From Wikipedia:

Once Were Warriors is a 1994 New Zealand tragedy film based on New Zealand author Alan Duff’s bestselling 1990 first novel. The film tells the story of the Heke family, an urban Māori whānau living in South Auckland, and their problems with poverty, tobacco, gambling, drugs, alcoholism, and domestic violence, mostly brought on by the patriarch, Jake. It explores the detrimental effects of the colonisation of New Zealand suffered by Māori, and the survival of Māori culture against all odds.

I have been deeply interested for years in the Māori culture, from its distant origins in a tribal group from South-East Asia, today China, which used long outrigger canoes to go from island to island and populate from Hawaii to New Zealand.

This movie is very well done. The Polynesian culture that Māori is part of has been making men warriors for 6,000 years. That is the aspect that interests me today. The father, Jake, is constantly looking for a fight to demonstrate how strong he is. His two sons are crushed by such a father. Each of them dives in his own way into the ancestral culture to become a warrior able to stand up to the father and be respected. Most rugby fans, at least once in their life, have seen the New Zealand team play internationally. The majority of the players are Māori. They prepare themselves on the field by performing a haka.

From Wikipedia:

Haka (/ˈhɑːkə/; singular and plural haka, in both Māori and New Zealand English) are a variety of ceremonial dances in Māori culture. A performance art, haka is often performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment. Haka have been traditionally performed by both men and women for a variety of social functions within Māori culture. They are performed to welcome distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements, occasions, or funerals.

Originally, it was a warrior song asking the gods for victory. Members of opposing teams say that it is scary to witness and gives the NZ team a significant psychological advantage.

This leads me to question how one defines a warrior. Is a soldier a warrior? Does military training produce a warrior or just a skilled soldier? Each nation is different, but some have a long tradition promoting a fighting spirit, often mixed with duty to protect the clan, ethnicity, or group. Such a country could be considered a nation of warriors.

Persia, now Iran, has been a great nation for some three millennia and is mentioned in the Old Testament. In recent times, there was an Iran-Iraq war from September 22, 1980, to August 20, 1988. Iraq was heavily supported by the monarchies of the Middle East, the USA, and others, while Iran was more isolated. The invasion was stopped right away, and Iran ended up not giving up any of its territory. Persia, now Iran, is a nation of warriors. I do not doubt that the best American forces on the ground are capable of overcoming the Iranian military forces, but the American casualties would be huge.

IMMIGRATION IDs ARE BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE
Immigrants rarely strike or demonstrate about their living and working conditions. So, for France, increasing the cost of immigration documentation is politically safe. Immigrants who have not been naturalized do not vote and thus have no leverage even at the ballot box. But since the vast majority of immigrants have lower-salaried jobs with lower pay, an increase in renewal costs of 50€ or 100€ can put a serious strain on their budget.

Here is the information on the increases as conveyed by the government.

The standard fee for initial issuance of temporary residence permits (CST), multi-year residence permits (CSP), and resident cards (CR), previously 200 euros, has been increased to 300 euros.

The reduced fee for initial issuance of CSTs, CSPs, and CRs to certain categories of foreign nationals increased from 50 euros to 100 euros. As before, this rate applies to students and similar categories (interns, au pairs, job seekers), recipients of accident and health insurance benefits, beneficiaries of family reunification, and seasonal workers.

The stamp duty for the issuance, renewal, replacement, or modification of residence permits and resident cards has doubled, from €25 to €50.

The fee for a long-stay visa serving as a residence permit or exempting the holder from the requirement for a residence permit increased from €200 to €300 (or from €50 to €100 for the reduced rate).

The fee for a regularization visa, applicable to foreigners who have entered or are residing in the country illegally, increased from €200 to €300 (including a non-refundable portion due upon filing the regularization application, which rose from €50 to €100).

A new fee of €100 has been introduced for the issuance and renewal of a provisional residence permit (APS), with two exceptions (APS for those exiting prostitution and APS for beneficiaries of temporary protection).

The stamp duty applicable to applications for naturalization, applications for reinstatement of French nationality, and declarations of acquisition of nationality increased from €55 to €255.

SCANDINAVIAN ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS SERVE IN THE MILITARY AND CAN BE ON ACTIVE DUTY
As I drafted this issue, the war in the Middle East was escalating daily with no apparent end in sight. In my Facebook feed, I get a lot of posts about the Scandinavian royals, as I have expressed interest in the Danish royal family and especially Queen Margrethe II when she stepped down. I attended the New Year’s Eve royal concert in Copenhagen with my wife and my cousin’s family. At midnight, the queen gave a speech, shown on a screen in the concert hall, informing the country that she was stepping down. I always liked her, and not just because she married a Frenchman, Prince Henrik of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat. I greatly admire what she is doing for her country now that she is free of the major official duties of being queen.

I loosely followed 19-year-old Danish Crown Prince Christian’s military service as he completed training and qualified for the Guards Hussar in 2025. He joined the regiment in full capacity in February 2026. Intrigued, I checked the other Scandinavian royal families and saw similar things happening.

Wikipedia
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (Sweden)
He completed his military service at the Amphibious Battalion at Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment as a combat boat commander (Combat Boat 90) in the autumn of 2000. In December 2002, Carl Philip was promoted to second lieutenant, and in 2004 to the rank of lieutenant in the Swedish Amphibious Corps. In 2007 and 2008 he went to the Swedish Defence University. … After that course, he was appointed captain. On 1 October 2014, Carl Philip achieved the rank of major.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
In September 2024, the Norwegian Royal Court announced that Ingrid Alexandra served as a gunner on a CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle. The Court also announced that she extended her military service to 15 months. She completed her military service on 4 April 2025.

A well-known example outside of Scandinavia concerns Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. He completed officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned as a cornet in the Blues and Royals. He served briefly alongside his elder brother, William, Prince of Wales. He was deployed twice on active service in Afghanistan: for ten weeks in Helmand Province in 2007–08, and for twenty weeks with the Army Air Corps in 2012–13. His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, served during WWII in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as an ambulance driver.

Too often, we think of princes and princesses living lavishly in castles, having the easiest possible time in life. In recent generations, though, princes and princesses serve in uniform, are trained for combat, and are ready to be deployed when needed.

Maybe it is time to rewrite the fairy tales we read to our children to reflect this change in the world. Maybe the executives of some countries I have in mind should not deploy military personnel so readily.

FACTURES ELECTRONIQUES: GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION & REALITY
Many clients have asked me about messages they are getting from the French tax offices as well as several organizations. Everybody is talking about September 2026 as the deadline to adopt the new electronic billing procedure. Consultants working alone without employees – who make up most of my clientele – have an extra year, until September 2027, to comply.

Considering what is at stake and how much disruption this change will create, it is worth describing and warning people about what is coming.

The goal is simple. French law heavily regulates business invoices. Most small businesses and maybe some mid-size businesses do not comply with the law. Thus, the idea is that forcing everybody to use the same software to create invoices will fix the problem. But organizing this new system is leading to a long list of problems for which, as far as I have heard, there are not yet any solutions.

