French Long Stay Visa

Bouba said:

Did the bill fail purely on the Brit ex pat section ?

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Absolutely not.

40% of the bill was deemed unconstitutional.

For any of you who’d like to keep up to speed on French Politics, I’d recommend subscribing to Richard Hadley’s blog.

A terrible state o’ chassis …(again)

Bouba said:

Did the bill fail purely on the Brit ex pat section ?

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No various items were rejected as unconstitutional. The bit we were interested in was rejected on a technicality, that it was not in the original bill but was added & wasn't close enough in it's purpose to the original bill

Just out of the TLS centre, in Wandsworth, after this year’s Visa application interview.
Looking like a straight VLS-T would be awarded, if all planets align at the Consulate.
Talking of which. Desk Officer this year took the ‘I’m sailing my boat, which will be my address’ in her stride. Just asked for a registration document. ( Last year much negotiation and production of Passeport Escales paperwork was required, to tick the “address” box). When I asked if the boat was now accepted as an address. She said “ Of course. It is what everyone does.”
Happy days. And fingers crossed that the Consulate sees it the same way!

John_Silver said:

Just out of the TLS centre, in Wandsworth, after this year’s Visa application interview.
Looking like a straight VLS-T would be awarded, if all planets align at the Consulate.
Talking of which. Desk Officer this year took the ‘I’m sailing my boat, which will be my address’ in her stride. Just asked for a registration document. ( Last year much negotiation and production of Passeport Escales paperwork was required, to tick the “address” box). When I asked if the boat was now accepted as an address. She said “ Of course. It is what everyone does.”
Happy days. And fingers crossed that the Consulate sees it the same way!

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This is interesting for those wanting a French visa. Seems the French are now using a clearing house company first to weed out the no hopers and ensure the paperwork is satisfactory before forwarding to the Embassy or High Commission.

Apparently Sweden also offering something similar, roll on retirement.

Yes, the TLS centres (3 in the UK) carry out a triage. I’ve had 3 long stay visas now, and they’ve handled the applications each time. As the video says, it’s a very efficient, yet friendly, set up. Even with the crazy crowds, brought by the ending of COVID travel bans, on my first application. That side of things is very consistent.
The screening of paperwork does seem to have some variability. Based on my 3 applications. Whether this is an evolution of policy, or down to the human factor I cannot tell. On my ( statistically insignificant) sample size, of 3 visits, this chiefly affected the address question:
Year 1, boat name / registration documents were queried as satisfying address requirements. Production of Passeport Escales documentation tipped the balance.
Year 2, Ditto, except that far more “selling” and the involvement of a supervisor was required, to tick the address box.
Year 3, boat name and registration document accepted without question or comment.
Would agree, with the video, that the process is straight forward and painless (provided that a TLS centre is within easy reach).

John_Silver said:

Yes, the TLS centres (3 in the UK) carry out a triage. I’ve had 3 long stay visas now, and they’ve handled the applications each time. As the video says, it’s a very efficient, yet friendly, set up. Even with the crazy crowds, brought by the ending of COVID travel bans, on my first application. That side of things is very consistent.
The screening of paperwork does seem to have some variability. Based on my 3 applications. Whether this is an evolution of policy, or down to the human factor I cannot tell. On my ( statistically insignificant) sample size, of 3 visits, this affected the address question:
Year 1, boat name / registration documents was queried as satisfying address requirements. Production of Passeport Escales documentation tipped the balance.
Year 2, Ditto, except that far more “selling” and the involvement of a supervisor was required, to tick the address box.
Year 3, boat name and registration document accepted without question or comment.
Would agree, with the video, that the process is straight forward and painless (provided that a TLS centre is within easy reach).

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Thanks for that.....I had never heard of Passeport Escales before...unfortunately after a little research, it doesn’t cover the French Mediterranean....but well worth keeping an eye on in case it expands in the future

If looking to boost “address” evidence, some previous year vessel logs / a proposed (subject to weather) overall ‘ports to visit’ plan may help your case….

Bouba said:

Thanks for that.....I had never heard of Passeport Escales before...unfortunately after a little research, it doesn’t cover the French Mediterranean....but well worth keeping an eye on in case it expands in the future

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For those who have not come across Passeport Escales, it’s an excellent system, providing a free berth in sister ports to berth holders, whilst freeing up their own berth for visitors in their home port whilst the berth holder is away.