Teaching In France, needing information on long term visiting visas

[rbutler1022]

I'm in my last year of graduate work here in the US and upon graduation I will most likely be moving to France to teach in a University there. I will have a temporary work visa to be there; however my boyfriend will not. I know it is early but I want to try and get as many things as figured out as possible as soon as I can. I was just curious if anyone had any input of what would be best for him?

I know he can apply for a long stay visa for non professional purposes. Having not known anyone who has done that, I don't want to rely on that. One of my friends told me about him potentially finding work once he is there; however he speaks minimal French.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Merci!

[Bevdeforges]

For your boyfriend to get a work visa, he will have to have found a job with an employer able to sponsor him for a work visa. This is not terribly easy to do for any employer and requires, among other things, that the employer "justify" hiring this foreigner over all eligible candidates in France and the EU.

For a long-stay visitor visa, he needs to submit a statement (and some form of "proof") that he won't work while a "visitor" in France. Either he needs the funds to support himself or you need to swear that you will support him while he is there.

There is always the possibility of getting married, in which case he could go with you as your dependent. It depends on the type of university post you'd be getting, but if you're going over as a "scientific or researcher" he'd be able to work even as your dependent. The lack of French would be a major problem, however, when it comes to finding a job.

Or, he could apply for admission to the university where you'll be teaching and go the student visa route.
Cheers,
Bev