Immigration Services in Nice, France

I practise immigration and nationality law from my office in Nice. For now, I don't take asylum applications before the OFPRA or appeals before the CNDA; I can put you in touch with a colleague who does this work full time. I do handle Dublin procedures and temporary protection.

A first consultation

Tell me where things stand and bring what you have: letters, permits, the refusal if there is one. I'll explain which procedure fits, what it will ask of you and where it tends to go wrong. If you don't need a lawyer for it, I'll tell you.

If you decide to go ahead, I prepare the file, submit it and follow it through. Some files take weeks or months, others much longer. I'll help you see when a delay is normal and when it's time to act.

Appointments are at my office in Nice or by video call.

Office

  • Family reunification in Nice

    A foreign national who has lived lawfully in France for the required period can apply to be joined by their spouse and minor children. They must show stable and sufficient resources, and suitable housing. The OFII receives the file, the mairie (town hall) checks the housing, and the préfecture decides. Allow several months. The family of a talent-card holder and the spouse of a French citizen follow other, more direct routes.

    Is this your situation?

    • You hold a residence permit and want your spouse and children to join you.
    • You hold a talent card and your family needs to join you.
    • You are married to a French citizen and live outside France.
    • Your family reunification application has been refused.

    What can go wrong

    • Your income varies from month to month, or partly comes from benefits that do not count. The application is refused. I look at the reference period with you before filing.
    • The housing is too small on the day of the visit. It is better to file once the housing is ready.
    • The family comes to France without waiting for the procedure to end. Family reunification from inside France is possible only in limited cases.

    Common questions

    How long does the procedure take?
    Several months, sometimes a year, between filing with the OFII and the family's arrival. At each step I keep you informed of what is left to do.
    I hold a talent card. Do I need family reunification?
    No. Your spouse receives a « passeport talent (famille) » card, with no minimum period of residence and no housing condition. It allows them to work.
    My spouse is French. Is this family reunification?
    No. The spouse of a French citizen applies for a long-stay spouse visa. It can be refused only for fraud, annulment of the marriage or a threat to public order.

    I sign a written fee agreement with you before any work starts, and I accept legal aid (aide juridictionnelle). Details: legal notice.

    Written by Paula Rocha Castanheira, lawyer at the Nice Bar.

    General information, reviewed on . Your case depends on your decision and your file.

    Contact me