The most common issue is that the electronic invoice must be issued in French, as the companies issuing them are French businesses. Some of my clients have nearly 100% of their clientele in the USA and so must be able to invoice in English, or in both languages in some cases. Will the software allow a second language?

Another problem is that many consultants are required to use clients’ software so their invoices comply with the clients’ systems. Will the French administration accept that there are two sets of invoices? I doubt it.

Consultants serving private individuals are accustomed to clients sometimes paying a few cents less than the amount due because of exchange-rate fluctuations, loss of focus, simply getting the amount wrong, routing it to the wrong bank account, and so on. Currently, it is easy to destroy an invoice and generate a new one matching the reality.

The new official software, however, does not allow for changing anything. Any discrepancy will lead to a problematic accounting situation, multiplying what one’s accountant must record and hence increasing the fee owed. Additionally, the software itself is quite expensive, which could deter anyone crazy enough to want to master it and retain some control over their accounting.

What I consider to be the worst consequence linked to the complexity of the new software is that all micro enterprises will need to hire an accountant.

The government’s official reason for the change is to help businesses achieve legal and clean accounting. I see an obvious desire to control the auto-entrepreneur type of business, based on an assumption that they cheat and hide some income.

I am optimistic that the lobbies protecting tiny businesses will be fighting this legislation at full strength in an effort to exclude businesses that have no employees or are exempt from paying TVA, for example.

We will see. My advice is that even though the deadline is September 2027, it’s a good idea to get to know what the new system is and what it means in terms of change for most people.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD ON MARCH 15 AND 22
There has been a lot of talk about which parties are the real winners in the last elections. Without wanting to be provocative, I would say instead that all parties involved in the elections lost in terms of what their objectives were. I wrote the following about these elections in my December 2025 column.

“As of today, the identity of the (progressive) candidate is still unknown, and the different factions are incapable of agreeing on who should lead the campaign and become the next mayor. The conservative side seems to have made its choice: Ms. Rachida Dati, the current mayor of the 7th arrondissement. So, depending on the polls, her chances of victory would appear to lie between possible and probable. This having been said, she is under criminal investigation for some serious felonies, and could be stripped of her right to be elected.”

The Socialist Party’s candidate, in the end, was Emmanuel Grégoire, a previously obscure politician at the national level. As the progressive candidate, he went on to win the election. Adding the far left candidate’s result, that side got 58.48% of the vote, while Dati received only 41.52%.

Objectively, the Parisian population is not that leftist. But many specialists believe that, in the second round, conservative voters preferred the socialist candidate over the conservative one, explaining the wide gap. I believe one reason is that Dati’s trial is scheduled for September 16–28 at the Paris Criminal Court. If she is convicted, the principal sentence she faces is ten years in prison for passive corruption and a fine of 450,000 euros (half of the amount in dispute) for receiving stolen property. She is also subject to an additional penalty of a five-year ban on holding public office. In short, why vote for a candidate who may be barred from being the mayor a year or so later? The office does not come with absolute immunity.

A good friend asked me to expand on my idea that all the parties lost, as it sounds odd at best, if not insane. I admit that some further explanation is required.

For centuries, starting with the early days of the 1789 French Revolution, the French political spectrum has been made up of four factions:

The nationalistic Conservatives focus on the interests of France and the French. Today, it is represented by the Le Pen party, the Rassemblement national (RN), and those with similar views. The traditional leaders of this faction have pretty much all disappeared, so the extremist RN party has taken their place.

The internationalist Conservatives consider treaties, alliances, and domestic policy to be the best way to take care of people living in France. They include most of the conservative French presidents of the Fifth Republic. Of course, they believe that helping businesses helps the people later on. Today, the most visible member of this faction is Edouard Phillipe and his party, Horizons.

The internationalist Liberals have employee interests in mind, and their domestic policy is mixed with international treaties. The Socialist Party has upheld this platform for 70 years. The new Parisian mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, has today become probably the best-known leader of this faction.

The nationalistic Leftists used to be represented by the Communist Party, and the majority of its leaders also led France’s largest union in those days, the CGT, so they fought for their members. Today, this faction has changed almost beyond recognition. It is represented by La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, but there is wide agreement that LFI is too extreme to fit into the traditional spectrum.

President Emmanuel Macron’s political party was meant to hold a kind of middle ground on this spectrum, but it has now shrunk to virtually nothing. So in a way, we are back to the traditional four factions. The two traditional “internationalist” parties remain prominent but are losing ground. The extreme far right and far left received a lot of votes in the recent elections, but did not win most large cities. They are still on the fringe. After that explanation, I hope my comment – that all parties involved in the elections lost in terms of what their objectives were – makes a lot more sense.

WHEN HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES ARE SCHENGEN-COMPLIANT
Health insurance classified as “Schengen compliant” may not offer coverage as good as I had thought. Some policies seem to be “comprehensive” only until you look at the fine print.

Below are three situations people face when they ask for an immigration visa, for which a health insurance policy is a key document. The strategies needed will depend on the applicant’s needs, age, and plans.

1 – The applicant is going to France to work
The public insurance kicks in almost immediately, so one can choose minimal coverage for the couple of weeks or so that it will take for the public coverage to begin.

2 – The applicant has excellent international coverage from the USA
The policy required to comply with the Schengen visa can once again be minimal, since it is unlikely ever to be used.

3 – The applicant is getting a visiteur immigration visa
It is crucial to be aware of differences in the coverage and in the willingness of the insurance company to provide the needed insurance. There are two subcategories here:
a – The applicant will sign up with CPAM to obtain public coverage as soon as possible. There is a double delay, both in the start of public coverage (three months after landing in France) and in the issuance of proof that the file is being worked on. Since a carte vitale is not issued until one has a definitive French social security number, the process can take months or even a year or more. There is a common misconception on social media that everything is settled after a three-month presence in France. But that period is just the time it takes to have the right to send in the file; it is the beginning of the procedure, not the end. I strongly advise people in this situation to choose good comprehensive coverage. French medical procedures are cheaper than in the USA, but a day in the emergency room still costs about 1,370 euros.

b – The applicant chooses to retain private health coverage, in which case the policy chosen must be truly comprehensive, and the company chosen must have an excellent reputation for providing coverage right away without an out-of-pocket even if it reimburses later.

Recently, one of my clients needed a serious operation. It took about four months between the discovery of the condition and the date of the operation, as nothing could be scheduled during the summer vacation. The insurance company informed my client the day before the surgery that it would not cover the operation. Tiny print in the policy stated that coverage only existed if the surgery occurred two days, 48h, after discovery of the condition. The entire cost ended up being nearly 20,000 euros. This is a scam, not a comprehensive policy. The company proudly stated in its condescending answer to my letter that the policy was fully Schengen compliant and that they did absolutely nothing wrong. The insured had signed and was aware of the terms and conditions of the policy. French private insurance companies can be just as bad as American ones.

FRENCH INCOME TAX DECLARATION TIME HAS STARTED
I always send revised information on the tax schedule, as the dates change every year.

