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A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

visa.lafrenchtech.com

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Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#101

Post by EnglishInFrance »

Gmo wrote: post #83
camus2 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

French here. You have to learn french, people in the french administration aren't going to communicate with in you English. Obviously in Paris more and more people know English since it's a touristic area. But it isn't like Berlin,Amsterdam or Brussels where you can live with very little local language knowledge. Correct french is a pain in the ass to learn, the language is needlessly complicated. Frankly If I were a…

I'm sorry, but ... typical French reaction (I'm French myself) The government and the administration is trying to improve the climate on founders/visa/startups/tech, and yes, it's far from being perfect and there are a lot of pieces missing and a lot that could be improved, but, at least, they seem to be trying. And then you come, and just tell people they should go somewhere else "because it will be too hard". So, I…

I think the problem is that there is a complete disconnect between those in government that are "trying" as you say, and those who execute the day to day bureaucracy.

Let's take an example directly from this announcement: "Apply to the French Tech Visa for Investors: Contact your local French Consulate or the local "Prefecture" (if you already reside in France) and follow the general route to apply for a "Passeport Talent"

Only those who live here will understand what this entails. The prefecture is a branch of regional government that is totally gridlocked with unnecessary paperwork.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#102

Post by tqkxzugoaupvwqr »

hacker_9 wrote: post #79
jlangenauer wrote: post #5

Apropos of this, I was in Paris recently at a startup event, and was pleasantly shocked at the sheer number of startups and people I saw doing things. This is a good move by the French, and will help attract entrepreneurs away from other countries (particularly like those just across the channel currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves.)

As someone from the UK, my main reason for not moving anywhere else in Europe is the language barrier. I'm not even sure I'm capable of learning another language; 5 years in school trying to learn French + German, and can still only put together about two sentences. From what I remember, no one else seemed to really pick up the languages either.

Learning a language in school is different from learning it by yourself. School is force-feeding you everything, at a pace possibly not suited for yourself. You might even start disliking something you liked before because grading and tests sucks the joy out of things. If you, on the other hand, start to learn a language now you can get quite far in a reasonable amount of time (months). Its the difference between external and internal motivation.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#103

Post by tonfa »

paraboul wrote: post #31
nkkollaw wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. Not every country is the same. I was in Berlin, and I was never spoken to in German (since I don't really look German), and I would ask the person if they spoke English just to be polite before I started speaking to them, and they would almost get offended. Actually, I hardly heard any German being spoken. On the contrary, in Warsaw I had problems getting basic directions in English even if I asked young…

I'm actually a French who lived 5 years in Berlin. I can tell you that not speaking german was really a burden (again in the long term). Everyone below 40 speaks english, but as soon as you have to deal with the administration, or just even the doctor, it really was a PITA. Also, Even the tech support (e.g. for Internet) wasn't allowed to speaks English on phone. I'm pretty sure the same "issues" apply to any country…

Large companies in Switzerland (e.g. telcos) often provides customer services in English.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#104

Post by Shanea93 »

bsaul wrote: post #80

Warning : Highly sensitive subject Everyone who has ever done recruiting in a french IT company noticed that 80 to 90% of the resumes you receive come from North African countries (old colonies, mainly Algeria and Tunisia), that try to get a job in order to get a Visa. Most of them are unqualified, but they just "go for it". Now, is this initiative going to lead to most of them pretending to want to start a company ?…

There are only 70 start-up incubator visas available, so I assume competition is exceptionally fierce.

This aside, for the engineer visas, it requires getting a job offer from one of the "100+ leading French Start-Ups", which means you presumably have to pass whatever requirements those hiring managers impose on you as well.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#105

Post by kybernetyk »

nkkollaw wrote: post #94
jlangenauer wrote: post #5

Apropos of this, I was in Paris recently at a startup event, and was pleasantly shocked at the sheer number of startups and people I saw doing things. This is a good move by the French, and will help attract entrepreneurs away from other countries (particularly like those just across the channel currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves.)

What's "currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves"? Would you do an ELI5?

My guess: Unreflected "Brexit" bashing.

I don't think that's a proper topic for HN though.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#106

Post by schneidmaster »

nkkollaw wrote: post #94
jlangenauer wrote: post #5

Apropos of this, I was in Paris recently at a startup event, and was pleasantly shocked at the sheer number of startups and people I saw doing things. This is a good move by the French, and will help attract entrepreneurs away from other countries (particularly like those just across the channel currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves.)

What's "currently inflicting generational economic damage on themselves"? Would you do an ELI5?

They're referring to the UK/Brexit. There's a lot of opinions and some decently complex economics involved, but for a short summary, Brexit created economic uncertainty which acts as a general damper on business investment/growth, and if/when it's actually completed it will complicate foreign investment from elsewhere in Europe.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#107

Post by dv_dt »

intralizee wrote: post #85

I would love to go to France. I'm in US right now, 1 semester left for degree and have interned at a respectable company. I wonder if they're looking for experienced engineers over fresh ones. I've read so much that work life and culture is so much better in France, so heres hoping...

SMH, I'm thinking there a number of mid to late career senior US engineers wondering what opportunities there might be in Europe these days...

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#108

Post by intralizee »

pyrale wrote: post #91
intralizee wrote: post #85

I would love to go to France. I'm in US right now, 1 semester left for degree and have interned at a respectable company. I wonder if they're looking for experienced engineers over fresh ones. I've read so much that work life and culture is so much better in France, so heres hoping...

> I've read so much that work life and culture is so much better in France, so heres hoping... Yes and no. There's certainly room for a healthy work-life balance, but don't believe that you're guaranteed to get an interesting job AND great work-life balance. You can find it, but it's not 100% of the market.

I would love more details but don't know how to PM on here. My email is my username @ iCloud . com

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#109

Post by manuelbieh »

If you take a look at the french economy, their political system, their tax rates and social security system you don't actually want to work and/or live there as a startup founder, so no need for a visa. Nice try, France.

// edit: ah, not to forget about their unwillingness to treat you as human being when not speaking their language.

Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France

#110

Post by throwaway1892 »

mtw wrote: post #89
hartator wrote: post #51

Don't go there. The limit of freedom of speech is real and can block you. Even when you run a startup that has nothing to do with local politics or anything controversial. Plus, we are still in "state of emergency", that gives the state more rights than the patriot act. Go to the US, Canada or New Zealand.

In France, freedom of speech is limited for terrorism, hate speech, hating religions e.g. For example, encouraging racism, lauding Hitler or ISIS, or extreme versions of islam or christianism which limit women's rights etc. The only difference with US or Canada is that religion extremism is more "tolerated" in those countries, but that is NOT an issue for startups. Unless you're doing a religion startup??!? The real…

Could you expand on corruption? I am keenly aware of its existence in the construction sector there, but do you any other examples?
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