Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I agree with you about the French administration attitude towards foreigners, I lived in many countries and I have never experienced this before, which is really sad.
Hello Rebecca! Thanks for the informative video. I'm wondering about the gap between the 3rd class and the 4th one. Were you able to schedule it very soon? Also, after the OFII interview, was your CIR signed? I noticed mine only has my signature. Additionally, did you need the CIR for the first residency card, or is it only required for the 10 years one? Thanks! 😀
Thank you for this wonderful video. I, too, am an American married to a Frenchman and now living in Saumur, France. I have a meeting scheduled March 4th. There are several videos online showing what the language test is like. I'm wondering if you've seen them and could tell me which is the most similar to the sort of test you were given. Thanks so much!
Hi! Sorry I’m just seeing this! I hope your meeting and test went well. Honestly, I wouldn’t have recommended you do anything to really practice because if your level is low, you want them to note that so that you are offered more help without having to pay for it! 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience as I will have to go to OFFI - my first time in a couple of days. I have a question on the language level test. Did you find it difficult? What would be your advice for me to prepare myself? Merci beaucoup.
Hi! You’re welcome! The language test wasn’t difficult, but I wouldn’t really prepare for it. If you need a higher level, they will offer you courses free or charge through Greta. If your level is very low, you will be required to take the classes. A2 is the level you need in order to not be required and the class you would take is B1. Just try to relax and do your best because free help is better than paid help! 😊
Great questions! We scheduled the 4th class on the third class day. It was scheduled for the next week. It didn’t give us much notice. We signed the CIR on our final day of class, and I used it when renewing my two year visa. You want to hang on to all of the paperwork. I just took everything with me to the prefecture in case they asked me for anything not listed (which they often do here 😑). Hope this helps! ☺️
Thank you for your reply; I appreciate your help and kindness. Is the CIR necessary for the two years? I thought it's only for the 10-year one based on the site; interesting. Also, is the 2-year application online or offline? Thanks!
I’m not sure if the CIR is required, but any proof that you have that you have taken or are taking the OFII classes is important to show when reapplying which unfortunately has to be done in person at your local prefecture. Mine was scheduled and it went very quickly. Good luck!
I’m so sorry! That’s really stressful! I would definitely keep calling and try different times of the day (never at lunch 😜). Did you get an initial email after you registered and paid for your visa online within the 3 months after you arrived?
Hi! Ive been waiting for my first appointment since july and my visa expires on may ive been so nervous. Ive been trying to call and sending emails and no response 😢 Do you have any advice that I can do?
Did you have more than one meeting that you had to drive to? I heard there are 4 meetings to do, and I am wondering if you had to drive a long distance to complete this process..?
The meetings with OFII were in Toulouse. That was the language test and medical appointment. Those were about 2.5 hours from me. Then my Formation Civique classes (4) were an hour from where I live. I wasn’t happy about that commute. I had a ride from a family member one day, I road with a classmate once, and I took a bus the other two days. They really don’t make these classes convenient. 😩 Welcome to France! 😂
Hello thank you so much for the information i am from india staying in france from last 3months i had my test in next week i don't even know anything in french so what will be my situation I'm tensed can you help me
Hi, and welcome! If you don’t know French, they can have a translator help you. You will be required to take free French lessons and they will give you information on that. It’s through Greta. Don’t stress about it. OFII really does try to get people acclimated to life in France. You will also have a translator for your OFII Formation Civique courses.
Hi! Great question! My appointment lasted about 2 hours. I went in at 1 pm, and I was done at around 3 pm. It was mostly waiting for everyone to finish the written exam, then waiting for the employees to grade the exam, then to get called in for the oral exam and meet with someone to schedule the formation civique classes. Do you have your date for your first visit? Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions. I just started posting, but I will add more info about my formation civique experience soon! :)
@@expatpasexpert yes thank you for your reply ..i submitted my paper before 3 weeks ago but still they don't reply me yet just waiting for my appointment don't know how long they take more i have one more question 🙈 do you have any idea about mission locale?? i also got marry with french girl am also applying for long stay visa..!
@@tayyabraja9355 Congratulations on your marriage! It can take a few weeks before you get your appointment date! You can wait for anything that the government is in charge of! Haha! As far as mission locale, I think it's for people between the ages of 16 and 25. I'm 34, so I'm not eligible. :) You should definitely see about getting help through one! They sound very helpful!
@@expatpasexpert o thank you so much for your kindness but i need one more information do you have any idea how much exactly time they take for give you first appointment am waiting for my appointment still month ago but they didn't any response me anything?????
