Visa- 3rd Times a Charm

So obtaining a Long-stay Visa for France doesn't sound like it would be difficult; however, it has caused me more stress than anything ever has before! It was crazy trying to get approval to be able to stay in their dang country.

First off I had to get an entire stack of paper work (and copies of each paper) and make an appointment with the French Consulate in LA. Fortunately for me the family was staying in Laguna, so the ride was only about an hour and a half to get into the city. Let me just say that the French consulate is nerve racking within itself! First you have to go into a small room and be judged by a security guard (while your parent has to stay outside). After he has decided you are allowed to come in, you have to shut off your cell phone and sit in a room with about 10 chairs and a television that is only in French. All the other people in the room are equally as scared as you and everyone is freaking out about having all the necessary papers! Fortunately I was prepared and had everything I needed. After about half-an-hour I strolled out of there feeling like a champ!
Once we drove back to the beach house I received a call from the consulate informing me that my passport expires in February...of 2012. This means that it will expire 2 months after I return home from school...France requires it to expire no sooner than 3 months. Granted, this information was posted on their website; however, when I called my study abroad program (and did research online about it) it seemed that this was just a suggestion and not in fact a big deal...well it was.

A few days later I returned to LA to pick up my passport where I then took it 5 miles down the road to the Federal building. I waited for 4 hours in order for them to tell me that I would have to return to LA the following day to pick up my new passport. After speaking with a supervisor, and shedding quite a few tears Dad and I decided that tomorrow would be the only option.

The next day Sarah and I drove down and waited for over an hour and I was finally given my passport! Yay! Good for 10 years!

 **Me finally getting my passport from the Federal building**

We hurried back down the road to the consulate just to find that they were closed for the day. NOT GOING TO FLY WITH ME! I had to talk to 3 different people before they finally let me in the closed offices to give them my newly renewed passport. Once I dropped it off I nearly fell the the ground in happiness.

As of right now my passport and Visa application is being screened by France, and hopefully I will get it within a week. Once I have that it is smooth sailing to Paris!!!!