How to get a WHV for France - June 2014 Updates

Hey Everyone,It looks like the French Embassy in AU finally updated their site to allow greater clarification to our questions. I wish they had some of this when I applied for mine.

Info below from: http://www.ambafrance-au.org/IMG/pdf/visa_vvt_2.pdf as of 17.06.14.

I highlighted the common answers to questions in red and emphasised a big IF.

(Also check out  http://www.ambafrance-au.org/IMG/pdf/WHM_VVT.pdf)

"WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

IMPORTANT

Applicants MUST be Australian passport-holders and lodge their visa application before their 31st birthday date.

The working holiday visa does not entitled you to be an "au pair" in France. There is a specific visa for "au pair" work.

If you want to stay in the Schengen space (for up to 90 days) at the expiry of your working holiday visa, you will have to leave France and the Schengen space and re-enter the Schengen area the following day as a tourist for 90 days within a 6 months period. You may leave the Schengen area (passport stamped at the border) by going to the UK for example.

pplicant to provide all required documentation. Failing to comply with this requirement will lead to your application being refused.

DOCUMENTATION Please provide 

original + 1 set of copies of the required documents:

 Valid passport (+ 3 months from expiry date of visa) 

 Long Stay Visa application form duly completed, dated and signed 

 1 Passport size photograph pasted on to the form

 Evidence of financial resources or proof of funds : 

5000 Australian dollars minimum 

► Recent last 3 months bank statements (current or saving account) or pay slips. 

► Credit limits are not acceptable.

 Evidence of compulsory/comprehensive one-year health insurance starting from your date of arrival in France (covering all risks of sickness, maternity, disability and repatriation) regardless of the travel plans or intended length of stay decided by the applicant.

Police certificate(s) : 

• for Australia, a National Criminal History Record Check (less than three months old) : standard

disclosure - police name check - issued by the police authorities of your State or Territory.

• for any other countries in which you have stayed more than one year over the last ten years. In the event of the impossibility of obtaining a police certificate in less than two months, applicants must submit evidence of application thereof accompanied by a statutory declaration relating to conviction status and an undertaking to provide the document when available.

return ticket to country of residence, 

 if you arrived in a different country then France (eg. UK, Spain, Germany etc), please provide train ticket or any other ticket to France (as proof of intended entry date to start one year visa and one year health insurance cover from).

Processing visa fee : 99,00 € If you intend to ask for your passport to be returned by post, please provide a pre-paid, registered and completely filled out self-addressed envelope (preferably Platinum Express Post).

Processing time to obtain the visa : 2 weeks minimum for a complete application" (But allow for the maximum)

Other General INFO:

 Under the Schengen rule of no processing without payment of the corresponding fee, Visas Officers are unable to provide advice on a specific application without formally assessing it.

 Getting advice form third parties such as Travel Agents or Courier Agencies will be at the applicant’s risk and the Consulate General in Sydney will accept no liability for incomplete application or misleading information given by third parties. Only information provided by our website must be considered as valid and official.

 As a courtesy to other applicants and Visa Officers, applicants unable to attend a confirmed interview should amend or cancel their appointment via the online booking system.

 The passport must be valid for 3 months after your date of return to Australia 
 The passport must hold, in order to print the visa, a minimum of 1 blank page for short stay applications and 2 blank pages for long stay applications 
 Travelers should be aware that proof of sufficient means may have to be presented, when entering France if requested by Border Police. Documents include proof of travel arrangements, hotel reservations or "attestation d’accueil" as well as proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the trip (travelers cheques, international credit card, cash)
 Travelers must take out compulsory and comprehensive travel insurance (unlimited health cover, repatriation) covering the entirety of your stay in France 
 If return of originals is required, provide an additional copy
 Payment of the processing visa fee is by credit card only. No specific fee for faster processing
 Processing time : the length of time is indicated on the basis of a complete application at the time of appointment
 Travel itinerary issued by a travel agent and showing the exact date of entry in France
 The prepaid envelope (Express or Registered) for return of documents has to be large and completely and properly filled out by the applicant on both sides
 (FOR LONG STAY VISAS ONLY) When necessary, the National Criminal History Record Check required is the Police Name Check (a fingerprint check is not necessary) issued by the police authorities of your State or Territory and has to be less than three months old at the time of appointment
 Applications for under 18’s are to be signed by both parents and accompanied by copy of both parents’ passport or driving license 

First Week in France with Host Family

If only you could see the bags under my eyes as I type this!
Everyone tells you what a great experience it is immersing yourself into another language and culture, but they forget to mention that you will become exhausted from having to think about every little word you say. They also forget to mention that you will feel like an idiot half the time because you can't remember the thing you learnt two seconds ago let alone two years ago. You speak English slower as well for french people to understand you, which adds to this feeling of stupidity.