The paper version of the 2025 income declaration must be filed in France by midnight on May 20, 2026. The declaration forms will be available at www.impots.gouv.fr starting on April 9. That is also the day you can start filing your declaration on the same website. To do so, you need a tax ID number (numéro fiscal) and a password.

If you are making your first income declaration to the French tax office, you should do so using the paper form and check the “first time” box on the form (CERFA #2042) where it says “Vous déposez une déclaration pour la première fois cochez” (“Check here if this is your first declaration”). You can get the tax office to give you the information needed to declare for the first time electronically, but I advise against it because using paper documents makes it easier to see and understand how the system works.

The deadline for online declarations is later than that for paper declarations. The schedule depends on your postal code:
• Départements 01 to 19 must file by midnight on Thursday, May 22.
• Départements 20 to 54 by May 28.
• Départements 55 and up by June 5.

Reminder: if you are self-employed in France, the quarterly declarations sent to URSSAF do not constitute income tax declarations, which must be sent to the tax office. Many foreigners are under the mistaken impression that the quarterly declarations are their only fiscal obligation.

You are a French fiscal resident if you:
• stay in France 183 days in a calendar year, whether you have legal immigration status or not
• have immediate family members (spouse and/or minor children) who live in France and therefore are French fiscal residents
• have a French employer
• run a French business, even something like tutoring schoolchildren in English.

Occasionally, you may have a year with no tax owed to France, either because you only had foreign income not taxed in France or because your taxable income was too low. Make sure you continue to declare. Otherwise, this can cause a problem, such as the prefecture wanting to see your income tax bill (avis d’imposition sur le revenue), as can happen with many types of immigration status.

Unlike in the USA, filing is a two-step process. The income declaration is sent in, with no payment attached. Then, starting in August, the tax office issues the avis d’imposition sur le revenu based on the declaration, and the deadline to pay the income tax is September 15.

Many organizations in France, in both the public and private sectors, may require you to furnish an avis d’imposition. For example, the Caisse d’allocations familiale (family subsidy bureau) uses this document, among others, to decide if applicants deserve aid and, if so, how much.

MY FEES WILL INCREASE ON SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026
I will be increasing my fees by 20% at the beginning of the next scholastic year, after the 2026 summer vacation. Here are the new rates:
1st meeting/1st work: 420€ euros for 2 hours
Extra hour(s): 180 euros per hour
Handling mail at my office: 50 euros per month
Surcharge for out-of-office meetings: 90 euros, assuming less than 30 minutes’ transportation
Surcharge for meetings and phone calls at the client’s request after 7PM weekdays, all weekend, on national French holidays, and during vacations: 30%
Clients paying by wire to an American account must add $20 to the fee to cover the bank charge for processing a wire transfer.
Bounced checks incur a charge of $20 or 20 euros.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN JUNE 2026
The SHIP studio is currently available on June 1st if the current tenant does not extend the lease. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately, as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions, I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer, from the evening of Friday, July 3rd, to the morning of Monday, August 24th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France, specifically in Burgundy.

Best regards,

QUESTION

CHANGING IMMIGRATION STATUS FROM SALARIÉ DÉTACHÉ ICT TO VISITEUR

My American employer managed to get me a carte de séjour pluriannuelle as a salarié détaché ICT. That carte de sejour will expire on May 16, 2026. My employer told me it is no longer valid because I retired as of July 31 last year.How should I proceed to obtain a new permit that will allow me to continue living legally in France? I have been living in Paris for a long time, since before I was hired. All this time, I have been living with my French partner at her place in Paris. The HR of my employer last summer told me that I should have left France the day I retired. They told me that I needed to apply for a new visa at the French consulate in the U.S. Clearly, I want to change my status even to visiteur if this is all I can get with the Paris prefecture. Let me know if this can be done, even though I am not married or PACSed to her.

QUESTION

RENEWING SELF-EMPLOYED PROFESSION LIBERALE STATUS

I have been living in France for several years. I am trying to renew a four-year carte de séjour as an independent. It expired at the end of July 2025, and I have not heard much from the prefecture.
My first question is, can I ask for the carte de résident while I wait for their answer, as I will have been a resident for way over five years?
Is it possible to be denied? My annual sales have been about €30,000 for the last three years.
I have sent all my URSSAF declarations since 2020, as I entered with the self-employed visa. This is all the income declarations I need to do. Can I apply for another type of visa if this one fails, knowing that I am single?By the way, I do my billing in the USA, and I get paid into my American account.

Below is a quote from my March 2020 issue.

From Wikipedia:

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is a song by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the band’s 1976 album Agents of Fortune.

Also from Wikipedia:
Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper causes the victim’s death by coming to collect that person’s soul. Other beliefs hold that the Spectre of Death is only a psychopomp, serving to sever the last ties between the soul and the body, and to guide the deceased to the afterlife, without having any control over when or how the victim dies.

I have been listening to Blue Öyster Cult since my first year in high school, and I probably have most of their albums. I find their music a lot more eclectic than the vast majority of hard-rock bands.

The world is now looking with great fear at the rapid spread of the coronavirus from one country to the next. Those who have some historical perspective might think of the Black Plague, the terrifying bubonic plague pandemic that swept through Asia, Europe, and Africa in the 14th century, killing an estimated 50 million people. The term la Grande Faucheuse, French for the Grim Reaper, dates from that time. It has been over a century since the last major pandemic: the Spanish flu at the end of World War I, which lasted from January 1918 to December 1920.

The above is what I published in my March 2020 issue as I was catching the worldwide fear of COVID and the silent death going through the neighborhood. At that time, I focused on “The Reaper.” For over 30 years, I have had a policy not to use the same title twice. This is only the second time I have done it. This time, I am focusing on “Don’t Fear.”

Some people are so immersed in faith that they take Psalm 23 literally: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, and especially verse 4: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

But other people are subject to fear and need ways to handle it. Fear is a real emotion with huge effects and sometimes devastating consequences. The lavish decades that followed WWII are now gone for good. Parents fear that their children will never enjoy the careers and the good lives they had. Entering the job market is a challenge; good jobs are scarce, and working conditions for employees are poor. Meanwhile, in the news, we hear about war in many countries and a high level of violence in our communities. In some places, people even die because of their political ideas.

In France, poll after poll, including those done by Amnesty International, has shown that the number of people willing to demonstrate has been shrinking for the last ten years or so. This trend has become a lot more visible with the rise of the “Gilets Jaunes” grassroots opposition to the government and the extreme violence on both sides, with the use of excessive police force being well documented. A majority of French people (61%) feared that violent protests would erupt following the results of the early legislative elections in 2024, according to a CSA Institute poll for CNEWS, Europe 1, and the Journal du Dimanche published on June 27, 2024. France used to be known for putting together demonstrations blocking the boulevards of eastern Paris in no time, with bands, food vendors, and complete families attending. Those days are gone.

The American situation is different and always has been. No parallel can be made. Even so, American political violence has skyrocketed in the last few years, and I do not need to go into detail on this situation. Some fear sending their children to school, going to work in construction, or going shopping in certain neighborhoods when large policing forces are present in town.

