Mauritania Visa from French Embassy London?

[ManxScamp]

Hi All
Lonely Planet indicates that it's possible to get a Mauritania visa from the French consulate in London, and their web site seems to agree, although its not exactly clear.
Does anyone here know if this is possible and / or a good idea for us, intending to drive down through Moroc into RIM and go onto Mali? Nobody in the paperwork forum seems to know.
Many Thanks
James.

[Chris Scott]

Makes sense as the London Mori consulate closed recently (didn't it?) so sounds like it's worth a crack if you dont want to do it in Rabat or get the three-day border visa.

btw, the link is:
http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/...rticle=344&var

Looks like they've pasted in a French visa app which is a bit confusing but clearly it's possible. Someone ring them up and find out.

Ch

[Richard K]

Yep, they don't have the right form on the website. I'm speaking to them in the morning so will relay the news (phoning embassies.. the horror).

As the Mori consulate only closed at the end of last month I imagine they're not too practised at this just yet.

[Richard K]

Ok, here's the lowdown on mauri visas from the French Consulate in London.

Single entry only
30 days (extendable in Mauri)

You need to give them:
24 hours
Plane tickets from UK
Travel insurance
Bank statements
Letter from your employer or acccountant etc. if self employed
Your left kidney
2 photos
£40+

OK, I made up the kidney thing, but you do need to make an appointment and be there in person.

The schengen visa form on the website will do.

If travelling overland, you need to show ferry tickets UK to France, Spain to Maroc. "Mon dieu!" they had not heard of anyone doing that.

[ManxScamp]

I actually tried to phone them this afternoon and got the answer machine, I sent them an email and collected some other numbers from the site to try tomorrow.
I don't normally buy my spain moroc tickets till I get down there, so I might phone anyway tomorrow to see if this is going to be a problem.
Also I hope they don't want my bank statement to prove that I have funds for the trip as they're going to be sorely disapointed!

many thanks for the info.

Scamp.

[Chris Scott]

I actually tried to phone them this afternoon and got the answer machine

Try 9-12 - that's what it says on their web.

Ch

[ManxScamp]

Ok, so I must have neglected to write that bit down when I took the number.

[ManxScamp]

I don't know if anyone else has actually successfully got a visa already but when I phoned today to make an appointment I was told that they are only issuing for entry by air and if you are driving you have to go through the embassy in Paris? So I don't know whats going on there, maybe they had there lines crossed or I just spoke to the wrong person?

Did you manage to get a visa Richard?

[Richard K]

Originally Posted by ManxScamp

I don't know if anyone else has actually successfully got a visa already but when I phoned today to make an appointment I was told that they are only issuing for entry by air and if you are driving you have to go through the embassy in Paris? So I don't know whats going on there, maybe they had there lines crossed or I just spoke to the wrong person?

Did you manage to get a visa Richard?

Next month for me. The person I spoke to originally about the land crossing referred the question to a manager before answering so I wouldn't necessarily give up on that. I called again yesterday and got varying answers from a different clerk - looks like a case of turning up with a ironed shirt and hoping for the best.