American looking to live/work in France. Need advice.

[Ferbent]

The number 1 paper/website to find rentals direct with the landlord is De Partilculier a Particlulier.

I've been looking at French immersion classes too. Has anyone had any experience at Institut Catholique, Apple Languages, or Accord Language School?

[expatwannabe2010]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Hi, and welcome to the forum.


4. As already mentioned, you can get a student visa to come to France to study French on a full time basis for a year or so. There are private language schools or you could do the classic programs through either the Sorbonne or the Alliance Française. But it's entirely possible that you might have to return back home in order to apply for another visa should you manage to find a job after finishing the language training.

5. The main government support of the integration process is the "contract of integration" - which is an agreement you will be required to sign when you get your first carte de séjour. They offer some language training (400 hours) and a couple of sessions on life in France and French culture which you have to complete in order to renew your carte de séjour after the first year. Past that, it's up to you to seek out associations or other ways to integrate yourself into the culture.

Bev

Hello! I'm in a similar situation, wanting to move to France for a while. I'd like to get a student visa and study French while I'm there (since I don't know much French and I want to speak the language). A friend of mine is in a program called "Bienvenue étrangère" which I would like to join. I think it's the government class (because it's super super cheap - almost free!). He's lived there for about 4 years and has been in classes for a lot of that time. He's visiting the US right now so he can't ask his teacher if this class would qualify me for a student visa, I have to wait til he goes back. I can't find any information online. I'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about this.... I can't seem to contact anyone at CampusFrance.org . The email just comes back saying they don't answer emails anymore, and I can't figure out how to find French classes on their site. If this class won't qualify me, is there another low-cost French class that won't take up all my time, that I could join to get a student visa?

I've also heard that you can join a school (I'm thinking EICAR) and attach French classes to that same visa... for example I could take French classes for a few months before starting class at EICAR, all on the same student visa. Has anyone done something like this?

I'd appreciate any advice!

[Bevdeforges]

I don't think Campus France handles French classes unless they are part of the preparation for one of the study programs they do handle. Campus France bills itself as the gateway to French "higher education" - by which is meant tertiary (or university/post-high-school level) courses.

If you're looking at enrolling in a language school for a course lasting more than 90 days, you should probably contact the school for help in getting the appropriate documents for applying for a visa.

AFAICT the Bienvenue étrangère classes are the government sponsored classes associated with the CAI (contract for assimilation and integration) - usually available to those who have a long-stay visa that isn't student-related.
Cheers,
Bev

[expatwannabe2010]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I don't think Campus France handles French classes unless they are part of the preparation for one of the study programs they do handle. Campus France bills itself as the gateway to French "higher education" - by which is meant tertiary (or university/post-high-school level) courses.

If you're looking at enrolling in a language school for a course lasting more than 90 days, you should probably contact the school for help in getting the appropriate documents for applying for a visa.

AFAICT the Bienvenue étrangère classes are the government sponsored classes associated with the CAI (contract for assimilation and integration) - usually available to those who have a long-stay visa that isn't student-related.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks for the info. :-)

another question... if I got a long stay visa, could I change it to a student visa while in France?

I'm considering attending EICAR next fall (when their english program starts) but I want to get to France as early as February 2010. I don't think they'll let me do that with a student visa. They said I could go up to 3 months before classes start. So maybe I could change my visa later...? Or, if I could find a part time class that begins in the spring, I'd like to do that. Maybe photography. But I have no clue what qualifies someone for a student visa....

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by expatwannabe2010

another question... if I got a long stay visa, could I change it to a student visa while in France?

Be very, very wary of trying to change your visa status while in France. If you need a different sort of visa, under most circumstances they will expect you to return to where you came from to re-apply for a visa.

If you got a long-stay visa, you probably wouldn't need a student visa. Long-stay visas are difficult to get unless you have a job and an employer to sponsor you. But as long as you're legally in France, you can sign up for just about any university or training program you like.

I happened to catch one page on the Campus France website which said (in French) that, if you want to attend multiple programs, you need to register in them before you apply for your student visa so that the visa can be issued for the appropriate period of time. They won't (or so they say) grant you a second visa while you're still in France - you'll have to return to the US and re-apply for the second program.
Cheers,
Bev

[expatwannabe2010]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Be very, very wary of trying to change your visa status while in France. If you need a different sort of visa, under most circumstances they will expect you to return to where you came from to re-apply for a visa.

If you got a long-stay visa, you probably wouldn't need a student visa. Long-stay visas are difficult to get unless you have a job and an employer to sponsor you. But as long as you're legally in France, you can sign up for just about any university or training program you like.

I happened to catch one page on the Campus France website which said (in French) that, if you want to attend multiple programs, you need to register in them before you apply for your student visa so that the visa can be issued for the appropriate period of time. They won't (or so they say) grant you a second visa while you're still in France - you'll have to return to the US and re-apply for the second program.
Cheers,
Bev

I know rules are rules, but does anyone know the logic behind only being able to get or change visas in your home country? I don't get it.

I have an online job, and I think I'm qualified for a long stay visa, but I'd like to be able to accept jobs there as well (not full time, just temporary/part time) and I thought if I was intending to go to school, I'd like to have the added benefit of being able to work part time, you know? But I don't think i can get a student visa and leave that far in advance.

How do you know so much about all this? lol. I see you answer so many people's questions! you're very helpful. :-D

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by expatwannabe2010

I know rules are rules, but does anyone know the logic behind only being able to get or change visas in your home country? I don't get it.

It's real simple. They don't want folks on student visas overstaying their welcome. Foreign students are a source of money - since they pay for their classes, and the locals usually don't. And actually, they have more than enough new graduates looking for work in France (and most other countries).

Be careful, too, with the notion that you're qualified for a long-stay visa. Working online is still considered working in France. You have to be somehow registered to pay French cotisations and to report (at least) French taxes. But as a "self-employer" you don't have the right to sponsor yourself in the visa process. The French don't put that disclaimer on their consulate websites for nothing. Just because you meet all the qualifications they list on the website doesn't mean they will give you a visa.

I ran into major immigration problems when I first came to France, so I have taken an interest in trying to help newcomers avoid some of the problems I created for myself. Those of us of the American persuasion seem to be programmed to go head to head with the fonctionnaires in these sorts of situations. It often helps to take a step back and try and understand just what it is they are trying to accomplish with all the rules and regulations.
Cheers,
Bev