I am reminding myself often these days that this is France that I'm dealing with....
Luckily, INSEAD is a bit on an anomily in France with respect to how efficient things seem to run . All my interactions with the school have been efficient, straight forward, and generally positive.
But most of us INSEAD students will sooner or later be exposed to some of the less pleasurable parts of French living....stumbling our way through the tangled web of red tape and some mind boggling "is this really a western economy" inefficiencies of both public and private French institutions.
The biggest beast of all was the one I wished to avoid at all costs...the French government. In the end, no such luck. Well the student visa will have to wait.. glad to see that the French embassy in my country complies with the mandatory shutdown for the entire month of August. Can't I just leave the country every 3 months and remain on a tourist visa. INSEAD documents say no...apparently they are obliged by the French government to ensure all their Non-EU students have a carte de sejour (obtained after you have received the student visa...)
So I'm estimating at least 3 days on non-value added, administrative hell plus a couple hundred euros in fees to obtain this thing. Some of the most annoying points: french bank account containing at least 4.500 euros (I've already got accounts in too many countries...why must I have another one in France?), health inspection in Paris sometime during the first weeks of class (come on, we are already required to have proof of medical insurance ), a dozen other documents (usually originals plus 3 copies stamped, certified, etc).
Private enterprises are no better. Many of us have had to BEG the dedicated BNP Paribas rep to open us accounts. This guy's only job is to support INSEAD students... I know, I saw his job title at the bottom of his out of office reply (his vacation started even the last week of July...I'm just happy as an out of office reply is the only clue I've gotten in weeks that this guy actually receives my emails.) How is it that French customer service people can come across as so stressed out??? On top of 5+ weeks of vacation, they have the plush 35 hr workweek (and that is being generous...if you netted out coffee breaks, uber lunch hour(s), etc. we may be into the single digits).
oh well....I should stop getting bothered... this is France et c'est la vie
3 comments:
So it really is that bad, huh?
Thanks for the 4,500 Euro reminder. For some reason, I thought it was 3K. Woe be to s/he who doesn't dot every "i" and cross every "t" when dealing with French bureaucracy.
I'm looking forward to it!
I'm not going to try to defend the French system entirely (there are many things wrong with it) but anyone who's ever tried obtaining a visa to work in the US (and I'm not even talking post-9/11) would tell you that getting a carte de sejour is a peace of piss by comparison.
Hopefully you'll have a happier experience of France once you get here...
Hey res i(p)sa,
Thanks for your comment.
First, I should point out that my experience with France is extremely positive. I have spent a lot of time there and really enjoy most if it...I just don't like French bureaucracy.
Second, you are comparing the process of STUDYING in France with the process of WORKING in the US. A bit of apples and pears...
Getting a work visa in any country requires one thing... having a company sponsor.
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