Introducing French Connections HCB
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At French Connections HCB, we work with anglophile clients all over the world, primarily from the US and UK but also Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and Dubai.
Our clients all have two things in common. The first is a desire to move to France and the second is an unfamiliarity with the complexities of the French administration. Our friendly bilingual team offers expert assistance across every aspect of moving to France, from offering free information and how-to videos to a full package that deals with every part of the administrative journey for the client from start to finish.
We are unique in that we are the only company that offers a fully comprehensive service spanning everything from choosing and applying for the right visa, financial planning advice, setting up a bank account before you even arrive in France, enrolment in the French health system, organizing car registration and driving licence exchange, right through to applying for permanent residency or citizenship for our clients. We also offer a business service that includes determining what sort of business regime is appropriate and handling all the paperwork.
As our name would suggest, we are all about connections. To that end we have sought out and partnered with experts in their own field who can guarantee a specialist service to our clients.
A good example of this is our business relationship with BNP Paribas, one of the largest banks in France with branches throughout the country. This partnership means we can help clients to open a French bank account even before they even arrive in France. This offers numerous advantages if they are looking to rent or buy a property or a car. Having a bank account in France also helps with the visa application process, as success is determined by three factors; proof of sufficient funds (currently a fraction under 1,400 euros net per adult per month), proof of private health cover until such time as the client has successfully applied for a carte Vitale, and proof of a safe place to live. That means being able to show property ownership or a rental contract for at duration of least three months, which is difficult in France where most rental contracts are for at least one year and landlords are often suspicious of foreigners asking for a short lease. A French bank account goes a long way towards proving that a foreign applicant is financially reliable and here to stay.
As far as private health cover goes, our partnership with Hueber Assurance, one of the best insurance companies in France, ensures that our clients have instant quotes for medical insurance at extremely favourable rates, along with any other insurance needs.
Hand in hand with opening a bank account comes knowing when and how best to move local currency over to France. We have formed a close partnership with MoneyCorp to be sure that our clients have access to the best rates no matter where they are in the world. They can open a free account in seconds and are allocated a dedicated account manager to look after their transactions, making sure their money is swiftly and safely moved to where they want it to go. MoneyCorp will also advise them on the state of the financial markets and help them choose the best time to transfer funds.
While many visas are straightforward, clients sometimes come to us with more complex situations. We have bilingual attorneys on hand in the form of our partners 186 Legal who have offices in Paris, London and Brussels. For additional legal help, Stone King are our cross-border legal partners and specialists in French/UK Wills, conveyancing, probate and estate administration.
Another big question for people moving to France is pensions, investment and inheritance, as the laws in France are complicated. We have teamed up with Hoxton Wealth to make sure our clients have access to expert advice and can make informed decisions, even before they move.
French connections HCB
While many visas are straightforward, clients sometimes come to us with more complex situations. We have bilingual attorneys on hand in the form of our partners 186 Legal who have offices in Paris, London and Brussels. For additional legal help, Stone King are our cross-border legal partners and specialists in French/UK Wills, conveyancing, probate and estate administration.
Another big question for people moving to France is pensions, investment and inheritance, as the laws in France are complicated. We have teamed up with Hoxton Wealth to make sure our clients have access to expert advice and can make informed decisions, even before they move.
For everything to do with French taxation for foreigners, double tax treaties and capital gains tax, we are extremely lucky to partner with Géraud Nayral, CEO of French Tax Online. They are one of only 10 companies accredited by the French Financial Ministry in Bercy to calculate and take the liability of capital gain tax for non-EU tax residents selling their French property.
As well as forging strong expert partnerships that allow us to offer our clients a unique full service that spans every step of their journey to their new life in France, what else sets us apart?
Unlike other relocation companies, French Connections HCB offers FREE information, videos and articles for those who feel competent to handle French administrative processes themselves, or at least to help them understand what is involved. We also invite our clients to share their experiences in a video series called ‘Real Life Connections’ on our You Tube channel, helping others by talking candidly about how their new life is going and what using our services is really like. At the same time you’ll be able to watch our new ‘Entre Nous’ podcast series where you can meet the team and hear from all of our expert partners.
If you’d like to know more about our services or need advice about your own situation, we invite you to book an initial 30 minute video consultation with French Connections HCB’s founder, business expert and relocations specialist Richard Hammond. The consultation costs 90 euros but that amount is fully deductible from the first service you book with us.