Today I went to the government assigned doctor and then the OFII (French Office of Immigration and Integration) to have my long-term visitor visa approved. I was a little nervous because the doctor appointment was at 9 and the OFII appointment was at 9:45. Jeremy took the morning off to escort me.
The doctor's was confusing. When we arrived, it was just one doctor. We arrived at the same time as another person and the doctor escorted us all to the waiting room while speaking French. He took the other guy back and we waited while another guy came. After the first guy finished, he took the other guy back instead of me. Well I'm pretty sure Jeremy could see the steam coming out of my ears because he assured me we had plenty of time, which to me isn't the point of the matter. At this point another guy came in to wait.
Out of nowhere another doctor shows up. She asked a question in French and I heard "premiere" which means "first" so I quickly lifted my hand to indicate that I was first. The guy says something too and I'm ready to jump on him if he said he was first too, but Jeremy said he said he was last.
The first doctor came back, now finished with the second guy, and said something in French to me while pointing at a hallway. I go into the hallway but there are multiple doors so I just stand there until he comes back and says some more French and I pick out the word "droit" which means "right" and go into the room on the right. You'd think if a doctor's job is to examine foreigners, they would find doctors who speak foreign languages, but no. It's also no use to ask them to slow down, it just doesn't happen. French people talk very fast and actually I'm told the people of Besançon speak slower than a lot of other regions. I've heard people from other regions speak and it is true, especially Parisians, so all I can say is I'm grateful we're in Besançon and not Paris.
I go into the room and the female doctor follows us in. Maybe if he is examining a female a female witness has to be in the room and that's why he took the other guy first, because the female doctor was late. I don't know, just a theory. So he listens to me breathe, checks my reflexes, looks in my mouth, asks if I smoke, have glasses, if my parents are well, takes my weight and height and that's it! Very easy! He didn't ask about vaccinations, past sicknesses, or any hereditary diseases. The female doctor hands me the form I have to give to OFII and we're on our way at 9:18. Jeremy supposes the exam is a formality so in case an outbreak or something causes France to truly want to limit the intake of foreigners, they can do so without having to implement a new ordinance that could receive flak.
Within the 25 minutes we were in the doctor's office, it had become a gorgeous day outside. Since the OFII building was less than 5 minutes away, we decided to walk leisurely by the river. The water had become clear enough to see through by the banks and we could see some fish. I decided to snap some pictures along the way of the river by the Battant and Canot Bridges. We also passed a tiny park I don't know the name of.
The doctor's was confusing. When we arrived, it was just one doctor. We arrived at the same time as another person and the doctor escorted us all to the waiting room while speaking French. He took the other guy back and we waited while another guy came. After the first guy finished, he took the other guy back instead of me. Well I'm pretty sure Jeremy could see the steam coming out of my ears because he assured me we had plenty of time, which to me isn't the point of the matter. At this point another guy came in to wait.
Out of nowhere another doctor shows up. She asked a question in French and I heard "premiere" which means "first" so I quickly lifted my hand to indicate that I was first. The guy says something too and I'm ready to jump on him if he said he was first too, but Jeremy said he said he was last.
The first doctor came back, now finished with the second guy, and said something in French to me while pointing at a hallway. I go into the hallway but there are multiple doors so I just stand there until he comes back and says some more French and I pick out the word "droit" which means "right" and go into the room on the right. You'd think if a doctor's job is to examine foreigners, they would find doctors who speak foreign languages, but no. It's also no use to ask them to slow down, it just doesn't happen. French people talk very fast and actually I'm told the people of Besançon speak slower than a lot of other regions. I've heard people from other regions speak and it is true, especially Parisians, so all I can say is I'm grateful we're in Besançon and not Paris.
I go into the room and the female doctor follows us in. Maybe if he is examining a female a female witness has to be in the room and that's why he took the other guy first, because the female doctor was late. I don't know, just a theory. So he listens to me breathe, checks my reflexes, looks in my mouth, asks if I smoke, have glasses, if my parents are well, takes my weight and height and that's it! Very easy! He didn't ask about vaccinations, past sicknesses, or any hereditary diseases. The female doctor hands me the form I have to give to OFII and we're on our way at 9:18. Jeremy supposes the exam is a formality so in case an outbreak or something causes France to truly want to limit the intake of foreigners, they can do so without having to implement a new ordinance that could receive flak.
