Visas: American Spouses  and Minor Children

The Authors/Les Auteurs::

Anne de GOUVION SAINT-CYR, Esq. 
Member of the Paris Bar
22, rue d'Artois
75008 Paris
Jonathon Wise POLIER, Esq.
Member of the Paris and New York Bars
4, rue de Marignan
75008 Paris 
Telephone: (33) 43 59 01 51
Fax:  (33) 1 43 59 01 52		 Telephone: (33) 1 47 23 41 51
Fax:  (33) 1 47 23 37 93
E-Mail:  anne.gouvionsaintcyr@wanadoo.fr
 E-Mail: j-polier@paris-law.com
http://www.paris-law.com
When a French visa is issued to an American spouse to legally work in France, the other spouse and the minor (under 18 years of age) children will be granted a limited visa to reside and study, but not to work, in France. However, the law may shortly change so as to permit the spouse of an foreign (e.g., American) executive to work in France.

Minor children are not required to carry identity papers, but when a child reaches the adolescent stage and the French police may no know the age of the child, it is recommended that the parents obtain from the local Prefecture a  "Document de circulation pour enfant mineur".

A "Document de circulation pour enfant mineur" should also be obtained before a child leaves France on a trip if a parent will not be with the child for the return trip to France. Otherwise, the air lines may not board the child because he does not have a French visa in his passport.

Finally, for children born in France, eventually parents who stay for may years in France may wish to obtain a documents ("titre d'identité républicain") which will facilitate the child obtaining French nationality, if years later he wishes to so and thereby have the automatic right to live and work in France.

If you read French, the visa application forms for both short and long-term visits and check lists of documents that may be required for various categories of visas are available at http://www.diplomatie.fr/venir/visas/
DISCLAIMER

The information provided here and on the other pages linked hereto is intended for educational purposes only, and is not legal advice. Particular situations require particular analyses that can only be provided by legal professionals who specialize in the relevant fields and who know all the details of a situation. Also, a presentation such as this does not establish the attorney-client relationship that is necessary in any rendering of legal advice. Finally, one should be aware that the law is a chameleon-like beast that changes its colors frequently, and what holds good today may be reversed by tomorrow. The comments herein should then be read in that light.
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