How to Open a Bank Account in France

Here is my advice for opening a bank account in France. While we will hear a lot of different stories of people getting or not getting an account, if you follow these steps you should be successful.

Typically the most important thing you need is an address in France. It doesnt have to even be your home per se, it can be in care a friend for example. But even then its still possible to do it but it will take more work.

1. Don't walk into banks in person. They have screeners who will most likely tell you, its not possible however, they are'nt the ones who make the real decisions in a given bank now are they. Always call first and ask to make an appointment with someone who specializes in foriegn accounts. Credit Agricole is a good bank that wants foriegn clients.

2. Once you've made the appointment, if you have a French address, any address in France will do, it shouldnt be a problem. If you don't have this, its still possible especially if you're planning to deposit a significant amount of money and you mention you are planning to invest in France, buy a home etc.

3. If you arent planning to deposit a good deal of money and have no French address, you only have one option left; say that you travel in France often on business and you need to regularly make and receive bank transfers between you and your company. That could be a way in and you could use your foriegn address.

If one bank says no, just try a different branch.

How Difficult is it, really, to Find a Teaching Job in France?

As of late, I am being asked this question a lot. So let's have a look at the facts...

Yes, it's true that France in general is grappling with a high unemployment rate. This situation is not much different from it's neighbors such as Spain, Germany and Italy. This fact alone is not really a good indicator of job-finding success in ESL positions as the demand within this field does not fluctuate with the employment rate. Rather, ESL jobs are dependent on the demand for English in a given country. That said, in comparision with its neighbors forementioned and many other countries, there is a lower demand for English in France.

This situation is gradually changing right before our eyes as now there are certain regions/cities that are developing a strong demand for English, especially Business English. Cities where one can most easily find a teaching job are, Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Nice(including the region surrounding Nice)Toulouse comes in somewhere behind these.


The issue for cities like Paris and Lyon is that they are big and the cost of living is high. This brings with it the problems of finding decent affordable housing as well as the "mentality" of living a large metropolis.

For those of you, looking for jobs in smaller cities especially in the south, there are still jobs available however it will take a little more time and energy to find the position right for you. On the flip side, you will enjoy the more relaxed attitude in the smaller cities, lower prices, more choice in affordable housing options and a bit more helpful population of French people.

Bear in mind that when I say "small city" I am not refering to towns, little villages or hamlets. While these places embody the spirit of the French lifestyle, if the goal is to find a job, these are the places to be avoided. There is just not enough demand to sustain language schools.

As far as salary, expect to make between 1,200 and 1,600 euros per month if you have a contract position. Compared to other contries, the start up here takes a bit longer but once settled things here fall into place and you can begin to enjoy life in France. For more on this subject see our post,"How to Teach English in France" under the same category.

Visa Information for non-EU People who Want to Work in France

Filing Application for a Long- Stay Visa
For a period of longer than three months

Where to Apply for a Visa from Abroad?

