Comments on: How to Move to Paris with No Money http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anne http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-6045 Anne Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:04:02 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-6045 I would like to emphasize - whether you are a student to be or a future employee in France, you MUST return to your native country and file for your visa there, wait the 4-6 weeks, then come back to France. Depending on where you are from, it can be quite costly. You must also be medically insured for the time that you are in France, and you must prove it. Not to mention, only three percent of work visas given every year are to Americans. Without a visa you are not entitled to open a bank account, and a bank account is needed for the most essential services here. And don't count on your ATM/debit card always working here - French cards have microchips in them that allow them to be easily scanned which most countries have not yet implemented. If you notice above on the picture of the Velib bike, there is a scanner station next to it - it only accepts cards with chips. If you don't have that, you have to go to the Velib office. Good luck finding it. The metro isn't "cheap" either, it will cost you anywhere from 1,60 per trip to about 20,00 a week. The cost of living is high, very high. France's goal is to keep foreigners out. It is not easy to live in Paris without a plan or some type of support. Trust me, I am writing this from Paris as a million doors close in my face and not a single window opens. Good luck. I would like to emphasize – whether you are a student to be or a future employee in France, you MUST return to your native country and file for your visa there, wait the 4-6 weeks, then come back to France. Depending on where you are from, it can be quite costly. You must also be medically insured for the time that you are in France, and you must prove it. Not to mention, only three percent of work visas given every year are to Americans.

Without a visa you are not entitled to open a bank account, and a bank account is needed for the most essential services here. And don’t count on your ATM/debit card always working here – French cards have microchips in them that allow them to be easily scanned which most countries have not yet implemented. If you notice above on the picture of the Velib bike, there is a scanner station next to it – it only accepts cards with chips. If you don’t have that, you have to go to the Velib office. Good luck finding it. The metro isn’t “cheap” either, it will cost you anywhere from 1,60 per trip to about 20,00 a week.

The cost of living is high, very high. France’s goal is to keep foreigners out. It is not easy to live in Paris without a plan or some type of support. Trust me, I am writing this from Paris as a million doors close in my face and not a single window opens.

Good luck.

]]> By: medjine http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5975 medjine Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:45:39 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-5975 thank you for your great article. I am a french citizen who lives in the us. I been here since the age of 15 and now 30 i'm thinking on going back. your article was very helpful and I would like to know do you have any more recommendation for me or advices thank you. thank you for your great article. I am a french citizen who lives in the us. I been here since the age of 15 and now 30 i’m thinking on going back. your article was very helpful and I would like to know do you have any more recommendation for me or advices thank you.

]]> By: Leah petersen http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5928 Leah petersen Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:09:58 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-5928 Great article! In preparation to move to Paris all my research has returned doom and gloom, thanks for the unique perspective, anything is possible! Great article! In preparation to move to Paris all my research has returned doom and gloom, thanks for the unique perspective, anything is possible!

]]> By: Carlo http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5911 Carlo Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:25:21 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-5911 I'll admit, I had the exact same reaction when I read that too. I'm an active host (about to turn guest) and totally agree. As a host you can usually ferret out those that are simply seeking a free place to stay. I’ll admit, I had the exact same reaction when I read that too. I’m an active host (about to turn guest) and totally agree.

As a host you can usually ferret out those that are simply seeking a free place to stay.

]]> By: Betsy http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5907 Betsy Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:59:03 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-5907 It is remarkably easy to make cash money in Paris if you're a native English speaker! Between tutoring, teaching, and babysitting, my year in Paris was the "richest" year I've ever had. For example the going rate for a French babysitter is between €8-10 an hour. But I was an English-speaking babysitter… one family paid me €15 per hour. It is remarkably easy to make cash money in Paris if you’re a native English speaker! Between tutoring, teaching, and babysitting, my year in Paris was the “richest” year I’ve ever had. For example the going rate for a French babysitter is between €8-10 an hour. But I was an English-speaking babysitter… one family paid me €15 per hour.

]]> By: Matt Scott http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5833 Matt Scott Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:54:36 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-5833 Great article, I wonder how long one can live on carrots and peanuts! Great article, I wonder how long one can live on carrots and peanuts!

]]> By: Lupita Franco http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-4623 Lupita Franco Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:54:01 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-4623 Thank so much for this information. I am ready to move to Paris. I so love the way you make it easy yet very realistic. thank you! thank you! Thank so much for this information. I am ready to move to Paris. I so love the way you make it easy yet very realistic. thank you! thank you!

]]> By: Rehman AliWaris http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-4248 Rehman AliWaris Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:16:25 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-4248 plz sir send visa and job full time work one chise rehmanyousaf54@yahoo.com plz sir send visa and job full time work one chise
rehmanyousaf54@yahoo.com

]]> By: David Miller http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-3646 David Miller Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:35:49 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-3646 that's a good point, and a point taken. there have been a variety of other articles at matador which look at couchsurfing more in the context of a community. that’s a good point, and a point taken. there have been a variety of other articles at matador which look at couchsurfing more in the context of a community.

]]> By: WorldCS http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-3645 WorldCS Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:31:50 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-3645 I'm a couchsurfer and don't like it that you suggest couchsurfing as a "crashing" option. Couchsurfing is intended for members from around the world to meet one another and not just an option of free housing. I’m a couchsurfer and don’t like it that you suggest couchsurfing as a “crashing” option. Couchsurfing is intended for members from around the world to meet one another and not just an option of free housing.

]]> By: Katie King http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-2910 Katie King Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:30:35 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-2910 Hi, Your post has made me much less stressed about moving to Paris in September with only $5,000 to my name! I am very interested in what you wrote about a work visa from the American Chamber of Commerce in France - can you give me any more information on this? I have scoured their Web site but didn't see anything about this. Thanks so much! Hi,

Your post has made me much less stressed about moving to Paris in September with only $5,000 to my name!

I am very interested in what you wrote about a work visa from the American Chamber of Commerce in France – can you give me any more information on this? I have scoured their Web site but didn’t see anything about this.

Thanks so much!

]]> By: Michael Liuzza http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/how-to-move-to-paris-with-no-money/comment-page-1/#comment-1870 Michael Liuzza Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:55:55 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=264#comment-1870 I have a 5 person group assisting me with my artistic endeavors. We are in the process completing our plan to be in Paris, France for August 1st. Your information is fantastic, and it was needed. Thank you. All the best, MVL I have a 5 person group assisting me with my artistic endeavors. We are in the process completing our plan to be in Paris, France for August 1st.

Your information is fantastic, and it was needed. Thank you.

All the best,

MVL

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