The Residence Permit for the FNP in France or the Story of a Big Family

Marina A., owner of a chain of beauty salons in Moscow, wife of a successful businessman, and mother of two children.

She came to us in March 2019 on the recommendation of a friend. Her goal was to obtain a residence permit in France for the whole family, including her parents.

Marina A.'s application for a French residence permit came after the couple had purchased an apartment in Paris. Their planned move was connected with the desire of their youngest daughter to study at the School of Art and Design (LISAA School of Art and Design) in Paris. It was just over six months before classes started. During this time it was necessary to have time to deal with the paperwork. Realizing how troublesome it was, the family decided to seek help from specialists.

Working on the case

According to the preliminary assessment, the client was ideally suited to the conditions of the residence permit program for financially independent persons. However, not all of her relatives met her requirements.

The eldest son (25 years old) lived in America and provided for himself, and therefore did not have the right to obtain residency status in France together with Marina A. as a financially dependent child. The only "but" was that at the time of the application, the father was 66 years old and the mother had just turned 64. Due to her age, she could not participate in the program with her daughter.

The lawyers offered to issue a residence permit for French parents in a year through the reunification procedure, and in the meantime, without wasting time, to get visitor visas for Marina A., her husband, and daughter.

On the nearest appointment day, we enrolled clients at the French Embassy in Russia to apply.

During the time of waiting in line (in this case 3 weeks), we prepared a package of necessary documents:

• birth certificates of all family members (original with apostille and notarized copy);
• marriage certificate (original with apostille and notarized copy);
• copies of passports (foreign and internal) 
• 3.5 by 4.5 photos;
• education documents (diploma, notarized copy with apostille);
• documents confirming business activity and personal income tax certificate (originals);
• certificate of absence of debts from the tax office (original);
• certificate of ownership (original);
• school certificate for the daughter (original);
• immunization book of the child (original);
• bank certificate on the availability of funds on the account for living in France for all declared family members (original);
• certificate of absence of criminal record;
• medical insurance issued by a French accredited company (original);
• residence permit application forms;
• contract of purchase of real estate in France, bills for light, gas;
• letters of motivation, cover letters and legal letters;
• a written commitment not to carry out labor activity in France;
• power of attorney for the right to represent the applicant in the official authorities of France.

Then, without the client's participation, they made notarized translations, certifications, and apostilization of the whole package of documents.

In April, Marina A., her husband, and her daughter were granted visitor visas for 1 year with the condition to enter France for 2 months.

The tickets were booked for June 28, the day after her daughter's school graduation. 

Immediately upon arrival, the client sent us copies of the passports with arrival stamps and we registered all family members' visas with OFII (Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration).

Important! This is a mandatory procedure for long-term visas. 

The first 2 months in a foreign country were very busy for the clients. The daughter entered the School of Design in Paris. Spouses passed the medical exam and interview at OFII.

During all this time we stayed in touch with Marina A. and helped with current issues.

In October 2020 (six months before the expiration of the visa, as required by the conditions), the lawyer checked the completeness of the package of documents for the residence permit and helped the client submit them together with the application to the territorial office of the French Office of Immigration and Integration.

In February 2020 Marina A. successfully passed the rendezvous, and in March she received a residence card for the FNL for 1 year with the right of extension. The annual residence card was also issued to her spouse, but the daughter's residence permit will expire on her eighteenth birthday.

Registration of residence permit for family reunification

On the basis of the residence permit began to formalize the residence permit of her parents under the procedure of reunification.

The lawyer submitted documents to the territorial office of the French Office of Immigration and Integration, confirming that the daughter had a suitable living space for all declared relatives to live together and sufficient funds to support the family for 12 months.

The client received a response in 3 months. This long processing period was due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Then we helped the parents obtain visas at the French Embassy in the Russian Federation and enter the country during the quarantine relaxation period. Upon arrival in Paris, they obtained a residence permit upon request at the prefecture of the local department. 

Results of the case

The work consisted of several stages, at each of which we achieved our goals. The outcome of the cooperation fully satisfied the clients: the applicant, her husband, daughter, and parents received residence permits in France.

Marina A. plans to obtain French citizenship and a residence permit in the European Union for her eldest son. And so - the continuation follows.