Hager Stemmelin, a driving instructor from Nice, faced significant challenges while vacationing in Tunisia after her husband returned home. Stuck due to an invalid residence permit, which was mistakenly renewed as a duplicate, she encountered a frustrating series of bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining a return visa. Overwhelmed by endless paperwork and having her husband and job hanging in the balance, her situation became increasingly dire as the deadline for her driving license renewal approached.
Last August, Hager Stemmelin, a driving instructor from Nice, traveled to Tunisia with her husband, marking her first visit back to her birthplace in eight years. What started as a much-anticipated trip to reconnect with her roots turned into a challenging ordeal after a few weeks in the sun.
In an interview with Nice Matin, Hager shared her plight: while her husband, Alain, returned to Nice as scheduled, she found herself trapped in Tunisia, navigating a maze of bureaucratic hurdles. For almost two months, she has faced continuous challenges that have kept her from returning to France despite her relentless attempts to resolve her situation. “They’re ruining my life,” she expressed, feeling swamped by the extensive administrative complications.
The Origin of the Issue
The trouble traces back to 2019 when Hager’s handbag, containing her residence permit, was stolen. This permit had allowed her to live legally in France for decades. After she reported the theft, the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture issued her a replacement residence card with seemingly no issues. “I assumed it was a new card valid for the next 10 years,” she reflected. However, she later learned that the document was just a duplicate of her old permit, which would expire in July 2024.
When she arrived at Tunisian customs, officials informed her that her residence permit was invalid. “They assured me it wouldn’t be a problem,” she recalled, believing she could easily rectify the matter at the French embassy in Tunisia. Unfortunately, what was expected to be a straightforward process quickly turned into an arduous journey. She was required to secure a return visa, a task that proved to be far more complicated than anticipated. “It’s an absolute bureaucratic nightmare,” she lamented.
An Endless Administrative Nightmare
Despite her attempts to rectify her situation, Hager faced a barrage of bureaucratic obstacles, making her return to France increasingly doubtful. “Because my passport was expiring in December, they insisted I needed a new one,” she explained. After obtaining her new passport, additional requirements surfaced, including a certificate from the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior to validate her entry and exit from the country. “Considering my previous passport had all the customs stamps on it!” she exclaimed, frustrated with the sluggish pace of the processes.
Meanwhile, Alain had returned to France at the end of August, initially optimistic that Hager would soon follow. “I thought she’d be back in just a few days once we sorted out her return visa,” he recalled. However, days stretched into weeks, leaving his wife caught in what felt like an endless bureaucratic spiral. “We keep filling out forms that ultimately lead nowhere,” he described, calling the experience “completely absurd.” Adding to the stress, her employer is growing impatient, as Hager must renew her driving instructor’s license by November if she wants to continue in her career. Yet, her return to Nice remains uncertain, with the deadline looming dangerously close.