Life in America seem drab, College too expensive, Food is all GMO, Healthcare got you down, want more from life? Why not move to another country! Try France!

So I had posted in a reply for an earlier story that I would give some advice on moving to the EU. I decided its easier on my brain if I just compile what I know about moving to France. I wrote this message to another user and just copied it here. If anyone has more accurate information please feel free to add to this post, I'm hoping this thing evolves with more details. Btw the photo is no accident i put it up for a reason.

Oh yea if you know about other countries please post, this post is for information. So try to play nice :)



Hi Fred,
It took me a moment to compile this but I hope this might help:


The process is not easy in the sense and depending on your home location you may have greater problems (ie refugee country for example). It also can be expensive and some people may find it more comfortable to have a job waiting for them before they leave the states. However it may be possible to find a job when you go to france for the first time. However keep in mind legislation is geared toward keeping citizens employed before immigrants, so you need to highlight something you can do that a citizen can't (i.e- teach in english, or work in english). Anyway this is how I suggest going about moving to another country my example is France, but it should be somewhat similar for other countries.

Ok paperwork
Make sure you have your passport from your home country
You may need to go to the foreign embassy for the country which you're planning to migrate and obtain a visa, I think a travel visa will do the trick.
When you arrive to France you should go to the consulate and seek a "carte de sejour", this is not citizenship but its an indication of you wanting to stay in the country longer than your visa period. I think this allows access to medical care, but I need to check with my folks first. After that period you need to apply for citizenship again at the consulate this is where you need to have some paperwork.

You'll need:
1. An address in france (for your long stay visa or carte de sejour)
2. Birth certificate
3. Visa - student, work, long stay (likely the long stay will be your choice)
4. proof of employment (for a work visa)
5. you may need to show you have an income, or the money to live in france. They don't get too excited by I'm broke because usually it means a drag on the system
6. proof of education (not needed but it helps big time, being educated in france is key especially if you're foreign)

This is a time taking ordeal so be prepared for the wait, of course there is no definite route but here's some extra tips.

To speed things learn the language, immerse yourself in the culture, become a true french person it helps big time in ways I can't describe with words. You might end up dating the consulate person, who knows life is tricky.
Look for work the first chance you get, usually its a resume and picture. For discrimination reasons this policy may become illegal
Learn all about the country, your rights, you have rights as a foreigner, you even can get a stipend from the government in order to help you get started i think 200 € a month (even before you are a citizen). It isn't much but you wont starve and its great if you're staying somewhere rent free.

Trust me if you're serious France is a wonderful country with many opportunities for someone looking to have a better quality of life. Unemployment is high, the culture is a little difficult to assimilate into especially if you don't conform, and the french are semi nationalist but you can see a doctor if you want, seek higher education without worry, pursue the arts with a grant from the state and raise a family for little cost. Its amazing how great that country is for family life, I've never seen homeless children in my years living there and if you decide to start a life there you wont regret a thing. Even better with the EU if france is not for you, then later you can move to another country for a slightly easier process. A little forewarning the french are the master bureaucrats any error on your papers could mean disaster and delay so be thorough and don't assume anything when filling out your applications.

there's also many resources on the net here's a few:

for jobs, etc:
http://www.expatriates.com/

for details:
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0001/moving_to_france.sht...

http://gofrance.about.com/od/preparingforyourmove/Preparing_for_Your_Move_to_Fra...

for americans who want to speak to americans in france:

http://www.americansinfrance.net/MovingPlanner/

for housing:
cheap and random
http://www.couchsurfing.com/

& the obvious
www.craigslist.org

government/paperwork

french consulate america
http://www.info-france-usa.org/spip.php?article330

migration (in french) this is important btw

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/


Bonne chance