Married to a UK expat who lives in France and have a question

[dxlake]

Hi Bev and all the rest of you--

I've been amazed at the amount of knowledge there is on this forum and just now joined so I could ask a question.

I'm an American who lives in the US. In February I married my retired British boyfriend while in NY (we're both in our early 60s). He has resided in France for 13+ years and owns property here. We're currently in France for the summer as I'm a professor back in the states and have the summer off.

After this coming school year--for most of which he'll be 'visiting' me in the states as he has a 10-year visitor's visa for the US--I plan to move to France permanently and retire.

So here's my question: what's the easiest may for me to become a resident of France as his spouse come next April/May when school is out for me? Should I fill out paperwork from the US in order to travel over then as his spouse? Or is it easier just to travel to France as I usually do, as a visitor, and fill out the paperwork once we've arrived in France?

I've traveled to France for over 20 years--have been here for 4-7 months stints and never applied for an official visa--having been advised that nobody really cared. And I've found this to be true. But with the marriage, we don't want to be separated while I await paperwork so are hoping that next year when we come back and are here permanently, it would be easy enough to just become a resident as his spouse at that time.

And another question--once I'm a resident, do I automatically become covered under the French health care system as his spouse? He's been covered under the system for 13 years. Or should I keep a private insurance policy to cover my health care?

MANY MANY thanks for your thoughts!

Best,

Diane

[Bevdeforges]

Well, first of all congratulations!

Actually, there's not that much paperwork for you to worry about. As the spouse of an EU national (NOT a French citizen), you're entitled to join your spouse in France and you don't even need to get a visa!

Between now and when you plan to move, just don't abuse your "Schengen" visa - you're limited to 90 days in the Schengen area at a time (out of any 180 day period). They've gotten a bit stricter about it, so you don't want to have any obvious gaffes in your passport next year. (If you're getting to the end of your current passport period, you may want to renew it a few months before you make your move. Probably no overwhelming need to do so, but it won't hurt.)

When you move over, you need to report to the local préfecture within about the first two months you're there. (They WILL check your entry stamp for this!) You apply for a carte de séjour as the spouse of an EU national. Your husband should probably come with you because you'll need to show proof that you're married (i.e. wedding license or marriage certificate) plus his i.d. and proof of his nationality (i.e. passport). It wouldn't hurt for him to have a current carte de séjour - they're not obligatory for EU nationals, but many Brits like to have one to avoid lugging their passport with them everywhere and it certainly shows his status in France. He'll need to show that he has a place for you to live (rent agreement or other proof of residence) and that he is "established" here (how rigorous a proof they want depends on your préfecture).

Once you move over to France, your husband should put you on his Carte Vitale so that you will be covered by his health care plan. If he has a mutuelle (top up insurance), he should add you when you arrive, as you pay for a mutuelle based on the number of people covered.

If he files taxes in France, you should file together for 2012, i.e. the year in which you got married, which means you'll have to declare your worldwide income in addition to his. There is no option to file separately when married - tax is based on "household" and married couples are expected to maintain a common residence unless legally separated.
Cheers,
Bev

[dxlake]

This is just GREAT info. I was right in reading all those other posts--you really DO know everything!!

Many, many thanks!

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Well, first of all congratulations!

Actually, there's not that much paperwork for you to worry about. As the spouse of an EU national (NOT a French citizen), you're entitled to join your spouse in France and you don't even need to get a visa!

Between now and when you plan to move, just don't abuse your "Schengen" visa - you're limited to 90 days in the Schengen area at a time (out of any 180 day period). They've gotten a bit stricter about it, so you don't want to have any obvious gaffes in your passport next year. (If you're getting to the end of your current passport period, you may want to renew it a few months before you make your move. Probably no overwhelming need to do so, but it won't hurt.)

When you move over, you need to report to the local préfecture within about the first two months you're there. (They WILL check your entry stamp for this!) You apply for a carte de séjour as the spouse of an EU national. Your husband should probably come with you because you'll need to show proof that you're married (i.e. wedding license or marriage certificate) plus his i.d. and proof of his nationality (i.e. passport). It wouldn't hurt for him to have a current carte de séjour - they're not obligatory for EU nationals, but many Brits like to have one to avoid lugging their passport with them everywhere and it certainly shows his status in France. He'll need to show that he has a place for you to live (rent agreement or other proof of residence) and that he is "established" here (how rigorous a proof they want depends on your préfecture).

Once you move over to France, your husband should put you on his Carte Vitale so that you will be covered by his health care plan. If he has a mutuelle (top up insurance), he should add you when you arrive, as you pay for a mutuelle based on the number of people covered.

If he files taxes in France, you should file together for 2012, i.e. the year in which you got married, which means you'll have to declare your worldwide income in addition to his. There is no option to file separately when married - tax is based on "household" and married couples are expected to maintain a common residence unless legally separated.
Cheers,
Bev