Planing on living in France for one year. Moving from Canada.

[Bojan]

Hello Everyone,

I am new on this forum. I signed up since I am planing on moving to France for one year in Summer of 2009. My wife and i are interested in living in Strasbourg. We speak basic French and German. I have few questions that I would like help with.

1. What is the average living cost in Strasbourg or in Alsace region in general?

2. Are there a work opportunities for a young couple in the restaurant industry?

3. What would the average pay be for a help in a kitchen or a waitress?

4. How does one go on applying for a work visa from Canada?

5. Are there any tips that any of you can give us for moving to this beautiful country.

6. Are there French classes available to people who have French as a second language.

We are Looking forward of living in this paradise on earth and improving our French. We are both in love with France since the first time we set out foot in it and there isn't better way to experience it than to live in it.

Thank you for your comments!!!

[Sprogster]

I don't want to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but unless either you or your wife are entitled to a passport from an EU member country, then you will not be able to live and work in France for a year. The maximum time you can spend as a Canadian citizen in France as a visitor is six months in a year and you are prohibted from employment.

The exception being if you were sponsored by an employer, who could demonstrate you were a skilled worker for which there were no suitably qualified local candidates, which is unlikely for a restaurant worker.

Likewise, Canada is comparatively restrictive on inward immigration and a French citizen would find it very difficult to move to Canada unless they were a skilled worker in a category for which there are accepted shortages. Even then the process can take a couple of years.

I would speak to the French Embassy, as you may find your dream is a non starter due to visa difficulties.

[megane]

I'm planning to do the same thing but from Australia next year, here's what my research has uncovered so far:

1. Best place to look for rentals is at www.frenchlocations.com

 The prices are in either euro or GBP and you can search by location all over France

2. If you google "Jobs in France" you find hundreds of job opportunities in hospitality, there are even a few jobs advertised to couples to run small cafes, B&B kitchens etc so you shouldn't have a problem finding work.

3. I have no idea about wages

4. Go to your french embassy website in Canada and search for "Working Holiday Visa". Its a twelve month visa aimed at people like you and me.

5. This forum has been very helpful for me

6. French classes are available in most big cities, you'll be fine!

Good Luck researching, Its very exciting, I can't wait to get there.

[megane]

Found the visa application for you too.... Hopefully you fit into this category

http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/spip.php?article1950&var_recherche=working%20holiday%20visa

http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/IMG/pdf/Visa_2E_EN.pdf

And here's one that came up on a quick job search:

http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/search/job/40004/

I'm actually jealous that I don't have hospitality experience as it would give me way more options for work.

Hope this helps!