The Préfecture de Police is the administrative offices of the French National Police. They are the real deal. None of that Inspector Clouseau nonsense. They were very helpful a number of years ago to our family, when one of my Scottish relatives went missing and helped find him. If you want a French view of the Préfecture watch The Paris Murders on Prime, or even the lighter, Murder in Provence on BritBox. Their offices on the Seine are imposing and impressive. They are certainly worth a photo or two if you're walking nearby, which is very close to the Louvre and Latin Quarter. read more

Préfecture de Police - Only visiting - Police Departments Near Me - Paris, 75

This is how immigration should work. As a legal resident living in Paris, all of your most important paperwork and inquiries pass through this inpenetrable island fortress. You're not even going to a 'bureau of immigration', like you would even in a police state like China; you're going to a militarised police compound on an island, with sub machine guns, and thick bulletproof doors with submarine like security signals, and all that. If you have some business here, it should spell a very bad day for you. It doesn't. There is a reception desk with civilian ladies answering questions and giving you directions within the compound. Let's say you have a question about something really complicated, like that you've applied for a carte de séjour, but it hasn't arrived by the time your visa has expired, and you need to leave the country on business. No problem! Somewhere in this compound someone has the answer, and instead of giving you the typical French 'Non, c'est pas possible' they instead tell you exactly where you need to go to have your question answered that day. Yes, when you get to the appropriate office, you have to take a ticket and wait, but you should always bring a book on such occasions. When it's your turn, you are greeted by a compitent, professional, and impeccably polite officer who speaks English. Mine was a lady officer who was also pretty... this is too much! The first question you get is basically, 'OK, so did you do all the sh* that we told you like 10 times to do?' They know you haven't. You haven't bothered to changing your address. Didn't you get something in the mail eight months ago about a medical exam, or some such nonsense that you piled underneath all the other things you're putting off? Meh, it's OK, she'll sort you out. Did you forget to bring the one document you need? Meh, it's OK, here's her email address, scan it and send it to her when you can. 10 mimutes later: 'Is there anything else I can help you with, Mr. Daniel?' 'Um... no... not really, no..' I mean, I suppose I could use a fist-bump and to hear that I'm special and that everyone loves me... there's also that cabinet in the bathroom that won't close that you keep meaning to fix... but, no, she has just solved every problem that one could reasonably pose to her. Upon leaving, you feel shame for having maybe let her down for not doing all those things before. 'Argh.. I'm so irresponsible. .. I'm really going to make an effort to follow all the laws in the future.' A simple act of professionalism, kindness, and humanity is a thousand times more effective than a sub machine gun, and they understand that here. This is a rare gem in the world. read more

This entire service should not be taken seriously or counted upon for anything. One time I called because I had been assaulted and could not see due to pepper spray. The advised me to walk to the hospital where I was given eye drops after 3 hours. No police report. That would have require work. For visas one should expect huge delays, incompetency, and a basic lack of interest/knowledge by a large portion of the staff in doing anything helpful for you or for anyone. To renew a one year work visa, after placing an appointment request 5 months in advance, I have waited a total of 1 year. In fact I will need to make an appointment soon for the visa that should replace the visa that I should have had 5 months ago. When I needed some assistance due to other aspects if my life requiring a valid visa, and requested politely that my application be expedited, I incurred an additional 3 month delay (on top of the 6 months of delays). This is perhaps similar to how my country (the US) operates, but that does not make it right or fair. Imagine if everyone took this long to pay taxes...(if that was even possible)...the government would already have stopped functioning. Even the building's exit is inconvenient and in August it was on vacation (well out if order at least). read more