Complicated question on moving to france.

[Logic Pro]

Hi guys

I am a dual Greek and American National., i hold both passports, live in spain and now would like to move to France .

There is a catch here:
1- i am a musician/ engineer producer and i changed my name in the United States, so the Greek passport has a different name all together.

2-i had 3 kids in Spain with my french girlfriend i call my wife., and there names are also under the US last name and not the greek name., and i obviously lived in Spain under the Greek ID thinking of returning to the US if money ran out and there where no jobs.

3-The greek embassy says the only way to marry her civilly in Europe is by returning to the US and making the changes on the greek ID via a greek embassy there where i did it.

4- A friend from the States i know had a kid with a girl in France, and he told me he is not married but yet has papers now from just been a father of a child and speaking French, no job or anything.

My question is can i just go to france with the US ID, the kids, and apply for papers as there father?

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

As far as a simple answer goes, "probably not." It's hard to tell the exact circumstances of your friend, but normally just being the father of a kid born in France isn't enough to "get papers."

This being France, there are always ways around the official regulations - but unless you know how to do it, it's not going to work. He may have gotten PACS'ed with the French girl (I know several Americans who have gone this route - it's almost the same as being married) or he may have "gotten papers" before the latest round of changes in the rules.

What's your actual goal here? To move to France or to get married with the mother of your kids? And, by the way, is she now in Spain or in France? It will make a difference.

But, as long as you still have (or can get a copy of) the court order from the US that changed your name, you may be able to use that somewhere in the process. (You'll probably need to have a certified translation of the papers done - and last time I checked, that will set you back at least 60€ per page.) Otherwise, I suppose you could always just go back to your Greek name in France, use your Greek passport/id papers to go live in France and sort out the paperwork on the kids at a later date.
Cheers,
Bev

[Logic Pro]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

As far as a simple answer goes, "probably not." It's hard to tell the exact circumstances of your friend, but normally just being the father of a kid born in France isn't enough to "get papers."

This being France, there are always ways around the official regulations - but unless you know how to do it, it's not going to work. He may have gotten PACS'ed with the French girl (I know several Americans who have gone this route - it's almost the same as being married) or he may have "gotten papers" before the latest round of changes in the rules.

What's your actual goal here? To move to France or to get married with the mother of your kids? And, by the way, is she now in Spain or in France? It will make a difference.

But, as long as you still have (or can get a copy of) the court order from the US that changed your name, you may be able to use that somewhere in the process. (You'll probably need to have a certified translation of the papers done - and last time I checked, that will set you back at least 60€ per page.) Otherwise, I suppose you could always just go back to your Greek name in France, use your Greek passport/id papers to go live in France and sort out the paperwork on the kids at a later date.
Cheers,
Bev

Hi

I had the Greek Embassy in Paris look at my documents years back., i had a "carte Se Jour" under the Greek name 10 years ago, should of mentioned this., how i got it was with the greek name, birth certificate translated to French and Interrogations by the Greeks who could not understand why i changed my name and made threats!, France rejected the US ID since US citizens can not live and work there with out a visa etc., and for the Greek ID i only had a very old local ID card hand written, so i had to use documents authorized with stamps by the Greek Authorities.

Now a Greek Embassy in Spain looked into all this and said i have to get the Greek ID in the US name if you want back in the States where i had my name changed, they looked at all original documents as well but said they can not verify for the authorities in Spain that it is me because it was legally done in the US., so its the US i have to get that sorted out.

How Ever, many Israelis i know tell me there are certain countries in the EU which make it easier if France gets paper happy or i need luck to have the right person, and some of these EU countries ( i dont know which ones) make it as easy as when i changed my name for 10 Dollars in Seattle Washington in a court house with a decent justification instead of LA or NY for 2000 dollars with a few lawyers and documents from the FBI as well as tax returns.

