Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
1.7k

Hello I am a 30 year old American currently living in Tokyo. I have an aunt (also American) living and working in Paris for the last 5 years was wondering if a relative (aunt) could be my sponsor for the long stay visa? She will be there for a few years more and I would live with her in Paris. She makes quite a bit of money. For the long stay visa it says I need a financial guarantee such as bank statements or "A notarized declaration of your sponsor stating that he/she will be responsible for all your expenses and a proof of his/her financial means. " Can my aunt be my sponsor?

thanks for your help

-jason

Report
1

What did the French embassy in Tokyo tell you?

Report
2

Hi Aribo, I didn't ask at the embassy yet. I'm going tomorrow. a_p she is definitely rich enough, it just seems too easy if that's all its going to take....

Report
3

Can my aunt be my sponsor?

Why not? If she is rich enough... I'm serious, btw!

Report
4

a_p hahaha yes I am weighing my options, if i even have any. My japan visa is ending soon and i'm free to move around so i'd be a fool not to take advantage of that.

Report
5

But first make up your mind - is it now Spain or France ...?

Report
6

I doubt you can get a long term visa. It's not as simple as having a sponsor. Long term visas for people that do not want to work or study in France are usually reserved for pensioners that want to spend several months in their house on the Côte d'Azur and similar cases.
At your age you'll have a hard time convincing the consular officer that you are coming to France just for a holiday. 4 months might be possible if you have a very good reason (and the return tickets to prove your date of departure), but anything else is probably unrealistic.

Report
7

' it just seems too easy if that's all its going to take.... '

Indeed, and as george5 says, it will be quite difficult to get a long-stay non-working visa for France just based on your aunt supporting you. For those under retirement age, the presumptions are they will try to work (illegally, in this case) so you need to present a cast-iron case that your aunt will pay for all your expenses, even though she has no obligation to do so. Your case would be stronger if you had sufficient investment income in your name to last you a year, like 20,000 euro, supported by bank statement.
You can stay in France (and the rest of Schengen) visa-less for 90 days, but then you have to leave Schengen for 90 days before returning. You can spend those 3 months in UK or Ireland.

Report
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner