I’m legal baby!
I haven’t even left home and already my second go at living abroad is starting out on better footing. When I lived in Germany in early 2006, I was basically an illegal alien being paid under the table for my work at a media research firm. Since I received my teaching position through the French government, this time ’round I had to go by the books and get a long-stay visa before leaving. The horror stories you hear about French bureaucracy had me a bit worried about going through the visa process. I don’t know if my experience at the French Consulate in San Francisco is representative, but I found the whole thing pretty painless.
I went in for a 2:00 appointment with all the proper documents in hand and was out of the door by 2:40. All I needed was: my passport, visa application (2 copies), employment verification (original and a copy), 2 passport photos, and my flight itinerary. The finger printing and actual production of the visa took the most time.
My visa and sanctioned teaching position will allow me to get a “Carte de Sejour” (Residency card) that will be valid for a year. I have to apply for the “Carte” within 8 days of arriving on the island. It will be my primary form of identification on Guadeloupe and will verify my legal, long-term residency. The “Carte” will also allow me to take advantage of health and dental services, which is pretty awesome considering I didn’t have dental insurance at my last job and haven’t been in a year.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment