Why I left France (...and why my French visa got rejected) | French visa application process

Hi cuties! I recently (... and temporarily I hope lol) left France and I made this video to tell you why. This is my 4th time applying for a French visa and for the first time, it was rejected during my appointment. I wanted to make this video to show an honest experience of someone trying to immigrate to France and to share my story with you so that YOU dont make the same mistakes as ME!
As always, if you have any questions or need any advice on moving to France or the visa application process or travelling in general, leave them in the comments! I'm here to help :)
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GROS BISOUS!!
Arielle
~~Tags~~
French visa, French visa application, French visa application process, France visa, France work visa, French work visa, visa interview, visa process, move to France, living abroad, living in Paris, international student

[@tanatswataruvinga]

Bureaucracy in France has made many cry. It’s definitely not as orderly as Canada. I remember watching a video from “The Purple Palace” where she had trouble getting some paperwork done and she eventually burst out crying and the lady serving her literally looked at her deadpan and said “madam, I think you should do the yoga”😂😂😂. You learn patience and resilience in France.

[@shinyshinythings]

Oh my lord that takes the cake. “You should do the yoga” She was probably trying to be empathetic in her own way.

[@shinyshinythings]

As soon as you said, “I knew I was supposed to go to the office for my neighborhood,” I had a bad feeling how the tale was going to end. Not from France, but from similar experiences in Spain. You have to go to the office you’re meant to go to, and the system allowing you to make an appointment at a different office means nothing, because all of the systems in Europe, even those designed for foreigners, assume a base level of user knowledge about “how things work”. A Spanish or French person would never make an appointment at an office they’re not meant to go to, and the developers of these systems must assume foreigners will have that same base level of knowledge. It’s not a valid assumption at all, but it’s the reality. Thank you for injecting some realism into the “Emily in Paris” fantasies some people are harboring. I hope you haven’t given up.

[@maddscientist3170]

Exactly .......I challenge anyone to maneuver Greek goverment systems let alone the language.........just as bad as the USA😅

[@kathleen7215]

This was such an informative video on a process that's so opaque. Thank you for showing so much empathy to other people who might want to move to France

[@johnburla1894]

My friend went to a country in the EU that offered a dual citizenship with Canada and applied for there. She choice Ireland and it was super easy!!! Then because she now holds a EU citizenship is available to move to any other EU countries!

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

oh wow... that sounds like the smartest idea !!!! haha

[@notsooxtreme1]

Hey! That was such an informative video of the real situation. So sorry you had to go through this.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Thank you ! I'm glad it was helpful!! :)

[@joyfullypacinglife8847]

I am glad I came across your channel by chance. What you just shared with us is very important to me, or anyone who could be in the same position as yours. I hope that all is well with you at the present time, and everything has worked out. Good luck!

[@gillianfairfax6192]

Hey girl! I've been binge watching your videos. So so helpful. I'm so sorry you had to go through this and I'm hoping all is resolved now. Thanks so much

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

I'm so glad the videos are helpful !!!!

[@triquepersonalwork6369]

As an American, I have experience in France dealing with the prefecture and system. This is how it is there in every aspect, no need to get irritated about it, everyone is on their own and if you choose to live in France you will be dealing with this your whole life there. By the way, the word, “beaurocracy” is originally a French word lol

[@maddscientist3170]

American as in US? or one of the other 34 "American" countries...North, South & Central "America"

[@trique9776]

​@@maddscientist3170 Yes, when someone says they are "American" they are referring to that they are a citizen of the country of America, not the continent of America which is composed of North and South American continents, people do not typically say they are from a certain continent, they tell people specifically where they are from. Make sense? Also, by the way, central America is not a continent.

[@morethanparisinfrance9289]

MY GOODNESS!!! I hate when things like this happen with French admin. I always try to figure out how French people themselves deal with situations like this. Like with their own system that's sometimes just like "no, no, no" I wish you luck- seriously!

[@SongsFromFarAway]

Well... We don't really deal with it... It's just horrible and very very inconvenient, all the time, every day. Sometimes it's even dangerous and put people in extremely difficult situations..

[@Chasing1850]

This video is so informative. The “realities” of living in France. Hope you’ll have more videos like this. 💗

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Thank you! ☺️ yes i hope to tell you guys more about my daily life in Paris soon !

[@losingmychic]

I've heard this from every American who has ever moved to France - I think the problem happens because in America often paperwork/bureaucracy and online applications are super easy, whereas in France and England for example, the opposite is true. Therefore if you go to France and expect things like logic and common sense to be present for any paperwork exercise, you will definitely be disappointed. One French person said to me, lower your expectations to zero, then you will always have your expectations match reality!

[@MsBettyRubble]

Actually, the French aren't all that crazy about Americans... and for good reason.

[@shinyshinythings]

I think it’s not so much “American bureaucracy is easy, European bureaucracy is hard” as much as it is familiarity. I’m sure there are Mexican, Vietnamese, Irish and Ukrainian people in the US who could tell similar stories about misunderstandings and paperwork problems. Immigrating is no picnic.

[@shawdi3552]

@@shinyshinythings 😂'Immigrating is no picnic.'

[@losingmychic]

@@shinyshinythings absolutely! My experience of immigrating definitely wasn't but it was definitely easier than most!

[@VintageLPs]

@@shinyshinythings Eh……people are just walking over our American borders with no consequences and getting welfare so come to America. 🙄

[@negarf9635]

Oh dear! I’m so sorry for your experience ...! I hope you have applied and approved and you’re at ease right now...! Stay safe ❤️

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

thank you so much for your lovely comment, everything is all good now :)

[@Jamila91100]

This video was very helpful !! Thank you

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Glad it was helpful for you!!

[@zigryignacio4343]

Maybe they tell you that it may take over a month because the lady who answered you is not in charge of your case, therefore she cannot guarantee how long the process will take. If they tell you that they will answer in x days but take longer, you have reason to complain. But if they answer in 3 or 4 weeks, then you whould be happy. Who knows?!! She may have even advocated for your case and that is why they answered sooner than expected. Hope you could go back and everything is ok for you.

[@perlah8407]

Thanks for sharing! I had no problem getting my visa for marriage but i got it in mexico( im sure also its the easiest visa to get) i am scared, im moving to france in 20 days! And im sure soon i will start the stressful appointments as well since i already saw alot of videos about people with the same problem. Looking forward to watching all your videos!

[@NonStopParis]

Once I was given an appointment at the prefec’ on the 23RD DECEMBER, so I wasn’t going to be in France as I was going home for the holidays. In reaction, I turned up early back when you used to be able to do walk-ins at the Cité prefecture. In October. As such I effectively had my meeting early. I asked many times that it wouldn’t be an issue and that they would cancel my other meeting (the one on the convocation). Fast forward to January when I email them asking for an update regarding my carte de séjour. They said I’d missed my appointment so would have to book another. I said they already had all my info and that it had been sitting there since October. She puts me on hold. Obviously the woman on the phone was not helpful so I go back to Cité. Explain again that I did not miss my appointment, but had gone in October. They ask me who I saw at the desk in October. I miraculously remember her name so they tell me they’ll check her pile. They miraculously find my paperwork 😂😂 thankfully I now have my carte de séjour but the whole process took me 18mo. Nightmare!

[@RebeccaEkwuruke]

This is also my first time hearing that the minimum wage was €500 for interns. From the info I have, interns normally are paid according to the city they are in. Interns in Paris are normally the best paid because of the higher cost of living. All the interns in know who worked in paris were paid nothing less than €700 euros. Those that worked in big companies got as much as €1200. Interns in smaller cities got nothing less than €580. I'm actually very surprised. Thanks for sharing.

[@vjosaal5818]

For me too, I ve done 3 internships in Paris, and I was paid 1400€ a month. But I was in a bank so I don’t know what her master was about.

[@melodiousramblings8470]

I suspect that her part-time salary had something to do with her degree/internship

[@shinyshinythings]

Maybe because Chanel? If there’s a lot of demand maybe they can get away with it.

[@user-xn7jc7ym2j]

Yea I think it depends too. I interned in Paris and got paid 1325

[@ananz2323]

I interned in Paris as a part of my degree, and my pay was extremely low too

[@arnikakiani8014]

Did you know that family reunion applications to the USA can take literal decades to be processed?

[@hollyhanau3628]

French administration and bureaucracy is so stressful. My visa also got denied and I have to go back to the states in a week. I'm devastated.

[@shiftshift654]

awesome video, thanks for the info

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

ahhhh thanks! glad it was useful :)

[@luccamagic]

I hear you. I live in Italy, legally. The permission to stay-1 year/ permission to work visa/ permission to stay-2 years and then renewal of that/ finally residential permission to stay forever process is so hard. So hard. And that was 23 years ago. Things are 'easier' in some ways now -but more difficult for American citizens as well...since we are not part of the EU. This dream is not for sissies and yes, the struggle is real. Thank you for the share.

[@maddscientist3170]

the European Union is a unique setup for countries in EUROPE only for trade...each country has separate governments & separate laws about immigration. Every country is different.....Pop over to Greece..as an EU citizen you can buy a place for 150K euro to live & become a resident, Non EU citizens have to pay $250k+ to become a resident...& you won't have to mess with "visas"😅

[@joyfullypacinglife8847]

Thank you for sharing!

[@maureenhawkins991]

My niece and her husband lived in Ireland for 3 years. Everything they did there was extremely difficult. Small or large. Canada is soooo different than anywhere in Europe. Sorry for your experience.

[@maddscientist3170]

Canada is different from the USA too! 😂

[@lavinder11]

This video is really helpful. I've heard horror stories from Americans trying to immigrate to France.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

100000% if you plan on immigrating here, please expect everything that can go wrong, to go wrong!

[@diansheffield6550]

Bless your heart...dont stress sweetie

[@pamelapelina]

I been in France since 2012, l was regularized last 2019! My friends at the moment are all having a hard time to be regularized... to get a convocation it will take 1year and another year to get a reply for a missing documets... it is a normal scenario. Survival of the fittest... now l'm on 10years Carte Resident... Courage!

[@AussieHeyJude]

The upside to your visa bad luck experiences will hopefully morph into good luck experiences for others who can learn and avoid falling into similar potholes. ❤

[@SlimTortoise]

I live in France and you do know they do things like this to make work for themselves, plus deep down France is racist to all foreign people, once you bare that in mind you can work around it. Also I find the more you can do without needing anyone in France the better, I have learned to fix cars, pumping, electric work everything that avoids asking a French person for help, because they will let you down because you are not French.

[@RebeccaEkwuruke]

Next time, the best way is to get this info from the international relations or the scolarité of your school. If you had done that, I think they would have given you very useful information to help you with applying collectly for the APS. It would have saved you all the stress.

[@TheMumboGumbo]

This whole experience sounds awful. I just today had my visa appointment and the process of getting to this point has been absolutely awful. Thank you for sharing your story, I feel your pain.

[@marie_2623]

French public service is well known for being a to tal mess. Unless you bring loads of cash or invest you're not welcomed..also unemployment rate is high among French graduates. Actually some go to Canada, Québec. Anywhere in the world immigration process/policy is about whether the country needs ppl or wants foreign to invest $$$, create jobs for locals etc. Not about empathy. Once you understand that, you'll feel less frustrated. Just an opinion, of course.

[@jellybeanparis584]

Ariel, I am just listening to your VLOG from Summer 2020. I have a French Friend who is disabled & has been waiting 14 years to get a Social Home in France. When he goes to that office they tell him they don’t have anything available right now. However the law in France says the Person who applies for a Social House legally is given the Apartment or House (with rent charged) in something like 6 months. He’s waited 14 years

[@philip5899]

I’m sorry for what you went through and I totally get your frustration. It’s unfair I get it BUT , here’s a big but, you’re a foreigner trying to get into a foreign country, there’s no entitlement. It’s the same across the world 😢.