USA


Consulat General de France
New York
http://www.consulfrance-new-york.org

934 Fifth Avenue
New York NY 10021

1-212-606-3600
1-212-606-3688

Consulat General de France
Atlanta
http://www.consulfrance-atlanta.org

3475 Piemont Road, NE
Suite 1840
Atlanta, GA 30305

1-404-495-1660

Consulat General de France
Boston

http://www.consulfrance-boston.org

Park Square Building
31 Saint James Avenue
Suite 750
Boston, MA 02116

1-617-542-7735

Consulat General de France
Chicago

http://www.consulfrance-chicago.org

737 North Michigan Ave.
Suite 2020
Chicago, Il 60611-2694

1-312-787-5359
1-312-787-7889

Consulat General de France
Houston

http://www.consulfrance-houston.org

777 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77056

1-713-572-2911

Consulat General de France
New Orleans
http://www.consulfrance-neworleans.org

Amoco Building
1340 Poydras Street
Suite 1710
New Orleans LA 70112

1-504-523-5772

Consulat General de France
Los Angeles
http://www.consulfrance-losangeles.org

10990 Wiltshire Boulevard,Suite 300
Los Angeles, California

1-310-235-3250
1-310-235-3200

Consulat General de France
Miami

http://www.consulfrance-miami.org

1, Biscayne Tower- suite 1710
2 south Biscayne Boulevard
Miami FL 33131

1-305-372-9798

Consulat General de France
San Francisco

http://www.consulfrance-sanfrancisco.org

540 Bush Street
San Francisco CA 94108

1-415-616-4910
1-415-397-4330

Consulat General de France
Washington

http://www.consulfrance-washington.org

4101 Reservoir Road N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007

1-202-944-6200

Australia

Ambasade de France
Canberra

http://www.ambafrance-au.org

6 Perth Avenue
Yarralumla- ACT 2600

61-02-62-16-01-00

Consulat General de France
Sydney
http://www.france.net.au

Level 26- Saint Martin's Tower
31 Market Street
Sydney, NSW 2000

61-02-92-61-57-79

Obtaining a Student Visa

Students from outside Europe (that is, students from countries other than the 18 countries of the European Economic Zone, plus Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, and the Vatican) must obtain a long-term visa marked étudiant if they intend to study in France for more than 6 months.
After the first year of study, visas are automatically renewed, provided the student holding the visa is able to produce the required documentation.



Three Pieces of Advice

1 - A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa in France or in any other country of the European Union.

2- If you plan to complete two programs in succession (such as a program in French as a foreign language, followed by an academic program), obtain admission to both programs before applying for your visa so that your visa will be valid for the duration of your period of study. French visas can not be extended in France.

3- A special visa exists for prospective students. The so-called étudiant-concours visa is granted for stays of no more than 90 days for the purpose of taking an entrance examination or visiting institutions of higher education. Prospective students who pass their examination receive a full student visa without returning to their country of origin. The prospective student visa also may be granted to students whose admission to a higher education institution is contingent upon their completion of a short course of remedial or refresher work.
To obtain a visa, visit the French consulate in your place of residence or the visa office of the French embassy.

Two Points to Remember

•Under no circumstances may a tourist visa be converted into a student visa. This is true throughout the European Union.

•International students of all nationalities intending to stay in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student identification card.

What documentation do I need to get a visa?

- A Passport
The passport must be valid for the entire period of validity of the visa.

- Proof of enrollment
The following documents will be accepted as proof:
• An offer of preliminary admission
• A statement of preregistration in a public or private institution of higher education. The document must specify the level of study and the student's subject. If the institution is private, the statement must indicate the number of course hours and state that registration fees have been been paid in full.

- Proof of financial resources
Each French embassy sets the level of financial resources to be demonstrated by prospective students from that country. The amount is on the order of 3,000 francs
( about 450 euros) for each month to be spent in France.

•Students receiving scholarship grants must produce a statement indicating the amount and duration of their grant on the letterhead of the granting organization.

•If the required resources are guaranteed by an individual residing in France the student must produce a signed statement of financial responsibility, a photocopy of the national identity card of the guarantor, and proof of the guarantor's own financial resources (such as the guarantor's three most recent pay stubs and most recent tax return).

•If the resources come from abroad, the student must demonstrate that a bank account has been opened into which the necessary funds will be deposited and produce a promise of payment, translated into French and bearing the authenticated signature of the individual responsible for making the payments, or a statement of payment of funds from the authorities of the student's country of origin.

- Proof of insurance coverage
Proof of insurance must be provided by students over 28 who are nationals of a country that does not have a reciprocity agreement with France or who are enrolled in an institution that is not recognized by the French government to participate in the student health insurance plan.

- Parental authorization
Minors (individuals under 18 years of age) must furnish proof of consent by the person or persons having parental authority.

- Required vaccinations
In some cases, the consulate may require proof of vaccination (e.g., against yellow fever, cholera…) before a visa will be issued.


International students of all nationalities residing in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student residency permit (which is distinct from a visa), within two months of their arrival in France

Complying with legal requirements once in France

As soon as you arrive in France, you'll want to take two important steps to comply with French immigration regulations. The sooner you get these formalities out of the way, the smoother and more pleasant your stay will be.

1 - Report to your new university or school and register for classes.

2 - Apply for a student residency permit (if you will be staying for longer than 3 months.
Pay close attention to the documents that you will have to present. Originals are often required. All students must report and register each year. The procedure is the same in all universities. In nonuniversity institutions of higher education it differs from institution to institution.

