Anyone with dual French-American citizenship?

General Discussion
1

Hello all,


In planning my move to France I have many questions. I realize that in holding both citizenships, some of my issues fall into a sort of middle ground - neither resident nor foreigner. I'm wondering if I will automatically have residency, and thereby medical insurance, rights when I move or if I will have to fulfill the 5 or 6 year term as do expats...I believe the answer to that question will answer others I have vis-à-vis taxes, top-up medical insurance, renting/buying a residence, etc. So, if anyone falls into this particular "donut hole" with me, I'd love to hear from you!


Catherine

2

Like you and Michel, I was born in France. Perhaps, unknowingly, I am eligible for a numero de secu (but since I will be retired when I return, I'd guess having one will not be necessary).

3

Catherine, If you were not born in France and never lived in France before you probably don't have a numero de secu. You will only get one of you get hired and your employer does all the paperwork. As an auto entrepreneur I don't know how it would work maybe someone on this post has the answer.

4

Thanks Anne - I look forward to any information you can share over the coming weeks! How is it that you came to live in the U.S.? One question I do have is re le numero de securite sociale - I never worked in France so am I entitled to one?

5

Hi,

Michel, I am a dual national French/American born in France. Just moved back to France and getting a "carte vitale" is not so easy. Are you employed in France? I am not and I think that is what makes things more complicated.

And Catherine, I think that once you are French you are always French unless you renounce your citizenship. I think that having un numero de securite sociale helps gets things done faster. I am only a few weeks in the process of settling back in France so I'll have more details as weeks go by.

6

You should be heading for Montreal and stay there for a while especially during the winter months, i.e. October thru May... LOL You would then find out that nature will affect considerably your attitude towards sunshine, heat and the color white... Living on the Riviera has indeed its +s. But I must say that its proximity to the quaint little perched villages of the Luberon or the unmatched views of Corsica on clear days from the Esterel peaks are something that compensate for the drudgery of the neverending nordic invasion, i.e. anyone living north of Avignon... To be honest, one of the things that I really love about France is the fact that we can walk almost anywhere we want. We are not prisoners of our cars and it's quite healthy as long as you stick to the sidewalks...

7

How lovely...and apt. Perhaps nature supersedes nurture, as I find France's beauty always affects me deeply (then again it could just be that I can't bear this unceasing sunshine and heat and desert scenery for one more minute - and I KNOW how that sounds to SNFers~). "My life on the Riviera" - what a wonderful thing to be able to say, n'est-ce pas?

8

I said many times, and in particular to my late mother, that I would never want to come back to live permanently in France. But a year after her death and without any doubt after having watched another Tour de France too many, I realized that this country of ours was simply too beautiful to ignore. I realized that I could live a much richer and much simpler life by moving back to a country that I failed to understand until I was living abroad. I love Canada and the USA and I come back as often as I can, but life on the Riviera is hard to beat. I don't believe that the old adage you mentioned applies to me. Mind you, being what I called a citizen of the world, I feel at ease in many places but France is one where I would like to enjoy the rest of my life.

9

Hi Antoinette,

I had to chuckle - your response is so simple yet so right on the money: just use your French passport and go register. I will...and I'm filing this in my "duh" folder! I wonder why it is that that one contains the most material?~~

Catherine

10

Merci bien Michel...our situations seem the most alike so I appreciate your offer to answer any questions. Was your decision to return to France the right one? Having left as a child, I sometimes wonder about the adage "you can't go home again." When I am in France, I feel American, when I am here, I feel French - such is the lot we "duals" perhaps~

11

Thank you for looking that up Marie-Antoinette - I contacted Mr. S this week and, small world, we discovered we know people in common outside of the French community here! Next stop Consulat de France a Los Angeles...

12

Hi

I am a dual national Canadian and French, born in France. When I came back, 4 years ago, I went straight to the Caisse d'Assurance Maladie to get my carte vitale and then I got a carte d'indentité nationale, a French Passeport and traded my North American driver's license for a French one. If you have french citizenship, you should have no problems although you will still be looked at as a marginal by all the fonctionaires who have a tough time dealing with anything that does not conform with what they consider normal... Patience and good luck will help. Feel free to contact me if you have specific questions.

Michel

13

Catherine, your Consulat de France for Arizona is in San Francisco its Internet site would have most of the information you need in French and in English you also have a Consul Honoraire in Phoenix who may be able to help you.

Consul honoraire :
M. Gerrit STEENBLIK, Esq.
Polsinelli Shughart PC,
One East Washington Street, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2568
Tél : (602) 650-2348


I hope this helps.

Marie-Antoinette
14

Hi Catherine,

I'm dual American-Dutch and live/work in France permanently. American born my parents were from the Netherlands so I have a Dutch passport too. As an EU national I qualify for residency, medical insurance etc etc. France 'sees' me as a Dutch national.

When asked anything administrative I produce my Dutch passport/identity card. I would suspect that if you have a French passport all you need to do is go to your local prefecture and register.

Check with the French Embassy/consulate first for what you need to do as a returning French national.Things might hinge upon whether or not you 'gave up' your French nationality when you became an American citizen or whether you kept both.

Antoinette

15

Hi Holly! I am French by birth and became a naturalized American citizen, so I believe that France recognizes me as solely French - which may be different from someone who becomes a naturalized French citizen...I'm investigating but everything I do seems to lead to more questions~ Some (ok, most) days, I'm tempted to pack it all up and just move then figure it out when I get there!

Catherine

16

Hi Holly! I am French by birth and became a naturalized American citizen, so I believe that France recognizes me as solely French - which may be different from someone who becomes a naturalized French citizen...I'm investigating but everything I do seems to lead to more questions~ Some (ok, most) days, I'm tempted to pack it all up and just move then figure it out when I get there!

Catherine

17

So, you're saying that you DO hold French citizenship? I don't know as THIS is my year when I can apply for citizenship, but I would think that this would entitle you to residency (my French husband thinks so too). Unfortunately, I'm not sure who you would ask about this--maybe the French consulate? Good luck!