Application for Visa Long Sejour for France outstanding

[Dexter]

Hello everyone,

I am a writer who is travelling to Paris for a year to finish a book. In May I applied for a nonworking visa long sejour (I will be paid in Canada and have enough money in the bank, etc.). It has still not arrived three months later.

I have to go to France next week to conduct an interview, but the French Consulate in Canada says that I cannot travel until I have an answer on my visa -- even though we are already past their own deadline for providing an answer! I am effectively locked out a country that I travel to all the time as a tourist. For how long they of course cannot say.

Can anyone advise? What would happen if I went anyway for a few weeks? Is there a provision whereby I can "withdraw" my visa application if I am shut out of France too long?

Thanks very much for any advice -- I'm going a bit crazy!

D

[republique]

Actually most countries have this rule. My impression is that you must have your passport if you are saying what will happen if you go. Generally they don't want you to go because they are afraid that you will stay and circumvent the visa process.
You can withdraw your application but then you won't get your visa.

It is not recommended but you probably can get away with going and coming back if you want.

[Dexter]

Hello, and thank you. Yes, I have my passport -- although it is stamped with a stamp from the consulate dated in May.

I emailed the consulate themselves, basically begging to go as a tourist for a couple of weeks in the meantime (I DO intend to come back and complete the visa process). And they wrote, somewhat ambiguously, that "normalement" one has to wait. Was this tacit approval to leave, do you think?

[republique]

Hello, and thank you. Yes, I have my passport -- although it is stamped with a stamp from the consulate dated in May.

I emailed the consulate themselves, basically begging to go as a tourist for a couple of weeks in the meantime (I DO intend to come back and complete the visa process). And they wrote, somewhat ambiguously, that "normalement" one has to wait. Was this tacit approval to leave, do you think?

What does the stamp say?
No it wasn't tacit approval.
It just is what it is, normally you have to wait.
What is your nationality?

[Dexter]

The stamp just says "Consulate Generale de France" with the date of my application.

I am Canadian...

[republique]

The stamp just says "Consulate Generale de France" with the date of my application.

I am Canadian...

Well you can fly into Brussels and take the train to Paris if you want.