I am going to get detained at the border and my parents are going to laaaugh.

[tenlittlebullets]

....sjdkl;jf I hate bureaucracy.

According to the website of the French embassy in the US, American citizens don't need a short-stay visa for visits of under 90 days. One of the exceptions listed is students, who need some sort of short-stay and/or student visa, but the required paperwork includes transcripts from the American school you're currently studying at. I'm not in school right now, I'm not getting academic credit for the immersion program, and I'm not sure I count as a student.

On the other hand, the website for the French ministry of foreign affairs has this to say:

Le visa de court séjour pour études
Ce visa permet à son détenteur de venir étudier en France pour un séjour ne pouvant excéder trois mois. Les étudiants désirant suivre un enseignement linguistique ou tout autre formation de courte durée peuvent solliciter ce visa qui dispense son détenteur de titre de séjour sur le territoire et n’est pas renouvelable.

I asked BLS whether I needed a student visa and their reply amounted to, "Fuck if we know; take it up with the embassy." I asked my parents, both of whom are immigration lawyers, and they both said, "Fuck if we know; you could just tell customs that you're there for tourism and not mention the program, but if they find out and it turns out you needed a student visa, you're screwed." Thanks a fucking bunch, guys.

*beats head on desk*

If I do need a visa, I then have to sift through interminable piles of legalese to figure out whether a short-stay student visa is the same thing as a type C Schengen visa, whether I need one or the other or both, how long it's going to take, and--if it's over a week--whether my parents can pull strings and/or supply money to get it expedited because fucking hell my flight leaves next Saturday.

AUGH.

Comments

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

I didn't need a visa for my two month immersion in Vichy a couple of summers ago. However, I know they changed things up recently. I really doubt they would make that necessary. The student visa is usually for stays of over 5 months, I think.

[ladyshrew.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I've been in once taking a 10-day course through UMD with no student visa, just got the passport stamped when I got there. The second time I was coming from England via the Eurostar, enrolled in Cambridge but not doing anything course-related, and it was just a matter of getting my passport stamped. I sort of think your parents are right anyway.

Actually, a prof here at Cam nearly wasn't able to make a lecture he was supposed to give in the U.S. b/c he needed special papers since he was getting paid for giving the lecture. It was a big mess, and he didn't get it cleared up until literally a couple days before he had to go. He really could've just told them he was coming over for vacation. :-P

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

It does help, thanks. :D I figured if I was taking French lessons not-for-school, not-for-credit, I shouldn't need a visa any more than if I were taking... I don't know, kayaking classes or something. But then I ran into that bit on the French site and started headdesking again. I'll probably end up saying I'm just visiting anyway; it's under 90 days and all that.

[mmebahorel.livejournal.com]

If it's anything like in the UK, you should have some sort of confirmation from the programme already that you should present at customs, plus you'll need proof that you can afford to be in France for that time without working and you'll need proof of medical insurance since you won't be eligible for socialised medicine. You can get your visa at the airport rather than in advance in the UK.

Or just call Travisa (http://www.travisa.com/) - they'll answer your questions for free :) Seriously, my company uses them so I've spoken to several of the people who work there. Just call and ask.

Actually, my advice is this: call Travisa. Ask what is necessary and then ask if visas are issued at the airport. They will enourage you to do it in advance, but they will know if it is legally possible. And then when you get to the immigration desk, either declare yourself a student with all your proof that you should be there and can afford to not be a burden on the state, or else call yourself a tourist.

[ladyshrew.livejournal.com]

Augh yeah. Seems to me best to just say you're a tourist (do some touristy things while you're there!), but mmebahorel's advice might ease your mind more.