Ask the Expat Girls

Ask the Expat Girls Informations de contact, plan et itinéraire, formulaire de contact, heures d'ouverture, services, évaluations, photos, vidéos et annonces de Ask the Expat Girls, Bayonne.

10/06/2026

🇫🇷 The processing time of your VLS-TS application is not necessarily an indication of the outcome!

We know it’s tempting to read into every extra day of waiting… but visa processing times vary for many reasons:

☀️ Time of year – holiday periods and peak seasons often mean longer processing times.

🗺️ Where you apply – some visa centres and consulates process applications faster than others.

🛂 Type of visa – certain visa categories are generally quicker to process.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family vs. individual applications – applications involving multiple family members can sometimes take longer to review.

Whether you’ve been waiting 5 days or 3 weeks, the length of the wait alone is usually not a reliable indicator of whether your application will be approved or refused.

Take a deep breath — sometimes it’s simply a matter of processing times. ⏳

Got a question about your application? We’re here to help 💙

08/06/2026

🇫🇷 Worried about the new B2 French language requirement for French citizenship?

Try not to panic, you may already be at B2 level without even realising it!

If you’ve been living in France for a number of years, chatting with neighbours, attending school meetings, dealing with French administration, making phone calls and generally getting on with daily life, you might be closer than you think.

There are plenty of online language assessments that can give you a rough idea of your current level and help you identify where you need to improve before booking an official exam.

And if you’re not quite there yet? That’s okay too.

With some focused preparation, a bit of revision and the right support, reaching B2 is often much more achievable than people expect.

You might surprise yourself ✨🇫🇷

06/06/2026

🇫🇷 Why did we create Ask the Expat Girls? 🇫🇷

We arrived in France over a decade ago, our French wasn’t great, we had no idea how French bureaucracy worked, and every administrative task felt like a mountain to climb.

Whether it was applying for residency, registering with healthcare, dealing with tax offices, or simply figuring out which form needed to go where, we often felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and completely lost.

Over the years, we learned. We made mistakes, spent hours in prefectures, navigated endless paperwork, and gradually figured out how the French system works.

That’s why we created Ask the Expat Girls.

To be the support we wish we’d had when we first arrived.

We know how stressful French administration can feel when you’re trying to build a new life in a different country and we know what it’s like to feel stuck, confused, or unsure where to start.

Today, we help people navigate visas, residency permits, citizenship applications, healthcare, driving licences, vehicle imports, and so much more—but our mission has always been simple: To make France feel a little less complicated, and a lot more like home 🇫🇷

If you’re looking for some support with French administration, get in touch, we’d love to help you out 😊

05/06/2026

🇫🇷 Planning to move to France this summer? Book your visa appointment asap! 🚨

Every year, visa centres become incredibly busy in the lead-up to summer, and appointment availability can disappear quickly.

Depending on the country that you’re applying from, visa processing times can also increase during the pre-summer months as applications surge, meaning approvals may take longer than usual.

If you’re hoping to arrive in France this summer, now is the time to:
✅ Start preparing your application
✅ Gather your supporting documents
✅ Book your visa appointment as soon as possible
✅ Leave plenty of time for processing

If France is part of your summer plans, don’t delay—get the ball rolling now! 🇫🇷☀️

Need help with your application? That’s exactly what we’re here for 😊

03/06/2026

🇫🇷 Worried that a delay in your application means bad news?

You can breathe easy 😮‍💨

❌ The time it takes a prefecture to process your application has NOTHING to do with the quality of your dossier or the final decision.

Whether you’re applying for:
✅ A titre de séjour renewal
✅ A change of status
✅ French citizenship

…long processing times are usually caused by:
📂 High volumes of applications
👥 Staff shortages
⏳ Administrative backlogs

If your application is strong and well-prepared, a longer wait doesn’t mean a refusal is coming. It simply means your file is still making its way through the system.

Patience isn’t always easy, but delays are unfortunately very common across France 🇫🇷

Questions about your application? You know where to find us. ✨

01/06/2026

🇫🇷 OFII Civic Training vs French Civic Exam: What’s the difference?

