Can you explain to e what you consider "unbiased"? Seems to be a new definition of that word that is unknown to me after watching this ranting about the French Administrative System.
Really enjoyed this, Karen! You’ve nailed some of the biggest surprises about moving to France - the bank account and driver’s license process can be such a headache. It’s great to hear how you’re navigating it all with flexibility and patience. As someone who works with expats, I know these tips will help a lot of people. Keep sharing your journey, it’s so relatable!
The information you provided related to taxes and drivers license. 1) France has a very high inheritance tax. Also, capital gains tax on selling homes in the States.2) driver's license reciprocity: all you do is check your states reciprocity with France you hand in your license and they exchange it for a French driver's license. Driving protocols can be explained by simply asking an expat or even Frech people. It's not a big deal. 3) French language testing is exempt from people over 65 years old. Testing doesn't begin until 10 years after you have been in France
Thank you for this pertinent information. I am in the process of buying a house south of Carcassonne, near Quillan. I didn't know the bank would be tricky, thanks for the heads up. I should be moving myself and my cats next spring, after I get a visa. There is a visa office in Miami near where I live so I don't have to travel to DC or NYC to submit my initial paperwork. Also, and lucky for me, FL reciprocates with France for driving licenses. I supposedly just go turn mine in and they'll issue me a French one. I hope this one challenge is less although it flies in the face of all my administrative contacts in France over many decades. I used to have to get work permits for myself and team members and no matter how many times I did it there was always something slowing it down. Anyway, thanks again. I can't wait to be done where I am and start this new chapter of my life in a place where beauty is so valued and society is served by the state.
Congratulations on making this big and bold move! You are very lucky with the driver's license exchange, but I always tell my friends that it's a good idea to take a few hours of classes anyway, because there are some things that are just not the same here. But the fact that you can exchange your permit will make life so much easier. Just make sure to do it in your first year after arrival, and don't wait till the end! Wishing you all the best for a smooth move and bienvenue en France !
Any America can probably find a way to Obtain a DL in Florida as most of us know someone in FL. well in advance before moving to France. That's a great tip from Ms. Carolyn! Thank you. Also this TH-cam info is super. Appreciate you and Congratulations on being a mature Newlywed. 🎉
Hello! I really appreciate your taking the time to watch and comment. I love hearing from people and my only goal is to share with the hopes of helping or inspiring others who may be making a big change, too. Greetings from Paris to you!
A wonderful and edifying video .. my move from Oregon would have been smoother having your insights. Thank you for sharing. -Daniel (Paris - Rue Monsieur le Prince)
I think I stayed at a spa near you on this street in Paris. The Residence and Spa Prince Regent. Cool spa. There's also a traditional cash only French restaurant on that street. I don't recall the name but it was like stepping back in time. Cool neighborhood though. Lucky you!
@@carolynlarke1340 hmm .. I've probably eaten at every restaurant in this area. Le Polidor (Midnight in Paris) is just down the street and may be cash-only. I can't recall. Yes, living across the street from the Jardin du Luxembourg is a dream. I spend many hours with my duck friends at la fontaine Médicis (fountain). Your spa is just up the street a hundred meters or so.
1. The French Administration, lots of paperwork, All USA/UK docs must be recent & translated into French by a State Authorized Translator, A recent copy. 2. Bank Accounts for Americans in France. 3. No Credit Cards. French use debit cards mostly. 4. Taxes as a USA Expat. 5. Resident Training, keep all docs proving you have taken it. 6. Getting my French Driver's License.
There's a big one you didn't mention. Check out inheritance tax laws. Quite important when considering moving here. I moved to France 5 years ago and this by far blows the others away.
Yes it’s true . I’m from Toronto and I was able to open a bank account at credit agricole because my boyfriend is french ! I mined back but I still have my french account .
Hello! I am planning a move to France, but am at the very beginning of the process. My thinking is to go for 90 days, or so, first, to see how it goes. Originally, I am from Ohio, too. I live in Alaska, now. My intention is to keep my remote job in the US. I guess one thing that would be helpful to me would be identifying a good resource, or resources, that offer some step-by-step information, or whatever comes closest to that. I'm working diligently on my French language acquisition, and my instructor tells me that I am well on my way. The tests tell me that I am at B2, but I believe that my apprehension is uneven, given that I used only DuoLingo for the first 16 months. I appreciate the tip about the document translation and the need to use an approved translator! This is a really useful video to get me thinking! Thank you!
Hello! Yay Ohio! Yes, on a tourist visa you can stay a maximum of 90 days within 180 days. It's definitely a good idea to come for a longer stay so the "vacation" mindset wears off and you can see if you really like it. There's a very good website called expatinfrance dot com --she's a French relocation expert and she has guides on everything. Also you can join Facebook groups like Americans Living the Dream in France. Great work on learning the language--that will help you a lot. Just be prepared that spoken French is very different from app or school French, so you may be a little frustrated at first when you start really talking to folks. Wishing you all the best! Bonne continuation !
Enjoyed this, thanks. I’m a regular visitor to France and do a lot of driving. You are absolutely right that being a seasoned US motorist, driving since age 14 in my case or whatever, is not at all adequate preparation. If it’s any consolation, priorité a droite is said to be the leading cause of accidents even among the French themselves.
Ahhh priorité a droite... hahaha! I didn't know that but it doesn't surprise me. I still hold my breath every time I come to an unmarked intersection :-)
@@karenbussen you are most welcome! Congratulations on making it to Paris and finding happiness! It's very inspiring to watch your story, your tips and learn what to do, not to do and how to make the transition easier. I appreciate it! Thanks!
In France a birth certificate extract can be asked as proof of life, as in France if someone die, it's reported on the birth act. So the birth certificate would report that this person is also dead.
Yes, I was surprised to learn that a French birth certificate is really a living document that is updated throughout life. In the States, it's just a document of the birth and it never changes
For French citizens we can always go to our birth town website and request a free copy of our birth certificate to be mailed to our address. Our police background check can be requested for free online as well.
Thanks for this it would be very helpful if you popped up little cards on the screen ever time you say something in French. For those of us that don't speak French, I have to little idea how to spell things based on how they're pronounced. Cheers
@karenbussen Hi, the French words. And perhaps a brief translation. Thank you. My wife is German, but fluent in French and lived there for 15 years. We're contemplating moving to the south of France. I'm an American and don't speak a word of French, so it's a bit daunting. Your videos are helpful.
Your video was excellent. I’m married to a French woman and one day might move to France but it won’t be for another 5 years from now. This video is definitely preparing me what to expect in the future. Keep up the amazing work..:)
Hello! Thank you so much for this lovely comment and it’s fantastic that you’re already starting to prepare. This will make the transition much easier. I’m so happy you found the video useful - let me know if you have any questions !!
I could open a French bank account with only a visa; what helped could be the fact that my brother has access to my account and that he has been their customer for many years so they know him. They did require a lot of documents though. I am waiting to get my residency card but I already have the health insurance card.
if you 'just'moved to France, I guess there is a lot of things you learn 'down the roads, I'm living20 years in Norway now and even I learn new things now. That's the fun living in another country
Bonjour ! Greetings from Paris. I actually made a video about that hee hee. I hope this link works, if not, you can find it on my channel home page...It's "How I Learned French" th-cam.com/video/tqKW5oVWj4I/w-d-xo.html
I also have experience of living abroad. In any non-english speaking country, ALL documents have to have an official translation. But you're right to point it out because many emigrating couples are uni-nationals (unlike the mixed marriages of yourself and myself). Those couples are absolutely fraught with problems from day 1 (to start with they don't even have the legal protection afforded by domestic marriage). In your case, the language element helped cement the relationship in the first place. So, that's also a head start. But the majority of those couples think it's all going to be plain sailing with the click of a finger, based only on their experience in English back home😊. To a small extent, it will depend on the country they're moving to, but I should emphasise categorically - SMALL is the key word here. Uni-nationals - don't get carried away with the prospect of anywhere non English unless you have the language skills of this lady. Make plans for intense schooling when you move into your new home country - far from a head-start, you'll be starting at an "end start".
