I need a carte de sejour. How can I get one before I arrive in France?

Question

I am a student going to study in France in October. I am trying to arrange accommodation but they wont let me do this without a carte de sejour. How can I get one without going on a trip to France beforehand?

Answer 1

Here is the problem for you - you CAN'T obtain a carte de sejour before arriving to France. The consulate will give you a visa, which will entitle you to apply for carte de sejour ONCE you're in France. And to get carte de sejour, you'll have to give them your French address - pure catch 22.

Sorry about that.

In my case an official letter from my host institution (with information about my money situation) helped to arrange accommodation.

Answer 2

You have to get it in France. I lived there for 6 years and got it at the Mairie of the small town I lived in. If you're in a big town you apply for it at the Prefecture.