These are two separate requirements, and understanding the difference can help you prepare for your move to France.

📚 OFII Civic Training
The OFII civic training is part of the Contrat d’Intégration Républicaine (CIR) and is required for many first-time holders of long-stay visas and is required as part of your visa validation.

The 4-day training covers:
✅ French values and principles
✅ Rights and responsibilities
✅ French institutions and public services
✅ Daily life in France

📝 French Civic Exam
The civic exam was recently introduced and is a separate test that assesses your knowledge of these topics.

Who needs the civic exam?
🇫🇷 Applicants for a first multi-year residency card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle)
🇫🇷 Applicants for a first 10-year resident card
🇫🇷 Applicants for French citizenship

So while many newcomers will attend the OFII civic training, not everyone will immediately need to sit the civic exam.

📩 Need help with your French visa, residency card or citizenship application? Get in touch, we’re here to help every step of the way 😊

30/05/2026

🇫🇷 One of the biggest lessons you’ll learn in France?

✨ Getting comfortable with being patient.

Whether you’re waiting for your visa renewal, social security number, Carte Vitale, driving licence exchange, or simply a response from a French administration, things rarely move as quickly as we’d like.

The truth is, French administration often works on its own timeline.

That doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Follow up when necessary, keep copies of everything, stay organised, and respond promptly when documents are requested.

Remember: a long wait doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. For many applications, waiting is simply part of the process.

And if you’re completely fed up with French administration… that’s exactly why we’re here ☺️

We can’t make the waiting disappear, but we can help you understand the process, avoid common mistakes, and make sure your application stays on track.

Get in touch!

29/05/2026

Thinking about working in France but confused by the visa options? 🇫🇷💼

Here are 3 of the main French long-stay working visas we regularly help clients with 👇

1️⃣ VLS-TS Salarié
This is for people who already have a French job offer and employment contract.
➡️ In most cases, the French employer must complete authorisation steps before the visa application can move forward.

2️⃣ VLS-TS Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale
Perfect if you want to work for yourself in France as a freelancer, consultant, online business owner or self-employed professional.
➡️ You’ll usually need:
• A viable business plan
• Proof of sufficient income/savings
• Evidence your activity is genuine and sustainable in France

3️⃣ VLS-TS Passeport Talent
Designed for highly skilled workers, business founders, investors and certain specialised professions.
➡️ This visa can offer longer validity periods and sometimes a smoother route for family members too.

These visas can usually be renewed from inside France and can eventually lead to long-term residency or even French citizenship, depending on your situation.

Need help understanding which route fits your situation?

Get in touch, we’d be happy to help ✨

27/05/2026

🇫🇷 Apostille vs Notarised/Certified Document… what’s the difference? 👀

These two are VERY commonly confused during French visa, nationality & admin applications 🇫🇷📄

✍️ A certified/notarised document confirms that:
➡️ a COPY matches the original document

📜 An apostille confirms that:
➡️ the ORIGINAL document is officially genuine and recognised internationally

⚠️ Important:
A notarised document is NOT the same as an apostille.

In many French applications, a certified copy alone will not be enough if the administration specifically asks for an apostille.

Sometimes documents need to be:
1️⃣ Certified/notarised first
2️⃣ Then apostilled

This is especially common for:
• translations
• powers of attorney
• certain US/foreign documents
• nationality applications
• visa applications

Getting this wrong can cause delays or refusals 😅

Need help understanding which documents need an apostille for France? You know where we are 😊

25/05/2026

🚗 Exchanging your driving licence in France?

One thing that catches a lot of people out is the translation requirements 👀

Depending on your country of licence, France may ask for:
📄 A certified translation of your driving licence
📄 A translated driving record / certificate of entitlement

And yes… if the documents are not translated correctly, your application can be delayed or even refused!

Every nationality and situation can be slightly different, and unfortunately the requirements are not always as straightforward as the official checklist makes them seem.

If you’re preparing your French driving licence exchange and want help checking exactly what documents you need, get in touch!

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