Moving to Paris. Preparations start now!
Well.. this is it! Time to seriously get on with the business of relocating to Paris. Eric flew back on Saturday after spending a lovely month with me here in Oakland. So basically, this past weekend was a bit of a mopey, miss him madly sort of 3 day weekend consisting of lazing about in my PJ’s and watching entirely too much bad television, but today is a new day and I’m fired up!
I intend to write about my upcoming adventures in getting my Compétences et Talents Card. Hopefully, what I learn can help others interested in taking a similar path to living in Paris. I’ve learned much from expatforum.com and will make a point to also share any additional findings I stumble upon there. Once I have the visa dealings in order this site will likely transition into being a document of daily life in Paris. My goal is to have all of these items collected and turned into the French Consulate in San Francisco before I leave for my final quick visit to Paris in March, before I make the move in September.
Next 8 month intended timeline:
January Collect necessary documents for visa application.
February Trip to Sioux Falls, SD to move my cat to my parents place.
March Quick trip to Paris, hopefully I’ll have the ok from the French Consulate in San Francisco to proceed with further visa dealings in Paris
April Prepare apt and belongings for move out of my Oakland apartment.
May Possible relocation to a San Francisco friend’s place for a couple of months before leaving the bay area.
June Last month of work at Pixar. Have all visa paperwork in order for move in September
July Road trip to South Dakota to spend rest of July with my family in Sioux Falls.
August 3 week trip to Grenada to spend some island time with my oldest friend Eric.
September Move to Paris
Immediate todo:
Turn in paperwork at work concerning my one year leave of absence.
Collect documents for meeting with the French Consulate in San Francisco
I expect I’ll have many inquiries, conversations and lines to wait in here: France Consulate , United States
Documents needed:
2 long-stay visa applications
5 standard-size photos
Valid passport with at least one page for a visa stamp + copy of main pages
Police record from the country where the applicant has resided for the last three years
Detailed CV
Long-stay visa application fee (click for amount)
Detailed letter describing the professional project and specifying its interest for France and for the applicant’s country of origin
Any document confirming the applicant’s likelihood of completing the project
Depending on the type of project, other documents are necessary:
To hold a salaried position :
copy of highest-level diploma and job title
local tax return
letter from employee explaining the recruitment of the employee and specifying his/her duties
copy of employment contract, unless exception is granted
CERFA form
To exercise a commercial, industrial or artisanal profession
the documents enumerated in points A-1 and B of article I of the attachment to the degree of September 12, 2007, concerning the documents to be produced for the issuance of a temporary residence card authorizing the exercise of a commercial, industrial or artisanal activity
To exercise an independent profession (liberal professions, artists, writers, athletes, etc.)
copy of highest-level diplomas and job titles
local tax return
if necessary, documents establishing the applicant’s reputation.
