How it all started.

About 10 years ago, a client flew me out to Paris for “creative inspiration” on a project we were working on. As they say, I had a coup de cœur 💓 moment. I first fell in love with Paris, then with all of France.

Each time I returned, I stayed longer, eventually maxing out my Schengen. I then pulled a long stay tourism visa. During that time, my husband and I got serious about making France our long term strategy. I acquired bank accounts here, a permanent cell number, our first apartment. Utility bills in our name! 😂 All thé things that make it feel like a real start.

I returned to the States to apply for (what I hope to be) my final visa: the skills & talents visa that allows me to work legally in France. It took me six months to build my 4-inch thick dossier. But I also feel that my many years of owning/operating my business in the States and years of investing in a life in France is what also earned me the visa. It was a long and expensive road. But after the consulate held onto my passport for almost two months, I received the visa in the mail.

Two weeks later, I was on a plane to France and haven’t been back to the states since. I work and live here full-time, I own a house here, car, a business, a French bulldog (with another on the way!). On July 27th of this year, I earned my multi-year residency card. This was and is the hardest thing I have done. It continues to be a struggle every day. It’s difficult, it takes a long time, it’s not cheap, but it’s 💯 worth it.

Thank you for the questions I receive every day. My goal is to be a resource to all of you who have a similar dream to mine. It is achievable. You can do this.

🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷, forever.