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I'm a 33 year old female. I've only been to paris once but didn't want to leave. I've been thinking for a while about moving there.
So how do I get a VISA?
Is it easy to find a job there?
What are the salaries in comparison to US? Expenses?
Thank you.

In general, salaries are lower than they are in the U.S. and as you have probably realized already, prices are higher than the U.S. in many categories such as fuel, clothing, and taxes.
On the other hand, if you are working for an American company and getting paid in US$, it might work out for you.

Rent is getting ridiculous!!! Most places expect up to three months rent in advance as a deposit ... appartements are small, it's quite normal to find couples living in 320ft square. And paying your utility bills is no more fun in Paris than anywhere else in teh world but ... I love the place and can't see me leaving for a long while yet.

Heh, living somewhere and visiting are two totally different experiences. Life becomes life again, really fast...

All of the above are true. Paris is expensive. Going as a student may be your best option. Accomodations are small. Will it be easy? No!
Many things in life are difficult but we do them anyways.
Is it different visiting a place than living there? Yes.
If you want it enough you will find a way to do it.

I have thought of moving to Paris myself. However, it's not easy as I have a family. Next up I don't even speak fluent French. And I understand that you need to get a job first or have one lined up. If not then you'll need alot of funds to live off from. And it's not easy to get an apartment as well. But you are single and young and if you've got determination anything is possible.

As a UK citizen, I could move to Paris any time I want! But the problem is, you could only afford an out-of-town appartment. To be honest, if you go too far outside of Paris, the outskirts aren't all that nice. If you can afford an inner city apartment, find some work in Paris and apply for a temporary works visa.

wow im getting more and more excited everytime i check this! Okay so this is my plan so far. The hardest part is going to be saving up money so i wont need to struggle with finding a job.
If i only go for 3 months (which sounds like the easyest way) I am thinking i'll need to save up at least $10,000 (please let me know if you think ill need more or less) I've heard that you can rent apartments in paris for vacations, do you think it would be possible to rent one for 3 months? this way i wont have to worry about furnishing it. (does anyone know of any websites for a place like that?) I'm hoping that i can find one for about $1,000 a month. that will leave me with $7000 for everything else. does anyone know if utilities are included in vacation apartments? what else will i need to spend money on besides food? (I dont eat very much so im not planning on spending that much on food) alot of people keep saying to go as a student. I dont want to go for school i want to be able to just take in all that paris has to offer without worrying about homework or tests. however i would love to take a french class. i was thinking about taking one before i go, but it might be easier to learn while im there. will taking one class make me a student? able to get all the cool student discounts? Well thank you all again for all the info. And for all of you who are telling me to go for it while im young and still can, as long as i can save up the money I'M SO GOING!!!!!!

I think Americans don't need a visa for staying in Paris, you need a resident visa, that's totally another thing

if you are going to stay in France for more than 3 months then you are going to need a VISA, it’s compulsory.

Who requires a visa?
Several factors determine whether a visa is required:

- the nationality of the foreign national;
- the holding of a residence document in France or another country adhering to the Schengen Agreement;
- the length of stay;
- and which part of the territory of the French Republic the foreign national is to visit.

As far as visas are concerned, legislation divides the territory of the French Republic into the following three sections, where different regulations apply:

- the European territory of France, which is part of the Schengen area;
- the territory of Overseas Departments (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana);
- Overseas territorial communities: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Territories.

1. The European territory of France
The European territory of France is part of the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes the territory of the following European Union countries and associated countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

1.1. Short stays (under 90 days in the Schengen area)
A short stay is a stay in the Schengen area under 90 days or multiple stays totalling less than 90 days in a period of six months.

For short stays, European regulations determine the list of countries from which citizens are not required to have a visa to enter the Schengen area.

A visa is waived for:
- citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Special Administrative Region of Macao of the People’s Republic of China;
- holders of a valid residence document in France;
- holders of a residence document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement;
- holders of a travel document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement.

1.2. Long stays (over 90 days in France)
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

2. Overseas Departments (DOM)
- Réunion
- French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique (the three French Departments of the Americas)

2.1. Short stays
A short stay is a stay under 90 days in an Overseas Department.
A visa is waived for:
- citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
- holders of a valid residence document in France.

2.1. Long stays
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

3. Other territories of the French Republic located overseas
They include:
- French Polynesia
- New Caledonia
- Wallis and Futuna
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Mayotte
- French Southern and Antarctic Territories

3.1. Short stays
A short stay is a stay under 90 days.
A visa is waived for the citizens of the following countries:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivie, Brunei, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay.

3.2. Long stays
Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.


What documents will be required?
To apply for a Schengen short-stay visa, you are required to present one visa application per person, including the following items:
- A passport which is valid for at least 3 months after the date of the requested visa;
- [A visa application form] duly completed and signed;
- A maximum of 3 photographs meeting requirements;
- Application fees. Visa application forms for a child under 18 years of age must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

If any of the items you provide do not fulfil our criteria, consular personnel will not accept your application and will ask you to present items which do. If you insist on submitting your application anyway, your application will be recorded but a visa will not be issued and the other items in the application will not be studied.

