Bureaucracy Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Américaine in France

How to Exchange Your American Driver’s License in France

French driver's license, permis de conduire

As an American coming to France, whether you are moving here or just visiting, you can drive using your US driver’s license for a limited period of time. In the case of a long stay or establishing residence in France, it is important to note that your American license will typically only be valid for the first year of your residence. Read on to find out how long your US license is valid for in France and how to exchange it for a French driving permit (permis de conduire).

How to Pick Up Your Carte de Séjour at the Paris Préfecture

After submitting all your paperwork and applying for your residence permit, you are now ready to pick up your carte de séjour at the Paris préfecture. Hold up—I know you are eager to celebrate (and boy, do you deserve it), but we have a few more steps to follow. Here’s your guide to picking up your residence permit from the préfecture in Paris.

Apartment Hunting in Paris: A Complete Guide

Like in any big city, finding an apartment to rent in Paris can be challenging. I’ve created this guide to help you get ready for the apartment hunt. By the end of this blog post, you should have a better idea of how to find an apartment in Paris and what paperwork you’ll need to put together for the application.

How to Renew Your Visa or Carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale”

récépissé (paper receipt) for a French carte de séjour (residence permit)

As the spouse of a French citizen, I recently renewed my carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale” (CdS VPF). This residence permit allows me to continue living and working in France and has a duration of two years.

How to Get Your Numéro Fiscal as the Spouse of a French Citizen

calculator and pen on top of a small notebook

A numéro fiscal is your unique number to use when filing taxes in France. There are a couple of different ways you can get a tax identification number (TIN). I acquired one quite easily as the spouse of a French citizen, so this blog post will detail how I accomplished that.

OFII Integration Contract & Civics Classes

Depending on your visa category, you’ll have different requirements with l’Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII). When I switched to the carte de séjour vie privée et familiale (CdS VPF) after marrying my French husband, I had to fulfill more requirements with OFII. Namely, I had to pass a French language test, sign an integration contract (CIR), and attend four civics classes.

How to Fill Out a “Feuille de soins”

Feuille de soins top portion to fill out

A “feuille de soins” is a reimbursement form for medical expenses. Most of the time, the “feuille de soins” is submitted electronically on your behalf via your carte vitale. However, in some cases, you will pay medical fees upfront at your appointment and in order to get a reimbursement, you will need to manually submit a request.

French Visa Terminology

Visa, titre de séjour, carte de séjour… What’s the difference? I often hear these terms being used interchangeably, but they’re actually different! Here’s a little guide to visas and residence permits for France.

How I Got the Carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale” Through Marriage

I arrived in France on a long-stay visitor visa, got married to a Frenchman, and applied for the carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale” (VPF) in Paris. This residence permit provides stability, allowing me to stay in France and work.

How to Apply for Health Insurance in France as an Expat

Those who have been following my story for a while know how tricky French bureaucracy is. Getting access to the national healthcare system is a BIG win in my book. I have a permanent numéro de sécurité sociale as well as the highly sought after green carte vitale. I’ve included all the steps for how I did it in this post.