Help/ advice on moving to France

[Sonrisa]

Hello Everyone:

I don't know if there is a thread in the Forum on this topic, but since I can't find one if there is, I am starting one.

I want to move to France. I am asking for advice, any help that Forum members can give me. My husband and I are both attorneys here. I have wanted to move to France for the last 10 years; my husband is now in agreement. The US is becoming a very scary place to live, and I don't want to stay here.

I am about 50% fluent in speaking French, and am watching/ listening to tapes to become more fluent. My husband does not speak French (yet), but is working on it with me.

We want to move to an area in the country where we can have a small farm; we do have animals that we love, and would like to move them with us if we can. We probably can't buy a farm, but rent? lease? work it for someone else? I just bought the book "Going to Live in France: Your Practical Guide to Life and Work in France (How to), by Alan Hart. I am reading it now. Any other books that you all would recommend?


I'm sorry if this sounds really lame. I just need ideas, suggestions, mirroring. I have been under severe attack here (at work) for the last 3 months, and I just can't stand it. Moving to another job here would relieve the problem temporarily, but the problem is systemic - the whole US legal system is corrupt, as is the government. So I keep jumping from one frying pan (job) to another, and the corruption is always there - and getting worse.

I want to move to France, if it is possible. Maybe it isn't, maybe I will just have to fry here until the comets/ bombs/who knows what else come and destroy the US and me with it- as the C's have said, and as I believe will happen. But if I can get myself and my family out, I would really like to try. I want to live in a country that has more real humans in it than the US has.

Thanks.
Sonrisa

 

[Beau]

If you live in the States, the first thing I would advise is that you contact the closest French embassy/consulate in your area and take your questions to them, they being the most informed on the subject. I know that generally speaking, obtaining a long term visa for France is not easy and looking on the web, you need the following just to have a chance to be considered:

* Passport signed and valid 3 months after the last day of stay.
* Four long stay visa application forms by applicant signed and legibly filled out. Print in black. Indicate your phone numbers and e-mail.
* At least five recent passport size photographs (4 glued on the forms).
* A proof of resident status in the country where you are applying.
* A proof of employment in the country where you are applying
* Financial guarantee such as:
o Letter from your bank showing that you have sufficient means of support to live in France.
o Justification of retirement pensions or regular incomes
o A notarized declaration of your sponsor stating that he/she will be responsible for all your expenses and a proof of his/her financial means. (+ 3 copies).
* Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France (+ 3 copies). Letter from the insurance compagny only.
* A non-criminal record certificate to be obtained at the police's office of the city of residence (+ 3 copies). I would recommend obtaining this record as early as possible, since some police stations take a few weeks to issue the record.
* A note, dated and signed by the applicant, stating that he/she does not intend to have in France a paid professional activity which requires a work permit.
* For the spouse of a French citizen, the "livret de famille" or a copy of the French marriage license, or the official French transcript of the marriage license when the marriage took place out of France. The French citizen must prove his/her nationality. Note that an American citizen spouse of a French citizen wishing to live in France does not need a visa. He or she must apply directly for a residency card once in France (with the "livret de famille").
* Processing fee: payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) (especially for files sent by mail) or money-order made out to "Consulate general of France" or certified checks. Cash is accepted only if you apply in person. No personal checks.


Since you clearly want to move there for good, you'll need a work visa as well, along with a notarized letter from the potential employer signed, basically giving proof that you have a job lined up there. Without that, chances are you will not be give a work visa, OSIT.

You can find more here - http://gofrance.about.com/cs/relocating/a/visas.htm - which is where I got the above bullet list.

 

[Sonrisa]

Thank you very much, Heimdallr. I will start with that.

Sonrisa

 

[Avi]

Thank you very much, Heimdallr. I will start with that.

Sonrisa

Good luck Sonrisa and please keep us informed an I am seriously giving my options consideration and will be researching countries and requirements as well.

Thanks for the information Heimdallr. The work visa should not be required if financial independence can be demonstrated, true? Of course do not know the situation with Sonrisa and her husband but I think that is the case, though not certain just yet. I know it was this way for SA which I looked into with great detail.

 

[Laura]

Yes, if you are attorneys, then you should realize that the only way to get the answers to the questions you have are from the proper agencies. Read the French embassy website which has a lot of info on this topic. Use the search engines. There are expat forums where they talk about this sort of thing.