Hello, thank you for this very interesting video. France is a beautiful country with many very positive things, but also, as everywhere, negative aspects. For example, homeschooling has recently been practically banned, while it's an interesting way of educating children.
Salut and thank you so much for watching! I don't have children, so I can't really speak to this, but I know that as you said, each country has their viewpoint and I think France believes in education in common as a benefit. I really don't have the answers here, but I do know that the French kids I've met are amazing! :-)
An anecdote about famous French bureaucracy straight from my life: I married Polish girl, in Poland, so the wedding was accessible for both our families and friends, French and Polish. It took us FIVE years to register the marriage in France, and eventually we had to hire a lawyer to finish the process 😂 Once all the paperwork had a stamp of the solicitor, the registration suddenly went through 🎉
Impressive how much fluent you are in English.🙃 Ce genre de réflexion (cette vidéo), les points de vue argumentés (expliqués concrètement) fait par les gens d'une autre culture, c'est toujours (quand c'est bien fait, en tout cas) intéressant. Pouvoir changer d'angles de vue, c'est toujours important.
Thanks for this video. Do you happen to have an accountant you've had a easy experience with? I've been here 3 years and switched twice and talked to several more but haven't gotten to the feeling I miss from NY.
When I moved to the US I had to take the full exam in the US in each state. My French driving licence was not valid in the US (unless for a short time as if I was a tourist). Now I live in Quebec, Canada and all I had to do is going to a major office and they delivered a Quebec driving licence based on my French driving licence. No need for an exam.
Thank you, Karen, for very useful and succinct information! In regard to the documents submittal for visa extension in France, do we (US) need to apostille each of them and if yes, at which point - English copies before translation in French or translated in French copies? I would appreciate your response. Thank you!
Hi and thanks for writing. I'm glad you found it helpful. OK for the docs, you should get the complete English doc first and if it's stapled or otherwise stamped, etc., do nothing to alter it/don't take it apart. As for the apostille, this will depend on your state. In Ohio, I had to first order my birth certificate, then I had to send it separately to the secretary of state's office to get the apostille (cost $5) and then I took the whole thing to the translator. Then you take it to a certified state-approved translator. And the translator will tell you also, they'll attach their translation and their seal, and you can't remove or alter those either. Whew! I hope all goes smoothly for you...greetings from Paris!
Hi, thanks for your comment. If you are not in France, the best thing to do is contact the French consulate in your area. They should have a list of traducteurs assermentés. If you're in France, you can find the list by postal code on this site: www.courdecassation.fr/experts-agrees-par-les-cours-dappel You'll need to select your city and then find your language to see the approved list. Hope this is helpful!
I asked several other people and they said they didn’t need to have their documents translated for their visa application. What were you applying for that you needed them? Thanks!
The best thing you can do is just follow the instructions on the Visa application, meaning read the checklist and all the instructions. In my case I had to have everything translated, and by a French (state) certified translator or traducteur assermenté. Bonne continuation !
What's really strange (and frustrating) is that some US states have an agreement with France to honor their driver's license (for one year). My state, California, surprisingly to me, not among them.
Oh yes, I have a whole series on what happened to me when I discovered the same about my New York license. I am still traumatized !! Thank you for your comment 😃 🚗
Would you share the name of the bank that opened an account for you? Also where do you reside in France ? Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed your info and your presentation.
It's not so much the name of the exact bank as the person at the bank. I had success when I actually went in and talked to someone as opposed to just filling out online forms. I've heard from varying other immigrants like me that numerous banks have been OK with Americans but that it required an in-person meeting or a connection through their spouse/partner's bank. We live in Paris :-)
for the bank thing. If your bank in the US have a relation with an french one, it may be easier to open a account (in Euro currency) in this french bank via your bank in the US before coming here. Once installed in France, you can change bank if this one don't please you.
Salut et merci ! Yes, I wish I had known this. My long-time bank in the US doesn't have any link to (or branches in) France, so it was a bit more complicated. But in the end it all works out! :-)
One thing that’s shocking to me as a French, is us people living abroad still need to report to the IRS, even tho they work abroad. That’s kind of weird. In France if you leave France you are cut off from the French tax system (impôts)
Bonjour, thank you for this comment and yes, it is both shocking and stressful. US citizens living abroad must file two tax returns, resulting in extra fees, extra paperwork and extra headaches. And that is even if they have no income in the States...sigh
US is one of a very few countries that would chase its citizens for $10 of unpaid taxes or unreported income and put them in jail whereas big crooks are laughing all the way to the bank.
Regarding the bank account for Americans: I moved to Paris for a couple of years in 1972. I took a cashier's check from my American bank and had a bank account established within an hour or so. No problem at all. Also, to me it seems that some of that information should have come from your husband, who you said is French.
Thank you so much for watching and for your reply. Yes, in 1972 it was much easier. In 2010 new laws were passed in the US to make sure citizens living abroad comply with declaring their income and that added a lot of extra work for banks in Europe because they can be fined if they don't report properly on their US clients. So some French banks don't want the extra trouble. My dear French husband wouldn't have known that because he was born in France and has always lived in Europe. He was as surprised as I was. Ah, the world is a more complicated place now than 50 years ago hee hee, but it all works out. Just thought I'd share with those who might be moving here so they'd have a heads up since I didn't. Greetings from the French countryside :-)
If marreied and then divorced , will i need copies of both ? My divorce decree is about 20 pages. Thanks for all the info, planning move in about 15 months and trying to square everuthung up before hand.
Salut and thanks so much for your kind words and for your comment. Hmmm, I'm not a legal expert, but I would suggest that you speak to a lawyer in France who can tell you if you'll need that. If you're getting married in France, you will definitely need it, and it will almost certainly have to be translated officially. But if you're not getting married, I'm not sure at what point you'd need it. My advice is to take the time to speak to a French lawyer and ask them about this AND what else you might need to be considering as you plan your move. You will surely learn something and likely you'll be in better shape for the transition. Bonne continuation !
Oh this is great! You’re so lucky! But as I always say, I recommend a few driving lessons in France if you will be driving bc there are a few things that don’t match and can be dangerous (like priorité à droite when there are zero stop signs haha) Bonne continuation ❣️
@@karenbussen Priority to the right at uncontrolled intersections is also the law here in the US in general. The difference is that there are very very few places where an intersection is completely uncontrolled.
Hello! Yes, and once you validate your long-stay visa at a certain point you'll receive a convocation from OFII with the date of your first meeting there, which generally takes 2-3 hours. That's an evaluation meeting and as a part of that meeting, they'll assign your training dates which are generally for full days (I had to do 4 full days). Hope this is helpful and thanks for the question!
Oh you can use an American credit card-it not prohibited, just a cultural thing. French banks generally issue debit cards and they keep track of all your spending and often debit the total monthly spending on one day each month. I’m not an expert on banking rules but if you live here permanently, you won’t want to pay bank currency conversion charges for every purchase. My point was really more that French people don’t take on credit card debt the way we Americans do. Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your experience ❣️
Bonjour! Does one need to have all those documents translated into French for their visa application? What do people need the translated documents for? Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
I needed them for everything--for my marriage application, my visa application, the renewal of my visa, my permis de conduire (French drivers license), for starting a business in France, etc. I even had to have my proof of residence (in the US) translated, so like phone bills, etc. for my marriage certificate. But just read all the instructions carefully and my advice is to always ask questions of the visa processor in advance of your application/meeting because if not, it could set you back weeks or months. Bonne continuation !
