We are getting ready to move in the next 5 months, and have spent at least 5 months trying to get the right information .聽 As was mentioned earlier there are many things required by the consulate before you leave, and many unexpected things you encounter once in France.聽 Thank goodness on a recent "scouting trip" I ran into an American couple who have just gone through this and helped us greatly.聽 I will try and share a few of the things I learned.
1.聽 Health Insurance
聽 聽 聽 The Consulate will require that you show proof of International health coverage.
聽 聽 聽 聽You must show them a letter from the company, not just the card.聽 The insurance
聽 聽 聽 聽has a certain amount of minimum coverage required.聽 If you plan on signing up for
聽 聽 聽 the Carte Vitale after 3 months, be advised that they use the last two years of your聽 聽
聽 聽 聽 income to determine your premium.聽 Therefore, for many like myself it聽 is initially
聽 聽 聽 less expensive to find a longer term coverage from a private company.聽 I have
聽 聽 聽 literally spent hours on this issue.聽 My coverage in the US (I am younger than 65) for
聽 聽 聽 what I had with my previous employer was $900.00 per month.聽 I contacted some
聽 聽 聽 of the larger companies providing international insurance and got it down to $500
聽 聽 聽 per month in France.聽 But then I called a company whose information was provided
聽 聽 聽 by my new expat friend and got it even cheaper.聽 So, if you are moving from the US
聽 聽 聽 to France, save yourself time, and go directly to ASFE-expat.com, or email
聽 聽 聽 admineurope@asfe-expat.com, or call 011 33 1 44 20 48 77. They speak English
聽 聽 聽 and you will not find a better deal.
2.聽 Housing
聽 聽 聽 You must also show proof of housing.聽 A lease, for example.聽 So how do you get the
聽 聽 聽 聽Visa if you don't have a place already lined up?聽 Get a place such as an Airbnb for a
聽 聽 聽 聽couple of months where you will be staying after arrival while you are looking for
聽 聽 聽 聽a permanent place.聽 My knowledge is that the consulate will accept this temporary
聽 聽 聽 聽agreement, but again have the documentation.
聽 聽 聽 聽 After arriving in France you are looking for a place to live, but guess what? you
聽 聽 聽 聽can't get a place to live without a banking account.聽 So that brings me to the next
聽 聽 聽 聽 subject.
3.聽 聽Banking
聽 聽 聽 聽Apparently this is a very important issue for everything in France, you must have a
聽 聽 聽 聽FRENCH account.聽 This is NOT EASY.聽 There was a change in the banking laws recently
聽 聽 聽 聽that requires an extensive amount of extra paper work and disclosure from the
聽 聽 聽 聽French banks for US expats, and for that reason many banks wont even consider
聽 聽 聽 聽you if you are from the US.聽 Including BNP Paribas from my experience.聽 What also
聽 聽 聽 聽makes getting an account even harder is that they require and ADDRESS!聽 So, how
聽 聽 聽 聽do you get an address without a banking account, and how do you get an account
聽 聽 聽 聽without an address?聽 Oh, this has been by far the most difficult of all problems to
聽 聽 聽 聽solve.聽 Again, thanks to my new friend, I was told that you can go to HSBC.fr
聽 聽 聽 聽(note the .fr) and fill an application online.聽 Personally, I had difficulty with this,
聽 聽 聽 聽because the system was offline or had glitches.聽 I resorted to going to HSBC here
聽 聽 聽 聽and opening a local account, then opening a a French account from HSBC AFTER
聽 聽 聽 聽that account was established.聽 Check the minimum balances required.聽 HSBC
聽 聽 聽 聽does NOT charge for transfers from US to your HSBC French account which is
聽 聽 聽 聽a very big deal.
4. Misc.
聽 聽 聽 聽The consulate will require that you show them bank statements which prove that
聽 聽 聽 聽 you have sufficient income to live in France without working for one year.I am
聽 聽 聽 聽 assuming that you are looking for
聽 聽 聽 聽 a LONG TERM VISA where you wont be working). It might also
聽 聽 聽 聽require a Letter of good standing from your banks. It might also require a criminal
聽 聽 聽 聽record report.聽 Every Consulate is different.
聽 聽 聽 聽After arriving and looking for a place to live, you must deposit funds to secure the
聽 聽 聽 聽"Caution Bancaire" (escrow for the landlord). It must go into an "assurance vie" a
聽 聽 聽 聽 retirement vehicle and not a "compte d'茅pargne (savings account).聽 According
聽 聽 聽 聽 to my friend the branch should be familiar with this, and it MIGHT be possible
聽 聽 聽 聽 to set it up before leaving, and I will let you know as soon as I can if I was able.
聽 聽 聽 聽 VERY IMPORTANT: If you plan on staying in France and doing any driving, you must
聽 聽 聽 聽 get a FRENCH drivers license. Fortunately there are about 18 states in the US which
聽 聽 聽 聽 have a reciprocal agreement, but for those that don't, you must pay $2,000. for
聽 聽 聽 聽 the class and test, and upon failing, you must pay AGAIN until you pass.聽 Thank
聽 聽 聽 聽 Goodness Florida is one that reciprocates. I know that this has been lots of info,
聽 聽 聽 聽 but I hope that it saves some time for everyone interested in moving from the
聽 聽 聽 聽 US to France..
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