Hi all, I was hoping someone had experience with moving a child to France and what is required. I'm an American married to a French national. We've been married for a year and I have a carte de sejour. My 16-year-old son is going to move here this summer to live with us. I can't find specific information on the French Consulate website in Washington DC for information about moving a minor child here and what is required.
I assume he needs a visa first. For my long-stay visa, the required paperwork was a little different than for other visas. I'm wonder if it is the same for him. For example, I didn't need income records and proof of insurance.
He lives with his father in the States right now. I assume his father will need to provide some kind of permission form. I'm guessing we'll need the divorce papers with the judgement for a minor child included. Are there any other documents that you are aware of that he will need, other than the usual passport and visa application?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Toni
Hi, this is great information as I have been trying to figure out how to make sure my daughters can go in and out France under my (coming soon) carte sejour. Please share with me the french name of the "travel cards" that I would need to apply before we return to the US for the summer vacation. We plan to return in late August to continue their french immersion in local schools.
Thanks!
Eliz
I didn't do anything until we got here... then, after my carte was approved, I applied for their travel cards. The only concern I have is that your son is 16... Over here, when they turn 16 they become more independant on the system... so for carte vitale, etc, we needed more documentation to support his continued cover under our card... Although, it was all approved without a problem! Personally, I would contact the Prefecture who resides over your department in France... the are the ones who process carte de sejours etc... they will be able to tell you all of the documentation you will require. We also had to have all our documentation translated into French by a French govt approved translater... at 50€ a pop per page!!! Not cheap, but we have re-used all of these papers for each level of transition into French life. Hope this helps, good luck!
Toni, Try the general number of the prefecture (assuming that yours is organised along the same lines as ours) and ask for the Bureau. Better yet, if it is not too much of a hike, go and visit them in person. I find that French bureaucracy is moving closer to the US model as in Press 1 for.... and is lacking the human touch.
Jef, I can't find a Bureau des etrangers contact. But I'll keep looking. I'm also trying to contact OFII. Of course, they are not answering their phones.
And I agree with you about the French Consulate in Washington, DC. They are not helpful and not polite. I think they would say we need a visa, even if we don't. That's why I'm trying to find out here what he really needs. If I can avoid going the Visa route for him I would love to. I really don't want to deal with the Consulate in DC.
Toni
Thanks for the reply, Katie. Did you have to get visas for the children before they came over? If so, what type of visa?
Toni
A couple of ideas:
1) I don't believe that minor children require a long term visa if their parent(s) has/ve a titre de sejour.
2) The best source of information may be the Bureau des etrangers at the Prefecture for your department. They are the gatekeepers for residence permits and the ones that will tell you what papers you need to provide if a visa is required. In any event, the one in Cahors (46) has been very helpful.
I would not necessarily consider the French Consulate in Washington, DC a reliable source. A few years ago they obliged us to obtain a visa for our four year old son at a considerable cost. On arrival, we were told by OFII that this was totally unnecessary.
As I was not applying, for work reasons, for a visa at the same time as my wife and child, I did have to sign a release in respect of the child as part of the documentation my wife submitted.
Good luck
Did you try the US Embassy? They will at least have referrals to where you can get info.
I don't think you will have any problem getting carte de sejour, even if you try after he arrives, since you have one and are a parent.
What is going to be more complicated is his integration into the school system. He will have to enter Lycee, which is very different from US high schools.
Our kids integrated in easily, but they were younger and accustomed to changing countries and languages.
Good luck
Hi,
We moved with our 3 Children... they were entitled to live in France under my carte de sejour... however, we did need to obtain 'travel' cards for them in-case we visited other countries... just to ensure they could re-enter France without any trouble.
Hope this helps
Katie