Are you a foreign national who holds a visa or residence permit in France and is currently outside of France, and you have lost your passport containing the visa or residence permit and wish to enter France? MALEKIAN Law Firm can assist you in submitting your visa application or challenging the visa rejection before the CRRV and, if necessary, before the Administrative Court of Nantes.
What is a return visa?
A return visa allows its holder to enter France without the need to present their visa or residence permit. The foreign national residing outside of France may apply for this visa from the French consular authorities in their country of residence.
What are the conditions to fulfill for a return visa application?
- Any document relating to the regularity of your stay in France (copy of the lost or stolen residence permit or passport, failing which the document references such as the number, date, and place of issuance).
- Any evidence establishing the loss or theft of your residence document (e.g., a declaration of theft or loss of the French residence permit or the passport containing the long-stay visa established by the police and its translation legalized by the French Embassy).
What are the reasons for refusal of a return visa?
The French consular authority may rely on one or more stereotypical reasons to refuse the return visa application. For indicative purposes:
- Non-authentic character of the civil status document produced by the foreign national (e.g., errors or mistakes on the document or failure to include mandatory information, etc.)
- Failure to meet one or more of the necessary conditions for the return visa application
- Threat to public order (e.g., in the event of a conviction in France)
- etc.
How to challenge a refusal of a return visa?
Appeals against the refusal of a RETURN SHORT STAY VISA can be made at two levels. A gracious or hierarchical administrative appeal and/or a contentious appeal before the competent administrative court.
