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Carte de séjour: Be prepared
by David Applefield
Aside from your battery of papers, documents, certificates, photocopies, letters, receipts, statements, etc. always be equipped on your person with stamped envelopes, pictures of yourself, bank statements, electric and gas bills (EDF-GDF-the only reliable and widely accepted proof of address in France), a stack of one, two, five, and ten franc coins for photocopies, instant photos, envelopes, etc. (Make sure you keep copies of all bills and receipts.)
And remember, in France it´s the written document that matters. Everything must have an official stamp on it (tampon) so the more tampons the better your documents will be received. The written document carries more weight in France than the spoken word. This comes from a tradition of distrust. European history is filled with deception and corruption and back-stabbing. Only the legal, stamped, and approved document in conformity with law and regulation has the weight of authority. This cannot be overstated as a cultural underpinning for French administrative life.
And, don´t forget, as well prepared as you think you are for your administrative procedures you will have to come back at least once or twice. "C´est comme ça," and it´s like that for everyone. In some cases, your employer or university may have established regular inside contacts, pistons, as they´re called in French, with the local authorities and will proceed to procure your papers for you. The system or practice of having a piston is inherent in the centralized bureaucracy. Don´t get moralistic about this; if you have a good contact and are really in need of help call your piston, but don´t waste a favor on a small and banal matter. In other cases, you´ll be on your own. And you´ll complain. But that´s okay; the French complain all the time; it´s built into the national charm. Soon, but not right away, you´ll have the right to complain yourself.
Some contend that living legally in France is not as difficult as most foreigners tend to think. The key is learning the ropes fast. Problems only arise when people decide to remain in France after having entered as a visitor or tourist. The French are taking illegal immigration with increasing seriousness, although most cases of severe legal action being taken usually have been directed toward North Africans, black Africans, and Asians.
The Bangladeshi métro vendors of nougat-coated peanuts are often rounded up. North Americans and Europeans are usually dealt with more leniently. But nonetheless French employees of the State, fonctionnaires (Federal employees-a term you will hear a lot), don´t appreciate broken laws and the public at large has grown less tolerant of illegal foreigners in France; they key is being legal, or "en rgle".
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