USA to France

kbesol Member

Member since 28 May 2022

kbesolMember28 May 2022 13:05:33

#41

@jjvanore

My husband and I currently live in Maryland and we are considering moving for an early retirement. I’ve visited France several times long ago, but he has never been. I think I finally have had enough of American politics. Actually I had enough several years ago. 😀 I thought most expats were from Great Britain. I would like to know how your move has gone. Are you retired?

Karen but not a Karen

tmwsunrise New member

Member since 19 May 2022

tmwsunriseNew member28 May 2022 13:30:28

#42

Hello Karen. Seen your post and my wife and I have just purchased a small house in Magnac-Laval France. I am an American Citizen, and my wife is an EU Citizen from Belgium. We are both completely fed up and burned out on the US politics and the out-of-control gun violence and gun laws. This is our second time moving to France. Our first time we purchased a large village house in Pre-en-Pail France back last year. It didn't work out for us because there were no jobs and France was in the middle of the pandemic. We sold that house luckily fast and returned to the US. So, to make a long story short we are now ready to make our return to France and retire there. I am already retired, and my wife still works, and we hope for better luck this time around with her finding a job since the pandemic has lightened up a whole lot and businesses have reopened. We're not high rollers and are making the move on a tight budget but we did it before and will do it again. We were able to pay cash for our house that we just purchased but we did search for months to find one we could pay for, so we do not have any kind of payments. We presently live in Roanoke, Virginia. We wish you both the best success in your move and maybe will hear from you. Best wishes Tommy & Hilde Wilkens

earld Member

Member since 17 February 2022

earldMember29 May 2022 20:14:32

#43

@kbesol

Karen, bnak,

i'll tell you about our move, but it will tell you all about us instead. our perspectives and reactions and responses, which are uniquely us. the move has gone great because we accept that the French have a different approach to life and living, and while that would be very frustrating to many people, we see everything as an adventure. our attitude is that everything will be perfect in the end, and it it's not perfect, it's not the end. i know, i stole that from the marigold hotel movie, but that's how we see things.

we lucked out and got a beautiful airbnb in Beziers, the town that picked us. we bought a car in the first week and two weeks later found an apartment to buy. we don't move until September, but just loving every minute of our lives here. it's not too hard to adapt to a big improvement.

but we are two people who have visited france extensively and we love it and that's why our move has been the best thing we've ever done. i don't know that it would have been as good an experience if we didn't have a good taste of it and like it, so...

hope that helps. i brag on Beziers all the time to our friends, but i tell them i'm not selling France, but i am selling living the dream whatever and wherever it is for you. please let us know if you decide to come this way. it has been refreshing, no tv, radio, paper, or any contact with the outside world, and we like that just fine.

earl and ginny

rodbz22 Active member

Member since 23 April 2021

rodbz22Active member30 May 2022 08:56:53

#44

Welcome

tmwsunrise New member

Member since 19 May 2022

tmwsunriseNew member30 May 2022 11:45:13

#45

Very interesting reply. And a wonderful outlook for you both. We feel much the very same way. I do have a question concerning the purchase of your auto. Did you buy from a private individual or a dealership? Reason for the question is the paperwork involved were you able to handle that yourselves or was it done for you? And was the process difficult? In our last move to France we purchased a small van and bought it from a dealership that handled all the paperwork so it was smooth sailing. This time we may purchase from a private individual so were wondering about how difficult the process might be. We wish you both the very best and much success!! Live the dream and cherish the moments!!! Tommy & Hilde

All4me New member

Member since 28 January 2022

All4meNew member08 June 2022 15:15:11

#46

@sunshine1475 I am. And I I am pulling my hair out just to get the information on what is needed for a 10 day vacation.i am at my wits end with this. People go to france all the time! I don't know if I'll need a letter of acceptance, as I will be staying with an individual.

All4me New member

Member since 28 January 2022

All4meNew member08 June 2022 15:25:02

#47

@bmarionnet please help, I am looking to have a vacation of no more than 10 days in france , staying at a friend's home in bretagne. I was told I only need cdc card verifying vaccination status and passport, but the embassy website seemed to indicate I would need a letter of acceptance from this french national, repatriation insurance etc. I am so confused. I am not getting any replies from anyone I've reached out to except people who say they can not help me.

