tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post4311047867796855914..comments2023-09-23T11:16:00.352+02:00Comments on The Franco-American Flophouse has moved: European Blue Card - Update March 2012Victoria FERAUGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-27278518117656471722012-08-04T19:38:02.399+02:002012-08-04T19:38:02.399+02:00Krish, I fear that you're right. I've ta...Krish, I fear that you're right. I've talked to folks here in Paris (French and some foreigners) and most are not favorable to the idea of the Blue Card. When I explain that it's already in progress, they are very negative about it. Id' be very interested in your experience in other EU countries (mine is really confined to France). Do people (EU natives) know about it? If they do, what do they say? Favorable? Unfavorable?<br /><br />I hear what you are saying about growth. These days I think the countries that are most interesting to migrants are those fast growing places with lots of opportunity: Singapore, Brazil, China....<br /><br />On the other hand we may see more serial migrants. Those who have skills and take advantage of a program to come to a country, stay a few years and them move on. These folks aren't that interested in integrating beyond being able to live and work or naturalizing. they may even choose a completely new country for retirement (those International Retirement Migrants). <br /><br />VictoriaVictoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-31643740910808178532012-08-04T19:15:04.639+02:002012-08-04T19:15:04.639+02:00Dear Victoria, Having lived on this continent for ...Dear Victoria, Having lived on this continent for a fairly long time and spent time in pretty much every country, I consider myself as European as you can get. I understand and know both the history and culture of the major individual countries and see how the EU process is deeply influenced by this.<br /><br />As far as the Blue card system is concerned, I really think that politically it is unsaleable hence the kind of irrational rules from the French (it was easier to naturalize in France without the Blue Card!). <br />Secondly, as the existing ethnic populations from North Africa and Turkey have been integrated so badly into the EU states what is the hope that new foreigners will fare any better? I think a few companies will be able to bring in mid management staff at cheaper salaries (for ex: an existing middle manager in France will likely draw more than 51K atleast in Paris). And for those coming in the lack of growth will eventually get on their nerves. Overall I doubt this is going to be the much touted plan which will save the EU from a slow descent into mediocrity. Although I do hope I am wrong as this is a truly lovely continent with great culture and people! KrishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-90207796884157366972012-08-04T08:17:26.995+02:002012-08-04T08:17:26.995+02:00Hi anonymous, It's a work in progress. Immigr...Hi anonymous, It's a work in progress. Immigration is such a politically sensitive topic right now. There is work behind the scenes (common formats for residency cards, for example). The EU seems to prefer small steps (slow but steady progress) to big initiatives that might scare the public and generate controversy.<br /><br />One of the big stories is harmonisation of degree programs across EU countries. It's called the Bologna process. http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/artikkelit/bologna/index.html?lang=en<br /><br />I'm not sure where they are in the process but what I do know is that I can't find one European in my circle of family and friends who has any idea that this is happening. :-)<br /><br />VictoriaVictoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-73535731503650453702012-08-04T02:14:08.062+02:002012-08-04T02:14:08.062+02:00It's interesting that the French and German co...It's interesting that the French and German conditions for gaining permanent settlement is so different. So the EU harmonisation of rules has clearly not worked. <br /><br />Secondly, there is no grandfathering clause for someone like me who has already lived in Europe for the past 6 years in 3 different countries. But still a reasonable start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-30474141735104844242012-03-27T12:29:36.692+02:002012-03-27T12:29:36.692+02:00@Victoria
Glad I could be of some help :)
@ K
