Moving to France on a Long Stay Tourist Visa Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 192 Full Show Notes at https://joinusinfrance.com/192
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In this episode Claire and Annie chat about how Claire and her husband moved to France on a long stay tourist visa. Because Claire was born in France and moved to the US at age 4, she thought she could to move to France as a French citizen and apply for a visa for her husband. But the French Consulate in Chicago told her she wasn't really French (we never elucidate why!) and she applied to move to France on a long term tourist visa instead.
Moving to France on a long stay tourist visa worked perfectly and on today's show we go through all the steps she had to go through. Things went smoothly, and like we found on Episode 131, Moving to France on a Talents and Abilities Visa, things go smoothly if you are prepared with all the necessary paperwork!
Some of the questions we address are where do you start? How do you get an address in France? How do you get a bank account in France? What about moving your dog or pets to France? How fast can you get access to French healthcare? Do you have regrets since moving to France?
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Timestamps for this Episode
[2:21] Claire was born in France, but the French Consulate didn’t consider her to be a French citizen when she applied for her national identity card. The rules are explained here, in French. We’re not lawyers or relocation specialists, please don’t ask us about your particular case.
List of Papers Needed to Move to France on a Long Term Tourist Visa [05:32] How to get your Consular appointment and list of paperwork they will require for a long term tourist visa.
[06:46] Health insurance requirement and how to easily fulfill that.
[07:31] Proof of residence requirement is harder to get and how to do it the easy way: rent a Gîte. If you speak French, another great tip is to use Le Bon Coin, there are lots of rentals by owner listed there.
[12:39] Proof of sufficient means to support yourself for the time you’re going to be there. Details of what that means exactly.
[15:30] Signed statement that indicates what you intend to do while in France and another one that states that you will not work in France.
[16:10] Application Fee. They do not accept credit cards even though their site says they do! This whole thing happened in one day because they had all the paperwork ready. They left their passports behind and got their visas a couple of weeks later in the mail.
[17:18] Filling with the OFII when you get to France. Medical exam and sticker.
[19:14] They will give you an appointment at the Préfecture that you cannot change. Providing the paperwork all over again for the yearly renewal and getting an actual card.
[21:53] In France, never take no for an answer. Plead your case! Restate your reasons. Don’t give up too fast!
Qualifying for the French Health Card [23:42] Dealing with French health care and getting a carte vitale.
[25:08] Reasons why French health care is so wonderful.
Opening a Bank Account in France [26:58] Opening a bank account in France.
[27:18] Start with getting an address and proper proof that you have an address (i.e. a lease or deed of ownership).
[28:00] You can't walk into a bank and open an account in France. They will want you to make an appointment and come back 2 weeks later.
[28:43] Some French banks will not open accounts with A