This is our 3rd week in GIF, glad that both the Student and the Wife have got their CDS settled.
Next on the checklist: Exchange our driver's licence, and hit the road with that car!
After reading all the horror stories about people trying to get their CDS from the prefecture in Paris, I think we should really count our blessings for what we went through. We were scheduled to go to the sous-prefecture at Palaiseau on 2 separate appointments (should be on the same day since we are married, but somehow the appointments were really packed). On both occasions, we have met really kind counter personnels. I think this is definitely not by chance, my 2 cents worth on why we were so blessed:
1) Since we live in Supélec, and the assigned prefecture is according to where you stay, we were assigned to go to Palaiseau instead of Paris. This means that it is not as crowded = less frustrations for the personnels handling the applications.
2) Supélec was really professional to have arranged a meeting with HR to prepare the paperwork with us. Which I supposed, they could have just let us fumble on our own.
3) For Scientific visas, there are 3 dedicated counters with pre-arranged appointments made. We did not even need to send in our OF-II form for the appointment, as Supélec have already made the appointments for us. (We were confused on the need to submit the OF-II at first, but seems like it is required to set up an appointment with the prefecture, otherwise, it is not needed.)
Conclusion, its a thumbs up if you are coming to France on a Scientific visa, especially if your organisation is linked to the prefecture somehow.
Although there are lots of sites on the application for the CDS, information on Scientific visas was rather vague for us. Now that we went through it, below are the essential documents to include if you are in a similar situation:
For main applicant:
1) Birthcert & translated copy in French
2) Passport
3) Status letter to indicate financial standing & translated to French. Indicated amount to be in EURO
4) Proof of accommodation (Testimonial from the landlord that you are staying with them is best )
5) Scientist Convention Letter
6) 2 self-addressed envelopes with stamp
7) 3 coloured photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
For Spouse:
1) Birthcert & translated copy in French
2) Passport
3) Marriage cert & translated copy in French
4) Proof of accommodation (Main applicant will have to prepare a testimony in French to declare that you are staying together, which is actually obvious since you are married)
5) Status letter, convention letter of main application as above
6) 2 self-addressed envelopes with stamp
7) 3 coloured photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
8) If main applicant has already received the temporary CDS (Récépissé de Demande De Carte De Séjour), prepare a photocopy
* The photos needed for the long stay visa (3 months) which is applied from your home country is 2.5 x 3.5cm. For CDS, the measurements are different! We ended up with photo booth photos for our CDS, which had our ugliness amplified by at least 10 times!
After the interview, which is about 30 mins. You'll receive the Récépissé de Demande De Carte De Séjour. The prefecture will send a letter to you to indicate when you'll have to go for the medical appointment, and another letter to tell you when the CDS is ready for collection. This explains why you'll need 2 envelopes.
If everything goes really smoothly, you can receive your CDS by the medical appointment, if not, it is usually within 3 months for the CDS to be ready.
I'm not sure if this is the same in other prefectures, but it seems that besides for our passports, they are not interested in our original certs (BC & marriage). Instead, the translated copy is VERY IMPORTANT! Sworn translators by the way...