These are many of the same issues you will encounter if you move to Germany, e.g. the hurdles to banking & investing which are the result of complex EU / U.S. DoT/IRS regulations. PS Don't feel insulted, but your French can be a touch hard to understand at times... It would have helped if you'd have put the administrative / technical terms up on the screen in writing to make it easier to follow you and do online searches afterwards for further clarification.
For your initial Visa, did you need to get a newer birth certificate or could you use the one you had on hand? Do you anticipate needing newer birth certificates, newer marriage license, etc every time you renew your Visa? Lastly, was the civic class in French? Thanks!
For the initial visa yes, I had to order a copy of my birth certificate, and importantly that copy had to have an "apostille" which is a special stamp that you have to request (also cost $5). And then I had to have the certificate and the apostille translated by a French state-approved translator (traducteur assermenté). And yes, you do need "recent copies" (with varying meanings, but generally within three or six months) and if they are English (or any language that's not French), they'll need to be recent translations. My translator here told me that with the birth certificate, sometimes I'll just need to get the date of the translation updated, which they can do for me so it won't cost as much or be as much trouble. For the civics class, yes, totally in French, but you can request a translator, who will be with you in the room, literally live translating everything the teacher says. In my group there was an Arabic translator for all four sessions.
I just received my long stay visa for France (10/24) and there was no requirement for any documents to be translated. I believe the different visas may have different requirements, and/or the reason for moving may influence the requirements. I live in CA and I am retired, moving permanently to France. I did translate my letters/statements into French myself for the convenience of the embassy.
Hello and thanks for this question. Just follow this official French govt link www.service-public.fr/simulateur/calcul/PermisEtrangerPermisFrancais and type in your country which may appear on your screen as United States or Etats-Unis. Then type in the name of your state. If you get the following message, you CAN exchange it without taking the exams: "Votre permis de conduire est échangeable contre un permis B français." There are also a lot of blogs online you can read if you type in "list of US states that can exchange..." And I highly recommend the FB group "Americans Driving in France" --they are the best for info and support! Bonne continuation et bonne route !
@@karenbussen Would it make sense/all around easier to move to a state here in US long enough to get approved states driver’s license, or is there some rule (in France) against this?
Origin of difficulty in opening bank accounts for US citizens in France: In 2010 Obama imposed that ALL US citizens residing abroad have to file an annual FATCA ("Failure to report foreign financial assets on Form 8938 may result in a penalty of $10,000 and a penalty up to $50,000 for continued failure") and FBAR. It was supposedly to stop the mega rich from hiding their wealth offshore (it hasn't) but what it did was screw over English teachers, nannies etc. and everyone had to hire expensive ex-pat accountants. French banks were suddenly compromised. Even Democrats Abroad were shocked as the only other country in the world doing this is Eritrea, a small dictatorship in Africa.
This is not quite accurate. Taxation on worldwide income no matter where an American lives has been part of US tax law for over 100 years. The difference with FATCA was that foreign banks were required to provide information on US citizens to the IRS. This created a burden on the banks with no benefit. US individuals file an FBAR. This is a disclosure of foreign assets. It sucks, I agree, and the US is the only developed country that does it, but it's not really new. It's just more tightly monitored now. The actual underlying IRS tax code has existed since the Reagan years. This just gave it more teeth.
Another insult to the average US Taxpayer developed by the GOP’s puppet Ronnie Regan. Sad that Obama would reinforce rather than making less cumbersome to non-millionaires. Especially from a second generation guy…
I'm not sure I understand your question. I can use my US passport to travel. But without a long-stay visa or residence card, you are limited to a certain number of days in France (I'm pretty sure it's only 90 days out of every 180 days, but you'd have to verify that) :-)
As a Frenchman, I offer you all my sympathy for your terrible discovery of French administration. An English friend of mine once joked with me: “I've believed in the existence of the devil ever since I discovered French administration”. And yet, in this “hell”, there are oases of humanity: when you click (when it's possible) on the “to be called back by an advisor” tab, you often come into contact with very friendly, empathetic advisors, who will help you sort out your file... provided you speak French. I hope you don't have to discover a 7th “thing”: “having to settle a legal dispute” a dispute involving French law and the law of the country you come from. Kafkaesque! Enjoy your stay in our country! As soon as you leave the administration, there's a lot to discover! I enjoyed your presentation. It helps me to maintain my English!
Merci pour ce commentaire ! I also hope I don't have to settle any legal disputes haha! I am enjoying life here so much and grâce à mon mari français, je découvre beaucoup de chose de la belle France ! Your English is very good by the way :-)
Brilliant! The French are brilliant with their use of the birth certificate as a "living document". That seems like such an obvious thing and I have never heard of it being done before. Can you imagine the ease for historians in the future when they want to learn about this time period? My mother was a geneologist and let me tell you that the amount of study to track down these details is pretty time consuming.
It's true about the American citizenship from the standpoint of administrative headaches and filing multiple tax returns for the rest of your life. The only thing is, I think to do it properly you need a lawyer and I heard it's pricey. And yes I agree--I loved the resident training!! It made me feel official and welcome. Thanks for taking the time to write!
@@karenbussen I find unlike we Anglos (I am an Englishmen), the French have more a more refined culture. In fact the French are taught philosophy as a mandatory subject in school can you imagine that in America or England? English common sense is rebuffed by French finesse. Even there tyrants like Napoleon are cool and sexy, compare that to Cromwell. It is a shame however that like many places the French have become more and more Americanised, McDonald’s and American shoes and music. I hope France can remain French and not become just another consumerist culture.
@@Jimmylad. I think it’s going down that way. I just moved back to France after living abroad for years and I was shocked how Americanised it had become. But that’s probably everywhere because of the internet, it’s globalism. At the same time American brands are viewed as cool and trendy. McDonald’s is popular because it’s open all day even Sundays, it’s family friendly and people know what to expect. Band the newer generation who will eventually be the ruling class are born with iPads, TikTok and TH-cam.
About the bank problem....it's a US problem more than a french problem. FATCA IS the problem ! as an american coming into a french bank (or anywhere else in the wolrd), you are a pain in the ass...honestly for the bank clerc i am, you are. We've got special procedures for americans that we don't use a lot, wether you're american or our parents are or you're born in the US...specials procedures. Imposed to us French and the rest of the world by the USA. Any bank in the world that break this this fatwa...sorry, fatca law will be punished with billions $ fine !!
Thanks for this explanation! My husband did tell me this as well, and I agree, it's for good reason. It's just frustrating to be in the middle of it all when all you want to do is start a life--and a bank account. Fortunately I found BNP and they are great! :-)
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/bnp-paribas-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-89-billion-illegally-processing-financial@@karenbussen ....no wonder they're nice, they just learned their pricey lesson. Have a nice stay ;)
Rule number 7 here in France we have what is "System D" what that means is as a rule there are really no rules there more like suggesting and excepting to all rules! Rules can very from to day to day from person to person however not all rules fall under the rule of exceptions. Rule one many rules are not written down on paper any where and your really not allowed to guess you should know them; now I can hear you from here: How do I know the rules if no one tell or there not written down, as I said your not allow to ask questions you should know the rules that is why we call it System D! it is up to you to figure this out by yourself with next to nothing to help, and to ready for the unforeseen, and you are never ready, but you act as if you are ready to do what ever is needed I was lucky to get one paper done a day in one office at any one day it can be harder if your American and you speak little French, but it not always helpful if your American and you speak French with no American accent because then their think you Trump rich and that is bad! In other words there is no way you could know any of this until you do any of this yourself because part of the art of System D is no one does the same way twice because your guessing without letting them you guess because you not allow to guess right and yet that is all you do some times! My mother who is more French than me was helpful but not like it help a lot because she grow up with System D I did not, for her it was like no big deal yet for me it was a trainwreck because I a duel citizen French/American who spoke fairly good French, but without know my conjugations and verbs yet I was born in Paris, in other words many people thought I was Trump rich who was a snob or I was a bad French fake acting like an American snob I was nether I was nearly deported by the Police because I did not know my conjugation with the level of French I knew I learn French with my mother I never did any schools in France even though I did live here in France I was on American army bases back in the day! What I am saying is learn System D things will be a lot easy on everyone make due with what you have, and some times you make it up! Of all the cities in the states New York City comes closer to France than any other city stateside you will still need to blind jump good luck and peace to you both!
