Prepare a dossier

You’ll find there’s no lack of paperwork and red tape when you move to Paris. I wish I had been more organized during this entire process. You’ll find that you’ll never have all of the papers desired for every trip you make to a consulate, prefecture, phone store, bank, etc.

Stuff to keep together

• Photocopies of your passport, visa: you’ll need at least one for every visit to a government office. They’ll want to keep it for this or that reason. The consulate in the United States will probably ask for two.  Save yourself some time and money and make a dozen to keep on hand. Don’t forget to bring the original.
• Birth Certificate: You never know when it will  be needed. It doesn’t hurt to get a duplicate made from the city hall of your birth city.
• School records: Get a copy of your diplomas. This is especially true for skilled labor immigrants
• A letter from your old American bank. They need to know you are legitimate and not laundering money.
• A letter from your landlord. It may help when trying to rent a flat.
• Your U.S. drivers license
• The account summary for your French bank account. They’ll need the IBAN, RIB, and more.
• 4 passport photos, possibly more.
• Copy of your work contract in France
• Your residency card, when you get it.
• Credit card, preferably Visa or Mastercard.

These papers are requested over and over. Prepare in advance and you just may get something accomplished in your first trip to an office.