68 • THE QUERCY LOCAL
French administrative procedures have you down? A few tips to save time and enjoy your life in France Navigating France’s administrative procedures is no easy task. Even for French natives it can be difficult to know what to do and when. It’s only natural that the checklist is often overwhelming to Anglophones. By Claire Pinatel
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eemingly small tasks like cancelling your cell phone plan, your home Internet, and renting or selling your residence are not always straightforward. When I founded Expateo Claire Pinatel in 2015, I was a French expat living in Turkey. With an American grandmother and three expat experiences of my own – I’ve also lived in the United States and The Republic of Congo – you could say that expatriation is in my blood. My own experiences have motivated me to help others. I’ve learned a few simple tips that can help you smoothly complete administrative procedures. After all, part of the joy of living in France is having the time for la belle vie.
Plan Ahead Organization is everything! Planning in advance will save time and sanity. As an expat, often the most mundane task can be overwhelming. You may not be able to change French bureaucracy, but you can prepare for it.
Immigration Paperwork For Mary Trease, an American expat living in France, staying ahead of paperwork has made all the difference. “Keeping a folder with everything I need to renew my visa has saved so much time,” Trease explains. “When you first come to France, you’ve just completed the visa process. Saving extra copies of everything is easy when you are still in ‘visa mode.’” I recommend that all expats with visas or residence permits – even long-term – keep a folder with all of the basic information needed for visa renewal. Depending on your statute in France, this includes a passport, three identity photos, a certified French translation of your birth certificate, a copy of your previous residence permit and OFII stamp, justification of residence, proof of sufficient resources and justification of health care coverage.
Set a calendar reminder to set your renewal appointment with the proper authority four to five months ahead of when your visa will expire.
Health France uses the lovely little carte vitale to track all of your health records. Outside of France, doctors in other countries may not be able to access the information encrypted on your carte vitale. Whether you spend significant time outside of France, plan to eventually move internationally, or simply vacation abroad, you’ll want this information to be easy to find. Keeping personal health records is a simple, common sense solution.
Service Contracts & Utilities During a recent move, I spent hours on the phone trying to get electricity service in my new house. A small mistake on the provider’s end turned into a major headache. France’s major utility providers are beginning to offer their websites in English, which is immensely helpful for understanding day-to-day operations. Before you cancel a service, log into your online portal and download all of your past invoices. You’ll also want to save any cancellation notices by SMS, email or mail. Again, keep a folder with all of your service and utility contracts, including contact information. When it comes time to move, change services or cancel, you’ll have all of the information you need at your fingertips. I wanted Expateo to develop technology to make this process easier. We have developed a web application, Free & Go, to allow clients moving from France to cancel all contracts online with just a few clicks.
Taxes & Finances If you do not already have a tax professional, make sure to study the issue well yourself. Specifically, note whether your home country has a treaty with France for tax purposes or not. In some countries, like the United States, you can even claim certain exemptions as a foreign resident!
The Quercy Local • March - April 2017 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in The Quercy Local