Chamonix-Dallas

Hi !

Many many things are better in the US !! Im french, and I really think you have good food, much more diversity than we have in France, alot of different flavours, more spices,.....

Stores are more convenient in the US (the whole country is not closed at lunch time !!), open 7/7, 24/24, that's cool !

Most things are cheaper, dont have to pay high taxes on everything, people have more rights and freedom, beautiful school buses and trucks, good music, ....

And to answer your specific question : people are much more friendly in the US !! people are pretty "cold" in France, they dont smile, they dont talk to each other.

:thumbs:

Hi !

Many many things are better in the US !! Im french, and I really think you have good food, much more diversity than we have in France, alot of different flavours, more spices,.....

Stores are more convenient in the US (the whole country is not closed at lunch time !!), open 7/7, 24/24, that's cool !

Most things are cheaper, dont have to pay high taxes on everything, people have more rights and freedom, beautiful school buses and trucks, good music, ....

And to answer your specific question : people are much more friendly in the US !! people are pretty "cold" in France, they dont smile, they dont talk to each other.

:thumbs:

In my opinion, it would be fair to think about USC first, I mean so many couples have to live apart, waiting for the immigration process to finally end .... wouldn't it be much better, before thinking about all the undocumented people , to reform the process in order to ease the legal immigration for USC spouses ?

Not to derail the original subject of this thread, but 'ease legal immigration of USC spouses' in what way? Immigration of foreign spouses of US citizens is not difficult per se. IMO, the most difficult part (besides the wait-times) is meeting the financial requirements for sponsorship...and I'm not sure what the federal government could or should do to ease those. Those financial requirements attempt to ensure that the intending immigrant does not become a public charge. Legally 'easing' those requirements would mean that the government allow all spouses carte-blanche to emigrate just because they are spouses of a USC and not consider the fact that the sponsoring USC can barely afford themselves....much less another person. That is just not 'smart' policy as far as the federal government is concerned.

Well, i'm not saying the government would have to let immigrant becoming a public charge..... I mean this process is a nightmare and is very stressful for most people !! The waiting time is way too long !! It took only an hour to get a visa for my husband to move to France with me. We just had to make an appointment at the consulate (in Houston !) and bring the required documents, then we had to wait about 45 minutes to get his passport back with the visa in it !!

Of course immigrants shouldn't become a public charge, and i believe they would be smart and responsable enough to find themselves a solution, such as get another job to make more money, or even move back with their family to their home country if no other way.

The way the affidavit of support is now, its only about the sponsor's incomes, and the co-sponsor if needed. I think its not fair, because most of time the immigrant is gonna work too, and make some money for the household. And i think people have the right to live together, even if they are poor !

And, since the original subject of this thread is about illegals, illegal aliens are a public charge. Is that fair ?

In my opinion, it would be fair to think about USC first, I mean so many couples have to live apart, waiting for the immigration process to finally end .... wouldn't it be much better, before thinking about all the undocumented people , to reform the process in order to ease the legal immigration for USC spouses ?

I thought it was possible for it to be easier to move to the States on a work visa for my foreign husband. We live in France and I've been here for 8 years and married for 6. My husband has a job offer in the States and the application process for the green card looked kind of hard. But I had this suspicion that a work visa wouldn't work because I'm a USC and because of that, it would be taken for granted his intent to immigrate.

Well, I talked to the embassy in Paris and they confirmed it - we'll have to petition for the immigrant visa through DCF and won't be able to go the work visa route.

The good thing is that the lady told me I could submit my petition and this petition would be good for up to 3 years. If at the end of 3 years I haven't finalized the request, then it would be destroyed. If any time after that I wanted to recommence the petition, I would just submit a new petition and the old one wouldn't count against us.

Once I've submitted my part of the petition, we can submit my husband's part later after he has his formal job contract and his salary will count as proof of funds. She said that the whole process should take around 4 months.

Whew! so I don't have to worry about petitioning and then abandoning the application - I can start right away even if we're very unsure about the whole relocation thing.

Thanks for sharing this information !!!

I just have a question, how can your husband get a formal job contract and salary in the US before the end of the process ?

I went to the US 2 years ago to marry my fiance, i had no visa at all.

