Do I have any options?

Member since 09 April 2011

Empty.Blue.SeatsMember21 August 2011 08:41:33

So, long story short, I worked in France legally as an english assistant through their national education system. After 7 months as a teacher I found a job as an architect. I was extremely happy to get back into my field.

The prefecture started the process for extending my visa and I was told that I could legally work with my recepisse. I was told that there would be no problem and that I should look for an apartment. I did so. I bought a car as well. Meanwhile the people at the prefecture just left my file on their desk. 2 months later I pushed them to finally move it. Within days we were contacted by the dirrecte (department of labor)...my employer had to fill in several forms.

A week or two later, after I'd worked 3.5 months, and a day before my planned "vacation", they learned from the dirrecte that I could NOT legally work with my recepisse. I would have to stop working immediately. Not only that but to work I'd have to wait for the job to be reposted for 2 months and have no equally or better qualified French candidates apply. Then wait a month and a half longer...and have them review the CVs of the applucants. So basically they had to let me go...with that type of uncertainty and wait period.

I can legally be in france, but not work...since the Prefecture generously handed me out extensions (recepisses) until October.

Do I have any legal options after working 4.5 months under the bad information from EVERYONE at the Prefecture that I could work? Just wondering what my optiond were and if thus situations siunds right (according to the rules) to the rest of you - fir example is it really as hard as my employer made it out to be to have me as a legal worker. Is the DIRRECTE right? Any shortcuts?

Seems unrelistic that every foreigner in France eithet married a french person or prooves there is no equal French candidate for EVERY job they find.

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Sarah+VB Member

Member since 20 February 2012

Sarah+VBMember20 February 2012 23:27:33

Actually it's true, but only for people who need to be sponsored/don't have a normal work visa.
People on student visas can work (limited hours), and they don't have to better qualified than a French person. In your case after your assistantship you'd have to qualify for a regular sponsored work visa.

It's your employer's fault for not following the right procedure. Before you can be hired, they have to a least five any French candidate the change to apply. Unfortunately the people at the prefecture don't always know what the current rules and regulations are.

People who are self-employed don't have to prove that they are more qualified than a French person. Actually, especially in recent years, it is very difficult for non-EU nationals to find a job in France.