Moving to France: paperwork nightmare


I recently moved to Lyon, France for my second year of my MSc program. While my university in the Netherlands handled all my immigration paperwork this time I'm doing it myself. Word of advice...DON'T. Just find an agency to do your paperwork for you. It's such a convoluted mess that I am thinking I will just stay here once it's done, because I have spent so many hours dealing with it (legally of course).


Let's go through the various paperwork items (for a student):

Before leaving:
VISA application in the US at the French Consulate

  • 100E
  • copy of birth certificate
  • transcripts
  • letter of attendance at French University
    • Campus France paperwork
      • Certificate
      • Acceptance letter
      • Payment
      • CF Number
  • OFII form (immigration form)
  • passport
  • certificate/proof  of housing
  • proof of financial means for length of stay (300E a month minimum)

Once in France:

  • Part 1-OFII form mailed in to Immigration in your region:
    • Copies of Passport with VISA
    • OFII form (finish filling it out with French information on the bottom)
  • Part 2-Student Housing via CROUS:
    • Rental Agreement
    • Proof of school enrollment
      • Certificat de Scolarite
    • Passport (+3 passport pictures) with VISA
    • Rental Insurance (~25E/year)
      • Attestation D'assurance Etudiant
    • Bank RIB #
  • Part 3-Banking:
    • Housing Certificate/Contract
      • There were four different documents called the Attestation de Residence and the Aide au logement etudiant as well as the copy of the actual contract you sign and the school's request for housing paper.
    • Student Enrollment Certificate
    • Copies of previous 2 bank statements
    • Passport w/VISA
    • (depends on bank) check from home bank showing your name for 300E
  • Part 4-OFII Medical Meeting:
    • Your convocation (appointment notice)
    • The additional OFII forms sent with your notice (multiple will be stamped to prove you went to your meeting)
    • Your passport
    • Your vaccination record if you have it
    • Wear your eyeglasses or contact lenses if you wear them all the time
    • Any documents you may have related to hospitalizations, health issues, or maternity care
    • Insurance card if you have insurance
  • Part 5-OFII Municipality Meeting:
    • Copy of Birth Certificate
    • Copy of Marriage License (if applicable)
    • Passport w/VISA (+1 passport photo)
    • Housing Certificate/Contract
    • Student Enrollment Certificate
    • Bank RIB #
    • The stamped medical examination papers from your medical visit
    • The “timbres” (stamps) used to pay for the cost of the meeting, which you can buy at a tabac shop or online. Print out your receipt from the online payment if you go that route (costs about 90E for a student)
    • You will be tested in French (written, oral, and meeting with the OFII officer)
      • In this case failing is a good thing if you want to take free (mandated) French classes, but they will not give instructions in English, so be prepared.
      • This is when you will sign your integration contract with France (un contrat d’intégration républicaine or CIR) — basically a pledge to try to integrate into French culture. This is a very important document that you will need in order to get your carte de séjour in the future. So make a copy and keep it somewhere safe.
There is a really great explanation on the full process here, but I'll update as I go through each step. In addition to all the actual immigration paperwork, I had to deal with school paperwork as well including paying 90E for the CVEC certificate (French universal school fee).

After going to 5 different banks I finally have an appointment to open my account. Once that is done I can register for the social security scheme (required) and then hopefully my immigration appointment (OFII) will be held sometime soon. In the meantime, I have French classes and regular classes Monday - Friday.

As for the actually living in France aspect, it's just like the States. I find being in a city is a lot easier than being in a more rural community because (once again) I am travelling around to school and such on a bike (sigh). The benefit is there are grocery stores, post offices, metro lines, etc close by and once you figure out what something is called in French it's pretty easy to move around. My verbal French is pretty non-existent, so responding to or asking questions of people is a nightmare, but Google translate normally gets my through with a general understanding. Immersion into a language is really the best way to learn though.

The city itself is typical for a city with a lot more little zones for kids and meeting areas for the general public than is typical in the US. I've found some nice little spots to chill and people watch which is great for getting use to the flow of a new community.





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