Proof
- Proof of the purpose of your stay in the Schengen area;
- Proof of your means of support during your stay and accommodation;
- Proof of travel and repatriation insurance;
- Guarantees of repatriation to your country of residence (return ticket or adequate personal means to purchase one);
- For children under 18 years of age, specific proof;
- Any documents helping to convince the consular authority of your intention to leave the Schengen area when your visa expires.

Certain diplomatic and consular authorities that issue visas on ordinary passports may include more detailed information taking local specificities into account. These items providing proof that are are required are to be presented to the consular authority.

The consular authority will accept your application as provided by you and will make his decision on the basis of the guarantees and proof attached to your application. If you have failed to attach the proof included in the list, the consular authority will assume that you are unable to do so unless you effectively explain why such proof was omitted in a separate letter attached to the application.

Additional documents
The consular authority may ask you to provide additional documents within a set period in order to study your application more effectively. You do not need to submit a new application nor pay additional application fees if that is the case.

Proof that a visa application has been submitted
When you submit your visa application, the consular authority will give you a receipt for the exact amount of application fees you paid. This receipt is acknowledgement of receipt of your application.


Time required to issue visa:
After a visa application is submitted, the consular authority processes it and decides on whether to issue a visa.

The consular authority makes his decision as swiftly as possible, the time period will vary depending on possible consultations he must conduct. There is no point in contacting the consular authority while the application is being processed.

If the consular authority has not responded to you within two months, you may consider that your visa application has been refused.

What is the cost of a visa?
The table below sets forth the application fees in euros for the main visa categories.

Visa categories Application fees (in euros)
Airport transit visas and short-stay visas (under 90 days) valid for France and, unless otherwise indicated on the visa, for the Schengen area
€60
Airport transit visas and short-stay visas (under 90 days) valid for Overseas Departments and Regions (DOM-ROM): Guadeloupe, (including Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin); Martinique; French Guiana; Réunion. €60
Airport tranist visas or short-stay visas (under 90 days) for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte and French Southern and Anatartic Territories €9
Long-stay visas (over 90 days) valid for France (without a territorial distinction) €99
National long-stay visa (over 90 days) issued to foreign nationals adopted by French citizens in the legal and definitive form required in their countries of origin, valid for Metropolitan France, Overseas Departments and Overseas Communities €15

How long is the visa valid for?
Short stay visas: Up to 90 days
Temporary long-stay visas: Up to 6 months
Long stay visas: The residency permit obtained actually determines the length of the stay

Other information:
American citizens intending to study in France have to apply for a visa before leaving the United States, whatever the duration of their studies in France. The visa cannot be issued once the applicant is in France.

NOTE: Students who will be 18 years old within 3 months of the dates of registration in a French school, must apply for a Long Stay Student visa.

The visa issued will depend on the duration of the studies in France :
- Less than 90 days: you have to apply for a short term Schengen visa (type C) by filling out a short stay application form.
- Between 90 days and six months: you have to apply for a temporary long term visa by filling out 2 long stay application forms.
With such a visa, you will not have to go to the prefecture to ask for a residency card (carte de séjour) in France.

- More than six months : you have to apply for a long stay visa by filling out 2 long stay application forms.
With such a visa, you will have to apply, as soon as you arrive in France, for a residency card with the French prefecture which has jurisdiction for the place where you are studying.

source: http://www.learn4good.com/

We'll be glad to know what decision did you make.

The main problem in obtaining visa is the proof of your purpose.You should have a trustworthy traveling history. Paris has strict conditions in this matter.

If you're going to isit Paris using a travel company, then they will take care about all this mess

Hey sarinka! This reply would be 4 years too late, but i hope the process of going to Paris was easy for you. Well anyway, for anyone who needs help with visa, permits, or even passports, i found a site which lists in details the requirements you would need for acquiring these. Here is the site: http://www.easyexpat.com/en/paris/depar ... t-visa.htm hope it helps!

thank you love it so much..

this is a really informative post. I live in Australia (currently in USA) and I fell in love with NYC i want to move to NYC but these questions come up in mind with me too!!

i'm an American currently living in Ukraine with my wife, and 3 kids. i just published my first book, and want to move to France. i was in Paris last year for a few days, and it is the best city i've ever been to. since i plan on writing more books for a living, i want to find a farm or vineyard to manage, with housing included.my son has American passport, but my wife and stepchildren have Ukrainian passports.I know it may take awhile but it will be worth it. going to the States is not an option, because they require me to show proof of $35000. a year income. anyone who can help will be greatly appreciated. jeff

flower_curator wrote:In general, salaries are lower than they are in the U.S. and as you have probably realized already, prices are higher than the U.S. in many categories such as fuel, clothing, and taxes.
On the other hand, if you are working for an American company and getting paid in US$, it might work out for you.

hi rexresort is the most fabulous resort in Europe.