The Blue Book

I had to renew my American passport so I went online to the Embassy's website in France and while I was browsing the citizen services page I came across a little thing called the "Blue Book".

Wow!! I've been living in France for over 8 years now and I wasn't aware such a thing existed!! Basically, it's a 200+ page guide book filled with all the basic information any American seeking to travel or move to France should know about.

There's chapters on all sorts of things, from civil services, to taxes, health, education, clubs and even a list of groceries stores that carry American products!!

I wish I'd found out about the Blue Book a long time ago, it would have certainly saved me a lot of time and troubles and answered several questions along the way. So typical that I would come across this type of thing on the eve of our departure to another country!

Anyway, the chapter that caught my attention the most was the one on Employment in France for Americans. Here's an extract of what the Blue Book recommends to those thinking of moving and earning a living here.

Employment in France
Americans hoping to enter the French labor market are cautioned that it is very difficult to find employment. To be able to work in France, Americans, except for those in special categories (see below,) must have arranged employment approved in advance by the French Ministry of Labor and they must have obtained a long stay work visa before entering France. The Embassy will not intervene with French Authorities on behalf of American citizens seeking a visa, visa exemption or work permit.

Americans who disregard the visa requirement and apply in France for a work permit are required to leave the country to obtain the appropriate visa at a French consular office in the U.S. American citizens should not come to France expecting to find a job and to change their status after arrival. Such expectations are unlikely to be fulfilled and personal hardship may result. Most foreigners are not eligible for French Social Security or unemployment benefits. In some cases, individuals may have difficulties with French authorities and may face expulsion from France.

Geez! Reading this makes it look as if it's extremely difficult for a foreigner to live and work in France.

I've heard several horror stories from expats all over about the difficulties they've encountered when it comes to working permits and visa status (no matter the country), but funny enough and regardless of what the Blue Book says, I have to admit that my visa process in France always went very smoothly.... and believe me, I've had them all!

Basically, my story goes something like this:

2002 I came here on a internship to work for the Mexican Embassy > Diplomatic residence card expedited by the French Consulate in Mexico. No problem there.

2003 I came back to France to study a Licence / Maitrise > Student visa transformed to a residency card upon arrival with allowance to work 20 hours per week during the school year or 3 months full time during the summer. No problem there.

2004 The company I was working for 20 hours a week decided to hire me full time once my studies were over so they requested to change my student residence card to a 1 year working permit. This was done at the Prefecture de Police in Paris and No problem there either.

2005 Wedding. Change of my working permit to a renewable 1 year marital residency card, which I renewed 2 times before getting my 10 year residency card. And again, No problem encountered at any time.

I guess I was just really lucky.

In any case, as I'm getting prepared to face the British visa request process soon I can only hope things will go just as smoothly as they did here in France.

I wonder if the American Embassy website in the UK has a Blue Book?

Fned.