Starting the Residency clock?

[Daft Doctor]

Hi, we are moving to France in April 2012 and have lined up a furnished chalet to let for the first 8 months while we find our feet.  I will have an S1 form as an early retiree having paid full Class 2 NIC contributions up to April 5th 2012, but because of the 5 year residency rule for re-entering the french healthcare system after the S1 has expired (in January 2014) I will want to start the clock ticking on our residency as soon as practicable after we arrive in France, so minimising any period where we need to purchase full private medical insurance (unless I or my OH set up a business under the AE scheme in the meantime - if it continues to exist that is!).

I wonder if any of you wise and experienced souls can tell me what I need to do establish the start of our period of residency with the French authorities.  We already complete a French tax return from the UK (using a French accountant) as a leaseback owner and I will of course put our new french address on our 2011 return (due to be sent to the impots in April 2012).  On arrival we will also head straight to the appropriate office (?Tresor Public) with my S1 to apply for a Carte Vitale/membership of CPAM but wondered if that would be enough.  We may not have a standard French furnished tenancy on the chalet as the owners would rather let it to us for a connected series of 30 day lets, so preserving their furnished holiday letting tax status in the UK.  Wasn't sure whether the absence of a tenancy agreement on the property would have any bearing on proving residency?

My other related question involves proof of adequate income to not be a burden on the French state, something which I understand is also necessary for residency.  Do we need to physically visit the Maire's office armed with pension and bank statements, etc.  If so, do we wait until we arrive in April or go sometime in advance.  Any thoughts or experiences most welcome, we just want to get it right! [:)]

[cooperlola]

The key point about the 5 year rule is for your healthcare.  Therefore no.1 priority is to register your S1 at your CPAM (not Tresor Public - they are collectors of money, that is all.).  The rest can come later (you'll declare on your tax form the date you moved in, for example.)  A nice signed and stamped bit of paper from your Mairie might be useful but the healthcare aspect is the most important, imho.

EDIT : Re your second point: Tax wise and income wise, you can wait until you declare your income - there is no necessity to prove income at this stage, afaik.  There was talk of this happening but nothing has come of it.  In fact, it is unlikely to be an issue until the five years are up unless you try to claim some sort of support from the French government (ie you want them to treat you or pay you social security or similar.)

[Daft Doctor]

Thanks Coops, solid info as usual.  Is there a link anywhere to find one's local CPAM office?  It would be useful to know for when the time comes.

[cooperlola]

Et voila:

http://www.ameli.fr/assures/votre-caisse/index.php

Just a little piece of advice.  I think that many people have more problems using the local "convenient" sub-office of their CPAM instead of the main office, so personally I'd sign on with the main caisse for your department.  I've had far fewer problems by driving the 40ks into Le Mans to sort out my problems than those who "save" a bit of fuel and use the one man and his dog branch down the road.  My feeling is that the big offices are far more used to dealing with the rarer cases - such as we non-French Europeans who are subject to all these "new" rules.

[Daft Doctor]

Thanks for that, seems the main office is in Annecy, so I could combine a trip to the CPAM office with taking in the lake, beautiful ambience and architecture.  Hardly torture is it?  Having said that we do know some English expats in our chosen locality who will have gone through this process themselves, so they may well have insight into how the local CPAM office operates.  Either way, forewarned is forearmed.  Can't wait to witness the frustrations of French administration first hand! 

[Gardian]

[quote user="Daft Doctor"]Hardly torture is it?[/quote]

Hmmm.  [:)]

[Cendrillon]

"Can't wait to witness the frustrations of French administration first hand! 

"

D.D.    Be careful what you wish for [;-)]

[Mikep]

If you're in the Haute Savoie, your CPAM office should be:

  Centre 424 Service Relations Internationales de le CPAM d'Annecy

  2 rue Robert Schuman

  74984 Annecy CEDEX 9

telephone (in France) 3646 - website www.ameli.fr

It may be worth mentioning that you can qualify as a dependant of your spouse if he/she qualifies earlier than you.