SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 107

nearest French consulate before departure for France. A
sworn statement must declare that the articles have been
owned and used by the importer for at least six months.
Sometimes sales receipts showing ownership of the item
are requested. (These are also helpful in case of burglary,
as insurance companies often demand proof of value.)
The items must be for personal use and may not be sold
within a year.
The application form from the Office des Migrations
Internationales (OMI) must be completed, translated
into French by a traducteur assermenté and certified by
the nearest French consulate. Prior to departure, non-EU
citizens must also obtain at their nearest French consulate
a stamped Certificat de Changement de Domicile (Certificate
of Residence Change), which gives the date of change
of residence.
In addition to checking with your French consulate,
information in English can be found in Paris from the Centre
de Renseignements Douaniers at 84 rue d'Hauteville 75010;
tel: [phone].
Large international movers such as Allied, Mayflower,
United Van Lines and many other large moving companies
are experts in transatlantic shipping. Inquire of a mover
in your area about its international procedures and
affiliates in France and how it can help with bureaucratic
requirements. International carriers can ship and pack
almost any item, including automobiles, and will provide
free estimates. Some will split shipments between the
cheaper sea carriers and the more expensive and faster
air carriers. Prices and services vary, so shop around.
Ensure that the service on both sides is door-to-door and
ask how long it will take for an expected delivery date.
Insurance should cover full value of the belongings. It may
take as little as two weeks for your shipment to arrive from
overseas, or depending on the ports of exit and entry, it
may take up to a month.
To take household possessions out of France, residents
must prove that all tax statements have been filed. Upon
clearance, a quitus fiscal will be issued, allowing the goods