Salut ! Is your question about what "traducteur" means? It's a translator of the language, and in France, if you're translating documents for administrative purposes, you must use un traducteur assermenté (a state certified translator), who has a seal that is recognized as official. If not, your docs may be rejected and you'll have to start over. Hope this is helpful to you!
Living in France since 2006. I don't speak French at all. There was never any resident lessons. The French driver's license is easy to get. Just read the rules first and apply when you are eligible. It took me about 2 minutes to get a French Driver's license. Do not pay the thousands of euros they charge to get a license. Regarding marrying a French, that was a brave thing to do. I recall France telling workers they were going to take a days wages from their pay check to fund workers for the elderly. This is why it is a taboo to discuss money. Your money belongs to France anytime France wants it.
Thank you for sharing your experience et félicitations ! Just a note so folks who haven't watched my French driver's license videos won't be confused--this commenter is talking about exchanging a driver's license, which is a very simple process, but that is only available to those who come from certain states in the US (and some other countries). Since I'm from New York, exchange wasn't legally possible so I had to start from scratch. Then just practically speaking, there are differences in the road rules in France and I strongly suggest you take some lessons. By the way, if you don't pay a driving school, you'll wait months longer for an exam date and you'll have to pay to rent a car with double controls as that's required during the practical exam itself. Also, you can only take the road test in French (although you can pay for a translator for the written test, which comes first). But on the road, it's all in French. During the test you don't have to speak much really, but you do have to understand the examiner's instructions in French. Can you say, "faute éliminatoire" ? :-) So for anyone who can't exchange their license because that option isn't available, you can read a lot of great info and get advice/support on the Americans Driving in France Facebook group, among other places. Hope this is helpful and bonne route à toutes et à tous !
This has nothing to do with FRANCE. Moving from one country to the other - getting married in a country in which you are not a resident - is "the exception" and not the rule. Therefore - every country has requirements that can be costly and time consuming. Linking that to France as a country or "The French Administrative System" is no fair to say it politely. And no - France did not invite you. It was your decision to impose yourself on them. Don't be surprised that they ask you to comply - in your interest, not the interest of the French people.
The BIG PROBLEM is that French don't want for learn English. Mais Comme l'anglais est la Langue de Communication Internationale les Français se retrouvent coupé du Monde ! Et ils Croient toujours qu'ils habitent dans le grand, le plus Beau Pays du Monde et qu'ils sont Ouverts d'Esprit ...
Bonjour ! Merci pour votre commentaire :-) Des anglophones diraient que, quand ils essaient de parler aux français en français, souvent les français leur répondent en anglais heehee ! Mais moi, je trouve très impressionnant les capacities des jeunes français. Mon beau-fils, qui a 17 ans, il parle 4 langues, et son anglais et presque parfait ! Peut-être des choses changent un peu ?
I was lucky enough to live the American dream--self-made businesswoman and entrepreneur. I hadn't planned a move to France right now. I just fell in love and took a chance and I'm so happy I did :-) Thanks for watching
As the late comedian George Carlin said, "The American Dream - you'd have to be asleep to experience it!". Corporate power here, one of many reasons...
is that marriage cert issued when you got married or notarized copy has to be less than 3 months? it's hard for americans to open bank account across europe or anywhere abroad because of the bank is obligated to report to the us government and they need to verify the w 9 form you filled. you have to report account balances from all your banks to the us government every year
Thanks for your comment. For things related to the French administration, most documents have to be recent copies. For example when I applied for my visa renewal, I had to request a new copy of my French marriage certificate because it was more than 1 year old. For other documents/situations it might be 3 months or sometimes 6 months. For any of my American docs I always ask my French translator and he seems to know exactly. Sometimes you just need a recent translation of the same doc. Regarding banks, yes I had to contact several banks before finding one, but once I did, there were absolutely no problems at all. And yes you do have to report foreign bank accounts to the US, but I haven't had to list amounts :-)
All those points just require doing your homework before you move to another country .there are no surprises its information you can find anywhere before you move.
I appreciate your comment! But I promise you, there will be surprises when you move to a new country. My goal is just to share to help others if they are looking for info or considering a move to France. Bonne continuation and greetings from Paris :-)
One of the most unbiased reflections on moving to another country… bravo! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching and for your comment :-)
Can you explain to e what you consider "unbiased"? Seems to be a new definition of that word that is unknown to me after watching this ranting about the French Administrative System.
BRILLIANT points not always covered elsewhere! Especially the driver's license! ♥ THANK YOU!
Thank you and I'm so very happy you found it helpful. Greetings from Paris, where I now (finally) have my French driving license haha
@@karenbussen
Really enjoyed this, Karen! You’ve nailed some of the biggest surprises about moving to France - the bank account and driver’s license process can be such a headache. It’s great to hear how you’re navigating it all with flexibility and patience. As someone who works with expats, I know these tips will help a lot of people. Keep sharing your journey, it’s so relatable!
Thank you so much for watching and for your comment!! The journey continues but I do love life in France !
The information you provided related to taxes and drivers license. 1) France has a very high inheritance tax. Also, capital gains tax on selling homes in the States.2) driver's license reciprocity: all you do is check your states reciprocity with France you hand in your license and they exchange it for a French driver's license. Driving protocols can be explained by simply asking an expat or even Frech people. It's not a big deal. 3) French language testing is exempt from people over 65 years old. Testing doesn't begin until 10 years after you have been in France
Thank you for this pertinent information. I am in the process of buying a house south of Carcassonne, near Quillan. I didn't know the bank would be tricky, thanks for the heads up. I should be moving myself and my cats next spring, after I get a visa. There is a visa office in Miami near where I live so I don't have to travel to DC or NYC to submit my initial paperwork. Also, and lucky for me, FL reciprocates with France for driving licenses. I supposedly just go turn mine in and they'll issue me a French one. I hope this one challenge is less although it flies in the face of all my administrative contacts in France over many decades. I used to have to get work permits for myself and team members and no matter how many times I did it there was always something slowing it down. Anyway, thanks again. I can't wait to be done where I am and start this new chapter of my life in a place where beauty is so valued and society is served by the state.
Congratulations on making this big and bold move! You are very lucky with the driver's license exchange, but I always tell my friends that it's a good idea to take a few hours of classes anyway, because there are some things that are just not the same here. But the fact that you can exchange your permit will make life so much easier. Just make sure to do it in your first year after arrival, and don't wait till the end! Wishing you all the best for a smooth move and bienvenue en France !
Any America can probably find a way to Obtain a DL in Florida as most of us know someone in FL. well in advance before moving to France. That's a great tip from Ms. Carolyn! Thank you.
Also this TH-cam info is super. Appreciate you and Congratulations on being a mature Newlywed. 🎉
Thanks so much for posting. This was really informative and instructional. I especially liked your responses to others' comments
Hello! I really appreciate your taking the time to watch and comment. I love hearing from people and my only goal is to share with the hopes of helping or inspiring others who may be making a big change, too. Greetings from Paris to you!
Wow! I am so glad you shared all of this. This was extremely valuable for me. Thank you!❤
Merci and I'm really so happy you found it helpful!
A wonderful and edifying video .. my move from Oregon would have been smoother having your insights. Thank you for sharing. -Daniel (Paris - Rue Monsieur le Prince)
I think I stayed at a spa near you on this street in Paris. The Residence and Spa Prince Regent. Cool spa. There's also a traditional cash only French restaurant on that street. I don't recall the name but it was like stepping back in time. Cool neighborhood though. Lucky you!