There is no point in discussing whether the current level of fear is reasonable. In both France and the USA, we are dealing mostly with fear of the policing forces dedicated to maintaining law and order. The media talks about other Western countries facing similar circumstances, but I do not know enough about them. The situation in the USA and France raises the question of how the current case came about, since the mission of these police forces is to enforce law and order, to protect, to secure premises, and therefore to offer people a safe public place.

There is also a deepening distrust of the government and its various administrative divisions. Again, their mission is to serve the public, offering help and support. They should be popular. But as time goes on and suspicion of fraud has grown, the scrutiny embedded in administrative procedures has made people feel as if they are treated like criminals.

There are commonly three types of response to fear. The first is obedience, excessive caution, and focusing on staying safe. The second is panic, incoherent behavior, and survival mode, which often leads to a far worse situation. The third one is overcoming fear, refusing to bend in the face of violence, and confronting the powers that nourish fear. Many observers have pointed out how large crowds in Minneapolis have overcome their fear and expressed their views, knowing the danger they faced.

THE POLICY OF FEAR USED BY AUTOCRATIC REGIMES
WIKIPEDIA
A dictatorship is a form of government that is characterized by a leader who holds absolute or near-absolute political power. Politics in a dictatorship are controlled by a dictator, and they are facilitated through an inner circle of elites that includes advisers, generals, and other high-ranking officials. The dictator maintains control by influencing and appeasing the inner circle and repressing any opposition, which may include rival political parties, armed resistance, or disloyal members of the dictator’s inner circle. Dictatorships can be formed by a military coup that overthrows the previous government through force, or they can be formed by a self-coup in which elected leaders make their rule permanent. Dictatorships are authoritarian or totalitarian, and they can be classified as military dictatorships, one-party dictatorships, and personalist dictatorships.

One thing that all such governments do as soon as possible is to spy on citizens to detect, then identify, voices of dissent to keep these people under surveillance and perhaps eventually arrested, usually with no court hearing or public sentencing. Under Stalin and Hitler, or today, Putin in Russia and Xi in China, surveillance is total, so no dissenters talk openly or take known risks. The sophistication of current means of control increases the capacity for surveillance. There is no need to tap phones. Those in control have access to text messages and emails, and posts on social media, so they know exactly what each individual says. In China, everybody knows that all these media are totally controlled.

The situation in the USA is different. Many people question how far police surveillance of social media, emails, and messages goes. In some cases, for instance, where lawsuits have been brought against people for flimsy reasons, it is clear that there has been serious digging to come up with minor illegal acts and prosecute people on those grounds. When I lived in the USA, people felt safe because they knew that neither the public nor the private sector could spy on them, thanks to strict limits of the law and the Department of Justice enforcing the law. When people owned firearms, it was more about feeling safe. Many feared losing their job or needing to go to the hospital, as they were uninsured. In addition, there was profiling of minorities, which exposed them to higher risks – that was true then and is still true today.

The current situation in the USA is the result of an acknowledged political choice. As I suggested above, the current French government follows the same kind of policy, albeit on a much smaller scale. In contrast, Spain, for example, has today chosen a different political orientation.

SPANISH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REGULARIZE 500,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
BBC, January 27th, 2026
The Spanish government has announced a plan to legalize the status of undocumented migrants, a measure expected to benefit at least half a million people. Regularization will be available to foreign nationals who do not have a criminal record and can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months prior to 31 December 2025. “This is a historic day for our country,” said Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister of inclusion, social security, and migration. The measure will provide beneficiaries with an initial one-year residence permit, which can then be extended. Requests for legalization are expected to begin in April, and the process will remain open until the end of June.

“We are reinforcing a migratory model based on human rights, integration, co-existence, and which is compatible with economic growth and social cohesion,” Saiz said. Spain has seen a large influx of migrants in recent years, mainly from Latin America. The conservative think-tank Funcas found that the number of undocumented migrants in Spain had risen from 107,409 in 2017 to 837,938 in 2025 – an eight-fold increase.The highest number of undocumented arrivals currently living in Spain is believed to be from Colombia, Peru, and Honduras. Spain’s socialist-led coalition government has been an outlier on this issue among the larger European nations, underlining the importance of migrants for the economy. The country has been outperforming the other main EU economies in recent years, posting expected growth of close to 3% in 2025. Unemployment, a longstanding weakness of the Spanish economy, has dipped below 10% for the first time since 2008, according to figures released on Tuesday.

******************

I wanted to start this section with a quote from a respected media outlet so that no one would think this is fake news, which can happen more often than we would like. Viewed in the context of the immigration policies of the current American and French administrations, the Spanish one may seem at best insane, and at worst, suicidal for the country. Yet France, Italy, and Spain, among countries in Europe, have fairly regularly opened the way to grant illegal immigrants a legal stay. The two main reasons to do so may appear very different, but I believe they can be seen as pretty much the same.

The first is that the economy is doing well, and there is a need for new workers. Thus, the labor market can absorb these new legal immigrants without harming businesses. The new workers need to pay taxes, comply with legal limitations on hours worked, and so on. This is the motivation explained above.

The second reason is that the government deems the stable illegal population to be so large that there is an imbalance that must be addressed. Giving these people a legal stay diminishes the risk associated with having illegal immigrants in the workforce. This, in turn, improves their job security and health coverage, thus ending the main abuses illegal immigrants endure.

Interestingly enough, the Italian and French governments are currently making it more difficult to get a legal stay through regularization.

France’s Ministry of the Interior announced on January 27th that the country had issued 384,230 initial residence permits last year, a year-on-year increase of 11.2%, but that the number of regularizations had fallen by 10.1%. The decision to make it more difficult to regularize one’s immigration status is totally political. It is based on making illegal immigrants look like bad people who do not deserve legal status. The French government is unpopular, as is President Macron, and stirring up fear on various issues is seen as a possible way to reduce their unpopularity.

Clearly, it is always a political choice to have policies based on fear. This brings up another topic. The current American administration depicts almost all immigrants as criminals, dangerous people who destroy the well-being of their neighbors. For several weeks, people in Minneapolis have overcome their fear of the massive policing forces’ presence on the city streets. They rejected the government’s position and flooded the media, especially social media, with videos of what was being done to non-American citizens, some of whom had legal stays, as well as American citizens. Some American citizens were killed, but it did not dampen the protests, which only grew. These people overcame their fear of what could happen to them if they took action.

AMERICAN CITIZENS DEALING WITH DUAL NATIONALITY
My family has experienced dual nationality for over four generations. The youngest are my children. My paternal grandmother was born Spanish in Morocco and naturalized French. When my daughter was born in 1991, my wife went to the American Embassy to register her birth as an American citizen. She was warned against her becoming French through naturalization. Even though the regulation had changed in 1986, decreasing the risk of losing American citizenship upon naturalization, she met women telling horrid stories about what happened to them. Before the 1986 change, an American citizen had to testify in court that if they became French, they would not renounce their American citizenship. To win such a court case, the person had to prove that they never took advantage of the prerogatives of being French, thus in many ways defeating the purpose of being naturalized. The US federal administration later shifted the burden of proof away from the individual. This made it much safer, as the guidelines for challenging such people in court were based on whether obtaining the new citizenship meant automatically losing the previous one, or whether the adopted country was considered an enemy of the USA.