(You are also bound by Murphy's Law to say something embarrassing. I kept saying "Yes I'd like a little bit" for the children to learn English without realising that they were hearing me say: "Yes I'd like a little d**k.")

Even though it has only been a week, I can tell you that I have had good days and bad days. The good days are those the new french information sinks in and I understand more/most of what people are saying at the dinner table. The bad days are where I read and speak more English after waking up at midday fromexhaustion.

After thinking about what makes a good day, I thought I'd write down a quick list of dos and avoids that I have already discovered:

DO - 
- Get out and see your town. Join a small tour group to get the lay of the land. Ask the guide where are the places to avoid at night etc.

- Watch French children's cartoons. Especially ones that you haven't already seen in English. I watched the Lion King in French but most of the time I was  comparing it to the English version. I expected the voices to be different, but they changvee the well lod songs so that they rhyme in French or adhere to the syllables too. E.g. Simba can't wait to be king becomes Simba would like to already be king.
I watched a Barbie mermaid cartoon movie in French and I found it really helpful. Because the storyline is a little predicable so I had a sense of familiarity and could understand the words better (I like mermaids, moving on). I know it wasn't a great movie for adults but it helped with my confidence which is important. I also found this online cartoon mini series called "Blondes". A collection of blonde jokes in one minute sketches that you can laugh at and learn French in a variety of situations (e.g. in a shop, on the phone, at a bar). I felt this was important to mention as you do not get the same relaxing feeling watching french television.

- Join a language exchange program. Meet french people who want to learn English in exchange for talking to you in French and correcting you as you go.
You also get to speak about a variety of things and learn more about the place your staying in. its also good to meet friends and gives you something to look forward to if you have alot of free time.

- Write out a schedule as you will forget what day it is and what you have agreed to do in that time. you'll be so agreeable as you want to take advantage of every opportunity without really knowing how long it takes to do things or go places etc. 

- Watch or do free online language lessons to jog your memory. You'll remember things better as you'll hear them in daily use instead of once a month etc Great example is: http://livemocha.com/


AVOID - - Facebook and anything else that has you writing/reading = thinking in English. Speaking French is more about thinking French. By the forth day I was generally starting my sentences in French and finishing them in English. Writing home using French spelling that my spellcheck hated. But I feel more confident and have to think less about what I say on the days I avoid English and read French grammar in the morning.

- Feeling like you you jumped into the the deep end of the pool without  a floatation device. Everybody starts off somewhere. Don't loose confidence that YOU CAN DO THIS.


So.... that is enough English for one day.


Tchao

Can one ever save enough?

When I was in primary school, I sat down for the first time to watch one of my all time favourite movies “Homeward Bound.” So amazed by the scenery and story of these 3 loyal family pets that I decided I had to have one. As we were a feline friendly family I told my mum that I wanted the fluffy white and brown cat from the film.

It was at this point in time she sat me down to explain and demonstrate the value of money. She explained that most of the things I want in life will involve an exchange of money, that money doesn’t grow from the fingers of other people, and that there are more important things than money in life.

Following this I collected every bit of coin left over from lunch money, every cent found amongst the couch cushions and every note from birthday cards I could get my hands on. Every time my mother would tell me that I did not have yet have enough for my kitten, but enough for other things, I learnt that you have to be patient to get what you want in the end and stick to it.

Eventually the day came when my mother drove me to make my first big and independent financial exchange, and it feels like I’ve been counting coins ever since. Minus the car crash on the way of course…. Unless the flood and fire fall into the same delayed gratification category of events.

Since then I’ve always been saving for travel and tucking savings away for a rainy day. Now that my big trip is finally on the horizon, I am beginning to become more anxious about my ability to support myself overseas and handing my power of independence over to fate. 

It will be the first time in 10 years I will not have an income nor 

any savings for my safety net as I’m cashing it all in.

Many “what if” questions are starting to circle around my head, especially  those stating “what if you’re not as prepared as you thought you were…..so you’ll have to come back sooner than you’d like?”

“What if you’re not as independent as you thought you were or need to be?”

I know there are plenty of other more positive thoughts I could be dedicating my energy to. One can never have enough money for Europe right?! Reading over this blog I think it has been more a therapeutic vent to voice my fears so that I am able to take the next step with a better footing.

So I will prepare as much as possible, take a deep breath and relax.

After all, I want this to be fun and I swim well in deep water.