I am hoping i could avoid a expensive process since the mother of my kids is French, and maybe they would recognize the US passport and issue documents from there.,

I have no issues with the Greek ID, just that i named my kids in the US name because i thought i would move to the US, but i realized after my Job ended that i DO NOT WANT TO RAISE MY KIDS IN THE STATES NOW., i rather have them close by there grand parents until its time for them to decide., but now its so complicated that either i change there names or get my EU ID sorted out in the states.

The information i mentioned here about certain EU countries making easier varies i am told and is too valuable for my friends to give me details since they got it from family lawyers., Jewish i guess., but certain countries are more relaxed on documents.

[Bevdeforges]

I think you're making this harder than it needs to be.

The French are, admittedly, very difficult about name changes. (Except that when you take French nationality, you get a one-time "freeby" chance to change your name - supposedly to something "more French" but I'm not sure they can hold you to that.) As far as "proving" you are who you say you are using your US passport, they are going to eventually insist on having court documents, officially (and expensively) translated.

What name is on your Greek passport? (You said you have both passports.) The Greek passport should now be enough to get you into France with no need whatsoever for a carte de séjour (or a visa, for that matter).
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Hi!

You have an important asset in the fact that your girl friend is French.

She probably has already a Sécurité Sociale number.

Question: Have the children, when they were born been registered at a French consulate. That would be an advantage, because then there would be a " Livret de Famille ".

Probably you can get a form called E 106 in Spain ( which you get if you have worked, and is valid 2 years) then you would covered in France on your own right;

Otherwise you can get coverage as " ayant droit " if you make a déclaration de concubinage. ( see heading III)

Moteur de recherche service-public.fr : résultats de la recherche

Income wise you would still be considered as single ( so 2 declarations, which would be a disadvantage according to what you earn ) , but you would be able to put the chlidren on your " Avis d'impositon "

So your situation does not turn up to be so complicated.

What is of course not simple, would be for you to find work.

Yours,

giantpanda

At a later date you should possible consider marrying or having a PACS, in France

[Logic Pro]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I think you're making this harder than it needs to be.

The French are, admittedly, very difficult about name changes. (Except that when you take French nationality, you get a one-time "freeby" chance to change your name - supposedly to something "more French" but I'm not sure they can hold you to that.) As far as "proving" you are who you say you are using your US passport, they are going to eventually insist on having court documents, officially (and expensively) translated.

What name is on your Greek passport? (You said you have both passports.) The Greek passport should now be enough to get you into France with no need whatsoever for a carte de séjour (or a visa, for that matter).
Cheers,
Bev

This is why i am posting, Both Spain and France ask for the birth certificate, reject the court documents translated or not cause a Greek Embassy has to provide a paper stamped by them in France for example saying they recognize you as this person but if the name change took place in another country then the one you where born you have to return there if you plan to use that name or try changing it in Greece or like you say, when your becoming a French National.

So far it seems i may have to get a list of lawyers from Seattle WA. USA where i changed my name and have him provide the papers to the Greek Embassy for me to get a certificate saying its me and they recognize those documents.

[Bevdeforges]

I guess what I'm asking is why involve either the Spanish or the US authorities at all - at least as far as getting into France? If you have your Greek passport and it's still valid, you can reside in France (under whatever name you have on your Greek passport).

If you've let your Greek passport lapse, you will have problems getting them to recognize you under your US name - and to fix that, you'll probably have to fork out for some lawyer fees, either in the US or in France or maybe both places.
Cheers,
Bev

[Logic Pro]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I guess what I'm asking is why involve either the Spanish or the US authorities at all - at least as far as getting into France? If you have your Greek passport and it's still valid, you can reside in France (under whatever name you have on your Greek passport).

If you've let your Greek passport lapse, you will have problems getting them to recognize you under your US name - and to fix that, you'll probably have to fork out for some lawyer fees, either in the US or in France or maybe both places.
Cheers,
Bev

I guess i made my post too confusing.,

I all ready lived in france and had a carte se jour, i never had any problems to live and work in europe, i was born in Greece., i also recently renewed both US and Greek Passports.,

The problem i have is i named our kids after my US name., My US ID will not get them any benefits or us married in the EU with out sorting his out now in the States or the chance of other possibilities involving the Greek or French Authorities, at the moment i can not declare them on my tax returns while i work and live in Spain., they don't get any health care benefits or am i recognized as there father., i wont bother seeking anything from the US cause i have not worked for 3 years there., just go back and forth to visit., now i decided to stay and get married here with the mom who is french., originally i was expecting a incredible job offer but the way things are getting in the States i think its better we settle here for now.

