Questions re: Dual Irish/USA Citizen Studying in France for one year

[marcl]

Greetings,

In advance, thank you for your insights!

I am finalizing the details on my trip. I leave 9/2 for Montpellier, France to study for one year.

My lingering questions are as follows:
- I am a dual Irish/USA citizen. I have not engaged in the visa process at all, as it does not apply. However, being a "first time user", I am unaware on how to use my EU passport. Is it as simple as flashing my EU passport at customs upon arrival in order to avoid visa questions?

- Health insurance - does the EU citizenship help in any way? My basic understanding, at this point, is that I must be an EU resident to qualify for euro health insurance - including the European Health Insurance Card. Please advise.

- Aside from EU health plans, what recommendations are there for securing international student health insurance? I believe I am required (being over 28 or whatever) to cover the 30% the social security system doesn't cover. Please advise. Hunting for health insurance is very unsavory. Any help is appreciated!

- Lastly (for now): Banking. I have a bunch of bills to pay upon arrival. Tuition, housing, etc. I am not getting a response from the residence department (they are all likely at the Riviera for August :-) and need advice on how best to get money to France. After setting up a French bank account (how long will this take?), I can transfer $ from my US account easily - but in the meantime while the French account is being set up, etc - what are the recommendations for paying bills? I currently have a "capital one" credit card with no international fees.

I very much appreciate this forum!
Thanks,
Marc

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by marcl

- I am a dual Irish/USA citizen. I have not engaged in the visa process at all, as it does not apply. However, being a "first time user", I am unaware on how to use my EU passport. Is it as simple as flashing my EU passport at customs upon arrival in order to avoid visa questions?

Yup. You may or may not want to get a carte de séjour to have for i.d. while you're in France. Easier than carrying your passport with you.

- Health insurance - does the EU citizenship help in any way? My basic understanding, at this point, is that I must be an EU resident to qualify for euro health insurance - including the European Health Insurance Card. Please advise.

Nope. Unless you've been resident in Ireland (or elsewhere in the EU) and paying into their health care and social insurances system, you won't have the right to an EHIC.

- Aside from EU health plans, what recommendations are there for securing international student health insurance? I believe I am required (being over 28 or whatever) to cover the 30% the social security system doesn't cover. Please advise. Hunting for health insurance is very unsavory. Any help is appreciated!

Since you won't be covered by the French national system, you will have to have private health insurance - not merely the top-up insurance (called a mutuelle). As a US citizen, you could take advantage of the AARO (a US expat association) health insurance plan, which is said to be quite good. AARO?s Health Care Program for Expatriate America or look for a private expat health insurance policy. Most of the big, international insurers offer this type of coverage - AXA, Zurich, etc. What drives up the cost of these policies are provisions for repatriation in the event of serious illness, especially if you're being repatriated to the US. See if you can get a policy without the repatriation. Repatriation is based on the assumption that you have coverage "back home" through the national health care system.

- Lastly (for now): Banking. I have a bunch of bills to pay upon arrival. Tuition, housing, etc. I am not getting a response from the residence department (they are all likely at the Riviera for August :-) and need advice on how best to get money to France. After setting up a French bank account (how long will this take?), I can transfer $ from my US account easily - but in the meantime while the French account is being set up, etc - what are the recommendations for paying bills? I currently have a "capital one" credit card with no international fees.

To set up a French bank account, you'll need to make an appointment. Usually this can be arranged the same or next day. The bank will give you a list of the documents you will need to open the account. As a student, there are usually a number of special (low-fees) account types, but if you're over 26, you may or may not be eligible for them. If you run into any problems, you can probably open a Postal account (i.e. at La Poste, the post office) to tide you over until you can get a regular bank account opened.
Cheers,
Bev

[marcl]

Bevdeforges - you are a machine. So knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you.

Regarding banking what form of $ is the best/fastest to bring when opening an account?

Cash, cashiers checks can be lost or stolen. AmEx checks cost $ and I'm not sure how well they are received (by banks or merchants). Overseas transfers can take many days to post.

I've heard you can get a check card from US banks with Euro's on it. Perhaps this would help with putting funds quickly into a EU bank account? I already have a "no international transaction" credit card, but do not want to take cash out from this card b/c it costs quite a lot to do so.

Advice?
Thanks!
Marc

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by marcl

Regarding banking what form of $ is the best/fastest to bring when opening an account?

Marc

Why not just use the ATM machine to withdraw cash from your US bank account - I assume you have an ATM card? That'll get it started then you can use wire transfer for future amounts.

Check the banks you are using, make sure their charges don't kill you on smaller transactions. I transferred €200 not long ago and the bank charged me €49 to do it. Thay have the same charge amount regardless of the transfer amount.

I use Everbank in the US as they will allow you to open a Euro currency account, and a US$ checking account and you can transfer money between them with no charge. They will also transfer Euros directly to a French bank.

Hope it helps

David

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by marcl

Regarding banking what form of $ is the best/fastest to bring when opening an account?

Cash, cashiers checks can be lost or stolen. AmEx checks cost $ and I'm not sure how well they are received (by banks or merchants). Overseas transfers can take many days to post.

Transferring funds from overseas is always going to carry some cost - especially if you're having to exchange from one currency to another. As David reports, most US banks have either a fixed fee or a minimum fee (where the fee is based on a percentage of the transfer amount) so you have to plan your transfers to try and optimize the cost. (Don't forget, too, that most French banks will charge you a fee to "accept" the wire transfer from overseas, even if it's already in euros.)

There is normally a daily, weekly and monthly limit to what you can take out of your account using a bank card and cash machine. If you can operate within those limits, it should tide you over until a transfer comes through.
Cheers,
Bev