France Has Become The Hottest Destination To Move

13 Mar 2013

Choosing to move to France to work is a life-changing decision. In The Local's latest Job Talk France series The Local spoke to lawyer Jean Taquet, who offers expert advice on how to make the dream of working and living in France a reality.

All the talk in France might be about wealthy natives going into tax exile in more appealing foreign climes but the reality is thousands of people still head to France each year with the hope of making a life for themselves.

Many come with the idea of working for a year whilst others arrive here hoping to fulfill their lifelong ambition of building a new career in France. The problem is that the path down which you must go in order to follow that dream is littered with obstacles and pot holes, especially if you are from outside the EU.

“A student visa can very quickly become a trap,” “Remember that you have to show you are getting good grades and moving forward.  Let’s say you study French. By year three you have reached a good level. How can you convince them you need to study more French before you can go on and do something else?”

“The problem is it is relatively risky to go from student status to employee status. As a student you earn the right to work part-time and students regularly try to extend their visas. But eventually the prefecture says no. You could be working in a company for three years as a student but as soon as you request a working visa, the authorities say: ‘There’s 10 percent unemployment in this sector so no, sorry’.”

Another reason thousands up sticks and move to France is romance. Many people follow their French partner here or simply come here alone with the hope of meeting the Frenchman or woman of their dreams.

Source: http://www.thelocal.fr/page/view/think-what-expertise-you-can-sell-in-france