[@edugoabroad8758]

informative and shorter than other youtubers...👌👌👌

[@takeapaws2388]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Move to the UK xxxxx great video though, sorry you’ve been through a tough time x

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Thanks char 😘 I have to doubt the UK would be an easier system 😂

[@takeapaws2388]

@@Ariellelaparisienne YOU'LL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY ;)

[@bodilyc]

No way, Im a UK citizen married to an American and he can't get the right to move there without a boat load of money and massive paper work, years of waiting and tons of bureaucracy. We have a daughter together and even with she and I in the country he isn't allowed to move there without a TON of restrictions and literally thousands of pounds in. fees......he's my husband and Im British, its insane!!!!!!

[@takeapaws2388]

@@bodilyc That sounds super stressful for you! I'm sorry you're experiencing this!

[@ThisEveinEvening]

@@bodilyc oh my gosh seriously?!? That's so stressful. 😥

[@alea_iacta_est.rubicon]

This is totally typical I'm afraid. I spend time in this lovely country as I have my girlfriend there. But I would never consider putting the french in control of anything that was important or fundamental to my interests. It's very sad because twenty years ago I considered moving to France full time. I learned long ago to leave anything vital in the UK and managed there. The UK wins out and France loses out. I sleep at night as a result. And from what I've seen, it will never change.

[@stevenarzu7690]

I’m in Paris now it’s getting costly and I arrived around Covid time so between financial hit the economy took and the ambiguity around how long simple things take to get done I’m probably out of here soon. Trying to get my masters done and the week before the company was suppose to send my”alternance contract” they took back offer because they didn’t know how to switch my visa and paperwork was too extensive. They did a terrible job of communicating this to me. I was left to figure things out on my own. I’m not here to change their system so on the bright side I guess I’ve learned a good amount of French and I’ll take that back home.

[@asideofaioli4630]

That sounds extremely frustrating. I've always been understanding of the fact that offices get busy & I'm not the only one they are helping. I don't expect anyone to go out of their way, or be super kind, i only expect for ppl to be respectful & try to understand the customers problem. That doesn't always happen though. So my mother taught me to knock on every single metaphorical door before hanging up the metaphorical towel. You did exactly what I'd do -- emailing several times, calling several times. I'm not sure if it's possible, but maybe you can try going to the office in person when/if the above ever fails again. I know you won't get seen for an appt that way, but a my mmmmmmmmt least you can have a live person to talk to & receive answers from (ending a sentence in a preposition is ok in informal settings 🤫😋). Also wondering, is it possible to have another office contact the one you need? You know, to forward your concerns or bring your case to their attention? I only ask bc I've had to do that before (in the states that is). When in desperate situations I've def gone over the heads of ppl, or just pestered others who could maybe get the attention of those i need. And if all else fails, show up in person. Lol, not saying you should become a stalker. It's just that offices can have so many cases ,& customers that we become even less distinct than a number. So putting a face to the case (catch that rhyme there??) can sometimes provide a little inspiration for staff to help you resolve your issue. Sry for writing so much! Keep the videos coming 👍😊

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

You know normally I would agree with going in person... HOWEVER the french offices are equipped for this. In most cities, you have to apply for an appointment, and once you have the appointment, you are emailed a paper that allows you to enter the office. There are security guards at the entrance and if you do not have this paper allowing you in, you dont get to go in and ask your questions. Its really simple.... not appointment ? no service. :( I feel like it must be equally as challenging for you in the states !

[@asideofaioli4630]

@@Ariellelaparisienne I've only ever needed a visa once, so you def have more experience than me! But you make a good point, government stuff is probably hair pulling to some degree EVERYWHERE 😋. I'm glad you're making videos like this. Even though your situation is in France, your discussion brings to light things that could be relevant to ppl all over. Best wishes!

[@americanfrenchmom]

Me watching this having my appointment tomorrow knowing that this mess is alllll to common!!! I’ve been waiting for my visa for almost a year ........

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

oh gosh :((( did it go OK? did you get the visa?!