I’m happy to help! I paid for my visa on June 20, 2022, and my first OFII appointment was held on August 23, 2022. I’m not sure when I received the letter. You could try calling the OFII location nearest you. Mine was Toulouse. In France, they aren’t in a hurry to get anything done. It was definitely a shock for me coming from the US where administration tends to be more efficient. Where are you moving from?
Hello thanks for your video this might help me a lot. I came here in france last December and I validated my visa the same month but still now I didn’t have an email yet for my appointment to ofii. So I'm little stress because I can't speak french still especially in conversation.
So glad it could help! Do you know which OFII office you report to? If you do, you might contact them. Five months seems a bit long to wait. Did you pay the fee and get an email confirmation when you validated your visa?
If you want to take French lessons, you could take them at a non-profit like La Crois Rouge or other organizations if there are chapters in your city. That may help! They’re usually offered for free!
Yes is in Nantes. And I payed for my visa validation and I received an email when I validated my visa. But still I don't receive an email for my appointment to when I should go there. For the moment I don't know what to do but to learn French is the only choice.
@@marcoreycel It won’t be an email. They will mail you a letter with the date of your first appointment on it. You could try to contact the office in Nantes.
The speaking is just a conversation. They ask where you live, work, if you’ve traveled anywhere or what you do for fun. It’s just to see if you understand them and can respond. The written is stuff like writing a letter to the electric company and reading a newspaper article and answering questions about it. Hope this helps!!! Good luck!
If you aren’t able to do the exam, they’ll help you sign up for French lessons. They’re free, and they’ll have a translator help you at your appointment.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I agree with you about the French administration attitude towards foreigners, I lived in many countries and I have never experienced this before, which is really sad.
Hello Rebecca! Thanks for the informative video.
I'm wondering about the gap between the 3rd class and the 4th one. Were you able to schedule it very soon?
Also, after the OFII interview, was your CIR signed? I noticed mine only has my signature.
Additionally, did you need the CIR for the first residency card, or is it only required for the 10 years one?
Thanks! 😀
Thank you for this wonderful video. I, too, am an American married to a Frenchman and now living in Saumur, France. I have a meeting scheduled March 4th. There are several videos online showing what the language test is like. I'm wondering if you've seen them and could tell me which is the most similar to the sort of test you were given. Thanks so much!
Hi! Sorry I’m just seeing this! I hope your meeting and test went well. Honestly, I wouldn’t have recommended you do anything to really practice because if your level is low, you want them to note that so that you are offered more help without having to pay for it! 😊
Informative thanks!
Got my First appointment tomorrow and barely found sources.
Glad to help! It’s why I made these videos because I couldn’t find much online! 😅 Good luck!
Thank you for your help 🎉
You're welcome 😊
Thank you so much for this content. Very helpful
Thank you for the feedback, and so glad it helped! 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience as I will have to go to OFFI - my first time in a couple of days. I have a question on the language level test. Did you find it difficult? What would be your advice for me to prepare myself? Merci beaucoup.
Hi! You’re welcome! The language test wasn’t difficult, but I wouldn’t really prepare for it. If you need a higher level, they will offer you courses free or charge through Greta. If your level is very low, you will be required to take the classes. A2 is the level you need in order to not be required and the class you would take is B1. Just try to relax and do your best because free help is better than paid help! 😊
thanks for sharing your experience! it was quite helpful!
Thank you for the kind words! 🥰 Glad to help! Feel free to subscribe to my channel for other helpful videos. ☺️
Great questions! We scheduled the 4th class on the third class day. It was scheduled for the next week. It didn’t give us much notice.
We signed the CIR on our final day of class, and I used it when renewing my two year visa.
You want to hang on to all of the paperwork. I just took everything with me to the prefecture in case they asked me for anything not listed (which they often do here 😑).
Hope this helps! ☺️
Thank you for your reply; I appreciate your help and kindness.
Is the CIR necessary for the two years? I thought it's only for the 10-year one based on the site; interesting.
Also, is the 2-year application online or offline?
Thanks!
I’m not sure if the CIR is required, but any proof that you have that you have taken or are taking the OFII classes is important to show when reapplying which unfortunately has to be done in person at your local prefecture. Mine was scheduled and it went very quickly. Good luck!
I’m so sorry! That’s really stressful! I would definitely keep calling and try different times of the day (never at lunch 😜). Did you get an initial email after you registered and paid for your visa online within the 3 months after you arrived?
