Resident-of-Paris-for-another-year

I've been UPSIDE DOWN this past week looking for lost and found bank statements, birth certificates, passport, proof of residence, etc GETTING MY DUCKS IN A ROW., Tuesday, 14 Juillet was Bastille day. My annual rendezvous(appointment) at the Prefecture de Police to renew my carte de sejour  was Wednesday SO I CAN STAY IN PARIS. Naturally banks are closed Monday, Tuesday. Naturally I'm missing my January statement (You need justificatifs proving you're solvent to stay in France. Wednesday morning is VISA DAY. I ran to the copyshop (everything must be in duplicate) and bank (their wifi was super slow) before my 10:45 appointment. Hell's bells. 

Fortification required - a chocolate pavé  la Maison d'Isabelle . 

Crossing bridges as usual to get to the Prefecture on Cité.

Pandemonium reignes at  Place Louis Lepine. Much more crowded than usual. 

Once inside you go to Salle 3 and wait. Others waiting were wearing crosses. I was wearing my lucky dice bracelet and horseshoe necklace. Covered. To boot when my No# came up it was 17...my birth date, but they don't let you keep it. Its part of the paperwork. 

The dice, horseshoe and No#17 paid off. I got a really nice guy who spoke perfect English when necessary. We started exchanging papers. I handed him the letter of proof of habitation from my landlord. 

He said, "Oh you don't need that. That's only for people not paying any rent." 

I said, "Oh can you please arrange that? 

He laughed. Ice 🧊 broken. 

We were off and running, joking about robbing a bank (ref. to Netflix's, Money Heist  - they rob the Royal Mint of Spain). 

Talking about possible vacance in italy or Greece with the dough. 

People who work at the Prefecture don't have much fun, so I let him cut up my passport photos with his little red kiddie scissors ✂️ 

Everything went swimmingly.

HALLELUJAH!

Notre Dame is fittingly located a block away from the Prefecture. The French set up a viewing area with posters explaining the 3 portals and kid's drawings of Notre Dame.

I will prepare ahead for next year. Famous last words.

TMI (too much boring information dear PBers!)

Thank you dear Prefecture de Police & THANK YOU dear PBers for letting Bear be a Resident-in-Paris-for-another-year 

PLEASE STAY WELL!! 

XXX 🐻 

Give Me 1 Reason to Stay Here (in Paris)

You Don't have to Give Me One Reason to Stay Here (in Paris).

Yesterday was visa day. It comes round once a year with the requisite nerves and stress,

There are lots of rules. Just entering the front door of the Prefacture de Police on Cite, there are rules. Only 10 people in the entryway. Then shed all your belongings and go through the machines.

Don't worry if you need copies. There are machines in the hall. Bring 20 centimes svp.

If your passport photos have a ding from a paper clip like mine last year, you can retake them in the hallway.

DO NOT FORGET to bring along your Convocation paper! I lost mine yesterday morning. Then I found it with a back page folded on top. Whew.

We did not have to wait long to see the receptionist who checks your papers. This is unusual.

You are given a number.
Take your seat and recheck your papers again and again.
I was missing a few copies. You need your originals and the copies to give the immigration agent for their file.

We only waited 1 1/2 hours! This is a short wait for the process.

Fortunately my clever visa lawyer complimented our agent (in French) on her mini fan and nicely broke the ice. We were holding our breath as she checked off each document 1-2-3.

We sailed through!
I return to the Prefacture in May to pick up, pay for my carte sejour.
Oh Happy Day.
Another year in Paris.

If you're serious about moving to France, I can recommend my American lawyer AC Dana who's lived here 25 years.

If you don't get your visa first go,
DO NOT take it out on the agent SVP.

I felt like the queen of Sheba walking out of there.

Time for an ice cream cone.

Ex-pat Baryshnikov was enjoying the sun on my island.

Maybe he just 'passed' his visa too?

Spring asparagus! Oh Happy Day.

The first Spring strawberry Fraisier at Gerard Mulot.

I tried to paint it. But had to run out and get a real one to study closely.
Celebration time.
Bear says I should keep painting. Not there yet.
He's pleased he's staying on another year.
And how!

Visa Day

Tick tock ⏰ 

Today is the day of the 'postponement' appointment for my visa.

Ta Da.

An avalanche of papers required. In DUPLICATE!

Nothing gives me more aggita then organizing pieces of paper .

AND they are mostly in another language...it's all Greek to me.

You do it please.

Calm isn't in my repertoire.

Will I be waiting for 5-6 hours?

Qui sait ?

What to wear??

This summer like my ex-L.L.?
 

And ride a pink scooter?

I hope.

Everything will not be coming up cherry blossoms.

Padam Padam Padam...
PS
DO NOT use a paperclip on your 3 required photos.

NO STAPLES SVP 🙏
You will have to redo them.
It makes a dent on the photo.
NOT GOOD!