How French Connections HCB Helped Carolyn Move to France from America
From Idaho to Clugnat: How Carolyn Found Her Forever Home in Rural France And Moved From America To France
Could moving to France be more affordable than staying in the U.S.? For 74-year-old Carolyn, it was. After losing her husband and facing the reality of rising costs in Idaho, she found an unexpected path to peace, purpose and property, through French Connections HCB relocations ervices.
“Your company offers everything anybody needs.” Carolyn said
At 74, Carolyn faced a decision many wouldn’t dare to make. Widowed and living in Idaho on a modest inheritance, she realised that even if she bought a trailer, the ongoing lot rent would eat away what little she had left. For the same cost as just two years of lot rent, she found something far better.
She looked to a place where she had a kinship with. She looked to rural France and found a stone house with land in rural France.
What began as a search for a simple house with a garden led her to a €23,000 stone cottage in Clugnat, a rural French village with just 660 residents. With a south-facing garden, shared well and fruit trees waiting to be planted, it wasn’t just a house. It was her dream retirement home.
So Carolyn reached out to Richard and the team at French Connections HCB to help her secure her visa to move to France from America and we’re proud to say that French Connections HCB helped make it real for her.
From navigating the 47 different types of visas to support with getting vehicles after moving to France, and from emotional support to practical solutions, Carolyn’s journey is proof that starting over is possible at any age, especially with the right people by your side.
We caught up with Carolyn in the small village of Clugnat, France where she invited host Lizzie, into her charming stone home with a garden to tell us about how she is loving life in her new home and how French Connections HCB helped Carolyn move to France from America, every step of the way.
How Did French Connections HCB help Carolyn move from USA to France?
French Connections HCB Helped With Her Visa
French Connections HCB handled Carolyn’s visa application, we took care of the whole process of legally moving to France for her. We provided a bespoke visa package, walked her through the paperwork and ensured her arrival was fully compliant.“I made an appointment with Richard… bought your visa getting package… and then I bought six months of extra help. I was thrilled with their service once I got my visa. I literally escaped out the door with my suitcases before my kids could have me committed!” Carolyn laughs.
Read more about our French immigration and visa services HERE or why not take our quiz to see how we can help you move to France from the USA
French Connections HCB Organised a Car for Her at the Airport
Carolyn’s car was waiting at the airport when she landed in Paris, ready for her to drive herself to her new home in Clugnat. Richard and the team helped source a car that matched her lifestyle, down to the model and manual transmission she preferred.
“Richard asked what kind of car I wanted. I said a Citroën Berlingo or something with room for hauling concrete, paving stones, manure… and they found me a Kangoo. They even had it delivered to the airport. It was there when I landed. The car was wonderful,” Carolyn says. “I haven’t had a lick of problems with it…”
Learn more about our French vehicle services HERE, including driving licence exchange to a French Licence, vehicle registration, car purchase when moving to France, and more!
French Connections HCB Offered Ongoing Relocation Support
We know settling in can sometimes be a little daunting. Beyond the initial visa and car packages, Carolyn paid for six extra months of support, knowing she might run into issues settling in. That decision gave her peace of mind and a safety net while she adjusted to rural life, dealt with missing luggage and initial property challenges.
“French Connections is absolutely amazing. They are helpful, they know what they’re doing, and the services that you guys offer now… your company offers everything anybody needs. Just like me, they can just jump. And if your kids think you’re crazy, do it anyway.”
French Connections HCB Gave Her Confidence To Move From the USA To France
For Carolyn, French Connections HCB wasn’t just about paperwork. It was about confidence. We’re happy to say that our relocation services, designed for Americans who want to move to France, or anyone anywhere in the world who wants to move to France, helped her make the move!
Carolyn explained that working with French Connections HCB was a way to prove, both to herself and her children, that she wasn’t making a foolish move. We had and still have her best interests at heart.
French Connections HCB Let Her Do It Alone
Carolyn didn’t just move to France from the USA. She moved on her own, in her 70s, to a rural village where she didn’t speak the language. Which is incredibly brave! Our team here at French Connections HCB enabled her to do that by removing the obstacles that might stop someone from trying.
“I’ve always jumped before I looked. But this time, I didn’t. Once I found the house, I thought, ‘I don’t know how to get a visa.’ That’s when I found French Connections. They made the move possible. They really did.”
French Connections HCB Helped Carolyn Find Her Dream Home in France, Safely
Carolyn was incredibly brave to move on her own, and is thriving, loving her dream home and dreams of baking bread for the whole town! Our team at French Connections HCB made sure she wasn’t doing it blindly. Once Carolyn had found the house herself, we helped with visa, car and 6 months of initial support to make the transition as smooth as possible.
“Your company offers everything anybody needs. Just like me, they can just jump. And if your kids think you’re crazy, do it anyway!”
Thinking of Moving to France from The USA?
Carolyn’s story shows that it’s never too late to start again and that moving to France from the US is possible with the right help.
Whether you’re planning your retirement in France from the USA, a new adventure or just want to move from the USA to France, French Connections HCB can help you make it happen, legally, practically and confidently. We helped thousands of Americans move to France from the USA and can help you with every aspect of relocating to France.
Take our quiz to see how we can help you move to France HERE: https://frenchconnectionshcb.com/get-started/
Book a FREE chat with our team to explore your options and find out more about moving to France from America: https://calendly.com/d/cq4z-k39-7gw/initial-call
💼 Prefer a 1-to-1 consultation with our Founder, Richard?
The €90 fee is fully refunded when you move forward with any service. Click here: https://calendly.com/richard-frenchconnectionshcb/initial-call-c21