[@RebeccaEkwuruke]

I am sorry that you had to pass through this. But you need to understand that any country giving you a visa to be in their country is a privilege and not a right. They have the sole right to say if you will be there or not.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Totally understandable, HOWEVER... the only reason I did a 2-year Masters degree and took out such a big loan which i spent all in France was because of the fact that the government OFFERS the chance to get a work visa after completing our studies.... I followed the process that the government themselves laid out... therefore I believe that I should have a right to apply for a visa that they themselves say is accessible after our studies.

[@zak7578]

@Rebecca E do you live in France? I guess not. You seem very naïve about how the French administration behaves in general. Probably best not to comment at all. What OP says sounds accurate. The French are not all romantic wine lovers! The Préfectures are known to seriously misbehave and make and change rules as they go along. Everything is done to make things as difficult for you as they can. Their main aim: you quit process. Why excuse despicable behaviour and pretend it is due to language or cultural differences? Québec, Belgium, Switzerland, French speaking countries in Africa we all regularly critize the French for their negativity and xenophobic behaviour. OP never said having a visa is a right. Yet immediately you attack her for speaking out 👎 @OP 👍

[@ThisEveinEvening]

Nope. They laid out the APS. Having her pay France and their companies through money and labor, and to make it impossible to start the APS and have her go through all of that is basically a scam, a form of theft.

[@YT-Viewer]

The one question that would explain it all would be, "Does French bureaucracy treat French-born civilians the same way?" If so, one has to really think about whether they want to deal with that type of culture if they have a choice not to, e.i. staying in one's home country.

[@guisellalosa7557]

I’m so so sorry. I’ve been in the same situation as an expat trying to do my visa for California. But I realised I want to be more in France. This video scares me.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

I'm so sorry the video scared you ! I hope you will still have the power to come to france ! Its true, it is a very challenging process but everything worked out for me in the end, as i'm sure it will for you :)

[@yunmishin5926]

I’m waiting for student visa renewal over four months in Nice area.. and staying without any visa or recepisse. my friend suggested me to move to different region for temporary and apply it in different prefecture so I will do that.. so frustrating and sad. I will never come back to France after study. Worst country i have ever lived. You are so brave to decide to be a citizen in France.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

I am so so so sorry you are having such a hard time... after 4 visa application processes, I know it can feel impossible at times. My fingers are crossed tight for you !!

[@fatimazohrakebabza9958]

thats one of things i hate in france. dont feel bad this was an experience for u dear and it taught u sth.

[@SongsFromFarAway]

Well... I'm sorry you had to go through this... But this is just very normal in France... Our administrations are the worst, very long to react, very unclear, very unprofessional, impossible to speak to anyone on the phone, extremely hard to respect deadlines etc, etc. I'm french, I can tell you this is unfortunately an average situation... They even do that in some situations where you literally have to pay something because "you're late" by their fault..... Or they just don't pay you what you should get, and so on. There's actually an administration phobia, a real psychological trouble, that some frenchies experiment. I mean, I love my country for some reasons, sure, but this is horrible... Good luck then ! I hope you'll find a solution. Take care.

[@drashtidee]

Girl.. You probably know better now but here's some info. 1. The hours you can work do not count in internships. 2. You often have to go to the prefecture in person to find the correct information because it is almost impossible to find it online. (as you said in the video) 3. Shortly in France is equal to 3 months. Can't believe you didn't face this during the renewal of your student visa.

[@yannip2083]

I have heard the same thing from many people too. With such bureaucracy, you still want to emigrate to France?

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Its definitely complicated... Most of the time I want to give up and head back to Canada! but its been a lifelong dream to move to France and life is quite magical when I'm not buried in the paperwork :)

[@kandarkhan5585]

Hello I'm from Afghanistan and in Iran My student visa got rejected the reason was your purpose isn't studying you are going to stay there. Any solution?

[@guisellalosa7557]

I just watched then whole video. I heard many stories about visas in France but believe me in the US it’s also terrible and you have to pay a lot of money to a lawyer and then takes time too and it’s not that easy to immigrate. I think I’m general to immigrate it’s not easy at all!

