Navigating the often complex and costly process of getting a visa or residency card for France is a challenge for many Connexion readers, including second-home owners. Here they share their experiences and opinions on how well the system works.
‘TLS not fit for purpose’
P.L.: The TLS system is getting worse each year.
I am in the process of applying for a 6 month visa.
I put in an application at the beginning of February wanting to make an appointment in March. Last year they were available 60 days in advance.
Now they are only available 30 days ahead. Even worse, when I went back last week to book for mid March my application had disappeared.
When I eventually got through by phone (no easy task) I was told that if an appointment is not made within ten days the application is automatically deleted! I then had to go through the rigmarole again.
TLS contact is not fit for purpose.
Read more: French MPs still trying to ease visa process for second-home owners
‘What is getting better with applications’
S.G.: Following your article in today’s email bulletin, we would like to contribute to the feedback.
TLS website: It is too easy to go around in circles trying to get to the point where you can book an appointment online. The website should be improved to avoid this trap.
TLS Centre in Wandsworth: The staff are great, even those working there under the G4S sub-contracting services for security and visitor control.
Having paid for the appointment in advance, we used to pay for the visas at the screening desk. This time, we paid for it with the agent who checked all our credentials and put the file together for the Embassy to approve.
In my opinion, there should be a separate fast track queue in the biometrics area for the Long Stay Visa applicants.
They/we go there each year and should have ‘regular customer’ benefits by being seen quicker than just taking it in turn with all the visitors from elsewhere who are heading to France probably for a one-off trip.
It would be suitable to reward the repeat custom that the Long Stay Visa applicant homeowners bring.
Having to have biometrics taken each year seems silly. Fingerprints shouldn’t change. Appearance might but then again, passports last for 10 years so there would appear to be zero justification in having to do these every time you apply.
Speed of returning the passports with visas stamped in them: The first year it took a couple of weeks. The last two visits, we’ve applied only three times, were a week and 6 days only so this has been very good, the last two years.
Travel: It takes us a full day to go there and back and the total costs come to around £600-£700.
Any simplification would be much appreciated. It would be fabulous to get an automatic right to spend 6 months in France with a standard set of docs that come to our home by post or email.
Read more: French MPs still trying to ease visa process for second-home owners
‘Stressful with long waits’
M.D.: I have successfully applied for three visas and am in the process of my fourth.
The first year was very stressful at TLS London with long waits despite booked appointments.
On the second occasion we were forgotten despite our registration at the door of entry!
Our friends who had to travel up from Cornwall for the pleasure were also forgotten and were subsequently delayed in their travel arrangements.
Last year was better for us at TLS except that they would not accept our recent photograph meaning we had to queue at their machine for about 45 minutes on top of the 20 minutes we waited to have finger prints taken.
Why is it that we need to have fingerprints taken every year when the police don't need it for their databases?
The whole process seems to be about making money and making us pay for Brexit whether we wanted it not!
Read more: Obligatory new French tests for some residency cards: is level too tough?
‘Cost and effort is disproportionate’
R.R.: My and my wife's experience of applying for an extension to a 90 day visa is one simply of firstly cost and secondly effort.
The cost amounted to more than £500, over half of this was due to travel from Plymouth to London. We completed the event in one day from about 04:30am to 11pm. Had we stayed overnight the cost would have risen to over £800.
The effort was amassing all the paperwork (it took days over about a period of 4 weeks to feel confident that the visit would not result in failure.
As it turned out one form had to be resubmitted on the day) also completing the on-line forms and booking a date for the interview at the TLS venue. The on-line guide was not exactly easy to follow and was not a step by step guide to the process.
Whilst the above is brief and does not sound dramatic, the end result (getting the visas) was disproportionate to the cost and effort. We did receive the visas and that was 3 years ago. Such was the effort and cost we have not applied in subsequent years and hope for a change/relaxation of the 90/180 day ruling.
I note the point made about the UK voting for Brexit in the Connexion article. I believe that those who have second homes in France were most unlikely to have voted for Brexit.
I, and those that I know of, voted against Brexit, which surely is another point that helps justify UK second home owners of French property being made a special case.
‘Feels like throwing money away for nothing’
B.B.: Paying large sums of money to the French Government and local tax offices I find that I am throwing money away as I cannot access my home in France.
The 6 month Visa route is very complex with paperwork and travel to and from my home in Kent to an out of the way place in Wandsworth very tiring for an 80 year old. It's not one journey but two or three visits necessary to the agent.
I'm about to start the process again and hope I don't make a minor error on the paperwork which would entail making a completely new application.
I have spent many thousands of euros restoring a ruin, constantly updating my property and repairing it for 36 years. I have a few years left to enjoy my investment and my many local friends plus an idyllic life in the sun if only the constant form filling ceased.
‘TLS is getting better - slowly’
S.B.: The TLS process has improved every year, certainly in terms of IT rigour. Taking fingerprints every year is still bizarre but I am told that is the consulate.
However, if I understand correctly, the previous attempt to ease the rules was thrown out by the constitutional court because of the bias towards solely UK residents rather than considering any nationality which already has a visa-free 90 days.
This new effort seems to repeat the same error?
As things stand I have a far bigger beef with UK vets who rob us for the paperwork for our dog's visits.
What is your experience of applying for a visa or residency card for France? Let us know at feedback@connexionfrance.com
