Do I have a chance moving there?

[aomiles]

Hello, this is my first post here. I just found this site and have found it to be very helpful.
Here is my situation:
I'm a US citizen who moved to the Northern Mariana Islands for a 2 year contract as an attorney. Its a great job that allows me to travel all through asia. When this contract expires I would like to move to Paris. My wife and I visited there in the past and would love to spend about a year living there.

1. I understand from reading this forum that moving to France requires some sort of work permit. Will I need to have this permit before I arrive? Is it possible to move there first and find work or will I need to find the job before? I'm sure you see how this could be a problem as I am all the way on the other side of the world in Micronesia.

2. I read here that the French are very proud of their language and don't often learn to speak other languages. My wife is a teacher and we had thought that she might be able to teach ESL there. Is there a market there for ESL teachers?

Thanks for your help on this.

[Bevdeforges]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

1. What is called a "work permit" is actually just permission to work as indicated on your carte de séjour, and that is determined by your visa on entry to France. In general, it's necessary to have a job offer (in French) in order to apply for a visa that will allow you to work in France, and for the first couple of years at least, your residence card will be linked to that job or at least that company/employer. When I tried to apply for a visa for France, I was told that the consulate would not even give out the application form unless I could show them a job offer letter from a French employer. (This was a few years ago, but things have, if anything, gotten tighter since then.)

It normally takes at least one "visit" to France to sort out the formalities of a new job - an interview and whatever. However, with you in Micronesia, you may want to see if you can work through one of the French DOMs or TOMs (I forget which are which) like Tahiti or New Caledonia. These "departements" and "territories" are considered part of la République and it may be possible to make contacts with French employers through their branches or affiliates in the DOM-TOM. (Worth a try, anyhow.)

2. There is definitely a market for ESL in France, as many international businesses require at least their executives to speak it (and frankly, the French schools do not teach languages particularly well - at least not the spoken language). Your wife should probably have a TEFL or TESOL certification to qualify for a "real job." There are fly-by-night language schools that will hire anyone who appears to speak English (including folks illegally staying in France) for a piddling wage to teach or tutor English. These unqualified teachers draw the wrath of qualified teachers, if only for bringing wages way down even for the qualified teachers.

It's not a well paid job, but it's flexible and can certainly get your foot in the door with major companies, etc. Haven't checked recently, but bi-lingual secretaries are often in demand and command a reasonable salary. (Though French bosses can be, um, a bit difficult to get on with.)
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Hi!

These references could be useful:

Etrangers en France - Service-public.fr

Also contact a French Consulate.

Unfortunately even for you wife, it will not be easy to find a constant job at fair salary, because her qualification would have to recognised, except possibly in a private institution.

Yours,

giantpanda

[aomiles]

Well its good to hear my wife might be able to get a job there.
I think the real problem will be with me finding a job. I'm an attorney in the United States and it will probably be hard to find something I can use a US law degree with out in France.

[Bevdeforges]

It will depend a bit on your particular specialty in the legal area. There are plenty of corporate lawyers in Paris, plus there is a certain demand for attorneys who are qualified in France and their home country (i.e. for various documents needed by foreigners). No idea what's involved in being admitted to the bar here in France, though.

There are also a couple branches of major international law firms and I don't think all their legal staff are necessarily dually qualified.
Cheers,
Bev