Hosting an Indian in France (page 1 of 2)

Hi everyone, after a trip to India last October, I stayed in touch with an Indian guide who speaks French. His dream is to visit France. To get his visa, he told me he needs a letter from me confirming that I met him during my trip to his country and that I’m able to host him. He has other contacts in France, and he mentioned he’s asked them for the same thing. I’m reaching out to see if his request is legitimate or if he’s taking advantage of my kindness. I’m sorry if I offend anyone—it’s not my intention. I’m very spontaneous and don’t want to put myself in a bad situation. Thanks for your feedback. Have a great weekend. Florence/florie73

If you actually know him and you’re actually able to host him, I don’t see what the problem is... It’s only if the declaration was false that it *might* cause an issue.

Hi Florence,

Back in October 2017, you wrote this after returning from a short trip to India: "Those few days with a driver and guide were an experience. But I was taken to shops they had deals with. I didn’t feel comfortable with those two people."...

Is that experience what makes you wary? Maybe you’re afraid you’d actually have to host someone whose services you didn’t appreciate. Otherwise, this kind of arrangement is common and legal.

Thanks Fred! Have a great weekend! !

Hi Hannah, thank you. This has nothing to do with my experience last October. I’d be happy to show them around my region. Have a great weekend! !

I’m so happy to hear that, Florence! It’s great to exchange ideas when we can and share our region with others. Have a wonderful day. Hannah

Hi

Bringing an Indian guest over isn’t simple at all, and Sarkozy added a whole new layer of complications: Here are the supporting documents you’ll need to provide to your local town hall: - Last 3 payslips - Last 3 payslips of your spouse - Tax assessment notice for the year - Property deed - Water bill - Size of the house - Number of people living in the house - Insurance certificate for the Indian guest covering medical expenses up to 30,000 € - Copy of the Indian passport I think the list isn’t exhaustive. It might be easier if you know a hotel owner and can provide a hotel reservation certificate for the duration of the stay.

Good luck! 🙂

Hi André-Yves, wow!!! All the same... France and its paperwork... A big thank you for this info. Have you ever hosted an Indian guest before? If so, what tips (accommodation, food, outings, etc.) would you give me to make sure their stay goes as smoothly as possible? Thanks and have a great weekend. Florence

That’s how it used to be. Now you really need to check because there may have been some relaxations?

Hi

Yeah, this is a bit old (2010). It’s a story from people I knew back then. I don’t think things have gotten any easier since. To answer Florie: I once wanted to host a French guy who was in a tricky situation in Pondy. At the time, I was in direct contact with the embassy and consulate services. But that’s another story—one that ended pretty badly, and I can’t (and don’t want to) sum it up right now. For now, that’s all I’ve got for you. 🙂

Hi Colette,

If you've been following the news, there’s no reason to think things will improve anytime soon. Here are all the documents required for an "attestation d’accueil" (hosting certificate): Documents to provide:

The applicant must present the originals of the following:

a valid ID (national ID card or passport for French, European, or Swiss nationals; residence permit for other foreigners), a document proving ownership, tenancy, or occupancy of the accommodation where they plan to host the visitor(s) (such as a property deed or rental lease), a recent proof of address (water, electricity, or phone bill, or rent receipt), any document proving their financial resources (last 3 payslips, latest tax notice) and their commitment to financially support the foreigner if needed, any document demonstrating their ability to host the foreigner(s) under normal housing conditions (in terms of space, safety, hygiene, and comfort), one or more tax stamps totaling 30 €, if the hosting certificate is for an unaccompanied minor, a handwritten statement from the parents or legal guardians specifying the duration and purpose of the child’s stay. Make sure to have the passport number(s) of the visitor(s), which must be included on the form.

Here’s the list of documents the host needs to provide, and Indians have to submit an equally long list of paperwork: bank statement copies with sufficient funds, proof of employment in India, and other red tape. It’s way more complicated. On top of that, they have to buy their flight ticket before even getting the visa.

Hey

Yeah, exactly—the Indian list is just the tip of the iceberg. Over in India, there are agencies that can handle it for you. In the end, it costs a pretty penny, though. 🙂

In the case of potentially hosting a Vietnamese woman, the file was complete. The French consulate responded negatively: "The person did not sufficiently demonstrate their willingness to return to Vietnam after their potential stay in France." The staff at the French Consulate have a knack for reading minds! In reality, they were mistaken in this case—our friend would certainly have returned.

It all comes down to money or nationalities; indeed, they issue visas to Chinese nationals by the trainload!

Hello,

If you're sure you want to host this person, you'll need to go to your town hall and ask for a "certificate of accommodation" form—all the required documents are listed on it, and you’ll need to fill everything out on the spot. A 30 € tax stamp is also required. The mayor will approve (or not) the document based on the attached documents, and it usually takes a few days. After that, it’s up to you to send it to your friend, who can’t start any Schengen visa application without it. On their end, it might be wise to go through an agency like VFS, which can guide them through the process (though this comes at a cost, of course). As mentioned below, your guest must have insurance during their stay—make sure to choose one recognized by Indian authorities. For my part, I hosted my Tibetan godson living in Bangalore (with stateless refugee status...), and the process took about 3 months before he got the precious visa. Good luck with your paperwork!

Hi Florie, Hannahannah’s instructions are correct—I just came back from the town hall with the form and the list of required documents. However, you *must* have a "real" paper fiscal stamp, not a digital one, even though you can get those at any post office... So either call ahead to check if they have "real" paper stamps for the certificate of accommodation, or you’ll have to go to the tax office to get one. Progress, huh... Last time I hosted an Indian guest, the embassy also wanted a hotel reservation on top of the recommendation letters and certificate of accommodation. Easy to do via booking.com and then cancel it afterward.

Hi,

You can buy tax stamps easily at tobacco shops (buralistes), that’s how I got mine for the two "attestations d’accueil" I’ve done recently. No need to go to the post office or tax office, as far as I know.

I didn’t mean post offices but tobacconists... very few still have "real" 30 € stamps now... so I’m forced to go to the tax office to buy one. Last time I had to do that too.

Hi

Just a heads-up, the treasury office no longer accepts cash. Only cards or checks. It’s so the poor can’t launder their dirty money. 😉

I’ll definitely save this one 😉 Delicious.