GETTING
SETTLED
Welcome
to Lyon! We know that you feel like there are
a million things to do in order to be settled
in your new home. If you do not yet have a home
in Lyon, we refer you to our real estate section
(***) which offers the most recent offers for
sale and rent, all in English.
After securing a place to live, there is still
a list of things to do before you are able to
function. The following sites will give you
a head start for setting up your electricity,
gas, phone, internet, and mobile phone.
*
Electricity - www.edf.fr Electricité
de France, or EDF (available in English)
Gas - www.gdf.fr Gaz de France, or GDF
Phone - www.francetelecom.fr France Telecom
(available in English)
Internet - www.wanadoo.fr Wanadoo, internet
service partnered with France Telecom
Mobile phone - www.orange.fr Orange, mobile
phone service partnered with France Telecom
*
Carte de Séjour
If you will be staying in France longer than
three months, you are required to obtain a Carte
de Séjour, also called a Titre de Séjour
from the Préfecture in Lyon. The requirements
differ for EU members.
Lyon
- Préfecture du Rhône
14 bis quai Général Sarrail
Carte de séjour, car registration, drivers
license
Open 9h - 15h30, Monday - Friday (July and Aug.:
9h - 11h45, 13h30 - 15h30)
By public transportation, take Bus 23 - 28 -
27 - 18 - 1 to Square Jussieu
Lyon
- Préfecture du Rhône for foreign
students
est situé 19 rue Rabelais LYON 3ème
Open 9h -12h30, 14h - 15h30
*
Insurance
One of the requirements for getting your Carte
de Séjour is proof of insurance coverage
while in France. Before coming to Lyon, check
with your current insurance carrier to see if
you will be covered in France and if so be sure
to have the required documentation and translations
for you and your family members.
If you are not covered in France, we suggest
finding a short-term insurance provider until
you are settled in France and able to shop around.
Many such insurance plans are available with
excellent coverage.
(****)
*
Embassy and Consulate information
US
Consulate in Lyon
Adr. : 1 quai Jules Courmont - 69002 Lyon
Tel : 04.78.38.36.88
Fax : 04.72.41.71.81
Canadian
Honorary Consulate
Adr. : 21, rue Bourgelat - 69002 Lyon
Tel : 04.72.77.64.07
Fax : 04.72.77.65.09
E-mail : consulatcanadalyon@wanadoo.fr
US
Embassy in Paris
Adr. : 2, avenue Gabriel - 75008 Paris
Tel : 01.43.12.22.22
Fax : 01.42.66.97.83
Web : http://www.amb-usa.fr
Australian
Embassy and Consulate functions in Paris
Adr. : 4, rue Jean Rey
75015 Paris
Tel : 01.40.59.33.00
Fax : 01.40.59.33.10
Web : http://www.austgov.fr
E-mail : Information.Paris@dfat.gov.au
Canadian
Embassy and Consulate functions in Paris
Adr. : 35-37, avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris
Tel : 01.44.43.29.00
Fax : 01.44 43 29 99
Web : http://www.amb-canada.fr
E-mail : paris@international.gc.ca
*Getting
around Lyon
France
has excellent public transportation which serves
to your advantage when learning your way around
Lyon. Be sure to keep a watchful eye for announcements
of “grèves,” or “perturbations”
when the city transportation workers plan to
go on strike.
Lyon
- www.tcl.fr
*
Banking
Opening
a bank account in France may be a challenge
depending on which bank you choose. These questions
might help you in your decision.
-
Does the financial adviser speak English?
- Can you receive bank statements in English?
- Can money be transferred abroad and what charges
are involved?
- Is there a branch near your home and/or work?
- Is the bank open on Saturdays and Mondays?
To
open a bank account, you’ll need to take
with you:
- proof of address (e.g. a recent electricity
or phone bill)
- proof of identity (e.g. your passport or carte
de séjour)
- an employer’s reference, last salary
slip, or proof of enrollment in a school
It
is not unknown for banks to make opening an
account a rather difficult and time consuming
process. As a rule, you will need to meet with
a bank’s adviser to discuss your social
and professional status, who will then advise
you on how best to meet your financial needs.
And remember, no matter how many how many obstacles
you encounter along the way, as a resident of
France you’re still a valued customer.
Nearly all banks offer debit cards, foreign
exchange facilities, traveler’s checks,
and savings accounts. It is worth noting that
there might be charges varying from bank to
bank for withdrawals and payment cards.
Banking terms: a French-English glossary
CB
or carte bancaire ..................................................
bank card
Carte de retraite .......................................................
cash card
Compte (d’) épargne .................................................
savings account
Carnet de chèque/chèquier ........................................
checkbook
Compte ...................................................................
account
Compte chèque ........................................................
checking account
Découvert ................................................................
overdraft
Encaisser un chèque .................................................
cash a check
Prélèvement ............................................................
withdrawal
Relevé bancaire ........................................................
bank statement
Relevé d’identité bancaire
(RIB) ................................. slip
giving bank account details
Solde ......................................................................
balance
Versement d’espèces ................................................
cash deposit
Virement ponctuel ....................................................
bank transfer
Virement automatique ..............................................
standing order
Ordre de virement ....................................................
banker’s orders
Consultation des comptes .........................................
online banking
* French School System
Should
you choose to enroll your children in the local
French schools, be sure to familiarize yourself
with the organization, terminology, and grading
system. To get you started, these are the grade
levels according to the French system. Below
is a list of private, international schools
in Lyon.
MATERNELLE
:
3 years, three sections : petite, moyenne, and
grande
3 to 6 years old
PRIMAIRE
:
5 years, grades called CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2
6 to 11 years old
COLLEGE
:
4 years, grades called sixième, cinquième,
quatrième, and troisième
11 to 15 years old
LYCEE
:
3 years, grades called seconde, première,
and terminale
BACCALAUREAT
15 to 18 years
International
Schools in Lyon
Ecole
Bilingue Greenfield
14 rue da la Mairie, 69660, Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or,
France
Tel: +33 (0)4 72 27 87 80
Email: greenfield@wanadoo.fr
Website: www.greenfield.fr
Cité
Scolaire Internationale Lyon
Section Anglophone, 2 Place de Montréal,
69361, Lyon, Cedex 07, France
Tel: +33 (0)4 78 69 60 06
Email: donnamp@wanadoo.fr
Website: www2.ac-lyon.fr/etab/lycees/lyc-69/csi/accueil.html
International
School of Lyon
80 chemin du Grand Roule, 69110 Ste Foy les
Lyon, Lyon, France
Tel: +33 (0)4 26 68 70 08
Email: info@islyon.org
* Employment
Finding a job in France can be quite challenging,
so we have created a listing of bilingual job
opportunities in Lyon. (****) Keep in mind that
your employment status will affect your visa
status. The following site will give you information
on required visas depending on your citizenship,
employment status, and duration of your stay
in France.
http://www.diplomatie.fr
*
French Holidays
(2005)
(2006)
1 January 1 January New Year’s Day
25 March 14 April Good Friday
27 March 16 April Easter
1 May 1 May Labor Day
8 May 8 May WWII Victory Day
15 May 4 June Pentecost
14 July 14 July Bastille Day
15 August 15 August Assumption
1 November 1 November All Saints Day
11 November 11 November Armistice Day
25 December 25 December Christmas Day
