Can someone clarify some things for me about France and Europe.

[panzerkiller]

Originally Posted by Tye

I told my parents about how I wanted to move to Paris, but that I would finnish my college education here. They said that was great and if that was what I wanted to do then I should go for it. Well, my mom went to work and mentioned it to her office computer tech, and he started telling her that I wouldn't be happy in France, because the French despise Americans, and that the sanitaion is very low in Paris, and that it is a very unhealthy place.

Now, I know some Americans are prejudiced against the French, and that the media blows a lot of stuff out of proportion, but how is the sanitation in Paris?

Also, how much do the French actually despise Americans? I find it hard to believe that every French person hates Americans. I am not going to move to France without knowing their language, because I don't like it when people move to America without being able to speak some English. I will also be studying how the French culture and government works before I move. As long as I try my best to fit in and be respectful should I worry about being hated by the French. I love the French and their country and I don't want to be hated by them.

if you think people in paris despise each other,come to downtown jackson,I don't even go there because everyone lives in run down shacks there with garbage all over the place,and also,if you go down there there's a good chance you'll get shot

I think we have the highest crime rate in the nation per capita too.so if you move to paris and don't like it,come here and see how long it takes to be robbed

[Edcognito]

My experiences with France and French people were mainly back in the '80's, so i don't know specifics now, but i met people very easily who were nice and decent to me, because that is how i treated them . . . Also, my French Language classes were MUCH more recent than they are now! :O

Learning the language and just being nice, you will get far.

As for "cleanliness" - I've yet to find a "major" city that was REALLY clean. Having said that, Paris (and Marseille, Nice and Toulon) were not noticeably different than most American cities i've seen.....

Depends (I think) on what you want to see. Some are ready to see the worst, some the best. Depends on your attitude quite a bit!

Go to France, take an open mind, and I believe that your as likely to enjoy it as not.....


Ed

[garçoncanadien]

Quote from French Embassy to the UK

Entry and Residence of non EU Nationals

Non EU Nationals are not allowed to take up employment in France, even temporary, paid or unpaid, unless they have obtained an "Autorisation de Travail" (work permit) before arriving in France. The prospective employer should apply for this permit to the:
Office des Migrations Internationales
14, rue Brague 75015 Paris
Tel: 0033 1 53 69 53 70

France Diplomatie Government Website - this quote says what the OMI does

Office des Migrations Internationales
Créé en 1945, L’Office des Migrations Internationales (OMI) est un établissement public à caractère administratif relevant du ministre chargé du travail.

L’article L 341-9 du code du travail définit les compétences del’OMI comme suit :

" Sous réserve des accords internationaux, les opérations de recrutement en France et l’introduction en métropole de travailleurs originaires des territoires d’outre-mer et des étrangers, de recrutement en France des travailleurs de toutes nationalités pour l’étranger sont conférées à titre exclusif à l’Office des migrations internationales.

Il est interdit à tout individu ou groupement autres que cet Office de se livrer à ces opérations.

En outre, l’Office des migrations internationales a mission de participer aux actions administratives, sanitaires et sociales relatives :

a) au contrôle, à l’accueil, au séjour d’une durée inférieure ou égale à trois mois ou à l’établissement des étrangers en France ainsi qu’à leur rapatriement ou à leur insertion dans le pays d’origine ;

b) à l’emploi des Français à l’étranger ;

c) à la réinsertion en France des Français ayant résidé à l’étranger. "

Il est donc chargé de mettre en oeuvre la politique des pouvoirs publics concernant l’entrée et le travail des étrangers en France et de favoriser l’emploi à l’étranger et la mobilité internationale des Français.

Office des Migrations Internationales 44 rue Bargue 75732 Paris cedex 15 Tél. : 01-53-69-53-70

[garçoncanadien]

im doing some research for you

http://www.social.gouv.fr/article.php3?id_article=784
L'autorisation de travail

Pour travailler en France, les étrangers doivent posséder un titre de séjour et une autorisation de travail. L’autorisation de travail peut figurer sur le titre de séjour, ou prendre la forme d’un document distinct.