@@carolynlarke1340 hmm .. I've probably eaten at every restaurant in this area. Le Polidor (Midnight in Paris) is just down the street and may be cash-only. I can't recall. Yes, living across the street from the Jardin du Luxembourg is a dream. I spend many hours with my duck friends at la fontaine Médicis (fountain). Your spa is just up the street a hundred meters or so.
Merci ! I hope you are enjoying living in Paris. Nice address!!!
Richard Wright lived on rue M. le Prince. Lucky you!
1. The French Administration, lots of paperwork, All USA/UK docs must be recent & translated into French by a State Authorized Translator, A recent copy.
2. Bank Accounts for Americans in France.
3. No Credit Cards. French use debit cards mostly.
4. Taxes as a USA Expat.
5. Resident Training, keep all docs proving you have taken it.
6. Getting my French Driver's License.
There's a big one you didn't mention. Check out inheritance tax laws. Quite important when considering moving here. I moved to France 5 years ago and this by far blows the others away.
This was the most informative video I have found to date on moving to France! Merci.
Merci à vous ! You made my day 😊
This information applies to anybody who wants to live or marry in a foreign country the legal way
Wow. I did not know almost any of this. Thank you.
My pleasure and thanks for stopping by :-)
Yes it’s true . I’m from Toronto and I was able to open a bank account at credit agricole because my boyfriend is french ! I mined back but I still have my french account .
Thank you. This gives me major anxiety, but I needed to know this. Better now than next year. I do have a French girl friend who is helping me along.
You can do it! One step at a time. Bonne continuation 🌸
Yes, me too. I heard that Spain is difficult too. And Italy, and Portugal? How about Belgium? I am French, Belgian and Welsh American so...
Hello! I am planning a move to France, but am at the very beginning of the process. My thinking is to go for 90 days, or so, first, to see how it goes. Originally, I am from Ohio, too. I live in Alaska, now. My intention is to keep my remote job in the US.
I guess one thing that would be helpful to me would be identifying a good resource, or resources, that offer some step-by-step information, or whatever comes closest to that.
I'm working diligently on my French language acquisition, and my instructor tells me that I am well on my way. The tests tell me that I am at B2, but I believe that my apprehension is uneven, given that I used only DuoLingo for the first 16 months.
I appreciate the tip about the document translation and the need to use an approved translator!
This is a really useful video to get me thinking! Thank you!
Hello! Yay Ohio! Yes, on a tourist visa you can stay a maximum of 90 days within 180 days. It's definitely a good idea to come for a longer stay so the "vacation" mindset wears off and you can see if you really like it. There's a very good website called expatinfrance dot com --she's a French relocation expert and she has guides on everything. Also you can join Facebook groups like Americans Living the Dream in France. Great work on learning the language--that will help you a lot. Just be prepared that spoken French is very different from app or school French, so you may be a little frustrated at first when you start really talking to folks. Wishing you all the best! Bonne continuation !
Enjoyed this, thanks. I’m a regular visitor to France and do a lot of driving. You are absolutely right that being a seasoned US motorist, driving since age 14 in my case or whatever, is not at all adequate preparation. If it’s any consolation, priorité a droite is said to be the leading cause of accidents even among the French themselves.
Ahhh priorité a droite... hahaha! I didn't know that but it doesn't surprise me. I still hold my breath every time I come to an unmarked intersection :-)
is a droite on the right? give priority to the car on the right? I'm guessing, I could look it up.
@@MissBabalu102 Yes.
@@roblindsay101 Good, maybe I'll remember now.
@@MissBabalu102 Correct.
J ai trouvé vos informations utiles! I smiley when you mentioned the driver's license and the banks.... I am also a sworn in translator.
Merci pour votre commentaire qui m’a fait smiler aussi 😘😅 🚗
So very very helpful, thank you🇲🇫
Thank you, that means so much to me!
Great advice. My wife and I are considering moving to France next year and these are exactly the kinds of things we need to know.
I'm so happy you found it helpful. Wishing you bonne continuation for your (possible) move to France!
This translation tip is VERY helpful! Thank you.
So happy you found it helpful! Thank you for taking a moment to comment, and hello from Paris!
@@karenbussen you are most welcome! Congratulations on making it to Paris and finding happiness! It's very inspiring to watch your story, your tips and learn what to do, not to do and how to make the transition easier. I appreciate it! Thanks!
In France a birth certificate extract can be asked as proof of life, as in France if someone die, it's reported on the birth act. So the birth certificate would report that this person is also dead.
Yes, I was surprised to learn that a French birth certificate is really a living document that is updated throughout life. In the States, it's just a document of the birth and it never changes
For French citizens we can always go to our birth town website and request a free copy of our birth certificate to be mailed to our address. Our police background check can be requested for free online as well.
Thanks for this it would be very helpful if you popped up little cards on the screen ever time you say something in French. For those of us that don't speak French, I have to little idea how to spell things based on how they're pronounced. Cheers
@@wiremonkeyshop Thank you for watching and that’s a great idea. You mean the words in French or English?
@karenbussen Hi, the French words. And perhaps a brief translation. Thank you. My wife is German, but fluent in French and lived there for 15 years. We're contemplating moving to the south of France. I'm an American and don't speak a word of French, so it's a bit daunting. Your videos are helpful.
Excellent video.
Merci !
Your video was excellent. I’m married to a French woman and one day might move to France but it won’t be for another 5 years from now. This video is definitely preparing me what to expect in the future. Keep up the amazing work..:)
Hello! Thank you so much for this lovely comment and it’s fantastic that you’re already starting to prepare. This will make the transition much easier. I’m so happy you found the video useful - let me know if you have any questions !!
Most interesting and helpful to one who is considering moving to France.
Merci and bonne continuation with your possible move to France! Thank you for taking the time to write a comment :-)
I could open a French bank account with only a visa; what helped could be the fact that my brother has access to my account and that he has been their customer for many years so they know him. They did require a lot of documents though. I am waiting to get my residency card but I already have the health insurance card.
Thank you for sharing your experience and bravo!
if you 'just'moved to France, I guess there is a lot of things you learn 'down the roads, I'm living20 years in Norway now and even I learn new things now. That's the fun living in another country
You are so right!!! Lots to learn and many adventures to be had. Hello to you in Norway 😃and merci pour le commentaire
I would be interested in how you learned your French. Thanks Nicole
Bonjour ! Greetings from Paris. I actually made a video about that hee hee. I hope this link works, if not, you can find it on my channel home page...It's "How I Learned French" th-cam.com/video/tqKW5oVWj4I/w-d-xo.html
soon im moving to france hopefully these will help thank u🎉
Wishing you the best for your move and thanks for watching !
I also have experience of living abroad.
In any non-english speaking country, ALL documents have to have an official translation.
But you're right to point it out because many emigrating couples are uni-nationals (unlike the mixed marriages of yourself and myself).
Those couples are absolutely fraught with problems from day 1 (to start with they don't even have the legal protection afforded by domestic marriage).
In your case, the language element helped cement the relationship in the first place. So, that's also a head start.
But the majority of those couples think it's all going to be plain sailing with the click of a finger, based only on their experience in English back home😊.
To a small extent, it will depend on the country they're moving to, but I should emphasise categorically - SMALL is the key word here.
Uni-nationals - don't get carried away with the prospect of anywhere non English unless you have the language skills of this lady. Make plans for intense schooling when you move into your new home country - far from a head-start, you'll be starting at an "end start".
Thank you for your thoughts! Preparation is key, I agree, and respect for the different processes in your new home country. :-)
Hello, thank you for this very interesting video. France is a beautiful country with many very positive things, but also, as everywhere, negative aspects. For example, homeschooling has recently been practically banned, while it's an interesting way of educating children.