Within the 25 minutes we were in the doctor's office, it had become a gorgeous day outside. Since the OFII building was less than 5 minutes away, we decided to walk leisurely by the river. The water had become clear enough to see through by the banks and we could see some fish. I decided to snap some pictures along the way of the river by the Battant and Canot Bridges. We also passed a tiny park I don't know the name of.
We arrived at the OFII building and it's packed. Unorganized lines are zigzagging everywhere and there isn't a receptionist or any employee to be found to ask what to do. When Jeremy came, he got a different type of visa and was able to go after business hours so he was as baffled as I. We managed to find a kiosk and after Jeremy pulled out his phone to translate it (there was no option to select another language on a kiosk in a building for immigrants) we selected the option for foreigners and a numbered ticket printed out much like any American government office, or deli for that matter. The other two options had to deal with vehicles. Now the conundrum and lack of organization makes sense, we're in a French DMV!
We then go to buy our stamps. It seems in many French government settings, instead of paying in cash, credit, money order, what have you, you purchase stamps and pay with those. For example, if someone got a ticket for drunk driving, they could opt to pay to get the points taken off their license much like America. They buy the stamps any pay with those instead. In our case, my visa cost 241€ (have I mentioned shopping amazon via our affiliate link lately?) so we paid a woman behind a counter 241€ and she gave us two stamps worth 90€, two stamps worth 30€, and one 1€. These stamps would be given to the employee processing my OFII form, who will glue them to my form as proof of payment.
There were four tickers, all with different titles and numbers. After we figured out which ticker we should be looking at, we sat down and waited for good ol' 525 to be called. After about 10 minutes it was called and we headed to the desk only to find out we shouldn't be here. We should be upstairs. It was after 9:45 at this point so we hustled upstairs.
After that, it was all smooth sailing. The woman processed my forms, glued the stamps on, put a sticker on my visa, and explained what to do in 7 months time when I needed to renew. Turns out that's when I go downstairs and take a number. Oops. But I am now officially a temporary resident of France! I took some pictures of a church while walking home, and we bought some celebratory mousse.
We then go to buy our stamps. It seems in many French government settings, instead of paying in cash, credit, money order, what have you, you purchase stamps and pay with those. For example, if someone got a ticket for drunk driving, they could opt to pay to get the points taken off their license much like America. They buy the stamps any pay with those instead. In our case, my visa cost 241€ (have I mentioned shopping amazon via our affiliate link lately?) so we paid a woman behind a counter 241€ and she gave us two stamps worth 90€, two stamps worth 30€, and one 1€. These stamps would be given to the employee processing my OFII form, who will glue them to my form as proof of payment.
There were four tickers, all with different titles and numbers. After we figured out which ticker we should be looking at, we sat down and waited for good ol' 525 to be called. After about 10 minutes it was called and we headed to the desk only to find out we shouldn't be here. We should be upstairs. It was after 9:45 at this point so we hustled upstairs.
After that, it was all smooth sailing. The woman processed my forms, glued the stamps on, put a sticker on my visa, and explained what to do in 7 months time when I needed to renew. Turns out that's when I go downstairs and take a number. Oops. But I am now officially a temporary resident of France! I took some pictures of a church while walking home, and we bought some celebratory mousse.
As a side note, if you have a generous heart or wallet, I have added items to the wishlist found in the Support Us page to the right of our affiliate link. They're items I'm either having difficulty finding in France or are much cheaper in state-side. There are items as cheap as $8 with add-on items as cheap as $2.
Also, I'm taking an idea from my friend who asked this on facebook: if any one wants to receive snail mail, or even just a postcard as a one time or seasonal thing, contact us!
Also, I'm taking an idea from my friend who asked this on facebook: if any one wants to receive snail mail, or even just a postcard as a one time or seasonal thing, contact us!