Long term visa process?

Hello all, I am an American citizen and my French girlfriend will be going to school for a year on reunion island and I would like to join her. I am 29 years old and receive over 2,000 euros a month in retirement money so I won't need to work. Will it be difficult to get a long term visa. Would it be easier to do from a French embassy where I live in California or once I'm on the island.

Thank you.

If you're a US citizen you don't need a visa for a stay of less than 90 days in Reunion (see http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/Do-I-need-a-visa).
However for a longer stay it'd probably be best for you to contact the French Consulate in California before you come and see what they say (try and get something in writing), as if you wait until you get here you might find out they want official papers that you can only get in the US.

FWIW see also this blog post: http://englishontheisland.wordpress.com … aded-ofii/

Thank you so much. That is very helpful!

You should contact your French embassy.
My husband who is American first came as my boyfriend and as a tourist for 90 days but then he couldn't stay on Reunion island or France.If you want to stay longer ,you need a visa from your French embassy.
Good look and enjoy! It's beautiful there.Where is your girlfriend gonna live on the island?