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France and Italy have called for the European Union’s Schengen agreement on visa-free travel to be reformed after a dispute between the two countries over immigration from north Africa.

President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi held talks in Rome yesterday to defuse tensions over Italy’s decision to grant temporary residence permits to 20,000 Tunisian migrants who have arrived in Italy since the uprising in the country in January.

French authorities provoked Italy’s ire last week by blocking a train carrying about 60 Tunisians from crossing the Italy-France border, saying only those who proved they could support themselves financially would be granted entry.

“We want Schengen to survive, but to survive Schengen must be reformed,” Mr Sarkozy said yesterday. “We believe in free circulation but we believe in a state of law and a certain number of rules.”

The Schengen agreement allows for visa-free travel between 25 continental European states, including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, although national authorities retain some discretion to deny entry to non-EU citizens.

Mr Berlusconi said neither country wished to abandon the treaty but that “in exceptional circumstances, we believe there must be changes”. Relations between France and Italy, already strained by divisions over the intervention in Libya, have been damaged by the stand-off over north African immigration. Although the European Commission said France did not breach Schengen rules by temporarily closing the border near the southeastern town of Menton, Italy lodged a formal complaint over the decision.

The dispute is set against a fraught political background in France, where the rise of the far-right Front National has made immigration a major battleground.

Mr Berlusconi has also come under domestic pressure on immigration from his coalition allies in the Northern League, who failed in their initial bid to deport Tunisian migrants who arrived by boat at the island of Lampedusa. Rome maintains it has not received enough support from European neighbours in coping with the flow of migrants from north Africa.

Officials in Paris and Rome have been working on proposals to widen a state’s right to temporarily suspend its Schengen commitments, although the Élysée Palace at the weekend backtracked on its use of the term “suspension”. “France does not want to suspend Schengen,” Mr Sarkozy’s adviser, Henri Guaino, said on Sunday, but rather to widen the clauses allowing for border controls to be reimposed “in particular circumstances”.

Mr Berlusconi said the two leaders had jointly written to European Commission president José Manuel Barroso asking him to look into possible reforms of the Schengen deal. They had also urged for “greater collaboration” between EU states on migration flows. “Southern European states should not be left alone to deal with mass immigration,” Mr Berlusconi added.

The two leaders agreed to ask the Tunisian government to co-operate more closely with them in dissuading migrants from travelling to Europe.

Source: Irish Times

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The Secretary of State for the Algerian community abroad Benatallah Halim said that Algeria wished to retain the privileges contained in the agreements signed with France in 1968 regarding the visas, in interviews published Sunday in Algiers.

The Secretary of State for the Algerian community abroad Benatallah Halim

The “1968 agreements give preference to Algerians in terms of travel, employment … Our desire is to maintain this preference,” he told the daily newspaper L’Expression.

France, he told L’Expression, believes that the new French legislation could be more advantageous than the 1968 bilateral agreement on some points. Mr. Benatallah wish that after reviewing these provisions there is “a situation in preference to keep”.

To the Daily El Khabar, in Arabic, he stated that “Algeria will never make concessions on the 1968 agreements.”

Mr. Benatallah also responded to a request of reciprocity for French visas issued to the French in Algeria. “The question does not arise, for the simple reason that the 1968 agreements focus on the Algerian community in France and not otherwise.”

According to the senior Algerian official, the number of visas issued to the French is “infinitely greater” than that granted by Paris to the Algerians, Algiers meets 95% of applications.

The 1968 agreements regulate traffic, employment and residence of Algerian nationals and their families in France. With the arrival of the Schengen agreement on free movement within Europe, the additional conditions to the issuance of visas for nationals of countries that are not part of this area.

Paris and Algiers have been trying for over a year to sign a fourth addendum to the bilateral agreement of 1968.

Source: Ennahar Online

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If you’re a non-EU resident going to France for business or a holiday, you will need to get a French Visa called a Schengen Visa.

France is one of 25 countries in the Schengen Agreement of 1995 which includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Schengen Visas are issued from the embassy of the country considered to be your main destination.

French Schengen Visa holders are able to visit France and other Schengen states for up to 90 days for business or travel, but not for employment.

