I am going to move to France to live with my (French) girlfriend, what would be the best way to get a visa?

Question

I am trying to move to France to stay with my soon to be wife, and we were both a bit shocked by the process of obtaining a visa. It would seem that both a work visa and a student visa are out of the question, seeing as I don't have a specialized job, and I am not a student. I want to get to France as soon as possible, it's been hard being away from her for so long.

So seeing as both those visas won't work for me, it seems that the only option for us is a marriage visa, which we are both ready to do, even though we would have liked to have waited until I could propose. Nevertheless, I'm serious, and I would like to know if a marriage visa would be the best option for me now. Also, I would like to know what kind of rights I would have after obtaining a marriage visa. Could I work? Could I go to school?

I would love as much information as possible. I have searched on my own, using the websites from the embassies, but I still have questions.

Thank you very much in advance.

Answer 1

What is your nationality ?

If you are an American citizen, you don't need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days in France.  

If your fiancee is French, get married to her and apply for a

permanent stay in France, stating that your spouse is French.

You can try for a job during your stay in France.

If your employers sponsor you, you can continue to stay

over there.

If you are non-Amer can , and your fiancee is French ,

you get married to her in your native country and with the certificate of marriage you can apply for a resident visa.

Many Sri Lankan Tamils get married to Sri Lankan born

French citizens ( by registration) ,  The marriages are conducted in India and registered here.  On the basis of

spouse being a national of France ,  the girl or the boy ,

migrate to France.

It is very simple.

Answer 2

Request for a letter of invitation from your girlfriend and use it to apply for a fiancee visa.

Answer 3

i read in your profile that indeed you are an US citizen,

which area are you in? come back and edit your question and give me your location, as to give the closet consulate in the US;in the mean time? here are infos on marriage in France,

Civil Ceremony

All marriages must be performed by a French civil authority before any religious ceremony takes place. The mayor can authorize the deputy mayor or a city councilor to perform the ceremony in the town in which one of the parties to be married has resided for at least 40 days preceding the marriage. These requirements can not be waived.

http://www.info-france-usa.org/visitingf...