The Long Stay Visa Process

The Long Stay Visa

I feel like I have PTSD on some level from this whole process.  And I know this isn’t a topic that will interest everyone but for those of you who want to know, here goes!

First off, it is pretty simple to come to Europe and stay for 90 days.  You can use this time to stay in one country. or travel to many but you must not exceed a total of 90 days.  And the other caveat is you must leave for 90 days before coming back to Europe.  This is in fact what I did for the first year plus; at first deliberately and then out of necessity while I stumbled my way through the visa process.

When I look back it actually seems quite simple (and if anyone you know should need some help with it- random, I know- I would be more than happy to assist).  But I was going it alone, relying on the online guidelines.  So lame was I in understanding these that the first time I applied I had in fact not really applied.  Well, I had completed the application form and submitted it but I didn’t realize that I was then to go online and make an appointment for an in-person interview and review of my documents.  I don’t even remember how I figured out how nothing was going to happen but eventually I did realize this (and by eventually, I mean MONTHS later!) and started the process of securing an interview.  At the time I was living in NB, and the application offices are in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.  I needed to be organized in being able to get to whichever city would be best.  Hahahaha.  Joke on me thinking it would be that easy as every time I checked, for all offices except Vancouver, there were never any appointments open.  (Eventually as I got desperate, I started including Vancouver in my check too,)

Time moved on, I retired and started doing the three months in France, three months out.  It wasn’t too bad as it gave me a chance to travel (this was the stage of my life I referred to as My Keyless Life as I realized I had keys to nothing anymore- not a post office box, a front door, a car…..)  And it confirmed for me that I really did want to be in France, and not keep bouncing in and out, living as I felt on the periphery of life there and not really part of French life. 

Finally, I found myself in the Toronto area and an appointment opened up in that office.  I was staying with an aunt (don’t think little old lady, she is only one year older than me!) who is uber organized and she copied everything and reviewed the checklist with me over and over.  What a wreck I was the day of the appointment.  I and my bulky folder went in to the City extra early, I scouted out exactly where I had to go, and then returned to be early for my appointment.  And then the great disappointment; I did not have everything that was needed.  I can remember specifically that although I had a letter from the NB government granting me an absence for my health care this wouldn’t do….. I needed to have private insurance that included repatriation of my body back to Canada (!).  I think there was something else too….. Of yes, a letter written by me saying I would not seek or accept employment while in France (and nowhere on the list of requirements was this shown!!).  I was heartbroken…… months and months and months of waiting for an appointment and I had fallen short….

So, I began all over, this time better armed with more information and experience.  I couldn’t get an appointment in Toronto but wonder of wonders, I was able to get one in Ottawa where sweet Claire lives.  I wish I could remember the time gap between these two appointments but even though it was significant and not that long ago I have somehow erased the finer details from my memory.  Again, I showed up early, with Claire serving as chauffeur knowing I would rather not drive being the bundle of nerves that I was.  And again I showed security that I had an appointment and joined the assortment of people also waiting for their chance to pitch their case.  I was taken on time, my documents reviewed and…..Oh no!  When the requirements read that I had to have proof of financial independence I had both a letter from my pension plan and a very recent screen shot of my investment portfolio.  (Which makes it sound loftier than it is but remember I had sold a house, and had also managed to squirrel away so extra money over the years.)  This would work you would think right??  But no, turns out investment statements weren’t acceptable but rather I needed to show what was in my bank account!  And I don’t know about you but I actually don’t keep all that much in my bank accounts!  Panic overwhelmed me as I opened my mobile apps and took some screenshots…. And of course, I have two different banks I deal with so that was two mobile apps…… And I have this weird hereditary medical condition where I have a tremor in my hands which is noticeably aggravated when I am under pressure….. Oh my gosh.  Heart stopping.  And the appointment slot is only 15 minutes so there isn’t a lot of time to be fooling around….  Anyway, I managed to satisfy all the requirements, made it through to the fingerprint stage and left, hopeful but none the wiser on whether I would be granted a visa.

