour ta copine!

  10. Koffi Annan

    You must have lost your mind! Another year in France? I couldn’t stand another minute so I divorced my nut-case French wife and got out of that miserable country of peacocks, backstabbers, sluts, elitist snobs and socialist peasants. I now live in Germany and couldn’t be more happy. Good luck!

  11. Kim

    hi Owen, great to reconnect! I confess that for a while I have been confused by your blog changes and really couldn’t tell if you were actually blogging or ‘feeding’ information. So then I hadn’t been by for awhile.

    I’ll have to take some time to get reacclimated! Sorry to hear you’ve had some challenges but so glad to hear you are going to remain in France and persevere. I do hope that we get to meet in 2009!

    best, kim

  12. Rico Lebowski

    I’m really glad you manage to stay in France. And I have to admit that I miss one of the best teacher I have ever met ;)
    I don’t know if you’re still working at the ENAC, but before the end of january, I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a happy new year.
    All the best,
    Rico

  13. Lost in Florida

    Hi,

    I was hoping to get some help and guidance because the consulate here is not picking up the phone!

    I am a US citizen and plan on moving to France in April 2009. I applied for my student long-stay visa on Friday and received it today via Express Mail. Really fast! But, of course, now I have some questions.

    Originally, I applied for a year visa and the language school I have enrolled in gave me a letter stating that I was enrolled for one year from April 2009 until April 2010. My visa in my passport though says the following: Valid for FRANCE (+1 TRANSIT SCHENGEN), from 25-03-09 until 23-06-09, Number of entries MULT, Duration of Stay XXX. On the remarks section is says the following: CARTE DE SEJOUR A SOLLICITER DANS LES DEUX MOIS SUIVANT L’ARRIVEE

    What does this mean?? Does my student visa expire in less then three months (less then the US non-mandatory tourist visa??) and then I have to leave the country? Or does it just mean that the Carte de Sejour will trump the visa in my passport? I’m so confused!! To make matters worse I might have to come back in the summer of 2009 (June 19th) for personal matters and I’ve been reading of the government taking your passport. AHHHH!

    Please help.

  14. Lilly

    hello or coucou,

    i am an american citizen and I was just offered a CDI in Paris and I am waiting. Can you please tell me how long it took you to get it. I was born there but my parents never applied for the citizenship, oh well!!
    I had to come back to the States, in order to wait. I really need advice from an American.

    Merci

  15. allison

    hello owen – was wondering if you can help – have trawled the internet looking for info – i am south african married to a british citizen – in possession of a carte de sjour – does this entitle me to travel to any of the other schengen states without a visa? would be gratefull for any info, kind regards – allison

  16. Lucia

    Hey Owen!

    Ha I bet you never thought you would become a Cd’S guru huh? Well since you have successfully received yours, it puts you way ahead of us other confused dummies. :)

    Anyway, I have a couple of questions for you. I’m an American married to a French citizen and I am getting ready to apply for my Cd’S as a spouse. I have not seen any mention of the cost of obtaining the Cd’S, but now my husband tells me it will cost 300 euros! Do you think that could be true? It seems high for the French government to charge this since everything else is usually cheap or free. How much did you pay?

    Secondly, I have my long stay visa from the US as a spouse already so at this point I am able to apply. However I’m confused about the medical exam, am I supposed to get it BEFORE I apply and have the results as part of my application documents? My husband called the place which gives the exams and was told that I can need to make an appointment AFTER I get my receipt. I’m confused about the order. Other than this I think I have all the needed docs. (actually is there anyway you can post the list of docs I’ll need or post a link where I can get that list before going to the prefecture?)

    Not that I don’t trust my husband but I think his French nature makes him a bit lazy about asking follow-up questions and not very proactive.

    Again I’m an American citizen applying for my Cd’S as a spouse of a French citizen. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
    Thanks!
    Lucia

  17. Chi

    Hello Owen,
    Did you finally get your French driving license? We found that even “full reciprocity” isn’t so easy, and it took a couple of different attempts. And, as always, it depends on the mood of the person you’re dealing with at the prefecture.

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  22. Mirabelle

    Well, I don’t know. I’m French and there is an American privilege.
    Let me tell you a story of an African American colleague who went to France, was treated like dirt by a civil servant but when she showed her American passport, the civil cervant was extremely friendly to her.
    So I don’t think it’s racism, since her skin color didn’t change during the day, it’s a sort of hostility towards Africans (north and south of the Sahara)
    If tomorrow someone from Dubai came into a French office, I’m pretty sure he/she would get a warm welcome.
    It’s as you said : no weird stories and the fact that citizens from developed countries don’t have to be in France. If they are here it’s not just to make money or not to make money at all but because they like the country. This can lead to very unfair treatment of North Africans and Africans who are sometimes judged before they say a word, as taking advantage of the system.
    But you know, you wouldn’t believe the hassle I went through to get my French identity card because I was born in Germany and my father is German, my mother born in a former German territory. Unbelievable. It probably also depends on the city in which you apply for your carte de séjour.

