To begin our journey I will try to convey what a -process, situation, ordeal, what have you- the university application, Campus France application, and Visa application has been thus far and will be in the near future. I will begin with the university application process. Mainly I will be telling you the list of documents for each application, and you can fill in the difficulty of each instead of me describing each one, so here goes:
University Application List of Documents:
1) Physical Application...of course
2) Copy of all university transcripts
3) Copy of all university diplomas, certified copy translated in French by an approved translator: $100/pg..yikes!
4) A statement of motivation; I didn't know much about this one because I'm not sure what I am writing my motivation for...is it to attend school, complete these applications, live? I'm not sure.
5) Detailed resume/vitae
6) 2 staff recommendation letters
7) proof of English usage
8) proof of French usage
9) 1 passport sized photo
10) copy of passport
11) copy of birth certificate
And that's it for the university application. Relatively easily done and was not too much trouble to get together. On to the next step; once my application and materials were submitted to the university (February 1, 2012) the university contact told me that admission results would be May 21, 2012, and they didn't mean one day sooner. So, I waited the four months daily looking in my email for the holy grail of electronic documents, and it came on May 22nd! I had been accepted and the ball was rolling East (towards France)! This letter, once received, becomes pivotal in the next litany of documents for the Campus France and Visa applications.
Campus France list of requirements:
Before I make this list, I would like to mention the purpose of the entire Campus France process. Campus France, according to their mission and purpose statement, says that:
"Every year, CampusFrance USA helps more than 10,000 students who wish to study in France, serving as a bridge between U.S. and French universities."
So, since Campus France is the bridge between me and French universities, I am to use Campus France to apply to my university, but only after I can show them proof of my communication and enrollment with said university...yes that's what I meant to say...let it sink in...now you're there. In short, I have to apply to Campus France after I have been accepted to my university so that Campus France can help me apply and communicate with the university that I have already been admitted to. Alors, what would the world be without governmental red tape and extra fees. Oh and by the way, the service for this super convenient fee is a low low $140 dollars. List for Campus France follows:
1) University acceptance letter!
2) Campus France official application form, of course
3) Proof of university education
4) Proof of professional experience
5) Proof of linguistic skills
6) Goals questionnaire
7) Validated choice of program and university choice
8) Application Fee form and money order
Upon acceptance from the university and acceptance from Campus France to be accepted to the university, I will receive my official Campus France attestation that will be a pivotal document at the next stage of the pre-departure paperwork pejorative platitudinous process - French Visa Application and Interview.
French Visa Application list of requirements:
1) Original Passport and copy
2) Processing Fee of 50 Euros
3) French Visa application form, of course, in English or French (I'm doing both) and copy
4) French Consulate residence form and copy
5) ID Photo, white background, no glasses, no hat, closed mouth, no smiles and duplicates
6) "Attestation" from CAMPUSFRANCE! and copy
7) Proof of registration and enrollment from the university, original and copy
8) Financial guarantee from funding source, notarized, original and copy
9) Birth certificate, original and copy
10) Marriage License, original and copy
11) Letter from financial institution indicating sufficient funds for you and spouse (if traveling with spouse who is not a student) are present in your accounts and copy
12) Letter from local police department indicating the absence of criminal records and copy
13) Self-addressed pre-paid envelope...no copy, but I'm bringing two envelopes just in case
14) Letter from French Consulate indicating date and time of appointment and copy
After one obtains all necessary documents above, the Visa website is kind enough to give potential-candidate-applicants the following statements:
- The consular administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant.
- Please be aware that submitting the aforementioned documents does not guarantee the approval of the visa.
- Please note that holders of visas are still subject to immigration control upon first entry into France. The visa itself does not grant the right to enter France.
---Most important part of the Visa application process is that you can never be prepared enough. So call up your great-grandparents immigration papers, blood, and stool samples because chances are the office will look at your documents and require something else.
---After Visa is in hand and if we get it, we will be traveling to France where the real experiences are sure to begin, and I will do more blogging later.
---So far, I have three things that I would like to say, 1. Despite all of the grumblings about the various legions of paperwork, I am humbled at the opportunity to represent Rotary, 2. The French must operate on what I call girl shopping time, where "I'll respond quickly" turns into a six and a half month intermission, and 3. I'm pretty sure I'm God's favorite because I know nobody that gets an opportunity of a lifetime twice!
A Plus tout le monde!
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