macgyver

Relocating to France would be great for us, her family is all in France, we've wanted to move over there for a while, and now an opportunity is in the process of arising that could well see me relocate to Lyon for work. We are both basic French speakers but if it goes ahead will be having intensive lessons + immersion courses (although for my job French is not needed - official company language is English). She is a better speaker than me having lived in France for a while.

I'm currently waiting to see what HR say in regards to contract but the long and short of it is that I'm not going to get my salary doubled, which brings me to the problem. I earn a decent salary. My wife however is the main bread winner, earning virtually double what I do; you can probably see where this is headed..

Her profession as it is doesn't exist in France, so initially she cannot work. We can get by on my salary, have no debts other than a mortgage (would be renting our house out for the duration of our time in France - (at this time undetermined) - yes we could cover mortgage payments as well in the case of rental problems but would really be struggling then) however naturally we're used to more income and the concern we have is that she won't be able to find work. I understand that the job situation in France is pretty bad at present, so what are the chances of her finding work? She's professionally qualified in the medical world, but again would need to retrain (for 2-3 years) to do the equivilant in France.

I'm also concerned about her getting bored - ok the idea of moving abroad whilst your husband goes to work probably appeals to her a bit but after even a week she'd want to be working.

So: she's a degree-qualified medical professional who speaks basic French, would she be able to find [decent] work in a city like Lyon? TIA.

capricorn2013

If you are re-locating via your employer do they not offer any package of help to you?

As they have a business in Lyon can they not put you in touch with an HR specialist in France who can research this for you?

macgyver

Yes if the relocation goes ahead we will be given something of a relocation package, what exactly is still up for negotiation though, and whilst moving expenses could be covered, it's the long term that we're thinking about.

My salary will provide enough for us to get by, but then there is getting by and being able to live comfortably. I'm also concerned about her not working, as she will want to do so.

dmu

Hi, you say that your OH's profession doesn't exist in France? Can you be a bit more precise? Normally, foreign Doctors, Nurses and other medical professionals have to pass an exam in French before their diplomas are validated. We can't try to point you in the right direction if you don't tell us what her UK qualifications are...
And welcome to the Forum, by the way!

macgyver

Yes I realised after posting that I was being discreet for no real reason as we are posting here asking for advice! I apologise, afeared of putting too much on the internet and what have you.

She is an Optometrist. I don't know the ins and outs of the profession myself but as she says and as I understand it, French people go to see Opthamologists (medically trained people who then specialise in the Eye) at the hospital for their eye sight tests, and then go to the Opticians to simply buy glasses (from essentially a DO - Dispensing Optician, not degree qualified). So she is under qualified to do the job she does here, and massively over-qualified to work in an Opticians. This over qualification isn't a problem persay, but her French won't be good enough for a while to get that job.

Thanks for the welcome .

grannybunz

Hi and welcome from me too.

Your wife is absolutely correct. Getting a new prescription for glasses here and an eye exam is a total nightmare. I can't really see a way out for your wife.

Surfice for me to say that when we need an eye-check we go to Jersey (have a son there) get a thorough eye test and pay about a third of the price we would pay in France for any new glasses.

There is quite a "thing" going at the moment about French optician charges and relaxing of the rules to enable people to buy on-line. Perhaps that would be a way in for her???

dmu

http://www.bbarthelemy.com/03%20memb...EEN%202006.pdf

may be of interest to your wife.
Those of us without Channel Island contacts () don't necessarily have to get their eyes tested in a hospital, we do have an Ophthalmologue in our nearest town to test eye-sight and deal with medical "problems". I believe it's one of the few medical specialities where there's a dearth of practitioners.
If you enter "Optométristes - Lyon" in the Pages Jaunes, they become "opticiens" and there are nearly 200 listed. Once you've arrived, your wife could ask around on the spot. AFAIK opticians are allowed to test people's eye-sight now, e.g. for age-related short-sightedness, and she may find that there are vacancies. But she must bring her French up to scratch beforehand not only in order to compete with bilingual French candidates, but also to pass any exam. (I haven't read the whole of the above link and don't know whether there is an exam for this European Diploma).
Hope all this helps!

grannybunz

DMU you are quite correct about the shortage. Our nearest is 40+kms away and the waiting time is about 4 months.

macgyver's wife would be a very welcome arrival around here!!! Funnily enough, the optician we go to in Jersey is French. He says it is so much nicer to work there and he has loads of patients from his native land.

Tweedpipe

Grannybunz and DMU are spot-on about the dire shortage of Opthamologists in some parts of France.
Our next-door town has a population of approx 14,000. Over the last 5 years we've been to see the single opthamologist there twice following a waiting period of approx 4 months. Had the eye test for prescription glasses, and took the result into the optician. Long story short, on both occasions the lenses produced were rubbish, and optician confirmed that the opthamologist's results were incorrect.
Optician did a re-test in store which a few days later resulted in satisfactory glasses. Mme TP also had the same bad experience following an eye test by the same opthamologist.
Next time I saw my GP (in a supermarket) I asked him if he could recommend a good local opthamologist. He asked why, I told him our experiences, to which he replied, "My God, don't go to him, he's no good!" He recommended someone in a small town 15mins away - which I've yet to try.

I'd certainly welcome your wife here with open arms - assuming the correct qualifications. But would the locals? She would have to speak very good French though, as to my knowledge there are very few expats, and one rarely hears English spoken - which frankly is one of the reasons why we chose the region.
Good luck for any eventual move to France.

Harvester523

I'll second or third the shortage - we have to wait 6 months for an appointment here. Well worth getting qualified I would think.

TinaBee

Regarding the salary you are being offered here - do double check the amount. The cotisations (insurances, e.g. pension, health ,etc.) here are very high and are deducted at source, BUT tax isn't.