Your Residency Permit

The second thing you'll have to do once you arrive is apply for your residency permit. All international students must obtain such a permit, even those who are entitled to reside in France without a visa.
International students who intend to study in France for more than 3 months must visit the préfecture (or government center) for their area to obtain a temporary residency permit showing their student status. The temporary residency permit is valid until the expiration date of the applicant's passport or until the date of completion of the applicant's academic program, whichever comes first. The permit must be renewed annually.

The E.U. verses Non E.U. Question

First things first, the E.U. question. Yes, it's true, you must hold an E.U. passport to qualifiy for any job position in the territory. Unlike its neighbors, Spain & Italy, the French mostly follow this rule.

However, it is still possible work in France if you are non E.U. if have can obtain the "Carte Sejour". As a non E.U. person, the easiest option is to enroll in a French language school in France. Once enrolled, the language school will issue you an "attestation" stating that you have committed to lessons with them and you can use it to get a student visa. The student visa allows you to work 15 hours a week. At the end of your visa, for however long it is, if you have a job at that moment you can renew your visa as a carte sejour. With this you can legally work full-time. This is probably the easiest route no matter what your age.

If you have mastered the French language and/or have absolutely no interest in long term lessons of any kind, the other option is to become a "Profession Liberale". It means a free-lance professional. While you can do this in any domain, "English Teacher" is probably the easiest to break into as you are a native English speaker, so it will tempt potential clients to choose you over a French person. To do this you apply for a long term visa, similar to the student visa process but longer, stating that you will support yourself as a Profession Liberale. Once in France you can register yourself with URSSAF the government entity that oversees profession liberales. The registration is actually the easiest part of this entire process. Then you are free to start looking for work. BUT, looking for work means looking directly for clients. You're not going to be able to work for a language school unless it's a short term contract deal. You are working for yourself so it would demand a high level of French. So again, if you're not there yet on the French, opt for the student visa choice:)

All in all, the E.U. issue does'nt have to be an obstacle to living and working in France. However, it does mean that more work and money will be required just to set up. Also know that there is no way to avoid the visa paperwork in your home country before coming to France and without a doubt, it will continue when you arrive.

How to Teach English in France

Where to start...

Finding an ESL teaching position in France is not the same as in many other countries. It requires more rigor during the job search and some significant money for the start-up. Despite France's high unemployment rate, it is however possible to secure a job but it will take a longer to find.

France is not the country to live and work in if you want to spontaneously show up and immediately earn cash. You need a game plan. The first component is where in France, do you want to based? If you want an ESL job, it means you must chose a city where there is a demand for English. Unfortunately, the small romantic village in the middle of the country, where most of us would love to live, has a population with an average age of 60. That means low demand for work, let alone English. You want to be based or live near a large city. Paris is ideal and offers by far the most options for jobs. However, many people don't want to live in a city so large. If you are one of these people, here is the criteria for a workable city(not village)almost anywhere in the world.

1. It has a university- University towns equate with young adults who might need English for their studies, for a semester abroad or just because they enjoy speaking with foreigners.

2. It has an economic center that depends on the international community- Cities with office parks for technology or transportation, for example, are good because it insures a base of young professionals who need English for their job.

3. It is a dynamic city- Cities that are/and promote a cosmopolitan attitude are best because ultimately our potential clients are people who are interested in foreigners or foreign things. Cities or towns where there are already a lot of foreigners and where there is constant change for improvement are ideal.

Next, arm yourself with the appropriate qualifications. As a general rule, ESL employers look for a college degree of any discipline and a TEFL/TESOL certificate. Yes while there are exceptions, lacking one or both of these items makes your task woefully more difficult. For those of you who already have qualifications for teaching in main stream education in your home country, French employers typically disregard them unless said qualifications were obtained in France. (I didn't make the rules...don't shoot the messenger)

With credentials obtained, you would next incorporate them in a C.V. written in French. In most other countries in the world, that I know of, where English is in demand, this is not neccessary... a C.V. in English would be suitable. At any rate, I suggest you have a C.V. and cover letter professionally translated if you are not fluent in French.

Lastly, get the English language school addresses for your target town and send them out. Hiring times are early September, late March/early April. Forget looking for a job in the summer, its vacation time in France.

Ironically, even though a C.V. should be written in French, it is most likely possible that the interview can or will be conducted in English. So you don't need to be a fluent French speaker to get or hold an ESL job.