Final chapter: French Carte de Séjour finale

CADAM administrative buildings in Nice — entrance for residence card issues left of the bridge.

I went to pick up (finally!!) my Carte de Séjour at the Préfecture.

After receiving a temporary document in June, I received a cryptic text message on my phone in August. Nothing had been updated on the Etrangers.gouv website. I saw that I needed to pay 225 Euros, but couldn’t figure out how, so I brought cash. I also brought my passport, my document stating that I had been approved (good move), and the health certificate from 2023, just in case (that was unnecessary).

First you stand in line to prove that you have a message or an appointment. Then you have your bags looked at. Then you join the line and turn left, middle column, to pick up your card, after again showing your phone message. And wait. And wait. Then you once more show your text message and another document to prove that you were approved.

It turned out (after standing in line for about 45 mn) that I needed a fiscal stamp to pay. I had to try 4 debit and credit cards before my payment was approved on the Impôts website. The site doesn’t accept Apple Pay, you need your whole CC number which I didn’t have on me, because of a previous pickpocketing experience. Debit cards were declined, and I had to call home for more options. All’s well that ends well: I have a card, albeit only until next year!