About the customs, if they don't ask if she intends to get married, she doesn't have to tell. They did ask me, i had to show my return plane ticket along with the one for my husband (he was going back with me) and i think having his plane ticket showing he'll fly with me on the way back was helpful at this time ! It seemed to be a good proof of my intend to go back to France after the wedding (exactly 10 days after).

About travelling inside the US after the wedding, there should be no problem, she will only have to show her passport, with her maiden name.

This is my experience ..... it may be different though, depending on the airport and the customs officer. I believe they are less suspicious when one comes from a "rich country".

I know medecine in the US is years ahead about brain and autism.

Sure. That's probably why--just to name one example--the late Farah Fawcett, an American female with brain cancer, flew for years to Europe for successful treatment after the American doctors admitted they can't help her.

Now we 're twisting this into a argument against "socialist medicine?"

Actually, Farah Fawcett died from ####### cancer, not brain cancer.

Right, she died from ####### cancer !! And i wasn't talking about cancer, but about brain disorders and autism. And i know alot of french parents try to take their child to the US to get appropriate treatments they can't get here in Europe.

US is tough in terms of health care.

France is great for health care and medicine quality.

I am moving to the US with my husband because he can afford

else I would have stayed in France.

also we will maybe go back one day

I think Your husband should still try France

I am afraid you will have to come back or you get ruined by the attempt to move to the US

what about French classes for your husband. You may find free ones.

Also he needs to go to town a little and make some friends

No wonder he wants to go back to the US if he only sees you.

Help him to get new friendships , get into associations

My husband's family lives in Texas, they miss us, we miss them ! We have no more contact with my family here in France. We have some friends, but you know the french are very "cold", they are not friendly like the americans !

We plan to move into an appartment in town, would be easier for my husband to go out. We are currently living in a "chalet", 5 km from town, our only neighbors are cows ! He depends on me for everything, that's not good ! He went to french classes for a while, but didn't like it.

We are also thinking about adoption. If my daughter becomes his daughter, this would help alot.

Depending on the state laws, the school district, their protocols, etc etc some treatment MAY be available as a resident of an area...

I would have your husband research those aspects of his intended new residence.

What this will NOT include is medical treatment, medications, horse therapy, or residential stays most likely. BUT, your child may qualify for school sponsored speech therapy, a student aid, etc.

I only know NJ rules [and only in passing having worked with a special ed educator and having friends in admin] - but in NJ the child study team with the family will come up with a plan, in some cases sending the student to an appropriate school if the child can't be mainstreamed. I actually spent classroom time with a child who had spent 6 years at a special school out of state since no in-state school was appropriate [this was paid for by the local school district]. When his condition improved enough to be in special ed classes, he was returned to the local school district.

It's something to look into but different states will have different schools and you may need to fight hard for it....

This is true. Check the state education laws. We live in Vermont. In Vermont each child age 6-16 (minimum, actually goes through high school, but students can drop out at age 16) MUST be provided with a public (free) education (free is a misnomer...we pay plenty in taxes on our property) For example, when our 13 year old showed up speaking only limited English and the ONLY non-native Englsih speaking student in his school, the school was REQUIRED to hire a special ESL teacher for him. Fortunately he did well and by Christmas no longer needed this and finished the year promoted TWO grade levels above where he started and 5th in his regular English class. OK, bragging over.

At any rate, the schools in Vermont would be required to provide whatever your child needed for an education regardless of cost. But as mentioned above this would only apply to special needs at school. Her other needs are all yours but may be covered by insurance if your husband can get a job here. Many other states have similar rules

Thanks for this information ! My daughter doesn't need an expensive medical treatment, only she has a developmental delay, she is 11 yo, but her grade level would be early childhood. She would need help to learn english, and an early childhood grade level education. Im gonna ask a school district in Dallas about this.

Don't do it! Healthcare for your child will cost you an arm and a leg. I know life in France is hard for your husband but your daughter is in a good place right now.

Does anyone else know how preexisting conditions would work in her daughter's case? I would be scared of that.

I don't want to have to choose between my daughter and my husband .... i want to live with both of them ! My husband is not happy here in France. My daughter is in a good place now, but i know she loves being in the US too. She can be happy everywhere, as long as there is somebody to take care of her and to keep her busy !

And, for medical purpose, i would like to know what's wrong with her. The doctors here in France don't know what is the problem, she had many many medical exams, tests, scanners, etc ... they couldn't find anything wrong, except a problem with her cerebellum. I know medecine in the US is years ahead about brain and autism. I hope maybe they could find out what is the problem.

I brought my wife's childs and the normal school district has those services and if you have private insurance they will pay for additional services

Are your wife's children disabled ? Could you be more specific about the services ?

Thanks.

Your husband lives in France, yet doesn't speak French? Wouldn't the easiest solution then be that you help him to learn the language? My daughter didn't speak a word of French a year ago, and now, with only a few hours a week in college, she' ready to spend a month next summer there. I learned enough French in France when I lived there for 6 months simply because I had to, day in, day out, just living, going to the supermarket, talking to people.

Many Canadians speak English and French.

I would think, with a personal tutor 24/7 and no job to go to, he should be fairly fluent in just a few months!

You are right, he should speak french by now. I just don't know how to teach him french, how to teach him the basics and my mistake is that i always talk to him in english. We live in the mountains, no neighbors around, he has no way to go in town by himself, so we are always together, and i always translate everything for him. I know im wrong, i know its my fault if he doesnt speak french .... i've decided to try my best and talk to him in french every day ..... but it wont solve all the problems. Our plan has always been to move back to the US to be close to his family...

I know of folk who work in London then commute back to France on the weekend....

On adoption, my husband is adopting my daughter. Her father is dead. We just want the optimal most emotionally secure environment for her. She has to feel we are both there for her. Leaving so much family behind. It will not/would not affect any immigration stuff till it had been passed for two year.s This isn't our motivation in doing it though, it is a personal thing between him and her. Something that has grown. We want to file for that when we are all living in the same place. I also cannot bear the idea of her reaching to him for help and any legal niceties stopping him holding her hand in hospital or something. I have seen that nightmare.

Does not affect her medical insurance through him, covered just the same. Will not affect immigration. It means all the world to us though.

I think you are in a hard place right now. Can't help feeling you are being torn.

Life is just not fair sometimes, and I have given up expecting that. I live miracle to miracle.

We are close to Geneva airport, there are alot of british living here in Chamonix and working in the UK !

We've been talking about adoption months and months ago .... its not only a question of immigration. The thing is it's another hard process, since the bio father still have rights (and duties !). We don't even know where he lives, he disappeared years ago, left me alone with our handicapped daughter, didn't want to take care and refused to give any money to help raising her. If something happens to me, the bio father has more rights than my husband, but i know for sure he would never take care of her, he is an alcoholic, he is a junky, he is not responsable, can't be trusted, and he don't want to hear about a handicapped little girl ! Well, that's another story ..... This adoption would be a very good thing, but it wont be easy .... Seems that we definitely need miracles !!

Not directly immigration related, but I did some asking around and have heard good things about these two special needs schools in Dallas. I am not sure if they'd serve your daughter's specific needs, but you may want to look at their websites, if nothing else it'll give you an idea of prices etc:

Oakhill Academy- for those with learning differences and also the Shelton School for those with learning differences.

Thank you so much for the links !! Im looking at their websites right now ....

Thanks for your help and your advices !! I really appreciate !!

My husband don't speak french yet, its not an easy language to learn. Speaking only english, he can't get any job here, can't get a french drivers license, .... Life is not fun here for him. If we move to the US, we both could get a job, and he would have a better life, and i would be happier if he is happy ! All his family is in Texas, while we don't really have family here in France.

Would it make it easier if he adopts my daughter ?

Thanks for your answers ...... i just can't imagine we'll have to live apart because we are poor !!

I've already asked her school, they know nothing about similar schools in the US .

Does anybody know if there is a way to get financial aid for a disabled kid, being an immigrant ?

My daughter is happy with my husband, he is a dad for her. We are a family, i can't accept we'll have to be apart.

I don't think you should take your daughter away from a very good situation for her - her school. And away from her bio dad.

Thanks for your reply ....

My daughter has no more contact with her bio dad, he disappered years ago. My husband is the only dad she knows, he takes care of her and raises her.

Hello guys !!

I really need your help !! I'm desperate, don't know what to do ...

