How to get a 10 year residency permit!

frogblogger · #1 (**permalink**) 15th September 2009, 12:53 PM

But don't get your hopes up too much. The French government announced today that 10 year residency permits would be issued to anyone from outside the EU ... who sets up a French company employing at least 50 people, or who undertakes to invest a minimum 10 million euros in France, thereby qualifying as having made a "contribution exceptionnelle economique" to the French economy.

Who said France didn't welcome immigrants

minesthechevy · #2 (**permalink**) 15th September 2009, 01:15 PM

<<< Who said France didn't welcome immigrants

>>>

That's why I moved here, they have the b4lls to stand up for what is right, they protect their own above others, and they aren't scared of the resulting flak.

(All of which is in sharp contrast to the spineless non-entities that 'govern' (ha!) what is left of the country I willingly abandoned)

frogblogger · #3 (**permalink**) 15th September 2009, 01:51 PM

Trouble is French politicians of any hue make a lot of noise about policy, then usually fail to follow through as soon as an opposition group gets up in arms about it. Hangover from the Revolution, I read somewhere, a kind of subconscious fear of the power of the people.

Even in the anti-immigration case I just posted in a separate thread - Sarko backed down from the original requirements, agreeing that the would-be immigrants don't actually have to pass the French course (and therefore learn any French), they just have to sit it out until its conclusion, equipped with iPod listening to Radio Istanbul if they feel so inclined, apparently.

Bevdeforges · #4 (**permalink**) 16th September 2009, 09:19 AM

There's also something a little sad (or maybe "disappointing" is the word I'm looking for) in France going the US route of "if you have money, you can buy your way in."

I know it's the pragmatic approach these days, but there is something to be said for the French attitude toward money.
Cheers,
Bev

sixminutes · #5 (**permalink**) 16th September 2009, 07:02 PM

Uhh, this kinda pisses me off.... here I am an immigrant trying to "assiimilate" by coming to France to start a business, pay taxes and live the french way of life and I have to wait 5 years just to be "eligible" to apply for a 10yr card. There is no guarantee that I will be approved for french nationality once I apply.
I have a business but I can't afford to 'embauche" 1 other person let alone 50 people all at once, thanks to the extreme charges associated with hiring personnel. Why can't I be given the same opportunity?

I know that immigration everywhere isn't easy, but sometimes I feel like the people who want to immigrate the right way always have the hardest time... and NEVER get a break such as this...

Sorry,I just need to vent... its cds renewal time at the prefecture:-(

minesthechevy · #6 (**permalink**) 16th September 2009, 09:33 PM

<<< . Why can't I be given the same opportunity? >>

Because, if /everyone/ were given the 'same opportunity', France would become the same sort of bland, nothing-to-make-it-special, PC kind of place that everywhere else is hell-bent on becoming.

....and we wouldn't want that, would we, otherwise it wouldn't be worth coming to.

xveruskax · #7 (**permalink**) 17th September 2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minesthechevy

<<< . Why can't I be given the same opportunity? >>

Because, if /everyone/ were given the 'same opportunity', France would become the same sort of bland, nothing-to-make-it-special, PC kind of place that everywhere else is hell-bent on becoming.

....and we wouldn't want that, would we, otherwise it wouldn't be worth coming to.

He never said "everyone".

He was simply saying he would like to start a legitimate business but he's not rich enough to hire 50+ employees, therefore the system unjustly favors the wealthy businessman.

minesthechevy · #8 (**permalink**) 17th September 2009, 05:35 AM

<<<therefore the system unjustly favors the wealthy businessman.>>>

All systems do. I don't see the french out in the streets burning sheep to try and change it, so I presume they're more or less as happy as anyone else with it.

This is called 'l-i-f-e', it has nothing to do with 'natural justice', and you either go along with it and enjoy the few short years you have on the planet, or bang your head against a brick wall trying to change it.

xveruskax · #9 (**permalink**) 17th September 2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minesthechevy

<<<therefore the system unjustly favors the wealthy businessman.>>>

All systems do. I don't see the french out in the streets burning sheep to try and change it, so I presume they're more or less as happy as anyone else with it.

This is called 'l-i-f-e', it has nothing to do with 'natural justice', and you either go along with it and enjoy the few short years you have on the planet, or bang your head against a brick wall trying to change it.

wealthy businessmen don't protest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/wo...ance.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/wo.../20france.html
France braced for huge street protests over economic crisis | World news | guardian.co.uk

minesthechevy · #10 (**permalink**) 17th September 2009, 07:01 AM

So what?

The French like a good street protest, it's what separates them from the herd.

Its so much a part of the national culture the protesting dairy farmers in a convoy in a local town yesterday had a police convoy - to get folk out of their way, not to ensure uk-style 'escorting'.

A few days, maybe a few weeks, we'll all be back to the status quo. Maybe a cynical government will make a few minor adjustments dressed up as a 'response to the peepool', to smoothe feathers like, but otherwise, life will go on.

You must like the status quo here - otherwise you'd leave, right?