Youth Visa For France - 2A

I'm wondering if any of you are in France on the 2A (young professionals) visa? (not the 2E work-holiday) Specifically, Im wondering how you got it and what is all involved?

I'm currently in France, working under the 2E, and I would like to get the 2A to stay one more year. The instructions on the French embassy's website seem simple, but the Espace d'empoi internationale here in Paris are making things very difficult for me (I need them to stamp my current work contract). Among other things, they tell me that I need to provide them with:
--my degrees--my cv in French and English--the results of a medical, also
--they (the EEI) must decide if my qualifications are good enough to do my job --and my French employer must pay a tax to keep me

I think that the EEI doesn't really understand the Canada-France youth-exchange agreement, and that what they want me to do is to go the normal route for obtaining a carte de sejour while in France. Although, it could be me who is confused?

Any thougths? Is it really this complicated?

Thanks in Advance.

I don't have the answer to your question but it sounds normal since the job you get must be related to your studies in order for you to qualify for the 2A visa. I suppose it's the EEI who's responsible for checking your qualifications rather than the consulate who issues the visa. I'm trying to do the same thing as you. Just wondering if you have the same problem as me with regard to your provincial health insurance. Since I had to tell them I was leaving to get the letter for the visa, my insurance will expire at the end of August 2010. Unless I get a new job and apply for the visa right away, I won't be able to get the full 12 months on my visa, nevermind the 6 month extension, because my insurance won't cover the entire length of my stay. Any ideas for getting around this?

i have a similar question - but from the other side of the pond.

i am preparing my required documents for the canada-france 2A young professional development visa and i am interested to connect with any fellow canadian who has successfully (or unsuccessfully) applied for this particular visa.

in particular, i'd like to know:

-what was your experience like with the DDEFTP? (french authority who must approve the working contract) how long did it take them to approve or deny the contract? how long for the espace emploi to validate your contract afterwards?

-what kinds of questions did the french consulate ask you when you apply for the visa in person? (my nearest consulate is in vancouver).

i have many more questions if anyone out there is able to answer!

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Hello,

I am also currently working in France on the 2E visa, and am in the process of obtaining the stamp from Pole Emploi for the 2A visa. Can anyone give any advice regarding going to the French embassy in Canada? How long would they take to give me the visa? Is it absolutely necessary to go back to Canada or are there exceptions?
It says "The stays must be discontinuous." how much time needs to be between the visas?

- to answer your question, so far the Pole emploi has asked me send documents that ive already sent twice. they said if I dont get a response in 2 weeks to call them and remind them.. hope I will get it.

I am not sure how they define "discontinuous" but I think it infers that you have to return home to Canada to be issued the new visa. According to their site, the visa must be issued to a person in their country of residence. So if you are Canadian, your visa must be issued to you while you are in Canada. Check the embassy's website. (This blog won't let me link the address but just google "french consulate vancouver" and you should find it).

I totally share in your frustration with these authorities...they are very slow to respond and when you do finally get in touch, they appear to be more confused about the process than anyone else! One thing you might want to try is having an HR representative from your place of work contact the Pole Emploi...they MIGHT have a bit more clout than you do as an individual...?

Due to their slow response time, I've been forced to apply for the 2E working holiday visa instead of my original hope for a 2A visa. Its requirements (as you probably know) are quite similar. Seeing that you have attained the 2E visa, can you provide any insight into the process in Vancouver? Did you apply in person? If so, what was the experience in the consulate like? Did they ask weird questions I should be prepared for or do they basically just make sure you have all of the required documents and then send you on your merry way? Any unanticipated hiccups or was it pretty straightforward? Also - did you purchase personal liability insurance in France? If yes, about how much did it cost you? Was it easy enough to get?

Any other tips you can give me on the 2E working holiday visa would be greatly appreciated. Good luck!!

Hi,

I'm getting ready to apply for a 2E visa as well. Do you happen to know if there is any restriction on the type of work that you can do under this visa? The reason I ask is that I have an offer of employment from a university (internship type position), but they won't have all of the paperwork complete before I go.

Thanks for getting back to me.

Hello,

I am also currently working in France on the 2E visa, and am in the process of obtaining the stamp from Pole Emploi for the 2A visa. Can anyone give any advice regarding going to the French embassy in Canada? How long would they take to give me the visa? Is it absolutely necessary to go back to Canada or are there exceptions?
It says "The stays must be discontinuous." how much time needs to be between the visas?

- to answer your question, so far the Pole emploi has asked me send documents that ive already sent twice. they said if I dont get a response in 2 weeks to call them and remind them.. hope I will get it.

Hi everyone,

I'm also getting ready to apply for the 2E visa under the Canada France youth agreement. I noticed that many have asked for advice, but few responses have been posted. Could anyone provide some insight on getting the 2E visa, and then working with it in France?

1 - What was the application process like? The consulate website says that in person applications can be filled the same day. Was this the case? Also, how difficult was it to obtain all of the insurance requirements? They ask for 3 types of insurance - did you spend a lot of money to obtain them?

2 - Once in France, were you able to find a job with the 2E visa? What kind of challenges did you face? I've read that language fluency and bureaucracy seem to be the two biggest issues with working in France... did you experience the same?

Any insight into getting the 2E visa and finding a job with it would be very helpful! Thanks!

Hey Megan I am applying for the 2E visa as well, and Just wondering how your proccess is coming along? I am just waiting for a couple of the documents that I need beofore I can head to Vancouver. If you got any answers to your questions I would love to know, because these are the exact questions I need answered!

Thanks So much!

I am looking at the 2E out of Vancouver also, and would love to hear how the process went. I asked for some advice from the Consulat, however they replied with a link to their website, en Francais. Superb.

If you go the day of your appointment with your documents, do they give you the visa on the spot, or mail your passport to you with the stamp/visa? Did they ask you where you plan to stay/study/what you want to do?

For me I plan on showing up in France with a backpack and a general region I want to be in but no real idea what to do (insane adventurer perhaps) will they accept this or get cheeky?

There haven't been any responses here, but hoping to snag one anyway (perhaps from someone who didn't get a reply earlier but who got the visa?).

Hey,

Like a few of you guys I am also trying to get the 2E Working Holiday Visa and I'm finding the process a bit complicated and would really appreciate any tips..
I am actually planning on being an aupair/nanny but the family I will be staying with lives on a fairly isolated ski resort so I don't have access to a language course - this is why I'm trying to get the working holiday visa instead of the aupair one.
I emailed the consulate in Vancouver and they said that I could not work as an au pair with the 2E visa. Should I just be vague on the type of work I am going to do there?
How long did it take any of you to get your visa? (I live in Calgary so I'm wondering if I should mail my application or just fly there if that would be faster)
Any info about the insurance would be helpful too!

Thanks alot