Salut and thank you so much for watching! I don't have children, so I can't really speak to this, but I know that as you said, each country has their viewpoint and I think France believes in education in common as a benefit. I really don't have the answers here, but I do know that the French kids I've met are amazing! :-)
An anecdote about famous French bureaucracy straight from my life: I married Polish girl, in Poland, so the wedding was accessible for both our families and friends, French and Polish. It took us FIVE years to register the marriage in France, and eventually we had to hire a lawyer to finish the process 😂 Once all the paperwork had a stamp of the solicitor, the registration suddenly went through 🎉
Ah mince ! That's a long time to wait, but bravo for making it happen. Greetings from Paris :-)
Impressive how much fluent you are in English.🙃
Ce genre de réflexion (cette vidéo), les points de vue argumentés (expliqués concrètement) fait par les gens d'une autre culture, c'est toujours (quand c'est bien fait, en tout cas) intéressant. Pouvoir changer d'angles de vue, c'est toujours important.
Merci pour ce commentaire, et je suis absolument d'accord avec vous ! :-)
Even as a French I make sure to keep all my documents, both digitally and on paper. You will not regret getting that organized :)
Good advice, merci !
Fascinating
Thank you! It really has been a mind-blowing experience in many ways.
Thanks for this video. Do you happen to have an accountant you've had a easy experience with? I've been here 3 years and switched twice and talked to several more but haven't gotten to the feeling I miss from NY.
Hello! If you DM me on Instagram I will send you the info for my accountant. I'm @karenbussen :-)
I am French and have lived in Missouri and in Texas and I had to take the driving licence exam again (theory and driving tests).
Oh wow. Do you mean when you came back to France or you had to take it in the States? Merci pour votre commentaire et bon week-end :-)
When I moved to the US I had to take the full exam in the US in each state. My French driving licence was not valid in the US (unless for a short time as if I was a tourist). Now I live in Quebec, Canada and all I had to do is going to a major office and they delivered a Quebec driving licence based on my French driving licence. No need for an exam.
Thank you, Karen, for very useful and succinct information! In regard to the documents submittal for visa extension in France, do we (US) need to apostille each of them and if yes, at which point - English copies before translation in French or translated in French copies? I would appreciate your response. Thank you!
Hi and thanks for writing. I'm glad you found it helpful. OK for the docs, you should get the complete English doc first and if it's stapled or otherwise stamped, etc., do nothing to alter it/don't take it apart. As for the apostille, this will depend on your state. In Ohio, I had to first order my birth certificate, then I had to send it separately to the secretary of state's office to get the apostille (cost $5) and then I took the whole thing to the translator.
Then you take it to a certified state-approved translator. And the translator will tell you also, they'll attach their translation and their seal, and you can't remove or alter those either. Whew! I hope all goes smoothly for you...greetings from Paris!
@@karenbussen Merci de votre aide.
Very helpful video! Where can we find a list of certified translators? thanks
Hi, thanks for your comment. If you are not in France, the best thing to do is contact the French consulate in your area. They should have a list of traducteurs assermentés.
If you're in France, you can find the list by postal code on this site: www.courdecassation.fr/experts-agrees-par-les-cours-dappel
You'll need to select your city and then find your language to see the approved list. Hope this is helpful!
Thank you
I asked several other people and they said they didn’t need to have their documents translated for their visa application. What were you applying for that you needed them? Thanks!
The best thing you can do is just follow the instructions on the Visa application, meaning read the checklist and all the instructions. In my case I had to have everything translated, and by a French (state) certified translator or traducteur assermenté. Bonne continuation !
What's really strange (and frustrating) is that some US states have an agreement with France to honor their driver's license (for one year). My state, California, surprisingly to me, not among them.
Oh yes, I have a whole series on what happened to me when I discovered the same about my New York license. I am still traumatized !! Thank you for your comment 😃 🚗
Would you share the name of the bank that opened an account for you? Also where do you reside in France ? Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed your info and your presentation.
It's not so much the name of the exact bank as the person at the bank. I had success when I actually went in and talked to someone as opposed to just filling out online forms. I've heard from varying other immigrants like me that numerous banks have been OK with Americans but that it required an in-person meeting or a connection through their spouse/partner's bank. We live in Paris :-)
for the bank thing. If your bank in the US have a relation with an french one, it may be easier to open a account (in Euro currency) in this french bank via your bank in the US before coming here. Once installed in France, you can change bank if this one don't please you.
Salut et merci ! Yes, I wish I had known this. My long-time bank in the US doesn't have any link to (or branches in) France, so it was a bit more complicated. But in the end it all works out! :-)
Which American bank that you know have a relationship with a French bank?
Thank you
One thing that’s shocking to me as a French, is us people living abroad still need to report to the IRS, even tho they work abroad. That’s kind of weird. In France if you leave France you are cut off from the French tax system (impôts)
Bonjour, thank you for this comment and yes, it is both shocking and stressful. US citizens living abroad must file two tax returns, resulting in extra fees, extra paperwork and extra headaches. And that is even if they have no income in the States...sigh
Un fonctionnaire qui prend sa retraite à l'étranger continue à payer ses impôts en France.
US is one of a very few countries that would chase its citizens for $10 of unpaid taxes or unreported income and put them in jail whereas big crooks are laughing all the way to the bank.
Regarding the bank account for Americans: I moved to Paris for a couple of years in 1972. I took a cashier's check from my American bank and had a bank account established within an hour or so. No problem at all. Also, to me it seems that some of that information should have come from your husband, who you said is French.
Thank you so much for watching and for your reply. Yes, in 1972 it was much easier. In 2010 new laws were passed in the US to make sure citizens living abroad comply with declaring their income and that added a lot of extra work for banks in Europe because they can be fined if they don't report properly on their US clients. So some French banks don't want the extra trouble. My dear French husband wouldn't have known that because he was born in France and has always lived in Europe. He was as surprised as I was. Ah, the world is a more complicated place now than 50 years ago hee hee, but it all works out. Just thought I'd share with those who might be moving here so they'd have a heads up since I didn't. Greetings from the French countryside :-)
If marreied and then divorced , will i need copies of both ? My divorce decree is about 20 pages.
Thanks for all the info, planning move in about 15 months and trying to square everuthung up before hand.
Salut and thanks so much for your kind words and for your comment. Hmmm, I'm not a legal expert, but I would suggest that you speak to a lawyer in France who can tell you if you'll need that. If you're getting married in France, you will definitely need it, and it will almost certainly have to be translated officially. But if you're not getting married, I'm not sure at what point you'd need it. My advice is to take the time to speak to a French lawyer and ask them about this AND what else you might need to be considering as you plan your move. You will surely learn something and likely you'll be in better shape for the transition. Bonne continuation !
😊you would not need 20 pages, just what your state gives to prove you are divorced. You can request this on line from your state.
Fortunately, I will be coming from a state with an exchange agreement with France, so I just have to deal with the admin side within the first year.
Oh this is great! You’re so lucky! But as I always say, I recommend a few driving lessons in France if you will be driving bc there are a few things that don’t match and can be dangerous (like priorité à droite when there are zero stop signs haha)
Bonne continuation ❣️
@@karenbussen Priority to the right at uncontrolled intersections is also the law here in the US in general. The difference is that there are very very few places where an intersection is completely uncontrolled.
Not to say there isn't value in learning from a driving school in France however.
driving license IS a very serious thing in Europe, not only in France.
I'm definitely a better driver now! Thanks for your message :-)
Luxury hotel dan resort...❤❤❤
How can I find out more of #5. ? Resident training
www.ofii.fr/procedure/accueil-integration/ hope this helps!
Is resident training required? How do you sign up for it?