Le titre de séjour et/ou de travail remis à un étranger
Le titre de séjour et/ou de travail remis à un étranger, quelle que soit sa nationalité, s’appelle carte de séjour temporaire, avec la mention « vie privé et familiale », « salarié », « visiteur », etc qui est valable un an, ou carte de résident qui est valable dix ans.
Par dérogation à ces appellations, le titre de séjour et/ou de travail remis à un ressortissant algérien s’appelle certificat de résidence, valable un an ou dix ans. Le certificat de résidence d’un an porte les mêmes mentions que la carte de séjour temporaire remis aux étrangers relevant du régime général.
Lorsqu’un étranger justifie d’un séjour régulier en France (il est titulaire d’un passeport ou titre de séjour en cours de validité), il doit, avant de travailler, demander une autorisation de travail, en produisant notamment un contrat de travail.

Cette autorisation de travail ne lui sera délivrée que si plusieurs conditions sont réunies, et principalement les suivantes :

il doit être titulaire d’un titre de séjour en cours de validité,
la situation de l’emploi doit être favorable dans le secteur professionnel concerné (le nombre de chômeurs ne doit pas être supérieur, dans le secteur professionnel qui concerne l’emploi demandé, au nombre d’offres d’emploi),
le salaire doit être conforme à ce que prévoient les conventions collectives et doit au moins atteindre le SMIC,
l’employeur doit respecter la réglementation du travail (hygiène, sécurité, durée du travail, paiement des cotisations sociales...).

IMPORTANT
1) Si l’étranger est titulaire d’une carte de résident ou d’une carte de séjour temporaire portant la mention « vie privée et familiale » en cours de validité, son titre de séjour lui permet d’ores et déjà d’exercer l’activité professionnelle de son choix en France. Il n’a donc pas besoin d’une autorisation de travail.
2) Une autorisation de travail délivrée dans un département d’outre mer n’est pas valable en métropole, et réciproquement.
Lorsqu’il réside à l’étranger, c’est son employeur en France qui doit demander son introduction en France, en produisant notamment un contrat de travail. La délivrance de l’autorisation de travail est subordonnée aux mêmes conditions que pour les étrangers résidant déjà en France.

L’instruction de ces demandes d’autorisation de travail est faite par les services de main d’oeuvre étrangère des directions départementales du travail, de l’emploi et de la formation professionnelle (DDTEFP).


Certains étrangers bénéficient d'un libre accès au travail en France en raison de leur nationalité.
Ils ne sont donc pas soumis à autorisation de travail préalable pour exercer une activité salariée. Ce sont les ressortissants des pays suivants :

les pays qui suivent de l’Espace économique européen : Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, Chypre, Danemark, Espagne, Finlande, Grèce, Irlande, Islande, Italie, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malte, Norvège, Pays-Bas, Portugal, Royaume-Uni, Suède.
Attention : les ressortissants de l’Estonie, de la Hongrie, de la Lettonie, de la Lituanie, de la Pologne, de la République Tchèque, de la Slovaquie et de la Slovénie restent soumis à autorisation de travail pendant une période transitoire.
Voir les modalités d’accès au marché du travail des ressortissants de ces pays
Suisse, Monaco, Andorre, et San Marin.

[garçoncanadien]

and finally, i think this is the last one you need for now:

http://www.social.gouv.fr/article.ph...reintroduction

this gives a detailed list, of the things your employer needs to give (and information that they need from you)

its tough but doable

[OGRE]

Originally Posted by Tye

Thanks for the link, B_M_E. And garçoncanadien and OGRE, thanks for your responses.

It amazes me how some Americans have this general idea of the French and seem to be prejudiced against them and their country for no reason other than it is the popular thing to do.

