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Moving to another country (France)

Get Smart

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How do you plan on living there, without being sponsored with a work visa, student visa, marriage to Emmanuelle Baert, etc? It's not as easy as just packing up and moving to a new state. or is it?
 

forsbergacct2000

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You might want to check to make sure that there are not laws requiring employers to give preference to French citizens. Unless you have a unique skill, you could have a really difficult time earning money.

More power to you if you can pull it off. It would be quite an experience.
 

Eason

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Go do it, you only live once.
 

CaesarSTL

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Originally Posted by Get Smart
How do you plan on living there, without being sponsored with a work visa, student visa, marriage to Emmanuelle Baert, etc? It's not as easy as just packing up and moving to a new state. or is it?

Student visa. Although I have been dating a French girl for several years, I'm not looking for marriage in the next couple of years. Yeah I know, never move anywhere for a woman, I've staunchly held this view for years and years.... This move idea is because of a few thoughts, including a second undergrad degree I picked up, but I know she's obviously affecting my thoughts on the matter so.... This is probably going to make this thread even more about me instead of general feedback from others like I hoped though....
facepalm.gif


As for your last question, no, it's not. Unless of course you're from another EU member country.


Originally Posted by forsbergacct2000
You might want to check to make sure that there are not laws requiring employers to give preference to French citizens. Unless you have a unique skill, you could have a really difficult time earning money.

More power to you if you can pull it off. It would be quite an experience.


This is def a thought and concern I've had for the future as well, as I know the U.S. has this; however, in the short-term internships are not a problem and I can work something like 19.5 hours on a student visa (the school does have internship opportunities designed for foreign students).


Originally Posted by Eason
Go do it, you only live once.

I've def had the young go for it feelings too, but being the substantial student loans I already have.... not looking to screw myself over for life either.


Jared,
 

ZackyBoy

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Work permits and citizenship in France and some EU countries can be very difficult. 90% of my family lives in Marseille and I have considered it.

But to answer your original question I have a doe-eyed dream of moving to Geneva. That is pretty much my goal in life.
 

forsbergacct2000

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I'm glad you are putting some careful thought to this. I hope you are able to find a way to do it.
 

calisanfran

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Know a couple who one day decided to quit their jobs and move to Prague. They lived there for about 4 years. They initially arrived there without jobs and ending up making money by teaching english. They had a blast and really enjoyed living in Prague. You live once - so go and get that experience!
 

Montrachet

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Originally Posted by boarhill
Also they eat snails

Originally Posted by CaesarSTL
I've never been opposed to trying them, but none of my French friends really like them and I'm not going to order an entire plate for myself.

They're actually delicious! If you like mushrooms, you'll probably take to escargots just fine.
 

Mr Herbert

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do it. if i wasnt addicted to my career id do it.

in fact i might anyway.
 

CaesarSTL

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Originally Posted by ZackyBoy
Work permits and citizenship in France and some EU countries can be very difficult. 90% of my family lives in Marseille and I have considered it.

But to answer your original question I have a doe-eyed dream of moving to Geneva. That is pretty much my goal in life.


Yeah, I think my best bet would be working on networking and get seriously connected through my internships while in school to hopefully have a company sponsor me, otherwise....tough.... Good luck with your goal though, I hope it works out, Geneva sure is nice, and expensive. I've heard Switzerland is one of the hardest to break into. Thanks for answering my original question btw!

Originally Posted by Montrachet
They're actually delicious! If you like mushrooms, you'll probably take to escargots just fine.

I love mushrooms actually.

Originally Posted by Asch
Job is for farmer.

Or for recent grads with bills that must eventually be paid
musicboohoo[1].gif
 

globetrotter

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I've done it several times. go for it.
 

MsMcGillicuddy

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I moved overseas two months ago, and I'll be here for a year. I love it. There are of course things I miss from the US (mostly food-related items, and some pop culture goings on), but I'm also lucky in that one of my best American friends lives nearby, so I don't ever feel too far from home.

If you're going on a student visa, if there's a program that you find interesting, a school that offers it where you want to live, and you can afford to pay the fees (tuition, living expenses, visa expenses, travel expenses, etc), I say go for it. You can experience something very different from what you'll get in the US and see other countries as well for not too much money.

As for biggest challenges, I think being a student in another country can be rough, as the style of education is different in Europe. However, it's also great in that there's a built-in way to meet people, and some structure but not so much that you can't take off for a long weekend here and there.

The toughest thing for me is frankly the same thing that was tough when I left Seattle to live in NYC: I really miss my friends and family. But that's always going to be an issue, so I've just learned to deal with it, and spend a lot of late nights on Skype.
 

bobdobalina

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If you're under 30 and you can make it work, you're a damned fool if you choose not to. France is one of the greatest countries in the world, and (at certain levels of income) the bang for the buck is fantastic. PS I am a hard-core right-winger and I still feel this way.
 

Siggy

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You need a job there and have to have a visa to stay in the country and a work permit. If you are not completely fluent in the language, you will miss much of what is going on without even knowing it and it might be difficult to meet people who are not ex-pats themselves. It is easy to feel alienated in a foreign country if you are there for longer than just a few weeks. You need to understand and appreciate the local culture and know that you won't get typical american things like monday night football, world series, american TV shows in English (except maybe CNN), milkshakes, cheesesteaks, snacks, etc. The most important thing is the language and you need to have an independent attitude, ready to face challenges like dealing with plumbers, electric bill, etc in the local language.

Like globetrotter, I have done it. J'ai habite en france aussi. Si tu es inscrit dans une universite, c'est facile a obtenir a visa.
 

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