Hello! Yes, and once you validate your long-stay visa at a certain point you'll receive a convocation from OFII with the date of your first meeting there, which generally takes 2-3 hours. That's an evaluation meeting and as a part of that meeting, they'll assign your training dates which are generally for full days (I had to do 4 full days). Hope this is helpful and thanks for the question!
Gee, why can't I use my US Visa credit card all the time? I've used it when I travelled there and I had no problems.
Oh you can use an American credit card-it not prohibited, just a cultural thing. French banks generally issue debit cards and they keep track of all your spending and often debit the total monthly spending on one day each month. I’m not an expert on banking rules but if you live here permanently, you won’t want to pay bank currency conversion charges for every purchase. My point was really more that French people don’t take on credit card debt the way we Americans do. Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your experience ❣️
@@karenbussen What you say makes sense. I was told elsewhere that we need to open a French bank account for best results. Thank you :)
Bonjour! Does one need to have all those documents translated into French for their visa application? What do people need the translated documents for? Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
I needed them for everything--for my marriage application, my visa application, the renewal of my visa, my permis de conduire (French drivers license), for starting a business in France, etc. I even had to have my proof of residence (in the US) translated, so like phone bills, etc. for my marriage certificate. But just read all the instructions carefully and my advice is to always ask questions of the visa processor in advance of your application/meeting because if not, it could set you back weeks or months. Bonne continuation !
Resident training sounds incredible and so helpful! So wise in order to avoid misinformation! Sort of like ne employee training!
These are many of the same issues you will encounter if you move to Germany, e.g. the hurdles to banking & investing which are the result of complex EU / U.S. DoT/IRS regulations. PS Don't feel insulted, but your French can be a touch hard to understand at times... It would have helped if you'd have put the administrative / technical terms up on the screen in writing to make it easier to follow you and do online searches afterwards for further clarification.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Greetings from la Normadie :-)
For your initial Visa, did you need to get a newer birth certificate or could you use the one you had on hand? Do you anticipate needing newer birth certificates, newer marriage license, etc every time you renew your Visa? Lastly, was the civic class in French? Thanks!
For the initial visa yes, I had to order a copy of my birth certificate, and importantly that copy had to have an "apostille" which is a special stamp that you have to request (also cost $5). And then I had to have the certificate and the apostille translated by a French state-approved translator (traducteur assermenté). And yes, you do need "recent copies" (with varying meanings, but generally within three or six months) and if they are English (or any language that's not French), they'll need to be recent translations. My translator here told me that with the birth certificate, sometimes I'll just need to get the date of the translation updated, which they can do for me so it won't cost as much or be as much trouble. For the civics class, yes, totally in French, but you can request a translator, who will be with you in the room, literally live translating everything the teacher says. In my group there was an Arabic translator for all four sessions.
I just received my long stay visa for France (10/24) and there was no requirement for any documents to be translated. I believe the different visas may have different requirements, and/or the reason for moving may influence the requirements. I live in CA and I am retired, moving permanently to France. I did translate my letters/statements into French myself for the convenience of the embassy.
US consulate in France website is full of great resources and recommendations
Very good point!
How can someone in the US find out which states qualify for French drivers license?
Hello and thanks for this question. Just follow this official French govt link
www.service-public.fr/simulateur/calcul/PermisEtrangerPermisFrancais
and type in your country which may appear on your screen as United States or Etats-Unis. Then type in the name of your state. If you get the following message, you CAN exchange it without taking the exams:
"Votre permis de conduire est échangeable contre un permis B français."
There are also a lot of blogs online you can read if you type in "list of US states that can exchange..."
And I highly recommend the FB group "Americans Driving in France" --they are the best for info and support! Bonne continuation et bonne route !
@@karenbussen Merci boucoup!
@@karenbussen Would it make sense/all around easier to move to a state here in US long enough to get approved states driver’s license, or is there some rule (in France) against this?
Origin of difficulty in opening bank accounts for US citizens in France: In 2010 Obama imposed that ALL US citizens residing abroad have to file an annual FATCA ("Failure to report foreign financial assets on Form 8938 may result in a penalty of $10,000 and a penalty up to $50,000 for continued failure") and FBAR. It was supposedly to stop the mega rich from hiding their wealth offshore (it hasn't) but what it did was screw over English teachers, nannies etc. and everyone had to hire expensive ex-pat accountants. French banks were suddenly compromised. Even Democrats Abroad were shocked as the only other country in the world doing this is Eritrea, a small dictatorship in Africa.
Thank you for this!
This is not quite accurate. Taxation on worldwide income no matter where an American lives has been part of US tax law for over 100 years. The difference with FATCA was that foreign banks were required to provide information on US citizens to the IRS. This created a burden on the banks with no benefit.
US individuals file an FBAR. This is a disclosure of foreign assets.
It sucks, I agree, and the US is the only developed country that does it, but it's not really new. It's just more tightly monitored now. The actual underlying IRS tax code has existed since the Reagan years. This just gave it more teeth.
Another insult to the average US Taxpayer developed by the GOP’s puppet Ronnie Regan. Sad that Obama would reinforce rather than making less cumbersome to non-millionaires.
Especially from a second generation guy…
😅wealthy were fleeing the country.
That damned ‘ol Obama… 😢 Oh, wait… it was codified in the Reagan years? 😮 Imagine that! 😂
Why couldn’t use your passport to travel?
I'm not sure I understand your question. I can use my US passport to travel. But without a long-stay visa or residence card, you are limited to a certain number of days in France (I'm pretty sure it's only 90 days out of every 180 days, but you'd have to verify that) :-)
As a Frenchman, I offer you all my sympathy for your terrible discovery of French administration.
An English friend of mine once joked with me: “I've believed in the existence of the devil ever since I discovered French administration”.
And yet, in this “hell”, there are oases of humanity: when you click (when it's possible) on the “to be called back by an advisor” tab, you often come into contact with very friendly, empathetic advisors, who will help you sort out your file... provided you speak French.
I hope you don't have to discover a 7th “thing”: “having to settle a legal dispute” a dispute involving French law and the law of the country you come from. Kafkaesque!
Enjoy your stay in our country! As soon as you leave the administration, there's a lot to discover! I enjoyed your presentation. It helps me to maintain my English!
Merci pour ce commentaire ! I also hope I don't have to settle any legal disputes haha! I am enjoying life here so much and grâce à mon mari français, je découvre beaucoup de chose de la belle France ! Your English is very good by the way :-)
Brilliant! The French are brilliant with their use of the birth certificate as a "living document". That seems like such an obvious thing and I have never heard of it being done before. Can you imagine the ease for historians in the future when they want to learn about this time period? My mother was a geneologist and let me tell you that the amount of study to track down these details is pretty time consuming.
Agreed! Such a good idea! My husband’s birth certificate is so much more exciting than mine haha :-)
Same in Japan, the tohon…
Good reasons to renounce the American citizenship. Streamline your administrative overhead. The resident training is a classy service.
It's true about the American citizenship from the standpoint of administrative headaches and filing multiple tax returns for the rest of your life. The only thing is, I think to do it properly you need a lawyer and I heard it's pricey. And yes I agree--I loved the resident training!! It made me feel official and welcome. Thanks for taking the time to write!
Surprising, you have to have a bank account and do taxes for US and France when you’re only there three months
No no, of course not - I live here 😊
Thanks for writing and greetings from Paris!
I adore France.
me too!!
@@karenbussen I find unlike we Anglos (I am an Englishmen), the French have more a more refined culture. In fact the French are taught philosophy as a mandatory subject in school can you imagine that in America or England?
English common sense is rebuffed by French finesse.
Even there tyrants like Napoleon are cool and sexy, compare that to Cromwell.
It is a shame however that like many places the French have become more and more Americanised, McDonald’s and American shoes and music. I hope France can remain French and not become just another consumerist culture.