[@maddscientist3170]

No problem "immigrating' if you are an experienced professional..especially if you are self employed and can sustain yourself with a continuing salary. Any license documentation can be applied for in the country you are immigrating to in order to practice your career. I know quite a few people who have 2-3 addresses/residence in other countries for work....It can be done!......

[@benngoma7353]

The French government agencies should see this... Am sincerely sorry

[@yannip2083]

This seems normal, what what I am hearing from so many people, endlessly ... They told me that's the normal French way of doing things.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

but "normal" definitely doesn't mean good... I think if so many people are complaining about the system, then there may be need for some improvements :/

[@aygennegya]

Ugh. I m about to start work permit procedure in france and for last 3 days i couldnt even book an appointment. I hate it already. And have bad feelings about it

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Crossing my fingers for you ! I know how complicated it can be :(

[@yannip2083]

What was the France long stay visa you were applying for?

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Yes exactly ! Thanks :) I was applying for the "search for work / business creation temporary residents permit" so that I could find work after my Masters ! (for some nationalities its also called the APS)

[@kennethjohnson4088]

Good Luck

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

thank you... i sure need it!

[@melodiousramblings8470]

I am currently waiting for the my campus france approval so I can start the student visa process 😬

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Ahhhhh good luck !!!! I hope it goes well for you!! ☺️☺️

[@melodiousramblings8470]

@@Ariellelaparisienne Merci! Je viens de finir de regarder toutes tes videos! Ils etaient tres bien!

[@lauracornell4629]

Maybe a better place to visit

[@carthkaras6449]

I'm belgian, and I know that Seine Saint Denis is the worst department of France. Actually, it's the place where all the immigrants ends up, it must be a mess at their prefecture.

[@ruslanulko8195]

Canada is Great Just stay with us ;)

[@theholisticgirl5671]

Which course did you do?

[@flirtinggracefullplatypus8496]

idk if this would help but aside from millenials and some older geeks doing things online is not necessary a reflex. because a lot of thing have to be done online now more and more people do use internet and stuff but calling the place would have still be a first reflex for a lot of people. when i hear you say it's wrong i totally understand that for a northern american that seems only unfair and mighty frustrating but i still don't like those everything is online ways that we are pushed towards. also if this happen in august over a month or very shorlty could really mean when the guy who hasn't look at your file yet will be back from holidays.

[@christinebona_]

I feel you very much my friend, no wonder why there are a lot of undocumented people in France due to the stressful paper works

[@marinanabutovskiy0325]

I am so sorry you had that experience. Welcome to bureaucratic machinery. Some ppl can also act very mean based on how and where they grew up and how that affected their psyche(referring to that woman who told you bunch of misleading info and many ppl born in Europe). I grew up in Ukraine (live in US for 33 yrs)and can see right away when ppl manipulate and/or tell u things that r not true. This is not to say you should have known or seen that. Just know that life is full of possibilities no matter what.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

thank you so much for the lovely comment, you are so right ! I think there is a general lack of empathy here..... life can be so hard and it can just be such a relief when people help rather than turn away

[@marinanabutovskiy0325]

@@Ariellelaparisienne Of course! You r very brave to live in Paris. My husband and I have been to Paris 4 times and now coming to visit again. It is magnetic what can I say. Something attracts me to come there despite the fact of how ppl behave. Much 💕.

[@md.riadhossainsabuj4679]

I love friends.......

[@fatimazohrakebabza9958]

my question is france vs canada for me... i mean studying and working

[@fatimazohrakebabza9958]

thanks dear

[@maddscientist3170]

Welcome to Adulthood....best scenario..you go on 90 day vacation visa, then you go on another 90day visa vacation visa...to get things done& find work, then then you get a "sponser" to get a work visa...once you have worked an amount of "time" THEN you apply for residency.........student visas are the low man on the totem pole unless you are crying political asylum. but HEY it ain't easy getting into Canada either as an immigrant!!!

[@ladyjustice1474]

Sounds like you were at the DMV here in the US.

[@dianaashton2512]

Why didn’t YOUNINFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MOLD IN YOUR APARTMENT

[@laquica3255]

830 euros a month isn't cheap....