  23. neel

    Hi Owen,

    I’m American and a student in France. My CDS expires in October. But I’m going to be in the US for 4 months starting in August. I can’t renew my CDS before then. I think I need to get a visa when in the US and then reapply for the CDS in December when I return to France. This is what the prefecture told me (i think, I didn’t fully understand the words of the overworkded staffer). Do you know anything about this?

  24. Maui

    Congrats Owen! I hope to have the same real soon!!

  25. Micheline

    Hi Owen I just came from france for a visit and I’m thinking of moving to france. Iam a american citizen, please what are the step that I need to take on obtaining a carte de sejour!

  26. Kimiko

    Hi! Interesting stuff here. I recently received my titre de sejour for three years (under the new ‘competences et talents’ section). I have encountered every stereotype known to foreigners in France, sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry and sometimes I truly am an UGLY American. I didn’t think I would ever cross over that line, but I have, and more than once.

    I have a quick question you might know the answer to. With a 1 or 3 year visa, do you know what the rule is for travel outside of France? I am in the States right now and plan to come back to Paris but I am wondering if I have to go back within 3 months. I was sort of hoping it might be 6. Any ideas?

    Thanks!

  27. Patricio Molina

    I was born in the USA of spanish parents….I have an EU passport thus…..My wife is brazilian and we would like to immigrate to france as I just retired this year at age of 60 years with enough pension to support us…..We have medical insurance that pays foreign claims…..What must we do to live permanently in france? …… Also,If we would like to work or start a business, what must we do? ……..Thanks!

    Patricio

    P.S.
    Je parle aussi beaucoup francais et etais le premier dans ma classe de ecole secondaire ici,,,,,Je pratique le francais toujours quand possible et travaillais en banque internacionale qui a autre banque en paris……..

  28. patricio molina

    I was born in USA of spanish parents and thus have an EU passport……..My wife is brazilian and we would like to move permanently to france but also travel back and forth to spain and portugal from time to time….I just retired at age 60 and have enough pension to support us…….In addition, we have medical insurance that pays foreign claims unlike medicare which will not…….What do we have to live permanently there in france?……..Also,if we want to work or start a business there in france (more probably), what must we do?……By the way, to respond to the question about recognizing US driver licenses, I read that it depends on what state issued it in the USA ,,,Mine is from new york and is not recognized Thanks for you help.

    Sincerely,
    Patricio

    P.S.
    Je parle aussi beaucoup francais et j’etais le premier dans ma classe en ecole secondaire mais j’ai oublie beacoup…..Mais je sais que je peux retourner a parler bien de nouveau en france…..Je travaillais pour une banque en new york qui a outra banque en paris.

  29. Patricio Molina

    One can also apply for an International Driver’s License which I see france recognizes….Can one use this in lieu of having to apply, take classes,and a road test in france?…Thanks!

  30. Patricio Molina

    What are the tax consequences or obligations of EU citizens or non-EU residents of france (cartes de sejours holders) on income from external sources, e.g., social security, foreign pensions, etc.?………Thanks!

  31. patricio molina

    I heard about this type of tax situation before, for example,in brazil (although all the expats there whom I know tell me that they pay no tax nor even bother to file a tax return)…….Panama has a treaty with USA where neither taxes foreign source income…..But I understand that the first 96000 us$ for expats is not taxed by the USA for the simple reason of being an expat…….Thus if one has to pay tax on foreign source income to france or any country where he or she decides to move and/or retire, I believe it would constitute a good reason to consider other countries especially if one is not entitled to any benefits………..I do not mean to belabor this point but I have researched this point before and get conflicting info from time to time Thanks!

    P.S.

    In any case, I am definitely going to check with an accountant or other expert on this matter for reasons cited already

  32. patricio molina

    You and I seem to see eye to eye on these matters.as you set the tone very well pointing out that just when you thinks it’s over, it isn’t….At the most inconvenient time (though not to sound pessimistic), there is some other bureaucratic detail to attend to though you should have been apprised by the functionnaires much before hand……I , at 60 years old, am well familiar with government red tape in several countries and have to learned that it is useless to fight them as they are virtually immune to discipline…..You would not want to know my experiences with social security employee incompetents, insolent and disrespectful. police, unreasonable customs and airline personnel , unjust tax agents, and others both here and abroad!…….You are hereby giving invaluable advice to all in this website and to whom they pass this wisdom on to as you very articulately put it, do not expect things to work there as they should!!……Thanks again!

    Patricio

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