Again, this cuts both ways. The French media and much of its political structure have equal (or perhaps even more) unfounded vitriol toward America.

I don't want this to turn into a political debate, but keep in mind the French Socialist party was the runner up in the latest elections. Socialists are extremely adept at vilifying Capitalists. This vilification is deeply rooted in ideology. As the premier Capitalist country in the world, America is the main target. Hence, the French population is bombarded with a lot of negative stuff about America...on a daily basis. On the plus side, the majority of voting French chose a more conservative route during the recent elections, so (like in America) spreading ideology through media is not as successful as the content might imply. In other words, the Frence are smart and intelligence and most can figure out when they're being handed a bunch of crap in the press. But, like in America, the media still holds sway over many (usually those with less education without being adept in introspection) and can turn those into masses of hate.

Bottom Line: Don't believe what you read in the press about the other country. Do your own research. Look for yourself. Do your part to break down the pre-conceived barriers of those you meet, and I'm sure they will be happy to break down any pre-conceived barriers you've experienced here.

In fact, I have a reading recommendation. It's called "Anti-Americanism", by Jean-François Revel. Written by a Frenchman about his experiences in why other countries, particularly France (or, more precisely certain political elements in France), like to make America look bad.

Edit: Also we Americans tend to have short memories (after all, compared to Europe our Nation is still very young). However, Europe has long memories. Lots of Americans were pissed at France for going to such extremes to stop our invasion of Iraq (please, I'm not making this point to start a debate on Iraq). I wonder how many Americans realize the extremes the U.S. took to prevent France (and Britain) from toppling a dictator in 1956 (Commonly known as the Suez crisis....google it and find out)? How soon we forget. Or more precisely, is it even taught in our history books? The French remember. If you do google it, make sure you read several account and check sources.

[Tye]

Thank you garçoncanadien for doing all this research for me! If I become a citizen of France would it be easier for me to get a job? I don't mind changing my citizenship, because I was going to do it eventually anyway.

Or if I have a job at a company like Hewett Packard who has a branch in Paris, and the company moves me to that branch in Paris do I still have to have all the work permit since the company will be moving?

[fsquared]

Originally Posted by Tye

Thank you garçoncanadien for doing all this research for me! If I become a citizen of France would it be easier for me to get a job? I don't mind changing my citizenship, because I was going to do it eventually anyway.

Or if I have a job at a company like Hewett Packard who has a branch in Paris, and the company moves me to that branch in Paris do I still have to have all the work permit since the company will be moving?

Here's a link to some info on that. But you to be there 5 years first, etc. etc. so you'd have to get your job and visa and all that first. (And/or marry a French citizen for 4 years.)
http://www.americansinfrance.net/For...fm?Number=1283

Any particular reason why you want to change your citizenship? It seems like a big change.

[Tye]

Originally Posted by fsquared

Here's a link to some info on that. But you to be there 5 years first, etc. etc. so you'd have to get your job and visa and all that first. (And/or marry a French citizen for 4 years.)
http://www.americansinfrance.net/For...fm?Number=1283

Any particular reason why you want to change your citizenship? It seems like a big change.

Mostly convenience, and I have a family friend who lives out of the states and it was costing him more in taxes to remain a citizen of the United States instead of just becoming a citizen of the country he was living in at the time. I don't know if this is the case for all, but if it ends up costing me more to keep my American citizenship then I will become a citizen of France.

[garçoncanadien]

http://www.southern-cross-group.org/...ip/france.html

If You are Not Married to a French National

This form of acquiring French citizenship is termed acquisition par naturalisation. You can apply for French citizenship by naturalization if:

You are at least 18 years of age; and

You can prove that you have been legally resident in France for the five years preceding your application; or

For two years, if you have successfully completed two years of tertiary studies in a French higher education institution (university or Grande Ecole), or if you can provide an important service to France through your talents.

official site: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/les...ise_14144.html