How do I do a Work Exchange in France?

Moving to France as an American who works (legally) in the UK

• I am a American (US Citizen) who leagally resides in the United Kingdom (Work Permit) who wishes to move to Lille (France) and take the Eurostar back and forth to work on a weekly basis. My work permit is for 60 months and I have already lived here in the UK for a year. When I called the French embassy here in London they could not figure out what status I would have or if infact it would be legal. The gist of this is that my wife would like to have a chald soon and the loss of her income would more then be made up by the exchange rate on the pound. Regardless, what process would one engage in to get legal residence in France while working in the UK as an american citizen?

• Answer:

  Dear Hungus, Before I begin my answer, let me refer you to the disclaimer on the bottom of this page: " Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional [...] tax, legal, [...] or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments." In other words, if in doubt, please contact an immigration lawyer. If you want to know whether there are tax implications to living in France, I suggest you'll contact an accountant specialising in such cases. I am surprised that the French consulate could not give you the answer that I'm about to give you, because it is pretty straight forward (and yet, suits your needs exactly). The French authorities issue several types of visas that would enable their bearer to legally reside in France. Basically, they could be divided into the temporary visas and the permanent ones. A permanent visa could be obtained only after three years of legal residence in France (through a temporary visa or other permits), so it's not relevant here. There are several types of temporary visas. All of them are granted for a period of one year, and could be renewed. It is important to note, that before that, you can live in France for three month legally without requiring any permit. Types of Temporary Permits: -------------------------- "Visitors (visiteur): You may not work and need financial resources to live during your stay. Student (étudiant): You may work part-time during the academic year and full-time during holidays. You need sufficient financial resources for the study period (2004 ?826.83/month) and be enrolled in a recognised French educational institution. Employee (activité salariée): To obtain this permit, you need a work permit (see our guide on working permits ). Self-employed (activité non salariée): Gives the right to exercise a professional activity. To get this permit, you need to be authorised to exercise such an activity in France (i.e. have the corresponding and homologated professional qualifications). Trader (commerçant): Gives right to exercise trade and commercial activity. To get this permit, you need to be authorised to exercise such an activity in France (i.e. have the corresponding and homologated professional qualifications). Scientific (scientifique): Gives right to regular entry and residence in France for scientific research or/and teaching at university level. You need a certificate ( protocole d'accueil) from a research institution or from a university, which states your scientific qualifications and the purpose and duration of your stay/s. Cultural and artistic profession (profession artistique et culturelle): You can obtain this permit if you have a contract for more then 3 months with a relevant organization for exercising cultural or artistic professional activities. Temporary employee (travailleur temporaire): You can obtain this resident permit if you are employee with a temporary working permit. Private or family purposes (vie privée et familiale): You have rights to receive this residence permit for example if you are: a minor (18 years old or less) of a holder of a residency permit the spouse of a holder of a residency permit and enter France legally a minor (18 years old or less) living in France since the age of 15 resident in France for more then 10 years (or 15 years if living as a student) the spouse of a French national and you enter France legally one of the parents of a child with French nationality and the child is financially dependent on you or you have custody of the child" (SOURCE: Just Landed.com, "Types of residency : What do you need to apply for?", <http://www.justlanded.com/english/france/tools/just_landed_guide/visas_permits/types_of_residency>). Of these, the visitor's visa would be your best option. It is intended at people who do not (and may not) work in France, and have financial resources from elsewhere (i.e., your job in the UK). How to obtain a temporary visitor's permit ------------------------------------------ You will first have to find a place to stay in Lille. As mentioned before, your first three months are visa-free (which is an interesting loophole, I'll refer to it later): however, you must sort your legal issues and apply for a temporary visa in France. You apply in the following place: Préfecture du Nord 2 rue Jacquemars Giélée 59039 Lille Cedex Téléphone : 0320305959 Télécopie : 0320570802 Site : http://www.nord.pref.gouv.fr Further addresses for information: Direction régionale des affaires sanitaires et sociales du Nord Pas de Calais 62 boulevard de Belfort BP605 59024 Lille Cedex Téléphone : 0320626600 Télécopie : 0320626662 Direction départementale des affaires sanitaires et sociales du Nord Cité administrative 175 rue Gustave Delory BP2008 59011 Lille Cedex Téléphone : 0320183333 Télécopie : 0320850826 Délégation régionale de l'Office des migrations internationales (OMI) - Délégation de Lille Tél. : 03 20 99 98 60 concerne le Nord (59) SOURCE : Etrangers : carte de séjour temporaire <http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F2209.xhtml?&n=Papiers&l=N21&n=Papiers%20des%20%C3%A9trangers&l=N373>. Information in French on the requirements are in the link above. If you need an English version: JustLanded: Residency in France/ What is a residency and how do you apply for it? <http://www.justlanded.com/english/france/tools/just_landed_guide/visas_permits/residency_in_france> This is of course also valid for your wife. The Loophole ------------ This is a weird loophole, and this might be the reason why the French bureaucrats were puzzled. As an American, you are allowed to enter France without any permit for three month. However, if you leave France every week, the three-month period would in fact never end, as long as you do it. I am not recommending to rely on this loophole, although it seems that theoretically you won't even need the visas mentioned. This is because you're actually planning to move the centre of your life to France. This might be considered by some immigration officials as actually "living" in France, despiet the fact that you leave France every week. For your wife and child, of course, this would be also easier, if you also had a visa, in case you needed to stay with them for a longer period. Please note, that I am not sure that your wife would be entitled to get the same maternity rights as permanent residents of France, shall you move there. This is a topic for a different question, I'm afraid. Here is a bit more that *might* help: Find a lawyer in France <http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=246954> - lawyers spcialising in employment law in Lille. Lille: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly <http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=46042> - Get to know Lille. I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any further clarification on this answer before you rate it. My search strategy was to rely on official French documents as well as on terms related to residence, permits, in France.