The question i am trying to ask is if there is a possibility to have my EU name changed in France to the US name which my kids now have in the Spanish Family book through the mom's French Nationality rather then going through hoops like US citizens have too which is a drag.

The easiest way to solve this is by going to Greece obviously and just doing it there, BUT< ----- they require your living and working there, you have to show a SS card and previous military service which i never did, so that means i HAVE TO GO TO THE ARMY AGAINST MY WISHES if i stay in Greece longer then my visiting limit of 3 months!, and there Recruit age limit is 48!

So now i am thinking maybe i can kill 2 birds with one stone by going to France, get the US name here through marriage or the children if possible, and legally.

So that is what i am asking.

What i have as ID in the Eu ALL IN THE GREEK NAME is:
-Greek Passport,
-Military relieve document stating i can visit no longer then 3 months with out draft required.,
-Spanish number aka NEI
-Spanish Residence card,
-I live and work in Spain and have health care and SS,

Other EU documents?
-Spanish Family book of my 3 kids,
-Mom holds a French Passport and NEI (number ID for Spain)

IN the US NAME:
-US Passport,
-US Citizenship original with US seal,
-US name change with original stamp from court house,

So far im sure i can change my name if i hire a greek american lawyer in the US or going to Seattle Washington (west coast) of the US myself and getting a greek translation of my name change document since they recognize it there.

Or hope to find information to get around all that here.

[Logic Pro]

Originally Posted by giantpanda

Hi!

You have an important asset in the fact that your girl friend is French.

She probably has already a Sécurité Sociale number.

Question: Have the children, when they were born been registered at a French consulate. That would be an advantage, because then there would be a " Livret de Famille ".

She applied for that at the French Embassy in Spain when the first kid was born but never got it., instead we got the spanish one for now., we will do it again of course., we think it depends on if you live in France or where they are born, we have to make a appointment with the French Consulate to ask that soon., thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by giantpanda

Probably you can get a form called E 106 in Spain ( which you get if you have worked, and is valid 2 years) then you would covered in France on your own right;

Otherwise you can get coverage as " ayant droit " if you make a déclaration de concubinage. ( see heading III)

Income wise you would still be considered as single ( so 2 declarations, which would be a disadvantage according to what you earn ) , but you would be able to put the chlidren on your " Avis d'impositon "

So your situation does not turn up to be so complicated.

What is of course not simple, would be for you to find work.

Yours,

giantpanda

At a later date you should possible consider marrying or having a PACS, in France

This might be the answer i am looking for., you think i should ask the Embassy these questions or just go to the Town Hall in France?

[Bevdeforges]

Ooh, boy - you're definitely in a bit of a mess.

OK, first of all, I wouldn't bother getting involved with France if you can avoid it. The law in France is pretty much dead set against name changes unless you have a really "compelling" reason and when it comes to bureaucracy, the French can really complicate any issue without even trying to.

Under which name are you living in Spain? It sounds as if your Spanish residence documents are in your Greek name - in which case I really wonder how they allowed you to name your kids after your US name. (France and Germany both have pretty strict regulations about naming children. Perhaps Spain is different. Or perhaps that's why the French rejected the initial registration of your child's birth.)

If you're planning on staying in Spain, you probably should talk to a Spanish attorney to see what can and can't be done. It might be easier in the long run to "correct" your children's birth certificates in Spain, then get married under your Greek name. To get the kids any sort of US rights, you would need to report their births to the US Consulate and get them US passports. Maybe someone there can help - or can give you a list of dual-qualified attorneys (Spanish and US) who might be able to sort this one.
Cheers,
Bev