Nearly all non-EU nationalities require a Schengen Visa for France. Please note that for Visa First to apply for your French Schengen Visa, you must be currently residing in the UK with a valid work permit or student visa.

To be eligible for a Schengen Visa you must meet the following criteria:

• You do not already have an existing valid Schengen Visa issued by another country in the Schengen Agreement.
• Your passport validity must exceed the duration of your trip by more than 3 months
• You must be able to provide documentation to support your application including evidence of funds for the duration of the trip and evidence of your intention to leave before the French visa expires, for example an onward ticket for travel.
• You must be currently residing in the UK and hold a valid work permit or student visa.

What nationalities need a France Schengen Visa?

Almost all nationalities need a French Schengen Visa to visit France.

If you are from one of the following countries you will need to apply to the French embassy in person:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Myanmar, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran , Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Travel Document holders (1951 Convention), Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe (for France only).

If you are from one of the following countries you do NOT require a Schengen Visa:

All EU Countries, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Blue Passports Only), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep Of), Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City and Venezuela.

Duration

The France Schengen Visa entitles you to visit the country for a maximum of three months. It can be issued for either single, double or multiple entry.

For further information, please contact French Embassy

Who requires a visa?
Several factors determine whether a visa is required:

- the nationality of the foreign national;
- the holding of a residence document in France or another country adhering to the Schengen Agreement;
- the length of stay;
- and which part of the territory of the French Republic the foreign national is to visit.

As far as visas are concerned, legislation divides the territory of the French Republic into the following three sections, where different regulations apply:

- the European territory of France, which is part of the Schengen area;
- the territory of Overseas Departments (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana);
- Overseas territorial communities: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Territories.

1. The European territory of France
The European territory of France is part of the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes the territory of the following European Union countries and associated countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

1.1. Short stays (under 90 days in the Schengen area)
A short stay is a stay in the Schengen area under 90 days or multiple stays totalling less than 90 days in a period of six months.

For short stays, European regulations determine the list of countries from which citizens are not required to have a visa to enter the Schengen area.

A visa is waived for:
- citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Special Administrative Region of Macao of the People’s Republic of China;
- holders of a valid residence document in France;
- holders of a residence document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement;
- holders of a travel document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement.

1.2. Long stays (over 90 days in France)
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

2. Overseas Departments (DOM)
- Réunion
- French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique (the three French Departments of the Americas)

2.1. Short stays
A short stay is a stay under 90 days in an Overseas Department.
A visa is waived for:
- citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
- holders of a valid residence document in France.

2.1. Long stays
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

3. Other territories of the French Republic located overseas
They include:
- French Polynesia
- New Caledonia
- Wallis and Futuna
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Mayotte
- French Southern and Antarctic Territories

3.1. Short stays
A short stay is a stay under 90 days.
A visa is waived for the citizens of the following countries:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivie, Brunei, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay.

3.2. Long stays
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

What documents will be required?
To apply for a Schengen short-stay visa, you are required to present one visa application per person, including the following items:
- A passport which is valid for at least 3 months after the date of the requested visa;
- [A visa application form] duly completed and signed;
- A maximum of 3 photographs meeting requirements;
- Application fees. Visa application forms for a child under 18 years of age must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

If any of the items you provide do not fulfil our criteria, consular personnel will not accept your application and will ask you to present items which do. If you insist on submitting your application anyway, your application will be recorded but a visa will not be issued and the other items in the application will not be studied.

Proof
- Proof of the purpose of your stay in the Schengen area;
- Proof of your means of support during your stay and accommodation;
- Proof of travel and repatriation insurance;
- Guarantees of repatriation to your country of residence (return ticket or adequate personal means to purchase one);
- For children under 18 years of age, specific proof;
- Any documents helping to convince the consular authority of your intention to leave the Schengen area when your visa expires.

Certain diplomatic and consular authorities that issue visas on ordinary passports may include more detailed information taking local specificities into account. These items providing proof that are are required are to be presented to the consular authority.

The consular authority will accept your application as provided by you and will make his decision on the basis of the guarantees and proof attached to your application. If you have failed to attach the proof included in the list, the consular authority will assume that you are unable to do so unless you effectively explain why such proof was omitted in a separate letter attached to the application.