h...@Victoria<br /><br />Glad I could be of some help :)<br /><br />@ K<br /><br />http://www.payscale.com/research/FR/Country=France/Salary might give you a rough idea about french salaries.<br /><br />BestWullarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-15496726564142006572012-03-27T08:23:41.610+02:002012-03-27T08:23:41.610+02:00@Jackie: That is one thing I do miss about the US...@Jackie: That is one thing I do miss about the US, the ability to freelance. Concerning the market, I'm getting getting conflicting information. Some say that the US job market is doing just fine and other says it is too soon to tell. Probably depends on the sector.<br /><br />@Wullar: Again - a really great link. Thanks so much.<br /><br />@K: 50K sounds about right to me for that level of education and experience. Also, remember that the salary sounds high but the cost of living is high too. 50K is well above minimum wage but just look at the price of apartments in a major city here like Paris. Even something as simple as a transit pass will cost from 60 to 100 Euros a month. And then there are the taxes. There is social security (medical and retirement) and income tax. Once you get through paying all that, 50K will not seem all that generous. :-)<br /><br />VictoriaVictoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-72311117754083909072012-03-27T06:31:34.707+02:002012-03-27T06:31:34.707+02:00Hi Victoria,
Thanks for the update again....Hi Victoria,<br /><br /> Thanks for the update again. The figure 51444 really scares me. Do you think its a realistic figure to employ some one (even with a lot of specialized skills)? Is there a place where I can look up salaries offered in France for different job profiles?<br /><br />Thanks again<br />.K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-18241211738543070072012-03-26T19:53:51.627+02:002012-03-26T19:53:51.627+02:00It indeed is very helpful and I was surprised to f...It indeed is very helpful and I was surprised to find so much information - even FAQ's in English! Sure, should be in the update post!Wullarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-31669782928255531902012-03-26T01:09:33.641+02:002012-03-26T01:09:33.641+02:00I first came in the US (back in 1997) on an H1B vi...I first came in the US (back in 1997) on an H1B visa as a translator (considered even more overhead than IT), and got my green card back in 2001. So, before all the big changes to H1B visa rates. I was laid off in 2004, and have been a freelancer since. So, I don't really know what the market is like now. Unless you have a specific question I might be able to answer.Jackie Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-37545027057834136382012-03-25T17:35:49.869+02:002012-03-25T17:35:49.869+02:00Wullar,
Thank you so much - that is an outstandin...Wullar,<br /><br />Thank you so much - that is an outstanding link. I have linked to that site before but not to that particular page. That is really useful and I'll add it to the post above because I think it will help a lot of people.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />VictoriaVictoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-88364415132564888382012-03-25T17:20:33.666+02:002012-03-25T17:20:33.666+02:00Thank you for the update. I am sure this page must...Thank you for the update. I am sure this page must have been linked somewhere on your blog, but in any case http://www.immigration-professionnelle.gouv.fr/en/proc%C3%A9dures/fiche/european-blue-card provides complete detail in English!Wullarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-13479919895729124722012-03-25T10:45:08.653+02:002012-03-25T10:45:08.653+02:00Bonjour Jackie,
I think the minimum salary is one...Bonjour Jackie,<br /><br />I think the minimum salary is one way for the EU to demonstrate that they are trying to protect local workers.<br /><br />That said, I've been working in IT here for many years and I think the salaries have already dropped for certain types of IT skills (basic programmers, for example). I know programmers with *years* of experience who are making much less then 50K Euros a year. <br /><br />What's pushing some salaries down? I think it's primarily French companies that are choosing to outsource a lot of IT tasks and they are asking the SSII's to give them a flat (and cheap) daily rate. IT departments are under enormous pressure to cut costs (IT is overhead). <br /><br />That said there are still some skills that are in very high demand and command top rates: security, experienced project managers, IT managers/executives and so on. <br /><br />Jackie, are you in the US on an H1-B visa (or another type of visa)? If so I'd be very interested in knowing what the market is like there.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />VictoriaVictoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-49237145963699842252012-03-24T21:00:12.917+01:002012-03-24T21:00:12.917+01:00J'ai oublié plus de la moitié de mon commentai...J'ai oublié plus de la moitié de mon commentaire.<br /><br />Hopefully, people holding a blue card won't be accused of driving down salaries. I remember reading a lot of "nasty" stuff about H1B visa holders in the US. However, I can't say I blame them totally. The company that hired me wrote a higher salary on the immigration application than what it actually paid me. Let's see how it works in the EU.Jackie Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-84858612662993737372012-03-24T15:04:11.495+01:002012-03-24T15:04:11.495+01:00I like that there is a pretty high minimum salary....I like that there is a pretty high minimum salary.Jackie Brownnoreply@blogger.com