This is a good time to let you know that the offices I went to for meetings weren’t French government offices.  Turns out they, and it seems like most if not all countries, outsource this work to an agency. It was the agency staff who pre-screened me and reviewed my submission; they in turn sent it off to the French consulate for a decision.

I was able to follow the status of my application and had changed an optimistically booked return to France flight from June to July.  And started waiting.  On the plus side, and there is always a plus side, I got lots of extra time with loved ones in Ontario, waiting for the verdict.  And then, with only a few days to go until my flight, making me wonder If I should be pro-actively rebooking it to a later date, I saw that a decision had been rendered and my passport was in the mail back to me.  (Forgot to mention that, even if I had wanted to return to France while waiting for the decision, I couldn’t as my passport was submitted as part of my application.)

My aunt and some friends of hers and I had tickets to Rent in Stratford the day the courier was to make the delivery to me.  Kindly my uncle and my brother-in-law agreed to hang out at home until it arrived.  I could not risk missing this!  Of course I would have given up the outing and stayed home waiting for it I had to but I am lucky to have kind family members. 

When the final curtain went down my aunt checked her phone and yes!  The envelope had arrived!  We were an hour and a half from home and took our time, even stopping to thrift.  😊  My feeling at that point was that another hour wasn’t going to make a difference and we had a girl’s day out to enjoy.  And then when we did get home, and the envelope was placed in my hands, everyone was gathered around for the big reveal.  (Remember that tremor I mentioned??  Out in full force at this point!)  Envelope opened and out came….. my passport.  No letter,  No document.  Just my passport.  I was devastated.  What more could I do to have a successful submission??  My aunt took my passport off me and started going through it page by page and then “Michelle,  is this not it?”  And there it was.  An approval laminated to a page in my passport.  I had a mini breakdown.  Fueled by an excess of stress and anticipation and disappointment and then JOY! 

Within days I was off to France, arriving on Em’s birthday.  I had my one-year visa solidly in my passport and was excited to be moving to France.  My apartment had been secured so that very first night I went to bed in what became my first French home.  The year flew by, I started the renewal and submitted it 90 days ahead of expiry as allowed.  It was a somewhat easier process; first of all, I had the documents (proof of medical insurance, proof of pension income etc- everything in French) and secondly, all this was submitted electronically. No vying for a hard-to-get interview slot.  Even my official government photo was done electronically.  (Here they have cool technology wherein you go to a camera booth at the local grocery store, pay your money for an official photo et voila, it is sent to you electronically.  No photographer appointment needed.)  I also had to have a medical which was for the most part a chest x-ray and a brief meeting with a doctor to review my medical history; these I also attached  to my renewal application. 

In short order I had a positive reply- it took just over two weeks which I thought was amazing.  I lived in that blissful world, thinking something would come for me to put in my passport until I got an email saying “click here” to pay your fee and” see below for your appointment time”.   Which brings us to today’s appointment.  Somewhat anti-climatic (which is just fine with me) the young man (was he even out of high school??) took my proof of payment and my passport and returned the latter with a little laminated card (like a driver’s license size) which I now carry in my wallet saying I am indeed allowed to be here for another year.  (Insert big sigh of relief here.)

I think this renewal process is what I can expect, without the medical, from now on.  And in fact, if it is, it will be no big deal now that I know the ropes.  Sort of.  It is also my understanding that I will have to continue this way for years and years, applying annually for the privilege of staying here before I can apply for more permanent status.

So there you have it.  I feel like I have all these stories ready to tumble out of me and on some level, that I kept my detailed story telling pushed down, wondering all year if I would be able to continue with the life I was happily starting here in this beautiful country.  I have much, much more to write about but it seemed to me that explaining the visa process, and my experience, was the right place to start bringing you up to date. 

The Olympics are keeping me company.  I am sticking to the leather couch.  I and everyone I love is enjoying good health. All is right in my world.  😊

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