Getting a visa in France w/o work, but no work w/o visa?!?

You have to have a job to get a visa, but most jobs won't give you work without a visa. I don't understand this logic, other than there isn't any. I understand needing a visa to work in France. But, you can't get a visa (so it seems) without first having a job there. Ok, fine. But, it does not make sense that almost every job says you already have to have a visa for consideration. What is up with that? I am trying to get my visa, and this is impossible! Yes, I have read the Consule and Embassy websites THOROUGHLY, and there is no information. Someone please help me understand this visa stuff before I go nuts. (I asked in another section, but this one seems more appropriate.)

I am already aware that the French gov't would rather watch their country go down in economic flames rather than helping itself. Thanks anyway, but I am seeking actual advice on the visa situation.
My boyfriend is a French citizen that somehow believes that it is not impossible for Americans to find work in American companies over there. I believe he has lost his mind, but c'est la vie.

Wow I've never seen such drama before on Yahoo Answers, lol

Anyhow... Rillifane's initial point is correct. The French government does not give out work visas to people simply because they want them, even if they're very qualified "desirable" candidates. And to respond to your question about visa w/o work, no work w/o visa, while this may seem like an impossible conundrum for Americans (I'm assuming you're one), it's not for everyone. Aside from the French, EU citizens also have the right to work in France.

Now for a more practical response - there are a few ways of going about this. By far not the easiest, but probably the most common way for Americans to get the work visa (excluding English teachers) is to get hired by an intl/U.S. company BEFORE moving to France, whether for a position in Paris or locally and getting relocated to Paris.

I haven't met any American English teachers, but this is another way, too.

A 3rd option is to come to France on a student visa, which gives you the right to work part-time (up to 964 hr/year). You have to enroll as a full-time student (i.e., 20hr/wk for 12 week semester) to get this visa, and maintain your full-time studies to renew it. Aside from the various upfront costs of getting the visa, school, of course, will cost you money. If you don't speak French, you could go to language school, the cheapest ones costing about 600 euro/semester (1200/year). Going from student visa/part-time work to full-time work visa is really not straightforward, but this'll at least get you working legally in the country and more doors will open up for you once you're here. You can also supplement your income, as many expat students do, by working on the black market, shhhhh... though I wouldn't encourage anyone to break the law! ;)

Of all of the above, the first takes the most upfront work, but will give you the best chances of having a stable professional career here. And I would NOT recommend you come on a tourist visa and look for work - no one will hire you this way, except illegally. Not a good start!

And an observation - I've met many working expats in Paris and they all got their working papers by 1. virtue of their EU citizenship, 2. the first way I mentioned (i.e., hired by US/intl company before moving here), or 3. marrying/PACSing a French person (more on PACS below). There are many immigrants here, but I imagine they came to the country under laws that either no longer apply or wouldn't apply to Americans anyway or illegally. Long and short is that there is no practical way to "apply" for a work visa yourself, you need an intl/US company that wants to hire you or get another type of residency that will give you the right to work.

Btw PACS is a contract that's not marriage but gives you many of the same benefits, including a residency card (and I'd assume working papers). It, however, doesn't guarantee you'll get residency, but it helps alot.

PS I'm in a similar situation - I'm looking for work in Paris & my bf (French) just doesn't understand why it should be so difficult for an American (because they love us so much here, lol) who speaks English (of course) & French to get employed here. But it is! So most likely I'll have to keep up my studies to hold on to my student visa so I can at least work part-time.

Anyway, good luck!

Its really very simple. Unemployment in France is 9.4% and the French government sees no reason whatever to give people permission to come to France and look for a job and possibly deprive a French citizen of work.

The bottom line is they don't want you there.

EDIT:

You seem to be missing the point here.

If you had skills that really were needed than an employer would be happy to go to the trouble of facilitating your visa.

But if you don't then they might as well hire a French national. Why should they bother to hire you? Why do paperwork they don't have to do?

And if you have a French BF then why not get married and solve the problem that way?

Go there on a tourist visa. Then while in country look for a job. Then get a work visa while you are there.

I am in the same position as you! Fortunately, I'll have a work visa for 7 months to be an English language assistant, but after that, I'm worried. My French boyfriend also seems to think it will be really easy for me to find a job, but I'm not convinced. I think that if you go to France on a "tourist visa" you'll still have to return to the states to get the work visa.

My boyfriend told me that at his company, they'll try to get the foreign worker to do an internship first, then hire them if satisfied. You could try to do that--suck up the "unpaid" I'm sure, but it could be worth it in the future.

As for getting married, I love how other people are like "oh well just get married." IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE!!!!!


Edit:
You tell him!! Keep me updated if you can, what you find out! I'll do the same! we WILL get jobs in France to be with our cheris!! ;)