Using tourist visa for a longer stay

[smole]

In order to more fully explore the idea of moving to France from the US for the remainder of our retirement, my wife and I thought we would try this model and are asking for help with whether it is “doable”:

Go to France for 3 months as tourists, rent an apartment, then cross a border and return to France again as tourists for the next three months, and maybe repeat that one-two more times. [In that case we could get a long-term rental for a more reasonable rent compared with short-term, travel rentals which amount to 3,000 euros or higher per month, depending on location].

Is that legally doable (not playing games)? If it is, how does it work, specifically? Can we cross into any of the neighboring countries for a day (or longer)? Must we leave the Schengen zone or…? Any one knows?

Thank you. smole

[Bevdeforges]

Not legally do-able, I'm afraid. The stamp in the passport "Schengen" visa is good for up to 90 days out of 180 in all Schengen countries combined. So, not only would you have to leave the Schengen area, but you'd have to stay outside the Schengen area for 90 days before you'd be allowed back in.

The French may or may not check the stamps in your passport to see how long you've been in and out, but when it comes to anything official you'd need (carte de séjour, verification of residency, convincing your landlord or the utilities people that you're legal in France), that's when you're most likely to get found out. And the penalties can be severe.

If you're retired, just apply for a "visitor" visa (i.e. with no work privileges) for however long you think you might want to stay. As long as you've got proof of adequate resources (pension, savings, etc.) and health insurance, it shouldn't be a problem to do things legit and then you'd be able to get a longer term rental contract.
Cheers,
Bev

[smole]

Thank you, Bev, for the quick and very clear reply. It is the health insurance I was trying to work around. Medicare does not cover us in France, as you know, and I did not really want to pay around 8-9,000 euros for the two of us to AARO for a year of health insurance.
Would a simple travel insurance be satisfactory for the visa you are suggesting that includes repatriation since we do not wish to abandon our US residence and would come back for more serious medical needs? Or, what is the minimum health insurance coverage we would need for that 'test' year? Thanks again. smole

[Bevdeforges]

For the details, you'd need to check with the French consulate in NY. For a simple one-year visa, I suspect they'd prefer a travel policy with the repatriation coverage - but that's assuming it's a simple one-year visa without the option for renewal.

If you go that route, and then decide to stay in France, you might be required to return to the US (since technically, you aren't giving up your residence in the US) in order to apply for a more permanent visa status.
Cheers,
Bev

[smole]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

For the details, you'd need to check with the French consulate in NY. For a simple one-year visa, I suspect they'd prefer a travel policy with the repatriation coverage - but that's assuming it's a simple one-year visa without the option for renewal.

If you go that route, and then decide to stay in France, you might be required to return to the US (since technically, you aren't giving up your residence in the US) in order to apply for a more permanent visa status.
Cheers,
Bev

Thank you again, Bev. One year should be enough for us to decide whether to more to France on a more permanent basis or not; then we can explore other options. I will follow your suggestion and check with the local consulate on this whole issue.
smole

[smole]

Originally Posted by smole

Thank you again, Bev. One year should be enough for us to decide whether to more to France on a more permanent basis or not; then we can explore other options. I will follow your suggestion and check with the local consulate on this whole issue.
smole

Bev

Following the above, most helpful exchange with Bev (in addition to several hundred posts I read in this forum), my wife and I are focusing on this model (to explore the idea of moving to France more permanently): rent an apartment for three months (possible, as a “long-term rental”, see this one, among many: 'rentaplaceinfrance') for a reasonable monthly rent (up to 1,000 euros for one bedroom) and try to immerse ourselves in the local environment as much as possible. This does not require a visa, medical insurance is optional (we always buy it for the peace of mind from 'insuremytrip' that also sells policies satisfying the Shengen viza zone) and legal. We think that three months is a good enough period (in addition to all of our previous travels through EU) to more fully explore the idea of permanently relocating to France.

Applying for one year visitor visa (for which, we believe, we qualify easily as fully retired, not seeking to work, with solid retirement income and other possessions) requires a more expensive medical insurance and an already-signed rental agreement as a part of the visa application process. Even with a small chance of us being rejected, we did not feel comfortable looking for and signing a year-long rental agreement before getting a visa, that’s why the option listed above.

Any reactions to our current thoughts on this possible plan would be most welcome.

I am thankful to all posters and Bev especially for all assistance in this forum; it has been most helpful. Thank you all. Smole

[Bevdeforges]

I think it's an excellent idea to do a three-month trial run and then decide what you want to do. Three months should give you some time to experience both the ups and downs of living in France, and actually will help a bit in the long-term visa process down the road.

You don't actually need a long-term rental agreement signed in order to apply for the long-stay visa. You do need to have a place to stay on arrival (can be a short term guest house or even a hotel) and some plan about what you're going to do for the long term.

Go for it!
Cheers,
Bev