Travelers: Has Anyone Been Through Long Stay Visa Process for Going Abroad?

Updated on July 14, 2014
A.J. asks from Norristown, PA
3 answers

France specifically and not related to work or study-which would be much simpler.

The kids (8, 6, and 5) and I are (hopefully) going independently just as a cultural experience for one school year. Not affiliated with anyone's job.

I'm not able to get through on the phone yet, but some items to bring to visa appointment on the consulate website I have questions about are:

1) Official lease for your place in France: How did you commit to your rental over there before renting out your place here, or were you able to do those things in a manageable order to get done before visa appointment? Any tips on how you wrangled that? We have a place to go to there, but no official lease until renting ours here, which we'll sign on before long, but will be tough to do BEFORE visa apt. since visa apt needs to be a couple months before trip-sigh! How did you handle this step?

2) Proof of financial means to sustain yourselves for duration of trip without working: I presume this means proof of incoming rent and monthly household income as well as requested bank accounts...but anyone know a "magic number" as far as how much $ they expect you to have in the bank to show? Any inside knowledge? Any tips on effective or creative extra ways you showed means?

3) Letter of purpose of visit: We are going as a cultural experience out of a love for all things French, but do you know of any catch phrases to say or not say? For example, would it be good to mention wanting the kids in school there or bad? Any experience with what they want in a traveler?

4) Sponsor: We don't have a sponsor. We have been planning and saving for years to do this ourselves. It does not say you have to have a sponsor, but it does say "If you have a sponsor, provide their info". I COULD get a sponsor probably, either the friend we will be renting from or another friend there, but of course we wouldn't ACTUALLY need to depend on them. Would having a sponsor strengthen our chances of being approved for a visa, or does it matter? Your experience?

I appreciate any experience or tips you can give. I haven't been to Europe for longer than 3 months since I was an Air Force dependent and student, so this process is new to me. I hate to drive to D.C. for in-person visa apt and be rejected for stupid oversight or mistake! Thanks in advance!

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F.B.

answers from New York on

I haven't been through this experience.

1. to bridge the gap on the proof of lease, consider a short stay residence here, or there to allow the flip. '

2. For the magic number in terms of ability to support oneself, I would look at cost of living stats for any given area, and then aim to have funds for a 1/3 more. Don't know if a h.e. line of credit to show access to funds would assist you in creating the appearance of greater liquidity.

3. look into the logistics of getting kids into schools. Are you planning on putting them in the local public elementary? Do they have enough french skills?

4. a sponsor is about creating a safety net. basically it says that the sponsor will step in and make sure that you are not a drain on public resources. this might include med treatment and emergency room care, which your sponsor might have to pay/ help pay in cash while your insurance/ travel insurance kicks in. if you go this route, be sure that you and sponsor are fully prepared for the ramifications.

Best with this,
F. B.

2 moms found this helpful
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P.R.

answers from Cleveland on

I don't know the answer to your questions but my sister's friends spent a year or so in France. The mother had lived there some as a child. They were in a rather small town and apparently their son really disliked it. Just food for thought. His French wasn't great and bc it was a small town, the boys didn't speak much English and weren't very welcoming to him apparently. He was around 7 or 8. So if you're enrolling in school, something to think about...

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Maybe a business like this could connect you with an international realtor who could answer your questions:
http://www.longtermlettings.com/

1 mom found this helpful
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