玩偶姐姐

Hi Ao,
You go online to get your renewal appointment (depending on your pr茅fecture, but I think they all do this now). You need to start looking for the appointment 3 months before your visa expires, and have the appointment well before your visa expires (aim for 1-2 months before). At your appointment, you will get a r茅c茅piss茅, which will, combined with your expired visa, allow you to do everything as if you have an unexpired visa.
Have you already completed your OFII appointment and requirements? I was told all this at my OFII appointment.
You can read about my experience in renewing, but much of it will not apply to you, as our circumstances are likely very different:
Julie

Julie, thank you. Your comment helps me put my thoughts in order, as it can be difficult to find the correct information and what you have provided puts the sometimes seemingly arbitrary proceedures in more of a concrete form!

I am still in the States,聽 but will set up my OFII appointment when I get to France in聽 a few weeks and find out more.

Edit: I just read your blog and loved reading the details. Wishing you all the best.

A quick caution - timing can change, depending on your location. I've heard of some pr茅fectures that are difficult to get appointments, and some that require appointments 5 months in advance - definitely ask about this at your OFII appointment. (Which might also take longer...)
Julie

Thanks for the warning.聽 I understand what you mean, having negotiated other proc茅dures there : )
Even my USA consulate had it鈥檚 quirks. They moved the visa office, but the new address was not on the website, except in very fine print buried in the paperwork. I arrived at the wrong end of Atlanta for my appointment, and brought cash, which they no longer take, but I did not see mentioned anywhere. C鈥檈st normal, I suppose.
But no聽 complaints,聽 I love my adopted country.

Julie, thank you for your help. I finally became 鈥渙fficial鈥� a couple of days ago and can now reapply each year in France for a long term visa at my local prefecture, and know exactly how to do it thanks to your advise and the advise of the people at my OFII office.
Wow,聽 the process was long and convulted! And it took almost 4 months to get my OFII appointment. Some said the delay was due to Brexit. But it鈥檚 all behind me now ... I feel for anyone going through the process!聽 : )