Hi! Ive been waiting for my first appointment since july and my visa expires on may ive been so nervous. Ive been trying to call and sending emails and no response 😢 Do you have any advice that I can do?
Did you have more than one meeting that you had to drive to? I heard there are 4 meetings to do, and I am wondering if you had to drive a long distance to complete this process..?
The meetings with OFII were in Toulouse. That was the language test and medical appointment. Those were about 2.5 hours from me. Then my Formation Civique classes (4) were an hour from where I live. I wasn’t happy about that commute. I had a ride from a family member one day, I road with a classmate once, and I took a bus the other two days. They really don’t make these classes convenient. 😩 Welcome to France! 😂
@@expatpasexpert Hello, a question, the classes will be one after the other OR completely different days.
Four different days
@@expatpasexpert d accord , thank you🙃
@@HjuliM You’re welcome! Good luck! It’s definitely a long process 🤪
Hello thank you so much for the information i am from india staying in france from last 3months i had my test in next week i don't even know anything in french so what will be my situation I'm tensed can you help me
Hi, and welcome! If you don’t know French, they can have a translator help you. You will be required to take free French lessons and they will give you information on that. It’s through Greta. Don’t stress about it. OFII really does try to get people acclimated to life in France. You will also have a translator for your OFII Formation Civique courses.
how long they take your time for first appointment? thank you in advance for your reply😊
Hi! Great question! My appointment lasted about 2 hours. I went in at 1 pm, and I was done at around 3 pm. It was mostly waiting for everyone to finish the written exam, then waiting for the employees to grade the exam, then to get called in for the oral exam and meet with someone to schedule the formation civique classes.
Do you have your date for your first visit? Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions. I just started posting, but I will add more info about my formation civique experience soon! :)
@@expatpasexpert yes thank you for your reply ..i submitted my paper before 3 weeks ago but still they don't reply me yet just waiting for my appointment don't know how long they take more i have one more question 🙈 do you have any idea about mission locale?? i also got marry with french girl am also applying for long stay visa..!
@@tayyabraja9355 Congratulations on your marriage! It can take a few weeks before you get your appointment date! You can wait for anything that the government is in charge of! Haha! As far as mission locale, I think it's for people between the ages of 16 and 25. I'm 34, so I'm not eligible. :) You should definitely see about getting help through one! They sound very helpful!
@@expatpasexpert o thank you so much for your kindness but i need one more information do you have any idea how much exactly time they take for give you first appointment am waiting for my appointment still month ago but they didn't any response me anything?????
I’m happy to help! I paid for my visa on June 20, 2022, and my first OFII appointment was held on August 23, 2022. I’m not sure when I received the letter. You could try calling the OFII location nearest you. Mine was Toulouse. In France, they aren’t in a hurry to get anything done. It was definitely a shock for me coming from the US where administration tends to be more efficient. Where are you moving from?
Hello thanks for your video this might help me a lot. I came here in france last December and I validated my visa the same month but still now I didn’t have an email yet for my appointment to ofii. So I'm little stress because I can't speak french still especially in conversation.
So glad it could help! Do you know which OFII office you report to? If you do, you might contact them. Five months seems a bit long to wait. Did you pay the fee and get an email confirmation when you validated your visa?
If you want to take French lessons, you could take them at a non-profit like La Crois Rouge or other organizations if there are chapters in your city. That may help! They’re usually offered for free!
Yes is in Nantes. And I payed for my visa validation and I received an email when I validated my visa. But still I don't receive an email for my appointment to when I should go there. For the moment I don't know what to do but to learn French is the only choice.
@@expatpasexpert I don't know any organizations here that offer Free French lessons. Because I live in country side.
@@marcoreycel It won’t be an email. They will mail you a letter with the date of your first appointment on it. You could try to contact the office in Nantes.
Can u guide me what type of questions they asked in speaking interview and in writing exam plzzz
The speaking is just a conversation. They ask where you live, work, if you’ve traveled anywhere or what you do for fun. It’s just to see if you understand them and can respond. The written is stuff like writing a letter to the electric company and reading a newspaper article and answering questions about it. Hope this helps!!! Good luck!
I am wonder if one person don't know language how they response the answers r solve the writing exam
If you aren’t able to do the exam, they’ll help you sign up for French lessons. They’re free, and they’ll have a translator help you at your appointment.
I am also came in France and validate means in common language declare myself 12 days before but no any mail r response getting from OFII.
It took me a few months to get my letter.