This article is about the French job search or Business Creation “RECE visa application experience at VFS Global Hyderabad in India. It was shared by “Sakuntala”. The article has been published with her permission, along with a few important additional information.
If you would like to contribute with articles about your personal experiences, feel free to write to me at the following email contact@prasanthragupathy.com
1. Who can apply for a RECE Visa ?
This long-stay visa is available to students who had graduated with a Master’s degree from a nationallly recognized institution in France and left the country. They must apply within four years of their graduation and the visa allows them to search for a job or create a company in France.
For a detailed explanation about this topic, you can read the following article APS : French Job Search Or Business Creation Resident Permit
Note
Your Master’s degree must be available in one of the following 2 databases.
- RNCP is a national register for professional certifications managed by France Competences, under the authority of the French Ministry in charge of vocational training. You can search for your degree on the www.francecompetences.fr website.
- MS Mastère Spécialisé or MSc – Master of Science degree from registered colleges & universities on CGE database.
- Here is the list of courses equivalent to a Master and eligible for the APS.
2. Application Summary
Sharing her experience of application for the “RECE” visa.
- Masters Graduation Date: 25/11/2020
- Student Visa expiry date: 08/09/2020
- Type of visa applied: Long Stay
- Duration of your stay: Long stay (> 90 days)
- Why are you making this trip?: Business
- Visa main purpose of stay: Job search / Business creation
- Visa applied at: VFS Hyderabad
- Visa applied on: 15/02/2023
- Fees : around 7500 INR for the visa, around 3000 INR as VFS fees, and around 500 to 700 INR for courier charges including passport home delivery
- Visa received on: 21/02/2023
- Visa processing time: 5 working days
She was issued a P6 VLS-TS visa with the comments “RECH DÉMPLOI” and “CREA ENTREPRISE”. If you have any questions, you can contact the French Embassy and consulates in India in the following article Contact Details Of French Embassy And Consulates In India
3. Documents submitted at VFS
Here are the various documents submitted by her during the VFS appointment.
- Copy of Online application done via france-visas.gouv.fr
- Copy of Passport
- 2 Photographs
- Copy of Travel Insurance Policy from Bajaj Allianz which cost around 7800 INR (The insurance must cover the visa’s entire validity period (1 year at the most))
- Copy of Flight ticket
- Copy of Hotel Accommodation booking
- Copy of Financial documents supporting a year’s stay in France (all bank statements, sponsor bank statements (if you have a sponsor) along with sponsor identity proof and an affidavit signed by the sponsor saying he/she will support you for your entire stay), your ITR form and your sponsor’s ITR form for the last year) – This is important, in most of the cases visas get rejected due to insufficient funds.
- Cover letter – stating the purpose of your visit. For her, it was a “Job search. But for the “Business Creation” visa, you need to submit your business plan and proof of a project to create a business in an area corresponding to your education training.
- Copy of the Master’s degree from France.
- Copy of the expired French Student visa.
Note:
- Though not mandatory, she had also submitted her work experience letters before her Master’s in France.
- Also, she submitted all the documents that she had as a Student, like Attestation des droits, her residence proof, CAF receipt, and OFII acknowledgment.
- All originals have to be presented during the appointment. VFS retains only the photocopies.
- Apostilled documents are only required after reaching France.
4. OFII process after reaching France
The P6 VLS-TS visa is a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) that allows you to come to France, stay here, and allows you to look for a job or create a business.
However, it must validated online within 3 months of your arrival via the ANEF website.
You can find a detailed explanation of this process in the following article Should I Validate My Long-Stay Visa Or Do I Have To Apply For A Residence Permit Directly?.
5. Sources & References
- Frequently Asked Questions about French Visas – france-visas.gouv.fr
- Job Search – Business Creation – france-visas.gouv.fr
- APS : French Job Search Or Business Creation Resident Permit – prasanthragupathy.com
- FAQ : APS – French Job Search Or Business Creation Resident Permit – prasanthragupathy.com
- Should I Validate My Long-Stay Visa Or Do I Have To Apply For A Residence Permit Directly? – prasanthragupathy.com
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Hello Sir,
I just graduated from a french business school. I had to leave France and come back to India as my visa got expired. Now Iam planning to apply for APS as I want to work and build my career in France.
I researched a lot about applying for APS from India and your article about the same was the only support I got. I don’t know about the finacial requirements and about how much money I will have to show in my account and I’m clueless about how the procedure should be done from India. I’m so confused and afraid as there is no one who could lead the way and its getting too late for the application. Could you please help me in this situation
Hello,
You can find all the details about submitting an APS application in the following 2 articles
https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/01/aps-french-job-search-or-business-creation-resident-permit/
https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/02/vfs-french-job-search-or-business-creation-visa-application-experience-hyderabad/