Now, there is proposed legislation in Congress that would take the rights of the American people backward, to a situation worse than what existed prior to 1986. I see two different issues with the proposed change.

1 – The vast majority of Western countries do not mind dual nationality. They view dual nationals as if they only held that country’s nationality. If complications arise from being a dual national, most countries let these people deal with them. By contrast, countries that monitor the obtaining of a second nationality are afraid of losing control of their population; they idealize their own nationality to keep the country homogeneous. Such governments show insecurity about their country’s future and its possible transformation. The current American administration sanctifies American nationality when it deals with well-off children on American soil, hoping such children will become “good” grown-ups sharing pre-Civil Rights Movement values.

2 – In Western Europe, most countries allow multiple nationalities with little if any oversight as to what the other nationalities are. Nationality may be acquired through marrying a national, by establishing a long enough residency, or by being born in the country. Most countries, like the USA, have requirements other than just bona fide five-year residency. Even Germany, which for a long time only recognized blood affiliation, now accepts dual nationality linked to the birthright of the soil (the legal term – ius soli). Historical reasons explain why, and I am happy that they are moving away from the old policy.

The bottom line is this. When a country believes it can integrate and assimilate an immigration flow, the path to citizenship is simpler, and dual nationality is a given. When the country is afraid of the consequences of an immigration flow, it tightens the naturalization requirements to preserve what it considers its traditional values. Over the last few decades, the naturalization procedure in the USA has become increasingly difficult, with more and more requirements. Lately, some ceremonies have been cancelled, preventing people from becoming Americans. Disputing American citizenship by birth in the USA follows the same logic.

George Clooney and his family became French. He openly admits that his level of French is insufficient to meet the minimum required for naturalization. I believed he submitted two files with his spouse, a native French speaker (she was born Lebanese), and their children also speak French well. On the screen, he is the boss. In this situation, he is the weak link. Administrative logic would insist that the rest of his family could be naturalized, but not him. Therefore, he needed and got preferential treatment. I do not see this as a big deal. The important thing to me is that he will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the fight against automatic loss of American citizenship, as in the proposal mentioned above. This issue will now be personal; it will affect him right away. Can anyone imagine George Clooney not being an American icon?

THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON’S DEATH
The Rev. Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. I remember his two presidential campaigns. On March 12, 1995, he preached at the American Church in Paris, and I was there. I have a vivid memory of his sermon, which lasted for a long time; my recollection is that it was close to an hour. He was passionate and engaged. What I remember most was that his sermon was almost a political speech, well structured, and that he went back to his main theme on a regular basis, and made sure the congregation was following what he said. He was a fantastic speaker in that regard.

He came to preach a second time on August 9th, 2009. The ACP monthly magazine, the Spire, which was still published at that time, said: “What a privilege this morning to shake hands with Jesse Jackson. He preached at the American Church in Paris, on his way from Chicago to the Ivory Coast. He made an impassioned call for peace in the world, calling himself a ‘troublemaker for peace.’ He says he is asked sometimes whether, with all his political speeches, he ever preaches much anymore. His answer: ‘I preach the gospel every day – and I use words if I have to!’” He also visited in August 2021, but did not preach that time.

THE FRENCH TAX OFFICE IS BANNING PAYMENT BY CHECK
When I started my career in 1997, checks were the most common means of payment. I remember depositing them twice a month, up to 20 at a time. I would send a check to pay utilities, in the special envelopes provided. Today, hardly anyone uses a checkbook anymore. One client tells me she writes one check per year to pay my fees. It is a fact that checks have just about completely faded away. For one thing, processing checks is expensive, as it requires manpower at both banks.

In France, checks now account for less than 2% of non-cash payments across all sectors, compared with more than a third in the early 2000s. For years, the tax office has had a center in Rennes specialized in processing checks, speeding tickets, and other types of payments. It is due to be closed sometime in 2027.

Every time some procedure goes totally digital, members of the population who have no internet connection, or a very poor one, are penalized, as are those incapable of using the internet properly.

MY FEES WILL INCREASE ON SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026
I will be increasing my fees by 20% at the beginning of the next scholastic year, after the 2026 summer vacation. Here are the new rates:
1st meeting/1st work: 420€ euros for 2 hours
Extra hour(s): 180 euros per hour
Handling mail at my office: 50 euros per month
Surcharge for out-of-office meetings: 90 euros, assuming less than 30 minutes’ transportation
Surcharge for meetings and phone calls at the client’s request after 7PM weekdays, all weekend, on national French holidays, and during vacations: 30%
Clients paying by wire to an American account must add $20 to the fee to cover the bank charge for processing a wire transfer.
Bounced checks incur a charge of $20 or 20 euros.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN APRIL 2026
The SHIP studio is currently available on April 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately, as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions, I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer, from the evening of Friday, July 3rd, to the morning of Monday, August 24th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France, specifically in Burgundy.

Best regards,

QUESTION

HOW TO PROVE FINANCIAL MEANS WHILE RENEWING THE VISITEUR STATUS?

I renew my visa every year. I am always asked to show bank statements. It feels like a never-ending quest. So I never got a clear answer: when it comes to showing my funds/money during my visa renewal, can I show mutual funds and stock accounts I own with some investment statement? Or does it need to be ready-to-spend liquid cash in a checking/savings account? If I show my mutual fund account, I have a large amount there, and I do not feel comfortable sharing this with the French immigration police. On the other hand, I don’t think there’s a point in showing my retirement account (401k) as it will be many, many years before I have access to this money, but it has a much smaller balance. The reason I have always shown my American checking and savings accounts is that cash seemed a lot less risky than a mutual fund or stock account. In my mind, the stock market could plummet suddenly, and my stock accounts and mutual funds could end up at $0 tomorrow, so I was thinking they were not very “safe” in the eyes of the French government. Can you clarify this point so that I can submit once and for all with peace of mind that it is well done?

QUESTION

RENEWING SELF-EMPLOYED PROFESSION LIBERALE STATUS

I have been living in France for several years. I am trying to renew a four-year carte de séjour as an independent. It expired at the end of July 2025, and I have not heard much from the prefecture.
My first question is, can I ask for the carte de résident while I wait for their answer, as I will have been a resident for way over five years?
Is it possible to be denied? My annual sales have been about €30,000 for the last three years.
I have sent all my URSSAF declarations since 2020, as I entered with the self-employed visa. This is all the income declarations I need to do. Can I apply for another type of visa if this one fails, knowing that I am single?By the way, I do my billing in the USA, and I get paid into my American account.

