Europe - Attestation d'accueil




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ysmac
Jun 23, 12, 6:45 pm
Hi guys. So this is the second time I am asking you something because last time you guys were extremely helpful :)

So. I am going to Switzerland with a brief connection in Paris, where I will go through passport control, as most of you who have read my first post know. But, I am staying with a friend in Switzerland, and he sent me an invitation letter in which he informs basic information about him (such as address, cellphone, full name, passport number) and about me (such as when I'm going back to my country, my full name, my passport number) and it has a copy of his passport, and he signed the letter. It's in French. That's what the Swiss embassy told him to do, but that was when I didn't even know where passport control would be.

However, now I find out that France actually requires something like "attestation d'accueil" which is basically the same thing but it's an official document and it needs to be notarized somewhere in France, like at the consulate or something, I didn't understand. So, that's something I would need if I was staying in FRANCE, correct? Are the Swiss rules about the invitation letter still valid even if my port of entry in the Schengen Zone is Paris, which has totally different rules? I have read so many websites on the Internet and they always say "France, France, France" so there's NO WAY an officer would not accept my invitation letter, because he would know Swiss rules are different? Can I be sure they actually know it? I'm just paranoid now because my trip is in like 2 weeks and I wouldn't even have the time to do anything if it turns out that it's really necessary :O :O :O ....ing bureaucracy.

So I accept your help. Thanks!


choupeo
Jun 23, 12, 7:40 pm
No, you don't need that attestation d'acceuil if you just make a short connection in france.

behuman
Jun 24, 12, 11:02 am
No, you don't need that attestation d'acceuil if you just make a short connection in france.

Or to be on the safe side, just make an online booking at any hotel in France and cancel it after you got the visa.


ysmac
Jun 24, 12, 1:39 pm
No, I don't think booking a hotel would be good. And not in France btw, because that's not my final destination. I think I'm travelling with my simple letter, and in case they complain I'm just going to say I'm following the Swiss norms, which is the truth, but I think they probably won't give me a hard time because of it, they can just call my friend in case and ask anything they want. Besides, I got the other requirements, such as money and return ticket, so I think I'm alright...Thanks everybody.

Aviatrix
Jun 26, 12, 4:53 pm
CDG is a major transit hub. Immigration officers there are used to handling passengers who are in transit to other countries. They will know that you don't need a French Attestation d'accueil if you're going to Switzerland (or Germany, or Norway, or any of the other Schengen countries...)

And I agree it would be pretty pointless to book a hotel in France, considering all you will be doing at CDG is walk from one gate to the next!



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