Ups and downs of visa applications in France

To the Editor,

I was interested to read the exploits of your reader applying for a long-stay French visa at TLScontact in Manchester (Connexion, July).

My wife and I have had a similar experience with the process in London, now done twice.

Both times we have used passport-booth photographs bought at our local supermarket and these were accepted.

The list of required documents is long, but why it does not include a statement about not working in France I will never know. Were it on the list, we would have prepared one each.

Our first application was initially rejected by the consulate (not TLScontact) due to "insufficient resources". We did not know why this was and neither did TLScontact.

I eventually found out (via a US travel chatroom) that our bank statement needed to show that we had at least €600 available for each month of our stay.

Our application was subsequently accepted when we submitted a savings account statement in addition to our current account. Luckily, the resubmission did not attract an additional fee.

We trust that our third application next year will be trouble-free. Fingers crossed. 

P.S., London/Dordogne

To the Editor,

I have a few additions to the article you recently published on applying for a long-stay visa.

1. If you go to France and use some of your 90 days before making your visa application, TLS says you cannot apply from abroad. I was certainly unable to do so, but my wife was successful in applying from abroad.

2. The TLS website does not like applicants using Safari – use a non-Apple web browser instead.

3. For the last six years, I have had to create a new email address just for TLS. Otherwise their website says “This email address is already in use” and will not work.

4. You can only apply up to one month before you want your TLS appointment.

5. London visa visits result in you getting your passport back more quickly, as I infer Manchester and Edinburgh have to send their work to London TLS before it is then forwarded to the French Embassy. Manchester is, however, less busy.

6. For the last six years the TLS online application process has worked badly for us, and without meaningful improvement.

7. We have had enough and are selling in France this year.

R.K., by email

To the Editor,

I was very interested in the account of applying for a long-stay visa for France.

I have been doing it for a few years and it has become relatively easy, except for the TLS website. It took me more than four days to make an appointment with TLS in London.

Someone else I know is trying for a visa and once everything was in place they discovered that there were no appointments in June, July or August in London or Manchester.

They are now using a private company, which of course costs quite a lot extra. Surprise, surprise – they have an appointment. I will leave your readers to come to their own conclusions.

W.S., by email

What is your experience of applying for a visa? Share your experience at letters@connexionfrance.com