LONG STAY VISA (FOR SPOUSE OF FRENCH CITIZENS) APPLICATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

I am going to share to you how I applied for my Long Stay Visa as a Spouse of French Citizen in the Philippines.

I was holding a long stay visit visa when I got married here in France. After our wedding, I went back to the Philippines to request for a long stay spouse visa.

The prefecture advised us to apply the visa in my country of origin because there is a big chance that my visa will be approved than to apply it here in France as the process will be more strict and complicated.

Before I left France, I made sure I have all the documents I needed with me like the acte de mariage, family book, copy of my spouse's ID, etc.

When I arrived in the Philippines, I took the following steps in applying for the visa:

STEP 1 (Application Form Completion)

I created an account at the French embassy website and fill out "Demande de Visa pour un Long Sejour" online form.

STEP 2 (Appointment Booking)

I registered and booked an appointment online at the VFS Global website.

STEP 3 (Document Preparation)

I gathered the following documents while waiting for my appointment day:

1) Printed copy of Appointment Letter

2) Signed long stay visa application form with passport size photo in white background
3) Valid Passport and photocopy of the following: passport data page, former visas and pages of passport with immigration stamps

4) Certified photocopy of integral copy of Acte de mariage

4) Photocopy of my spouse's passport data page
5) Duly accomplished “Demande d’attestation OFII” form

STEP 4 (Submission Process)

I went to France Visa Application Center (VFS Philippines) at Ecoplaza Building, Makati during my appointment and brought all the documents listed above. I also brought the original Acte de mariage  with me and some additional documents like the Livret de famille and Bulletin de mariage just in case they will ask for it.

When I entered the visa center I was given a queue number and waited for my turn to be called. When my number was called, I gave my passport and all the documents required to the lady at the counter. While checking my documents, she asked me if I want to avail the SMS service but I refused. After verifying all my documents she told me to wait to be called for biometrics. After the biometrics I was given a copy of Acknowledgement of Fingerprinting and told me to go to the cashier next. The cashier informed me that there is no fee for the visa, he then gave me an Acknowledgement Receipt containing the reference number which I will need for tracking my application and for passport collection. I left the visa center after that.

TIPID TIPS:
💰Don't pay the SMS Service of VFS if you have an internet/data connection, because you can track the status of your application online.
💰Don't bring big bags during the submission and passport collection to avoid paying the locker fee. Just bring small pouch or wallet with you.

STEP 4 (Status Tracking)

I tracked the status online and got the result at exactly one week after the application. [Online tracking link]

STEP 5  (Passport Collection)

I opted to pick-up my passport, so I went back to France Visa Application Center (VFS Philippines) during the collection period (Monday-Friday 2-4pm)  and showed the Acknowledgement Receipt and my SSS ID, after verification they gave me a sealed envelope containing my passport with the visa sticker and the original and stamped OFII form.

That's it! Good luck to those who are going to apply soon. Just make sure you have all the documents ready to avoid any delay on the approval.

Next step: LONG STAY "SPOUSE VISA" OFII CONVOCATION PROCEDURE & MEDICAL VISIT

Related blog posts:
HOW TO APPLY FOR A FRENCH LONG STAY VISIT VISA IN SINGAPORE
OFII & MEDICAL VISIT FOR LONG STAY "VISIT VISA" IN FRANCE