As January ends in a few hours, I would like once again to wish you all happy holidays. We can hope that 2026 will bring what we wish for, even though 2025 did not do so for probably more than half of the American population. I hope we all can find a way to sincerely exchange best wishes with each other, even though in some instances this might take a near miracle. There will always be worries and looming dangers. In some cases, the dangers are at people’s doorsteps, whether at home or at work. The 2026 mid-term elections can instill hope and fear simultaneously in the same person, leading to a wide range of emotions and a lot of uncertainty about the future. Nevertheless, I wish you all.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

WIKIPEDIA

The Dictator is a 2012 political satire black comedy film directed by Larry Charles and written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, and Jeff Schaffer. Baron Cohen, in the role of Admiral General Aladeen, the dictator of the fictional Republic of Wadiya, visiting the United States, stars alongside Anna Faris and Ben Kingsley.

So many books and movies are used to refer to the current situation in the USA. The novel 1984 is mentioned very frequently.

WIKIPEDIA

Nineteen Eighty-Four (also published as 1984) is a dystopian speculative fiction novel by the English writer George Orwell. It was published on 8 June 1949 by Secker & Warburg as Orwell’s ninth and final completed book. Thematically, it centers on totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of people and behaviors.

Not as often, the Charlie Chaplin movie The Great Dictator is mentioned or referred to, as some compare the current situation to the Nazi rise in the early 1930s in Germany.

WIKIPEDIA

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. Having been the only major Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, Chaplin made this his first true sound film.

Chaplin’s film advanced a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as fascism, antisemitism, and Nazism. At the time of its first release, the United States was still at peace with Nazi Germany and neutral during what were the early days of World War II. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber.

The Great Dictator is a masterpiece. It would not take much to make it a documentary. But it depicts so closely what happened in Germany during the Nazi regime that I am afraid it looks too foreign for the younger generations. It is not easy to transpose what happens in the movie to any country in the world today.

I would hope that the 2012 movie set in the USA was easier to relate to, with viewers seeing it as contemporary. Various publications have been reporting on a trend to elect conservative, sometimes far-right governments in Europe and in Central and South America. Several countries in Asia have also become more authoritarian. Each country has its own history and characteristics, and each can explain how it ended up that way. As I look at the global picture, I wonder if such a trend can be explained at the world level. American private groups and the American federal government are helping European far-right political parties. It is known that Russia, China, and maybe a few other countries are also influencing elections held in Europe, the USA, and probably in some other countries as well. It is reasonable to believe that such an intervention has an impact and can tip an election in a given direction. Strongmen prefer dealing with other strongmen.

Recently, a few personalities have stood out for implementing bold policies, such as Prime Ministers Mark Carney of Canada, Sanae Takaichi of Japan, Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, and Jonathan Motzfeldt of Greenland. They have all had to deal with striking changes in American foreign policy, although their countries and territories were, until recently, considered to be among the USA’s closest allies. In their own way, they are pushing back, and this does not always make headlines in the major Western media.

For several months, many in the media and on the internet have mentioned the fictional 1984 as a guidebook to how dictators and strongmen secure unlimited power over their citizens. It might appear to some that the 2012 movie The Dictator is now similarly used as a tutorial on how to bring about such regime change in the USA. The movie is, of course, totally fictional, and the main character is the dictator of a fictional country somewhere in the eastern Caucasus, part of the former Soviet Union.

THE NEW FRENCH EXAM REQUIRED FOR MULTIYEAR CARTES DE SEJOUR
A law approved on January 26th, 2024, on controlling immigration and improving societal integration, strengthens the requirements for proficiency in French and integration into the French Republic for foreigners wishing to remain in France for the long term.

In particular, the law specifies that as of January 1st, 2026, a civics exam is mandatory, and a certificate of success on the exam must be submitted by all first-time applicants for multiyear residence permits (cartes de séjour pluriannuelles and cartes de résident) who are nationals of countries outside the European Union.

A decree of July 15th, 2025, also made a civics exam mandatory for all naturalization applications as of January 1st, 2026. Information about the exam is available on the website of the Direction générale des étrangers en France (DGEF, Directorate-General for Foreign Nationals in France), part of the Ministry of the Interior.

To assist foreigners with the new procedures, they launched a website entirely dedicated to civics training. This training, which is part of the Contrat d’intégration républicaine (Republican Integration Contract) and provided by the OFII, helps participants understand the principles and values of the Republic, learn how institutions work, and understand the rights and duties associated with living in France.

The site brings together 222 thematic fact sheets and structured content to help foreigners in their training, deepen their understanding of essential concepts, and prepare for the civics exam. It also provides practical answers about the exam’s contents and procedures for taking it. Questions that are likely to be asked are also posted online.

The website also provides information on approved centers where the exam can be taken, located throughout the country.

This new platform will be regularly updated to offer foreigners comprehensive support in their integration process and in taking the civics exam. The requirements for naturalization applicants have been tightened as well.

For more information on this process, see the DGEF under the heading Integration et Accés à la Nationalité.
www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/communiques-de-presse/a-partir-du-1er-janvier-2026-reussite-a-lexamen-civique-sera-necessaire-pour-obtenir-carte-de-sejour

THE CIVICS TEST FOR THE NATURALIZATION PROCEDURE
To be naturalized as a French citizen, applicants must demonstrate their assimilation into French society, in particular through sufficient knowledge of French history, culture, and society.

The level of knowledge expected is assessed in a civics exam, which was introduced on January 1st, 2026, and consists of a multiple-choice test in French with 40 questions, including knowledge questions and scenario-based questions. The questions cover the following five themes:

Principles and values of the French Republic
Institutional and political system
Rights and duties
History, geography, and culture
Living in French society.

A minimum of 32 correct answers (i.e., 80%) is required to pass. The test is conducted digitally and lasts a maximum of 45 minutes.

To prepare for the exam, applicants can consult the citizens’ handbook, the charter of rights and duties of French citizens, and the list of knowledge questions (document available below). The scenario-based questions are not available. A certificate of success in the civics exam is one of the documents required for a naturalization application.

Applicants may be granted accommodations or exemptions from certain parts of the civics exam if they have a disability or health condition. To this end, they must provide a medical certificate attesting that accommodations are necessary, specifying the recommended accommodations, or indicating that their disability or health condition makes it impossible for them to take the civics exam.

Two organizations have been approved by the Ministry of the Interior to administer the civics exam:
(1) The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
(2) France Éducation International.

Find approved centers and registration procedures at the following links:
Civics exam Naturalization external link.
https://formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr

You will find the link to approved centers and registration procedures here very soon.
https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/Integration-et-Acces-a-la-nationalite/La-nationalite-francaise/Les-procedures-d-acces-a-la-nationalite-francaise

RUNNING THE BUSINESS IS NO LONGER THE ONLY FOCUS IN MY LIFE
In 2026, I will turn 67, and I will have been in practice for 29 years. Over the years, I have been more and more interested in volunteering for different causes.

I have been faithful to my church, the American Church in Paris (ACP), and I remain available to people there who seek my help and advice. I plan on continuing to be available.

A couple of years ago, my wife bought a house in the medieval city of Cluny, located about 500 kilometers from Paris. The house is close to what is left of the Cluny Abbey, which is now a museum. There were numerous reasons for this purchase, but the main one in her mind was that we would both retire there when I am done working in Paris. Another major reason was to get involved in classical music differently. Instead of singing soprano in a choir or being a soloist, she wanted to help young classical singers and other musicians. The ground floor of the house is somewhat like an extension of the abbey, with acoustical quality like that of an ancient church. We have created a non-profit organization that holds concerts and other musical events, and local musicians can rehearse there, even when we are absent. As the musical activity increases, so will our presence there.

The ACP has had an African Fellowship for about 20 years, and I have been involved in it pretty much from the beginning. This is how I learned about NGOs, projects helping people living in Africa, and so on. A Tanzanian woman, Rhobi Samwelly, founded an NGO called Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania in 2017 and established the Mugumu and Butiama safe houses to protect girls seeking to avoid female genital mutilation (FGM). Rhobi is herself an FGM survivor and Human Rights Defender winner of the Marianne Initiatives Award bestowed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Members of AAWE and ACP organized an early screening of a documentary about Rhobi’s actions, In the Name of Our Daughter. Then, in the fall of 2024, we established a French branch of her NGO. This association is registered out of my office, and I deal with the legal and administrative aspects. Members quickly organized several events and participated in others, such as the AAWE Christmas Bazaar held at ACP. When I was in my early twenties, I read a lot about sexual mutilation in Africa, and later read a series of articles in Le Monde on the issue, which ran for several weeks. So it was a topic I was familiar with, even 40 years later.

For years, I have made sure to keep my professional business and my involvement as a militant for projects and some causes separate. Now, I want to dedicate more time to the latter, and I believe I owe my clientele and my readership this information.

THE VIKING ERIK THE RED DISCOVERED AND CLAIMED GREENLAND IN 982
The saga of the hot-headed Erik the Red, who was exiled first from Norway and later from Iceland, is very interesting. Furthermore, his son, Leif Erikson, was one of the first Vikings to discover North America in about the year 1000!

Swein Forkbeard, the first king of Denmark, which then included what is now Norway, died in 1014. Denmark has been a sovereign country since ancient times, and Greenland became a fully integrated territory of Denmark in 1721. Today, it is a semi-independent territory under the political authority of the Danish crown.

In the Middle Ages, the most feared Vikings – seafaring warriors from Scandinavia – came from what are now Denmark and Norway. Today, both countries maintain a vibrant patriotic feeling.

Greenland’s Inuit people, who have lived there for millennia, clearly prefer the Danish umbrella over any other. Ideally, they would like to be a totally independent country, but this idea is not sustainable, as half of their budget is financed by the Danish administration.

The current American administration should look beyond the Danish population of about six million. Though it is minuscule compared to the American population, there is still enough Viking fighting spirit for the Danes to stand tall and fearless. International tension regarding Greenland seems to have faded for now, and the US administration has mentioned other ways to obtain what it wants. The situation is still likely to have long-lasting effects on the Danish and Greenlandic populations, as well as somewhat less severe effects on other European nations.

JAPAN WANTS TO DEFEND TAIWAN
With everything that is happening in the USA, the ousting of the Venezuelan president, and the war in Ukraine, there has not been much attention to what is happening in East Asia. Only a few media outlets spent a couple of minutes on the fact that Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has declared that she is ready to send the Japanese military to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression.

There are a few things to unpack here. Takaichi is Japan’s first woman to serve as prime minister. Also, for a good 20 years, Japan has been increasing its military spending and is now capable of taking the offense, though this is not allowed by the constitution imposed on Japan by the Americans after WWII. Neighboring countries have mixed feelings about Japan rearming. They have painful memories of atrocities committed during the war, though they have also witnessed Japan’s recent evolution with a focus on peace and staying safe.

Until recently, the USA was considered the only country standing strong in the military defense of Taiwan. But in President Trump’s current term, he has shown little interest in protecting Taiwan. This leaves the Taiwanese population essentially stranded, as Taipei lacks the military capacity to stand alone against mainland China.

Japan believes its military can face that of China, which says a lot about its confidence as well as how strong it has become, even if it does not yet really measure up to the Chinese military.

This development also shows that the USA is no longer considered a reliable and strong ally and cannot be trusted.

Who is planning to defend Taiwanese independence, and why does this matter to Western countries? Does it matter, in fact? The situation has echoes of WWII, when Japan was on the wrong side of history. The countries in this region still vividly recall Japanese atrocities and war crimes.

The Chinese propaganda machine has been raising the specter of Japanese wartime activities almost daily, stating that the massacres and war crimes Japan committed disqualify it from protecting Taiwan. This indicates that China has become more concerned about what the “small” Japanese military can do than about how US forces would react should China invade Taiwan. It also implies that a Japanese commitment can be trusted, while an American commitment must be taken with a grain of salt.

The last time I wrote about Taiwan, a reader told me to stop discussing issues nobody is interested in. I agree that few people care about this country or even where it is on the map, and most do not see how events there could have a direct impact on their lives. But remember this: the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC), a multinational manufacturing and design company, is one of the world’s most valuable semiconductor makers, largely on contract. It produces the most sophisticated microchips used in AI, as well as many other components. Western industries and people would immediately feel the consequences if TSMC factories stopped production because of war.

MY FEES WILL INCREASE ON SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026
I will be increasing my fees by 20% at the beginning of the next scholastic year, after the 2026 summer vacation. Here are the new rates:
1st meeting/1st work: 420€ euros for 2 hours
Extra hour(s): 180 euros per hour
Handling mail at my office: 50 euros per month
Surcharge for out-of-office meetings: 90 euros, assuming less than 30 minutes’ transportation
Surcharge for meetings and phone calls at the client’s request after 7PM weekdays, all weekend, on national French holidays, and during vacations: 30%
Clients paying by wire to an American account must add $20 to the fee to cover the bank charge for processing a wire transfer.
Bounced checks incur a charge of $20 or 20 euros.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN MARCH 2026
The SHIP studio is currently available on March 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately, as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions, I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer, from the evening of Friday, July 3rd, to the morning of Monday, August 24th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France, specifically in Burgundy.

Best regards,

QUESTION

PAYING HOUSEHOLD HELP LEGALLY WITH CHEQUE EMPLOI SERVICE UNIVERSEL

I recently retired from my French employer. A couple of years ago, I hired a housekeeper paid through the cheque emploi service universel. I just noticed that I am paying her salary, and at the same time, the government is taking money out of my account at the end of the month. Will I be getting this sum back as a reduction in taxes, or did I, in essence, pay my housekeeper double? Usually, I received a check from the CE to cover this, and now I don’t.

QUESTION

BEING APPROVED AND DENIED BY THE PREFECTURE

After holding a visiteur carte de séjour as an American retiree for a few years, I asked for the private life status a couple of months ago, as I had an appointment at the big prefecture. I PACSed with a French person, and she had moved in with me a couple of months before that ceremony. Since my old card was up for renewal, I chose to take advantage of this opportunity to change it. Uploading the documents took a long time, but it felt easy. I had all the documents ready; there were many of them! The meeting went great, I did not even need to show the file I sent out, even though I was asked to come with it. Yesterday, I got a postal letter from the prefecture stating that my request was denied. I was not told to leave the country in 30 days; there was no expulsion order. It just said that our cohabitation was too recent, and I did not comply with the one year of living together. The letter tells me to submit a new request when it happens.How come I was not denied right away if I did not qualify? They accepted my request twice! I have a récépissé that is still valid. Should I worry that I lost my French residency?