I'm french, married to a USC, mother of a 11 year-old daughter (from a previous relationship, french citizen too). We got married in the US, and are living in France. My daughter is disabled, she has developmental delays and a kind of autism. She is here in France in a "special school for special kids" where they take good care of her. She sleeps at school 3 nights a week, and learns alot (different activities : paint, music, swimming pool, poney, ...) she really loves being there.

First, i would like to know how difficult it would be to find a similar place in the US (in Dallas would be perfect !).

This kind of school is very expensive in France, luckily the gov pays for it !! I guess its expensive in the US too .... here comes my second question : i guess a financial aid is available to help poor parents of disabled kids. But as an immigrant, i wont have the right to ask for any financial aid, right ? Is there any other way ?

My husband plans to move back home, i'm afraid i wont be able to follow him. We are poor, its gonna be very very hard to do a DCF, because of the "affidavit of support". That's the first big step .... and if there is no way for my daughter to go to a "school for special kids", then i will definitely have to stay here in France with her, far away from my husband !!

I'm so desperate, i need your help and your advices !!

Thanks.

Thank you all for your replies any way, I already found in instruction that you can adjust your status if you are selected.

Hi !

Could you please tell me exactly what you found out ?? Im french, live in France with my american husband. He has no income in the US, no way to get a co-sponsor, and he wants to move back home .... that means I wont be able to follow .... so I've been thinking about the lottery ...

Hi,

You're right, french bureaucracy is a nightmare ! Uselly, when they ask for a proof of residence, they want an electricity or phone bill, that's the best way to prove you were living here .... I guess it's the same with the embassy.

If you get married in the US, you'll need to go to the french consulate with your marriage certificate and birth certificates, to have it recorded on the "french books". Then they'll give you a "livret de famille", that's the document you'll need to deal with the french bureaucracy to prove you are married ! Don't worry, getting married in the US and then move to France is an easy process.

you need both, birth certificate AND passport !! And don't forget to bring 2 or 3 birth certificates when you come to France. You'll need a translated one to get your carte de séjour.

Hello !

Immigrate to France is easy, once you are married to a french citizen ! My advice is to get married in the US though, its easier and faster. Then, you make an appointment at the french consulate, bring your marriage certificate, birth certificates, passports (doesnt need to be translated) and they give you the "livret de famille". Once you get it, you can ask for a short stay visa "famille de français" (if you make another appointment for the visa, you can get both, livret de famille and visa, the same day).

When you arrive in France, you apply for a "carte de séjour vie privée et familiale". It may take a few months to get it (french bureaucracy is slow !), so they give you a "récépissé" that prooves you are not illegal and allows you to work.

Its that simple !!! My husband and I did this 2 years ago .....

the 7th : got married

the 10th : got the "livret de famille" and the visa at the french consulate

the 12th : arrived in France

I dont know about the PACS, it may not be that easy, but i know for sure the marriage is the best way !!

Good luck, and feel free to ask if you have any question !

Hi !

Geegeet a raison, tu dois passer par un traducteur assermenté. Demande à l'ambassade ou au tribunal, ils doivent avoir une liste. Et tu dois faire traduire tous les documents qui ne sont pas en anglais.

Bonne chance pour la suite .....

Hello MargotDarko !

Thanks for your fast reply !!

I've been reading this on some forums, but it wasn't at the embassy in Paris, but in Moroco, Egypt,.... and yes, it was for immigrant visas, through marriage or dv lottery.

I'm sure no one in his family qualifies to support ...... maybe if its possible to have more than one joint sponsor like a combination of incomes from different sponsors !!

HELLO !!!

I would like to know about everyone's experiences at the embassy in Paris.

I'm French, my husband is a USC. We got married in Texas and came back to France. He has is "carte de séjour". We plan to move back to Texas soon (maybe 1 or 2 years).

I've been married before and have 3 children, but 2 of them don't want to move with us now (maybe later !).

I think a DCF is the easiest way, but im worried about the affidavit of support. My husband is in France with me, so he has no income in US !! and his familly doesn't qualifie to support us, regarding to the poverty guideline.

And i've been reading that some couples didn't need this AOS, that nobody at the embassy asked for it !!!

So i would like to know how it was for you.....

Thanks for your help !!!!!