How to get a French Working Holiday Visa (WHV)

So there are a few things I’ve learnt about applying for a French WHV that I thought I’d share. The info I’ve obtained comes from speaking with the staff at the French embassy in Sydney and from over hearing other employees whilst there. 
The below info is only applicable to other Australian citizens and valid as of 19^th June 2012.

Although it looks daunting, the man behind the counter said not to worry as a French WHV is the easiest visa to get. I’m glad 
he said this as the girl before me left crying. I can only now assume she was going for a different kind of visa.

I’ve made it as detailed as possible as I wish this information was available to me on their website when I first started looking into the French WHV.

What you get:

Multiple entry visa – come into and go out of France as you please

Valid for 1 year from date of entry into France – need to provide proof of entry date (e.g. plane ticket, train ticket, bus tour itinerary).

Option to work, study and to attend training courses in France

Extension Options:

The French WHV cannot be extended or changed to another category of visa whilst in France.

Cause of this, it is very important that you get an official to stamp your passport when you enter France so that no one can argue that you have overstayed your 12 months when you haven’t… and you don’t risk the 3 year ban and deportment. – I’ve read that the German and Swiss borders are very strict as the police get more money the more they fine those who have overstayed their visa.
The only other country I found that will let you apply for a WHV whilst in the country is Germany, but this finding was from a quick research effort so I would suggest you also research this yourself.

Criteria (June 2012):

1. Australian citizen / passport holder
2. Aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at the date of lodgement.
3. You must not have previously participated in this program because can only participate once in this program.
4. Holidaymaking in France should be the main purpose of the stay - It is not intended for any other purpose such as joining your partner/fiancé in France, studying, be an Au Pair or finding long term employment. Good to show a booked tour as evidence.
5. You must have sufficient funds at the beginning of their one year stay to cover their expenses (€ 2,100 / A$ 3,500). - This cannot be credit on a credit card. Bank Statements should be shown dated as close to your application date as possible. There is another page on the French consulate Sydney’s website that says $5000 AUD but it is definitely the $3500 that you need proof of.
6. A National Criminal History Record Check that is less than three months old on the date of lodgment: standard disclosure - police name check - issued by the police authorities of your State or Territory.                                                                                      This cost $52 from the NSW Police office. I recommend calling your local police station and asking them for a good time to come and get one. You need to show identification such as your licence, a bankcard, and your birth certificate if you have them.                                                                  In the event of impossibility of obtaining a police certificate in less than two months, applicants must submit evidence of application thereof accompanied by a statutory declaration relating to conviction status and an undertaking to provide the document when available. This is also true for police checks from other countries in which you have stayed more than one year over the last ten years. 
7. Evidence of comprehensive private health insurance for the duration of 12 months starting from your date of arrival in France. Failing to comply with this requirement will lead to your application being refused. – This is a fancy way of saying comprehensive travel insurance with the best healthcare cover you can get. It has to show that it will cover exactly 12 months from the date of your arrival into France.  There is a page on the consulate website that contradicts this information saying that the visa starts from the date of your travel insurance regardless of what date you enter France, but it is definitely from the date you enter France that the visa starts.                                                                                                     The language program I am doing recommended Covermore’s comprehensive travel insurance which was accepted. The cost was approx $910 for unlimited medical with added ski and motorbike insurance at a $0 excess. I had to pay an additional $420 for an extra 12 days cover as I am going to England for 12 days before I enter France. The reason for the higher cost was because travel Insurance policies max at a year. They had to create a new policy for the 12 days period that did not have the discount for a longer period of time.
8. Return ticket to country of residence  - this is a plane ticket showing your resident county as the destination. The return date can be extended as it is known that airlines now only allow you to book up to X months ahead (they want $ in the forms of extension fees and $ to cover rising fuel costs).

                                                                                                          
Once you find work in France:

Once employment in France is found, French WHV holders must apply for a Temporary Work Permit (autorisation provisoire de travail) at the nearest French Labour Department (Direction Départementale du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Formation professionnelle).  This temporary work permit will be granted for the duration of the position (I’ll blog more about the details of this once I apply for one in France)

How you Lodge an Application:

As an Australian citizen, you strictly need to book an appointment online for a face-to-face time slot at the Consulat General of France in Sydney. The French embassy is one of the only few that still require you to apply in person and only in Sydney (no matter where in Australia you are from).

Appointments should be made so that the application is lodged within 3 months prior to your departure date. Only a limited number of appointments is available every day due to the restricted number of persons allowed in their premises.

Appointments can be made between  9.00 am - 1.00 pm Monday – Thursday and between 9am – 12.30pm on Fridays. They take public holidays off and any Monday or Friday that falls between a French public holiday and the weekend.

You will be waiting 15-30 minutes after your appointment time before you actually get in.