Additional documents
The consular authority may ask you to provide additional documents within a set period in order to study your application more effectively. You do not need to submit a new application nor pay additional application fees if that is the case.

Proof that a visa application has been submitted
When you submit your visa application, the consular authority will give you a receipt for the exact amount of application fees you paid. This receipt is acknowledgement of receipt of your application.

Time required to issue visa:
After a visa application is submitted, the consular authority processes it and decides on whether to issue a visa.

The consular authority makes his decision as swiftly as possible, the time period will vary depending on possible consultations he must conduct. There is no point in contacting the consular authority while the application is being processed.

If the consular authority has not responded to you within two months, you may consider that your visa application has been refused.

What is the cost of a visa?
The table below sets forth the application fees in euros for the main visa categories.

Visa categories     Application fees (in euros)
Airport transit visas and short-stay visas (under 90 days) valid for France and, unless otherwise indicated on the visa, for the Schengen area
€60
Airport transit visas and short-stay visas (under 90 days) valid for Overseas Departments and Regions (DOM-ROM): Guadeloupe, (including Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin); Martinique; French Guiana; Réunion.     €60
Airport tranist visas or short-stay visas (under 90 days) for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte and French Southern and Anatartic Territories     €9
Long-stay visas (over 90 days) valid for France (without a territorial distinction)     €99
National long-stay visa (over 90 days) issued to foreign nationals adopted by French citizens in the legal and definitive form required in their countries of origin, valid for Metropolitan France, Overseas Departments and Overseas Communities     €15

How long is the visa valid for?
Short stay visas: Up to 90 days
Temporary long-stay visas: Up to 6 months
Long stay visas: The residency permit obtained actually determines the length of the stay

Other information:
American citizens intending to study in France have to apply for a visa before leaving the United States, whatever the duration of their studies in France. The visa cannot be issued once the applicant is in France.

NOTE: Students who will be 18 years old within 3 months of the dates of registration in a French school, must apply for a Long Stay Student visa.

The visa issued will depend on the duration of the studies in France :
- Less than 90 days: you have to apply for a short term Schengen visa (type C) by filling out a short stay application form.
- Between 90 days and six months: you have to apply for a temporary long term visa by filling out 2 long stay application forms.
With such a visa, you will not have to go to the prefecture to ask for a residency card (carte de séjour) in France.

- More than six months : you have to apply for a long stay visa by filling out 2 long stay application forms.
With such a visa, you will have to apply, as soon as you arrive in France, for a residency card with the French prefecture which has jurisdiction for the place where you are studying.

Embassy contact information:
Embassies & Consulates of France to Other Nations
France French Courses in Chamonix

Embassy of France in Kabul, Afghanistan – Av. De CherpourChahr e Nao Kaboul Tel: 08 48 15 (ou 16) Fax: 08 48 17

Embassy of France in Tirana, Albania – 14 rue Skenderbeg Tel: 340 54- 342 50 Fax: 344 42

Embassy of France in Algiers, Algeria – 25 chemin Gaddouche – Hydra 1600 Alger Tel: 69 24 88 Fax: 69 13 69

French Consulate General in Algiers, Algeria – 25 chemin Gaddouche – Hydra 1600 Alger Tel: 69 37 37 Fax: 69 17 67

Embassy of France in Andorra La Vella, Andorra – 38/40 Carrer-les-Canals BP 155 Tel: 820 809, 820 239, 820 556 Fax: 860 132

Embassy of France in Luanda, Angola – Rua Reverendo Agostinho Neto 31/33BP 584 Tel: 33 48 41, 33 43 35 Fax: 39 19 49

Embassy of France in Buenos Aires, Argentina – Cerrito 1399 Buenos Aires 1010 Tel: 48 19 29 30 Fax: 43 93 12 35

Embassy of France in Yerevan, Armenia – 8 boulevard Grigor Loussavoritch Tel: 15 10 95, 56 46 67 Fax: 15 11 05

Embassy of France in Canberra, Australia – 6 Perth avenue Yarralumla ACT 2600 Tel: 621 601 00 Fax: 621 601 27 Read the rest of this entry »