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

nope not at all!

[@asideofaioli4630]

Where i live, 830 ($, but the exchange rate isn't super far off) a month for a reasonable 1bd rm apartment in a decent area is great! It's been difficult finding anything under $1,100. It's sad, bc i know ppl who live in other states who pay half that (or

[@ridwanislam9783]

To best honest, majority of the people are close minded and most awful people I've ever met. It's quite complicated to deal with them.

[@emhu2594]

i had an experience like yours, only i went to the UK intending to be there for 1 month. They rejected my tourism entry visa for no reason, put me in the airport jail for 24 hours, and sent me all the way back to the US. As a foreign national you literally have no rights in other countries and you have no "rights" to entry even as a tourist. trying to live abroad is a giant school of hard knocks.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Oh my gosh that is an unreal story.... I'm sorry you went though that 😕 yes, I don't think anyone is mentally prepared for the administrative struggles of moving or even travelling abroad...

[@bellamuerte]

I agree! My husband is French and im filipino, we live in japan. We enjoy our life here but we dont feel very secure, especially during covid. The government gave financial support to everyone except foreign nationals. A lot o people got upset and they finally decided to give it to us. That’s why my husband and I decided to move to france because at least there he could protect us and his family could help as well.

[@ruthbanon6049]

Why did you not just go in person to the office and talk to a clerk in your correct neighborhood office?

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

You can not step a single foot in the prefecture without an appointment unfortunately :/

[@lauracornell4629]

Doesn't sound like somewhere good to live anyway

[@brookeann124]

Welcome to life honey.

[@jennistevenson796]

French admin is a nightmare. So inefficient and obstructive

[@sharaswitala6296]

Girl take a deep breathe! French don’t want us Americansthere

[@guisellalosa7557]

Everything is so exhausted and notional draining.

[@mariereid5178]

Not so good to hear

[@danielkennedy4518]

While the private sector is rewarded for efficiently satisfying customers, the public sector incentives reward loyalty to superiors, growing the bureaucracy and centralizing power. Public sector bureaucrats are in fact punished for efficiency and problem solving - they lose funding and therefore status and power. Every page, every sentence, every word of legislation and regulation is fertilizer that enables public sector bureaucrats to grow the bureaucracy and the power of the state. Consider for example: • Today the US federal government debt is over $25 trillion yet come the end of the fiscal year every federal government bureaucracy will do everything it can to spend every last dollar of its budget. • What has the Environmental Protection Agency accomplished other than ensuring “dirty” jobs and processes move to such ecological wonderlands as China, India, Bangladesh, etc.? • Why is American education poorer but vastly more expensive today than before the creation of the Department of Education? • What has the Department of Energy accomplished re energy independence - the ethanol lunacy which is depleting the Ogallala Aquifer? • Look at Income Tax law. Why is the cost of compliance (time wasted, litigation, record keeping, mal-investment, fraud, 100K+ IRS workforce, preparer fees, etc.) with our 75,000+ page Income Tax Code approaching half a trillion dollars a year?

[@dianaashton2512]

I seriously wonder why you were not informed about all these bureaucratic details. Seems like someone would have known this. If you had known this before would you still have gone?

[@suefrench8721]

Oh can't believe you're Canadian. You should also know that you have to speak French to become a citizen. If you're wanting to live in France you have to live French. It is very different from North America. Much less stress, try looking at the website chez lulu. You'll get more information from her.

[@teona4279]

Can you share the neighborhood so I don't live there 💀

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

yes of course haha it was Montreuil ! But there are lovely spaces in Montreuil :) The french administration processes are just very very complicated everywhere you go sadly

[@rochelimit55555]

that woman was malicious

[@peacejoy675]

Watching this, I have felt a lot of sympathy. But I wonder why you have so much passion to move to France. I am enjoying my retirement life in Mississauga Ontario and my daughter as a Canadian lives well in London UK after having the wedding in Hamburg, Germany. I hope you settle down there by now. But there are many ways to enjoy the fruitful life anywhere people want to live, without yielding to the bureaucratic and arrogant people. I think the French officers are sick and tired of so many ILLEGAL immigrants, then they apply such feelings even to the Legal immigrants.

