Pursuing the American Dream in France: David & Marie

Dave and Marie had always wanted to move to France, but managing the intricate steps of securing a visa, finding a property, and creating a business in France seemed fraught with impossible obstacles. It was at this crucial moment that they were recommended to LBS.

We started by laying the foundation of their move during a Residency & Relocation planning meeting. My aim during this important consultation is to ensure my clients get clarity on the different steps and timelines to their project. I, therefore, touched on all the different actions that needed to be taken for their smooth transition: getting their visas, finding their home, accessing French healthcare, exchanging their US driving licences for French ones, the French tax system, the business structure for Dave’s activity and finishing with their visa renewals. This led very quickly to us working with Dave and Marie on their whole project via a Serenity Prestige bespoke relocation package.

We decided that Dave would need an independent ‘liberale’ visa so that he could create a consultancy activity and continue invoicing his worldwide clients in America and in Europe. For his wife Marie, a visitors’ visa was the way to go with their social security payments. We worked hand in hand with Dave on building his business and financial plan, creating a coherent project that the visa centre would understand. We consolidated both files showing that neither Dave nor Marie would not be a burden to the French system and would be an asset to France.

David and Marie said: “First, when one is applying to get a Visa for France the paperwork is complex and having any of the forms filled out incorrectly or missing a form will introduce a considerable amount of delay. Our package for two people was nearly 100 pages of paperwork and I cannot imagine assembling all of the disparate documents, some of which need to be submitted in French, without their assistance. Further, online sources and particularly the French Government guides are exceptionally vague on some questions and working with a team with years of experience was a great help.”

Visas require a French address, and securing a rental is notoriously tricky—especially in a competitive market. We partnered with local agents to find a suitable apartment close to local amenities, and negotiated a successful rental agreement. Alongside this, we helped with critical tasks like arranging insurance, setting up a bank account, and securing a rental car for their arrival.

David and Marie: “Once you arrive in France, you will face a series of challenges. For instance, one cannot rent an apartment without a utility bill and, of course, one cannot get a utility bill without having an apartment. We were able to rent an apartment, on short notice, thanks to LBS. Local French people were amazed that we were able to achieve this feat as it can be difficult for even French people to rent apartments. Bank accounts are also often quite difficult to open and many foreigners with whom we have spoken found it quite difficult. LBS arranged a meeting with a local branch of a national French bank and everything went smoothly.”

So we successfully got David and Marie into France, visas in hand, and their rental accommodation lined up. But there was no time for a breather! The next steps were to validate their visas, which triggers the immigration process, line up their OFFI meetings, and, of course, start the buying process to find their forever home. We also had a business to create for David! A small micro enterprise was set up, so that he could start invoicing rapidly. So, whilst David and Marie were very busy settling in and meeting the locals, we were moving forward with the search and making their business project a reality. After all, without a business, they wouldn’t be able to renew their visas!

David and Marie: “We also relied on LBS to help us with buying a house as we were unfamiliar with French real estate laws and customs. Again, without their assistance and guidance, the process would have been much more stressful and, likely, unsuccessful. Considering the costs of making a mistake in France’s complex real estate system, it gave us great peace of mind to have them helping us.”

The journey for David and Marie didn’t stop there. We continued with the healthcare affiliation, driving licences, and, of course, their business creation & management. I’m happy to say that Dave now has a 4-year business residency card.

The journey to making France their home was not without its challenges; navigating a new country brings its share of hurdles. But what truly makes a difference is having the right team to support you—and being ready to adapt along the way.

So, can the American Dream be found in France?

For David and Marie, the answer is a resounding yes.
And if you’re ready to make your dream life in France a reality, LBS is here to help.

www.lbsinfrance.com

relocation@lbsinfrance.com

You can read the full case study of David and Marie here.