 

[Heaalih]

Hello Sonrisa,

As you are interested in farming, I can suggest you to have a look at this website : _http://www.terredeliens.org/

We want to move to an area in the country where we can have a small farm; we do have animals that we love, and would like to move them with us if we can. We probably can't buy a farm, but rent? lease? work it for someone else?

It is a network of farmers that promote organic and respectfull farming. They exchange on how acquire lands.
There is some announces to find partners or lands here : http://www.terredeliens.org/spip.php?page=annonces&frub=&freg=&fdept=&tri=date&senstri=1

There is also a guide on how to buy collectively a land with the different possibilities with french law: http://www.terredeliens.org/spip.php?rubrique102

Maybe it could help...
But for sure, you'll need to go trough our administration first, like exposed by Heimdallr.
Good luck !

 

[Sonrisa]

Thank you, everyone, for the links, advice, and encouragement! At first blush the process of finding a job (yes, that will be necessary for my husband and me), and going through all the administrative hoops necessary to move to France appears daunting. But then, I remind myself, the process of becoming an attorney was also time-consuming and daunting - and I did that. I am definitely going to explore all the links and sources provided, including contacting the nearest French Embassy. The farming links look promising.... I'd much rather be a farmer than an attorney, if I can!

Thank you!

 

[Ca.]

Neema: As Perceval pointed out Andorra has a climate and an altitude that might be a bit rugged, especially for food and comfort. The cites mentioned below Tarbes, or Pau tend lay on a flatter surface more sea level . Milder climate and not as extreme as say Lourdes, which is at the foot, of the Pyrenees mountain range (on the french side) which can be a bit more cooler in the winter. But it lacks the hustle and bustle of Tarbes and has more of a mellow life style and ambiance. People also (Loudes) seem very at ease and always friendly. Just food forethought. Economy
The Pyrenees are rich in timber and in pastures, and the many streams are utilized by hydroelectric power stations. Talc and zinc are mined there. The population, partly of Basque and Bearnaise stock, engages mostly in stock raising and agriculture. On the French side are the best-known resorts, such as Pau and Tarbes, famed both for the beauty of their scenery and for their mineral waters. Lourdes, one of the world's chief places of pilgrimage, is also there. On the Atlantic shore, below the W Pyrenees, are the fashionable resorts of Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Franc

Laura's advice as well all the above will be the best place for information to start. In there website you will be able to get information with formalities for an extended stay visa. You have to show and have a source of income, banks accounts retirement accounts, investments, etc. And be able to establish an bank account in France as you need to move what US money into Euros.

There has be a contract (notarized) indicating your either renting, or leasing. or have purchased a property in France for establishing residence visa or long term visa.

On the money part your going need to move your money through a clearing house such www.Moneycorp.com or similar concern for the better exchange rate as to the banks, which is a total rip. So traveling to France and soon depending on the urgency will have be done simultaneously as well working with France consulate in the states which will be a challenge.

You will find on there site as well what has been mentioned that you have to have some sort of health care in place as part of the residence requirement's. And that can be bought by and insurance co. here I believe as well from the states.

By the tone in your post it seems like the time has come and it's time to get busy so travel must start soon as certain element's seem to wanting to close the door to this option. Can say that the country to the big city might fit your bill as it is laid back here as to the hustle and problems of most big city's to crime has today.

And you have an ace in the hole, as knowing the french language will prove to be bond and work to your advantage. At the monument the euro has seen a decline against the us dollar but this changes every day my not last long so time is of the essence. One last note, the french bureaucracy can move very slow as to the u.s. system, so if you come here the pace of business is on there time not yours. Just a consideration to get use to as the french way of life. Which is neither bad or good but the pace here.

There may also be a consideration to moving certain items for where you are to overseas. As a result to that consideration you may want or need to consult a moving company that handles containerized shipments overseas. There is a company out of Long Beach, California for example. They will work in providing this option for small to large shipments and connect you too the receiving (SDV / SCAC Logistique Internationale) concern that handles the paperwork and the container into France ( by storing until inspection and collection by the concerned party) with french customs. This will be for possible taxation and review of what can be brought in from the states.

But also be advised as this will be time consuming and it won't happen overnight, and may take 4 months or longer from Ca. to La Havre Fr. to your hands depending on the cargo. For more information www.schmachercargo.com