It is one appointment per passport and only one person is allowed into a meeting/to the booth at a time

If you can only book an appointment that is on a date very very close to when you leave Australia, the security man on the door says that people cancel appointments all the time and that you will more than likely be able to reschedule to an early time as they become available. Unfortunately this means checking the website daily if not hourly to see if an earlier time slot has become available.

If you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment will be cancelled and you need to book another online. Any missing document will result in the application being rejected and the applicant asked to take a new appointment regardless the date of departure.

I recommend booking an appointment on a Friday as the staff at the consulat are in casual attire and appear more relaxed instead of threatening.

Contact details:

Email: < urgentvisas.SYDNEY-FSLT@diplomatie.gouv.fr >

This email address is intended for the sole purpose of contacting visa applicants who have already lodged an application. They say no answer will be given to questions regarding general enquiries about visas, progress of visa applications or appointment requests.

 

Tel: the Visa Section cannot be contacted by phone.

Consulate-General of France

Level 26 - 31 Market street

Sydney NSW 2000

(Opposite the Queen Victoria Building)

Monday – Thursday    9.00 am - 1.00 pm

Fridays                                9.00 am – 12.30 pm       

       

Public Holidays recognised by the French Consulate in Sydney:

New Years Day

Australia Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

ANZAC day 

Ascension 

Queen's Birthday

labour Day

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

Long Stay Visa Form clarification:

I am taking a language course in France but this does not count as study as it is not full time at a university level. I am staying with a family I am in contact with through the language school but they are not classified as my family for the purposes of the application form.

If you are being supported financially by someone in France, they will need to provide a letter. See the website for more details as this did not apply to me.

My employer is my current employer in Australia to verify I have been earning an income in Australia and have been able to save money.

What you need to take with you to the appointment:

1. Appointment booking receipt print out to give to the security officer.
2. Long stay Visa Application Form filled out, dated and signed with passport photo.
3. Passport sized photo taken at a respected photo authority (such as Aust Post) that is less than 6 months old
4. The French WHV Checklist available to download from < http://www.ambafrance-au.org/Working-Holiday-Visa-Requirements >
5. Your Australian Passport. Valid for entire length of visa period.
6. Bank statement printed off during the week prior which indicates savings of $3500 AUD or more. Try for a bank statement that is produced within the last month and that the print time stamp shows the date it was printed or produced. I also printed a screen shot of my online accounts for cross reference but this is optional– copy for the consulate
7. Police certificate issued by your state’s authorities that is less than 3 months old. I would start to organise this about 3.5 months prior to departure as they will not process your request without it, even if you sign a statutory declaration– original and copy for the consulate
8. Copy of your comprehensive travel insurance. Highlight the medical component. Make sure it covers the entire length of visa period (start date to end date).
9. Document that shows a definitive entry date into France (eg. Plane ticket, tour receipt, train ticket receipt etc)
10. Plane ticket that shows a return date to Australia. Unfortunately airlines will not allow you to book a return ticket for a date that is over 3 months in advance. If you plan to stay for over a year, you will have to pay to reschedule your flight to a later date so that you can enjoy the full year's visa (this cost me $200 at the time)
11. A pre-paid, registered and completely filled out self-addressed envelope (preferably Platinum Express Post) if you want your passport to be returned by post, Otherwise you can come collect it during their office hours. Best before 12pm Mon-Fri.
12. Bank card to pay for the WHV - approx. $125 AUD
    

Cost:

The website said 173 AUD. But I was only charged $125 AUD when I applied.

Processing Time:

Minimum 2 weeks. Can take up to 8 weeks.

I was told by the man behind the counter that the WHV is the easiest and that you just come back in 2 weeks to pick up your passport.

Concurrent WHVs for the Schengen area:

It is not illegal to have a WHV for another Schengen country at the same time.

However, the French frown upon you having another valid WHV with another Schengen Country at the same time as you have theirs. The French want you have to have one after the other.

If you have any other questions or stories, I would love to know so we can help others where possible.

Collecting your Visa and Passport in person:

If the gentleman behind the counter says come back in 2 weeks, he means to say come back in 3.5 weeks. I would allow 4 wks based upon new stories I've heard.

Note that you may be required to wait up to 2 hours or more to collect your passport as they prioritise booked appointments first.

They organise visa printing batches in priority of departure date.

Definitely read the comments below cause I have answered alot of questions people still asked and others who have gone through the same process have given feedback.

*2014 insert > I have also written a 2014 update blog entry as I believe the French embassy caught on that they were referencing conflicting pages of info and reduced it all to one page for convenience (finally). You can find it amongst my other posts.

Happy and Safe Travelling.