Additionally, I want to apply shortly after said trip, for a long sojourn visa with goal of obtaining residency permit, so I can find employment over there. My interest is personal, to be united with my friend, and to permanently reside in france. I have tried the embassy visa wizard, but am unsure of selections needed for this matter, nor possibly any of the required documentation for this, how to obtain said documentation and how to apply for the visa and forward needed documents etc. In short, I need the full logistical information on this

boatman1940 Contributor

Member since 13 July 2015

boatman1940Contributor08 June 2022 16:44:13

#48

124

@All4me

You do not need Visa to visit France for 10 days. Or any other EU country. Your Passport and a return ticket are all you need. It would be a good idea to have some EURO's $ will work most places but expensive. And for accommodations, if you do not speak French or have a friend meeting you a room for at least a nite would be a good idea. When you go for the long stay, yes have to do all of that stuff. You do have to return to the US to get a Long Stay Visa. The website was written for someone that knows all the answers. When you try each choice one level at a time and take notes and you the information you need. 10 days easy with a return ticket. And the Covid Vaccine information. That is to fly in you do not want to get quarantined. If you Fly a Europian Airline you will need it to get on the plane. The Airline has to send you back if you cant stay. Their website will tell you what you need.

composerexpat New member

Member since 10 June 2022

composerexpatNew member10 June 2022 21:54:42

#49

Does living in France similar to the US in terms of cost and job opportunities? I am glad to see that the shipping of stuffs are fairly good.

earld Member

Member since 17 February 2022

earldMember11 June 2022 05:42:13

#50

@tmwsunrise

We are truly neophytes at this, so anything we do, we try to do easily with the least hassle, so we bought our 2020 Renault Captur from a Renault dealer. it has a warranty for three years - one free and two we pay for - and the dealer arranged for the carte gris, the registration. i couldn't have done that easily at all. i walked down to an insurance agency and got a fellow who spoke English and he did the car insurance, the AAA type coverage and gave me the little insurance sticker that has to go in the window. all quite easy and inexpensive. while we were there we got our home insurance all lined up for when we close on the apartment.

people kid me saying 'oh no, you got a Renault. but it tell them that it's okay, it's made in China.' so far we're loving the car, especially since it's an automatic and get 40 mpg.

fabienffi Active member

Member since 07 March 2022

fabienffiActive member11 June 2022 08:14:58

#51

@composerexpat it depends, some thins are much cheaper (medicine, consultations, hospital, and basically all the medical stuff), other things are often more expensive (mostly electronics but also gas for example) but I would say food and restaurants are roughly within the same price range so depending on your life style you may find it pretty similar to the US although some surprises are lurking in the corner (good and bad ones). Insurance is usually cheaper (top-up) but the system being different motor insurance can be a surprise depending on your exact situation for example... All in all it's difficult to make a general statement but hope that comment is kinda helpful? ;-)

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember27 June 2022 00:53:50

#52

@sunshine1475 Yes i am, hopefully fall of next year or early 2024.

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember27 June 2022 00:55:37

#53

@GuestPoster323 I m planning to move as well. How much of your belongings did you ship? I m struggling with that issue

earld Member

Member since 17 February 2022

earldMember27 June 2022 08:28:01

#54

We shipped a 20 foot container of household goods and some other stuff, but sold our furniture with the house so didn't ship that large segment. we're buying an apartment here that comes furnished, so glad we didn't ship our furniture. living out of two suitcases in furnished airbnb for two months and we aren't missing a thing, so we may have shipped more than we needed. Manny at [link under review] was very helpful about shipping and is handling our shipment.

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember29 June 2022 02:28:13

#55

@bmarionnet I m planning to relocate in early 2024. I have a staging business in the us; I would prefer to have something to occupy my time when i move, on a part time basis. I ll be 70 years old by then,; any input would be appreciated

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember29 June 2022 02:29:12

#56

@Dennis McCuistion what are you planning to do to occupy your time other than travel?

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember29 June 2022 02:37:43

#57

@sunshine1475 I am

Islandlady Member

Member since 06 September 2020

IslandladyMember29 June 2022 02:55:04

#58

@LoveGreenTea Nice sounds good

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jlcoute Member

Member since 23 April 2022

jlcouteMember04 July 2022 11:37:00

#59

@earld would you mind if I ask who you used for shipping? We’re moving from US to Arles in august. There are so many international moving companies out there, that I don’t know who to trust. Also, seems price differs drastically. We aren’t taking much; no furniture except a bookshelf my father handmade, and some area rugs. Quite a few boxes but we’ve whittled it down as much as we can for a family of 3.