C'est officiel!

I'm OFFICIALLY going to Paris!

Ok, I've been officially going to Paris for a while, but now it's officially official since my work permit has been approved!

When I first found out I was going to Paris, my thought was that all I needed was a visa.  I was so very wrong.  Here's how the process actually works...at least how I understand it to work as of right now.  I'm only on step 5 after all.

moi mademoiselle's understanding of the French visa process

1.  Celebrate!  Your company is sponsoring you to work in Paris for six months!

2.  Submit alllllllll your documentation to apply for a work permit.  (Yes, that reads work permit and not visa.  Stop trying to put the cart ahead of the horse now, it'll save some stress.)  By allllllll documentation, I mean all of it.  If it has anything to do with your identity, it's likely needed.

3.  Wait.  And wait some more.

4.  The Ministry of Labour approves your application to work in France.  They transfer the approval to the Office of Immigration.

5.  Your closest consulate acknowledges receipt of the work permit approval.  You schedule an appointment to apply for a travel visa.  (Yes, a travel visa.)

6.  You attend your appointment at the consulate, fill out more forms, submit more documentation.

7.  Wait.

8.  Pick up your passport with freshly adhered travel visa!

9.  Celebrate!  It's getting more real!

10.  Pause, then remember that your visa only allows you to work and travel in the Schengen area for 90 days.  So what about days 91-180 you will be working and living there??

11.  Fast forward a few weeks:  arrive in Paris!  Celebrate!  You're in Paris!

12.  After eating a fresh croissant and a few macarons, head straight to the Office of Immigration.

13.  Go through a full medical examination.  Fill out more forms.  Submit more documentation.

14.  Wait.  And wait some more.  While waiting:  work, live like a Parisian, travel within the Schengen area.

15.  Receive a resident sticker for your visa.

16.  Celebrate!  Now, finally, you're a resident of Paris and you're allowed to stay for more than 90 days!  AND you get to travel to non-Schengen area countries (read:  the UK).

Adjustments

I move in about two months.  Dates haven’t been set in stone yet, and—because I know you’re all wondering—yes, I’m starting to freak out a little bit.  So to quell the lingering anxiety, I’m trying my best to get prepared now.  I went through my closet a few months ago and gave away 75 articles of clothing (which, by the way, I had moved from College Station to San Antonio to “Philadelphia” to Houston before deeming them unnecessary).  Plus, I have significantly cut down on excess spending on clothes for two reasons:  Paris fashion and limited suitcase capacity.  Granted I’ve made some purchases here and there but ONLY on items that will keep me looking as chic as the quintessential Parisienne.  I still have no earthly idea how I’m going to pack for six months abroad in two suitcases.  Challenge…accepted, if for no other reason than not having a choice.

In preparation for the big switch to the metric system, my phone now tells me the weather in Celsius.  You would think that being an engineer by training I would be better at the conversion, but such is not the case.  I have mini panic attacks every time I check the weather before leaving my apartment when my phone reads “currently 4 degrees, high of 7.”  WHAT?!  Oh, right, Celsius.  So somewhere in the 40s.  Whew.  Something tells me it is going to take a while to get used to the temperature conversion.  At least the mile to kilometer conversion is much more straightforward.

Lucky for me, I work with Paris often enough to have the time difference down.  Thank goodness.  I’ll worry about being confused by the Daylight Savings mechanics whenever that happens.  And, BONUS!  I worked for the ROTC program in college so 24-hour time is a breeze.  Good thing Europeans are famously punctual so all this knowledge will go to good use.