Vie Hachés: Long-Stay Visa (>1 year) folks — don’t miss Baguette Bound’s Sun. 5 Octobre 2025 newsletter

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Bonjour, visa warriors! If you’re working on a visa de long séjour (plus d’un an), here’s my very curated PSA: subscribe to the Baguette Bound newsletter for Sunday, 5 Octobre 2025. It’s the one you’ll want in your inbox if France is calling and your paperwork stack is starting to resemble the Tour Montparnasse. Sign-up page here (free). (baguettebound.com)

— Backup subscribe links if you like to double-check: About page (also has the subscribe form), their Long-Stay service overview, and the “Move to France” course page. (baguettebound.com)

My Journey: a tiny embassy saga + a very fast visa

Back in March (pre-TLS era), a classmate told me their old provider refused to forward their file to the French Embassy in D.C. They wrote the Embassy directly; staff replied that the provider must submit the package—so the couple handed that email to the provider, and boom, file sent.

Our own Los Angeles appointment (later on) was smooth as beurre demi-sel. We even paid extra for expedited shipping both ways and got our visas in one week—we had a boat to catch, after all. (When in doubt, over-label your envelopes and pretend you’re FedExing the crown jewels.)

Note: Since April 18, 2025, TLScontact handles French visas in the U.S. (short and long stay). Start on France-Visas, then route to TLS for the appointment and biometrics. Official details here. (France-Visas)

Pro tips (learned the slightly sweaty way)

  • Label everything with your surname & passport number.

  • No Binder clips or staples. Your dossier will be scanned.

  • Financial summary: lead with the totals and monthly budget; put supporting docs in order. (Baguette Bound’s long-stay service builds a tidy “at-a-glance” sheet.) (baguettebound.com)

  • Timing reality: Official guidance says allow processing time; book travel flexibly when possible. (France-Visas)

  • Plan B: If an admin gatekeeper balks, escalate politely via the official channels and keep everything in writing. (In our pre-TLS anecdote above, that did the trick.)

Study corner — little wins for every level

  • A1: Learn your ID/biometrics vocab: empreintes (fingerprints), justificatifs (supporting docs), rendez-vous (appointment), timbre fiscal (tax stamp). Make 5 flashcards.

  • A2: Practice phone phrases for calling centers: “Je voudrais confirmer mon rendez-vous du … à …” Record yourself once in a calm voice and once in a “stressy” voice.

  • B1: Write a 150-word “lettre d’intention” draft about why you want to live in France (study, culture, community). Focus on coherence and connectors (d’abord, ensuite, enfin).

  • B2: Summarize the visa steps in French for a friend, using passive voice (le dossier est examiné…).

  • Advanced: Skim an official page and extract rules & dates; then brief it orally in 60 seconds as if you’re the group’s admin lead. (France-Visas)

Handy official links (because bookmarks are love)

  • Start here: France-Visas U.S. overview & application steps. (France-Visas)

  • TLScontact (U.S. coverage since Apr 18, 2025): centers, booking, process. (chicago.consulfrance.org)

  • Embassy/Consulate contact pages: Washington portal + contact info. (France in the U.S.)

  • Subscribe to Baguette Bound (newsletter): sign-up form (you’ll also get their Move-to-France resource list). (baguettebound.com)

Your turn 👇

What’s your timeline? Which TLS center are you using? Drop your best dossier tips (and your funniest “I brought 3 hole-punches to the appointment” moment). A1–Advanced learners: post a two-sentence update in French about where you are in the process—promis, we’ll cheer you on and gently fix articles.