[@jacqueline4749]

Omg that's awful ❤

[@Thun-jx8vx]

Why did you not call your local office in the first place to ask them about an aps? So much for saying you are organized. Also even from the start of ding the faster rout you didn't research the complete track.

[@aalam5747]

That's what I was thinking and I am very clumsy.

[@edised71]

They consider workers as slaves, so you guess how they treat interns!

[@duncansmith7562]

you did it the hard way. easier to just arrive on a boat from Africa and claim asylum.

[@jmfleureau8662]

Quand on pense qu’en même temps il y a 150.000 clandestins africains qui débarquent chaque année dans le pays sans être expulsés….

[@MrStan0630]

Interesting video, but you seem very naive. Do you really believe that if you got to talk to an empathetic person you would have received your Visa?

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

thanks ! No, I believed that by following the rules and receiving my appointment confirmation I would receive my visa :) logical no ?

[@MrStan0630]

@@Ariellelaparisienne It would seem so. I love visiting Paris. However, I have watched a lot of vlogs of ex-pats that live in France, and pretty much without exception they have a difficult time dealing with their Prefecture. It makes me wonder how immigrants are treated at US Customs Offices. Good luck.

[@AkaMagenta]

I watched this entire video and you my dear sound VERY VERY entitled! It’s like “I went to school gimme my french citizenship 😛 bhwaaaa they won’t give it to me! 🙄😩

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Hm from my side, it was a very big decision for me to move to France, and I made that decision based on the fact that I would get my visa, and eventually citizenship (as outlined by the French government process). This decision cost me a lot of money, and debt and time. And I am happy to sacrifice those things - but it’s unfair to sacrifice all that and not be able to obtain what is essentially « promised ». It’s like anything in life, we take risks and we make our decisions based on the hopeful outcome - and when we don’t get the outcome, it’s confusing and disappointing. From my perspective, I followed everything that was asked of me by the French administration and so, I think it’s fair to expect that they also follow-through with that is written in their own procedures. No?

[@tanatswataruvinga]

I don’t think it’s entitled. If someone fulfills the requirements then it’s normal to expect the promised outcome. From her story I can tell it was her first time dealing with issues of visas and citizenship. Many governments make visa and citizenship promises that they don’t fulfil and disappoint many that the process is much longer and harder than stipulated. France isn’t the only one that does that. South Africa does that too and other countries as well. She did everything she could and was organized. The only mistake she made was being hopeful that everything would be done efficiently. She wasn’t aware of the notorious French bureaucracy and how everything is 10* harder than it needs to be.

[@selah2367]

Maybe because she is entitled to the visa? Having never dealt with French administration I can see not being able to empathize with her but she spent 20 thousand dollars and 2 years of her life working towards a goal that was shut down because of the administration. She’s allowed to feel angry

[@ThisEveinEvening]

🤨your comment is rude. France laid out the APS, they're happy to get money into France and their companies while making it hard for her to earn enough money to survive, made it impossible to actually get the APS application and appointments... 🧐can safely say that it's a scam, another form of theft. Lying may not be a a crime, but isn't theft a crime? 🤷‍♀️

[@joannlamonica8067]

WAY WAY. TOO MUCH DRAMA. STAY IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY!!!! Amen!!!!! JO-ANN. LAMONICA. AMERICA. 1/3/2023

[@cineffect]

It depends, if you are a masochist, the French administration may be a very pleasant experience.

[@billlynn8256]

overacting

[@dawnemyers8873]

I don't know how you excessively apply over and over again, I'm stressed listening to this video. Sorry. You talking 90 miles an hour is exhausting to me. Your going to drive yourself crazy

[@tic-tacdrin-drinn1505]

In 2012, an American woman in Connecticut was convicted (among other charges) of sending her son to a school district where she did not live. This does not excuse French bureaucracy, but shows that North America can be just as unreasonable. Maybe for an European in Canada can such an application like yours be more straightforward, in the end it doesn't mean the answer will be an easy Yes.