@@Jimmylad. I think it’s going down that way. I just moved back to France after living abroad for years and I was shocked how Americanised it had become. But that’s probably everywhere because of the internet, it’s globalism. At the same time American brands are viewed as cool and trendy. McDonald’s is popular because it’s open all day even Sundays, it’s family friendly and people know what to expect. Band the newer generation who will eventually be the ruling class are born with iPads, TikTok and TH-cam.
@@Jimmylad. I am American and agree with you!
About the bank problem....it's a US problem more than a french problem. FATCA IS the problem ! as an american coming into a french bank (or anywhere else in the wolrd), you are a pain in the ass...honestly for the bank clerc i am, you are. We've got special procedures for americans that we don't use a lot, wether you're american or our parents are or you're born in the US...specials procedures. Imposed to us French and the rest of the world by the USA. Any bank in the world that break this this fatwa...sorry, fatca law will be punished with billions $ fine !!
Thanks for this explanation! My husband did tell me this as well, and I agree, it's for good reason. It's just frustrating to be in the middle of it all when all you want to do is start a life--and a bank account. Fortunately I found BNP and they are great! :-)
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/bnp-paribas-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-89-billion-illegally-processing-financial@@karenbussen ....no wonder they're nice, they just learned their pricey lesson. Have a nice stay ;)
Oui ... Le permis de conduire ... Ce n'est pas quelque chose de simple ...😨😂😂
Horrible quoi ! 😂
An expat gets a house. An immigrant gets a home. I hope you see yourself as an immigrant.
I love this! And yes I am 100% an immigrant ❣️thank you for your comment 😊
Rule number 7 here in France we have what is "System D" what that means is as a rule there are really no rules there more like suggesting and excepting to all rules! Rules can very from to day to day from person to person however not all rules fall under the rule of exceptions. Rule one many rules are not written down on paper any where and your really not allowed to guess you should know them; now I can hear you from here: How do I know the rules if no one tell or there not written down, as I said your not allow to ask questions you should know the rules that is why we call it System D! it is up to you to figure this out by yourself with next to nothing to help, and to ready for the unforeseen, and you are never ready, but you act as if you are ready to do what ever is needed I was lucky to get one paper done a day in one office at any one day it can be harder if your American and you speak little French, but it not always helpful if your American and you speak French with no American accent because then their think you Trump rich and that is bad! In other words there is no way you could know any of this until you do any of this yourself because part of the art of System D is no one does the same way twice because your guessing without letting them you guess because you not allow to guess right and yet that is all you do some times! My mother who is more French than me was helpful but not like it help a lot because she grow up with System D I did not, for her it was like no big deal yet for me it was a trainwreck because I a duel citizen French/American who spoke fairly good French, but without know my conjugations and verbs yet I was born in Paris, in other words many people thought I was Trump rich who was a snob or I was a bad French fake acting like an American snob I was nether I was nearly deported by the Police because I did not know my conjugation with the level of French I knew I learn French with my mother I never did any schools in France even though I did live here in France I was on American army bases back in the day! What I am saying is learn System D things will be a lot easy on everyone make due with what you have, and some times you make it up! Of all the cities in the states New York City comes closer to France than any other city stateside you will still need to blind jump good luck and peace to you both!
Interesting! Merci d'avoir laissé un commentaire
Truducteur [quoi?]
Salut ! Is your question about what "traducteur" means? It's a translator of the language, and in France, if you're translating documents for administrative purposes, you must use un traducteur assermenté (a state certified translator), who has a seal that is recognized as official. If not, your docs may be rejected and you'll have to start over. Hope this is helpful to you!
@@karenbussen "assermenté" was the adjective I missed. Thank you.
half of your video is dedicated to just point #1 , out of 6 points in total ..
😂💃 That sounds about right! Thank you and greetings from Paris
😂💃 That sounds about right! Thank you and greetings from Paris
Living in France since 2006. I don't speak French at all. There was never any resident lessons. The French driver's license is easy to get. Just read the rules first and apply when you are eligible. It took me about 2 minutes to get a French Driver's license. Do not pay the thousands of euros they charge to get a license. Regarding marrying a French, that was a brave thing to do. I recall France telling workers they were going to take a days wages from their pay check to fund workers for the elderly. This is why it is a taboo to discuss money. Your money belongs to France anytime France wants it.
Thank you for sharing your experience et félicitations !
Just a note so folks who haven't watched my French driver's license videos won't be confused--this commenter is talking about exchanging a driver's license, which is a very simple process, but that is only available to those who come from certain states in the US (and some other countries). Since I'm from New York, exchange wasn't legally possible so I had to start from scratch.
Then just practically speaking, there are differences in the road rules in France and I strongly suggest you take some lessons. By the way, if you don't pay a driving school, you'll wait months longer for an exam date and you'll have to pay to rent a car with double controls as that's required during the practical exam itself. Also, you can only take the road test in French (although you can pay for a translator for the written test, which comes first). But on the road, it's all in French. During the test you don't have to speak much really, but you do have to understand the examiner's instructions in French. Can you say, "faute éliminatoire" ? :-)
So for anyone who can't exchange their license because that option isn't available, you can read a lot of great info and get advice/support on the Americans Driving in France Facebook group, among other places. Hope this is helpful and bonne route à toutes et à tous !
L'administration avec un grand AAAAAAAArgh !
Ouuuuuui ! :-)
This has nothing to do with FRANCE. Moving from one country to the other - getting married in a country in which you are not a resident - is "the exception" and not the rule. Therefore - every country has requirements that can be costly and time consuming. Linking that to France as a country or "The French Administrative System" is no fair to say it politely.
And no - France did not invite you. It was your decision to impose yourself on them. Don't be surprised that they ask you to comply - in your interest, not the interest of the French people.
:-)
The BIG PROBLEM is that French don't want for learn English.
Mais Comme l'anglais est la Langue de Communication Internationale les Français se retrouvent coupé du Monde !
Et ils Croient toujours qu'ils habitent dans le grand, le plus Beau Pays du Monde et qu'ils sont Ouverts d'Esprit ...
Bonjour ! Merci pour votre commentaire :-)
Des anglophones diraient que, quand ils essaient de parler aux français en français, souvent les français leur répondent en anglais heehee !
Mais moi, je trouve très impressionnant les capacities des jeunes français. Mon beau-fils, qui a 17 ans, il parle 4 langues, et son anglais et presque parfait ! Peut-être des choses changent un peu ?
@@karenbussen
Special situations Make Special People ...
What about the '' American Dream '' ?? The Land of the Free ?? Not that appealing anymore to you ??
I was lucky enough to live the American dream--self-made businesswoman and entrepreneur. I hadn't planned a move to France right now. I just fell in love and took a chance and I'm so happy I did :-) Thanks for watching
As the late comedian George Carlin said, "The American Dream - you'd have to be asleep to experience it!". Corporate power here, one of many reasons...
is that marriage cert issued when you got married or notarized copy has to be less than 3 months? it's hard for americans to open bank account across europe or anywhere abroad because of the bank is obligated to report to the us government and they need to verify the w 9 form you filled. you have to report account balances from all your banks to the us government every year
Thanks for your comment. For things related to the French administration, most documents have to be recent copies. For example when I applied for my visa renewal, I had to request a new copy of my French marriage certificate because it was more than 1 year old. For other documents/situations it might be 3 months or sometimes 6 months. For any of my American docs I always ask my French translator and he seems to know exactly. Sometimes you just need a recent translation of the same doc.
Regarding banks, yes I had to contact several banks before finding one, but once I did, there were absolutely no problems at all. And yes you do have to report foreign bank accounts to the US, but I haven't had to list amounts :-)
All those points just require doing your homework before you move to another country .there are no surprises its information you can find anywhere before you move.
I appreciate your comment! But I promise you, there will be surprises when you move to a new country. My goal is just to share to help others if they are looking for info or considering a move to France. Bonne continuation and greetings from Paris :-)