I've had several lovely, peaceful months without any French red tape whatsoever, after more than a year of constantly jumping through hoops. It's been wonderful not to worry about immigration issues for a while. Then, the other day, Georges reminded me that it's nearly time for me to start the process of renewing my Carte de Séjour, which is funny because it feels like I just got it -- which in a way, I did, receiving it in December even though I'd applied in August and the card was dated October. So tonight I dug out my folio of notes from the immigration classes I had to take in January and February. The powers that be had thoughtfully provided a sheet with a phone number printed in GREAT BIG TYPE, so that I could easily find the number to call to make the rendez-vous for my renewal. (Unlike last year when it was my first time around, I will not have to go without an appointment and wait in line for FOUR HOURS. Merci to the Préfecture for this!)
Then I noticed in smaller type on the same sheet, it said I could also go online to a web site to make the appointment. Ever eager to use the available technology (and thus avoid having to speak to the police on the phone in French), I decided to give it a try. After wandering around the site for some minutes on my own, and being unable to locate the right section for someone like me (i.e., spouse of a French citizen renewing a temporary card) I called in the reserves: Georges. He helped me find the right link to click (and believe me, they do not go out of their way to make it easy or obvious, but then why am I surprised? They stuck me in the "all other" category) and then walked through the little online form with me to make sure I entered everything correctly.
And lo! After entering the data from my existing Carte and a few additional items (Nationalité: Américaine), I was presented with a page listing the earliest available dates and times to choose for my appointment. They tell you to start the process three months in advance of the expiration date on your card and right now it's about 3 1/2 months before, so the earliest available appointments were the last few days of August and then going into early September. We decided to pick a day during the week AFTER the school rentrée so that there are not too many stressful things going on at once, and we picked a time (1pm) where Georges can easily be there from his job, since he MUST accompany me. I printed off the formal convocation plus a three page list of the documents I will need to bring with me (originals and copies) and it's pretty much what I had been lead to believe would be needed. (Of course, there is also the usual disclaimer stating they have the right to ask for ADDITIONAL documents if needed... that's the wild-card in all this, the bureaucratic ambush that so many foreigners encounter when trying to establish a life in France.)
So, we've made the appointment. Next week I will begin compiling a nice, new, and very FAT dossier of papers -- even more than they specified, especially when it comes to proving our "common married life" -- so that it's done and all ready to go before we take off for our August holidays. That way it will be one less thing to deal with at the end of the summer and sending the kids back to school.
This time around, I feel much calmer about it, much better prepared. Having gone through it once before, at least I'm a little bit familiar with how this will go, although I do have questions about what happens when I renew again next year (am I eligible for a 2 year, 3 year or 10 year card then? I have no idea). But I have no doubts about getting the card renewed -- we're married and they have no other basis on which to deny me -- and the worst thing that would probably happen is some delay in processing it because they want some other paper we don't have or because they just have a big administrative backlog, and if that happens and my existing card expires (end of October) I can probably get a temporary one, which is what they did last year for me.
I don't think the paperwork headache is over, though, nor will it ever be. Our next big challenge will be getting some qualified tax advice for me, as someone who does not work here in France but earns money in the U.S. via my business. There are all sorts of nasty complications and I'm pretty sure I'll end up filing tax returns in both countries and maybe even PAYING in both countries (I hope not) but one thing I do know: my days of using Turbo Tax to prepare my own taxes are finished. I plan to contact the embassy here to get a referral to a good tax accountant in Paris who knows the issues for Americans living here (the web site has a list somewhere).
I do think the worst is over, though, because the worst part of it all last year was the newness of it, the not knowing anything and having to figure it out on our own. Now that we have some real-world experience, it feels just a little bit easier this time.
Of course, I say that now. Talk to me again at end of October when I should have my renewed card, and we'll see if I'm still standing in the ring... or if the Préfecture has beaten me by a knock-out.
