antifreeze
5/13/2016 13:07 EST
As I've mentioned previously, my wife and I plan to move to Nice within the next couple of years. We will be visiting the city this fall, to check out neighborhoods and, hopefully, to see some apartments.
In addition, we think we might want to open a bank account while we're there. My questions, then, are:
How do we go about doing it?
Can it be done, even though we still maintain our residence here in the states?
If so, what documents will we need?
Any suggestions regarding the amount of an initial deposit?
And what banks might be better candidates for our money?
I'm sure the answer are just under my nose on the net, but so far I haven't found them.
Thank you for any help you have.
antifreeze
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pleasehelpsarl
5/15/2016 08:16 EST
yes Britline will help but you have to transfer minimum 5000€ and the bank costs are non negligible
contact us at pleasehelp.fr and we will be able to help.
thanks
John
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pleasehelpsarl
5/15/2016 08:16 EST
yes Britline will help but you have to transfer minimum 5000€ and the bank costs are non negligible
contact us at pleasehelp.fr and we will be able to help.
thanks
John
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antifreeze
5/16/2016 22:51 EST
John,
Thank you for the information. But I'm curious about the "non negligible", as in how much they might be?
I've now run across several organizations that say they will run interference for the prospective expat, to help get them settled in France. The offers are very tempting. But it would nice to have references. Perhaps some of the people on this forum could speak up.
Sincerely,
Antifreeze
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pleasehelpsarl
5/17/2016 06:34 EST
Hi Antifreeze,
bank exchange rates are poor so expect to lose a chunk of your money (this is where you lose!)
bank commission on your transfer 50$
bank transfer 50$
at the very least.
as for references I was not sure if you were referring to our or the banks. Each bank is different in France (at least regional - a bit like US states) yes I said a bit :) So it is difficult to quote anything.
our references are everywhere on the net but our facebook ones are https://www.facebook.com/Pleasehelpfr-1435514610024433/reviews
you can’t beat having an experienced relocation company help you but check they are a registered company WITH a registration at the RCS (they have to have both) ours says RCS BORDEAUX (infogreffe: https://www.infogreffe.fr/societes/entreprise-societe/804573905-please-help-330215B049810000.html?typeProduitOnglet=EXTRAIT&afficherretour=true&tab=entrep)
if it says "Non Inscrit au Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés " the chance is they are not up to date with the legal paperwork; especially if they are artisan.
Anyway, we can and do help expats and we are more than willing to help you. It is complicated and not like you see back home.
hope to chat soon
John
pleasehelp.f
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RubyTooz
5/17/2016 08:48 EST
Hi Antifreeze, (would love to hear the story behind this handle!)
Sounds like a wonderful plan! :-)
I wasn't sure from your original post - are you planning to rent an apartment in Nice or purchase one? You would not need a French bank account to purchase property, but I would recommend you rent for a while before purchasing.
If you are planning to rent, then you wouldn't necessarily need a French bank account, but it would certainly make life easier. You could end up in a bit of a catch-22, however, as the bank will want to see a French address before opening the account. Credit Agricole not only has Britline, but they have a special service (Key Finance) for expats moving over so that you can open the account before officially living in France. They don't require much as a minimum deposit, less than 500€.
If you're coming from outside the EU, you will need to show an address in France in order to get a long-stay visa, so once again you have the catch-22. If you can visit and reserve a rental a few months before your intended move, the lease can be used for the visa application and the bank account.
We are not near Nice, but we do help people get the lay of the land, prepare their move, and get settled here in the Languedoc. If you're interested in a little reconnaissance mission here this fall, we'd be happy to assist. Nice is lovely, but Montpellier has 300+ days of sunshine per year, lots of good local wine, and a rich cultural offering at a much lower price! ;-)
In any case, I hope you find the information you're looking for to put your plan in action.
Kind regards,
Dennelle
www.renestance.com
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pleasehelpsarl
5/17/2016 09:05 EST
Hi Antifeeze,
we regularly open bank accounts for expats. I won't of course argue with every internet blogger but no catch 22 here :)
John
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jrobbins
5/17/2016 11:34 EST
It is not clear where you live but if you are near a large city many French banks have offices in the US. A few years ago, before heading for France, without an address, I opened a BNP-Paribas account in the San Francisco office. I did specify the branch in France I wanted the account.
Good luck. They may not be as friendly now that the US fined them millions of dollars.
John
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Catsmeow
5/17/2016 12:02 EST
We are a couple living in Florida. Planning on moving to France in October. Any tips or recommendation would be very much appreciated. Montpellier sounds like a place we would be interested in checking out.
Regards
Dan&Cat
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RubyTooz
5/17/2016 15:38 EST
Hi Dan & Cat,
The first things to consider have to do with the context of your move - for work, family reasons, retirement, etc. and the planned duration of your stay. Moving to France to start a business and live indefinitely is a different project from coming to live and travel for a gap year or 6 month sabbatical. Clearly, the context will determine the administrative steps in the process, especially regarding your entry and stay visa.
You'll also want to take into account other "invariable variables" such as the location of family/friends you want to be near, access to essential facilities, or some other constant that will determine a major aspect of your stay.
Then you can look at the lighter stuff, like what you want to see out your window and other elements of your dream life in France. You'll want to assess your top concerns, as well, and your level of flexibility, patience and humor when dealing with a foreign culture. Identifying your hopes and fears will make it easier to judge whether the reality will meet them.
As I mentioned to Antifreeze, a reconnaissance trip of a few weeks is a good way to test the waters and see where your (first) landing spot should be. If you do one in the Languedoc, we can help you plan different city/village tours, meet-ups and activities with other expats who've been in your shoes, or even French classes or immersion days.
And then, once you have a good idea of what you're going for, it's time to determine where you are in the process and what are the next steps to make sure this move is a success. You have one big advantage already in that Florida driver's licenses are exchangeable for French ones, so you won't have to suffer through French driving lessons! ;-)
We have a developed a questionnaire to help people considering a move to France get clarity on their thinking. I'd be happy to send it to you if you PM me your email address.
Best of luck,
Dennelle
www.renestance.com
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antifreeze
5/17/2016 21:58 EST
John,
Thank you for the reply. My wife and I live in Berkeley, just across the bay from San Francisco. So I guess we'll trundle over the bridge to the city and check out the local BNP office.
I assume that you told them exactly what you were doing, that is setting up an account for yourself in France for when you move there.
I guess what I'm trying to ask is if you have any other (potentially) helpful information regarding the process.
Sincerely,
Preston.
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