Christmas is around the corner, and my office will be open for less than three weeks before closing for the holidays on Friday, December 19th.

I would like to wish you all happy holidays. We can hope that 2026 will bring what we wish for, even though 2025 did not do so for probably more than half of the American population. I hope we all can find a way to sincerely exchange best wishes with each other, even though in some instances this might take a near miracle. There will always be worries and looming dangers. In some cases, the dangers are at people’s doorsteps, whether at home or at work. The 2026 mid-term elections can instill hope and fear simultaneously in the same person, leading to a wide range of emotions and a lot of uncertainty about the future. Nevertheless, I wish you all.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American band Guns N’ Roses, released on July 21, 1987. For the lyrics, I could have used the first song on the album “Welcome to the Jungle.” The situation in both of our countries is making less and less sense. Considering what is happening in the world, I knew that I was not going to choose a Christmas carol celebrating all the love floating around the Christmas tree found in everyone’s homes.

I still cannot reconcile myself with the fact that the leaders of these two countries are choosing, day in and day out, the best way to harm their constituents, the people living in these countries. If I started to make a list of examples, it would be close to endless.

I have to admit that an image stands out in all of this – the tearing down of the East Wing of the White House. This made a deep impact on me, perfectly epitomizing what is happening: leveling down everything in order to make it possible to build anew. I often wonder what the new thing, the new country they want to build, will be.

Closing this topic, I recall the Godzilla movies and other similar ones where monsters tear down buildings and destroy everything in their path.

I do not like this kind of destruction, and specifically the kind of Appetite for Destruction described above. I admit that I do really like the album and the following couple of releases by Guns N’Roses. For those who do not have it yet, it could be a good Christmas gift. I had to find something to lighten up the atmosphere on this issue, but it was a tough one!

ETIAS IS BACK IN THE NEWS – MORE DELAYS EXPECTED
This is what I wrote in the May 2025 issue:
In the last quarter of 2026, the European Commission plans to implement new border management systems, including the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

ETIAS is a travel permit, not a visa.
The 30 member states of the enlarged Schengen area will require it for entry. It involves payment of a seven-euro fee, which will be charged to nationals of some 60 countries outside the European Union who are currently authorized to travel to countries in the enlarged Schengen area for up to 90 days without a visa. The fee will not be charged to people under 18 or over 70, or to family members of European citizens or third-country nationals who have the right to move freely within the European Union.

This fully electronic system, similar to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), will reinforce checks on foreign travelers within the European Union, intended to detect potential threats. ETIAS will have to be applied for prior to travel and will be valid for three years or until the expiry of the travel document registered at the time of application.

The official European website still gives the last quarter of 2026 as the timeline for its final implementation.
https://etias.com/etias-requirements/
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias/about-etias/news-corner/revised-timeline-ees-and-etias

The media covering this issue state that it will probably come into force in 2027, most of them mentioning the month of April.
https://www.imidaily.com/europe/postponed-etias-travel-authorization-system-wont-become-mandatory-until-2027/#:~:text=From%20April%202027%2C%20the%20authorization,compulsory%20for%20all%20eligible%20travelers.

On the other hand, the EES was implemented on schedule. This is what I wrote in the October 2025 issue:
Starting on October 12, 2025, the European Union (EU) will begin rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES), with full implementation by April 2026.

This new digital border management tool will replace traditional passport stamping with biometric records, transforming the way millions of eligible travelers experience border crossings.

The EES is a new digital border control system being rolled out across the EU starting in October 2025, with full implementation by April 2026. It replaces traditional passport stamping with a secure process that records biometric data, entry dates, and exit dates, making border checks more accurate and efficient for travelers.

It seems that nobody seems to be bothered by this procedure. I have not heard a single negative comment about it.

PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS
On November 2nd, the Le Monde website published an article stating:
“The President of the United States has placed Nigeria on the list of countries of ‘particular concern’ in terms of religious freedom, stating that ‘Christianity [there] faces an existential threat.’ These accusations have been denied by Abuja.”

“Le président des Etats-Unis a inscrit le Nigeria sur la liste des pays « particulièrement préoccupants » en matière de liberté religieuse, estimant que « le christianisme [y] est confronté à une menace existentielle ». Des accusations démenties par Abuja.”

A lot could be said about this statement and Trump’s decision. I am wondering if he is well-informed about the political situation in Nigeria that creates those massacres, or if he learned via the American media that a massacre occurred, and either way, wants to use it to score political points.

This is the explanation given by this French newspaper, which is the real one and has existed for decades:
“In the center of the country, deadly clashes between Fulani herders, who are mainly Muslim, and farmers, who are often Christian, are recurrent and are often presented as interreligious conflicts, when in fact they are generally rooted in competition for access to land.”

“Dans le centre du pays, les affrontements meurtriers entre les éleveurs peuls, principalement musulmans, et les agriculteurs, souvent chrétiens, sont récurrents et souvent présentés comme des conflits interreligieux, alors qu’ils trouvent en général leurs racines dans la compétition pour l’accès aux terres.”.

This is quite an accurate description of the situation. We knew well an American Christian missionary family living in that region, the Middle Belt, who fled about 15 years ago and moved back to the USA when they judged that the situation was untenable. Later, they moved to Kenya with the same missionary organization.

WIKIPEDIA

Across Nigeria, there are a series of disputes over arable land between Fulani herders and non-Fulani farmers. The conflicts have been especially prominent in the Middle Belt (North Central) since the return of democracy in 1999. More recently, they have deteriorated into attacks on farmers by Fulani herders.

Attacks have also taken place in Northwestern Nigeria against farmers who are mainly Hausa (almost entirely Muslim). Many Fulani communities, usually agricultural, have also been attacked and raided by Fulani bandits and other militias. The conflict has taken on religious and ethnic dimensions: many of the farmers are Christians of various ethnicities, while most of the herders are Muslim Fulani. Thousands of people have died since the attacks began. Sedentary farmers in rural communities are often the target of attacks because of their vulnerability. There are fears that the conflict will spread to other West African countries, but this has often been downplayed by governments in the region. Attacks on herders have also led them to retaliate by attacking other communities.

Background
Herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria have deep roots and date back to pre-colonial times (before the 1900s). However, these conflicts have become far more severe in recent decades due to demographic pressure, climate change, and various other factors. During the British colonial era, herders and farmers would agree on a system called burti, in which specific migration routes were set up for herders, with mutual agreement among the farmers, herders, and local authorities. However, the burti, system collapsed during the 1970s, when farmers increasingly claimed ownership of lands along cattle migration paths, leading to an augmentation of conflicts. This is all that I wanted to say. I understand that my little voice does not carry much weight. I am happy that Le Monde, at the very least, gave the minimum information for people to understand the real nature of this conflict.
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/11/02/donald-trump-menace-le-nigeria-d-une-intervention-militaire-en-raison-des-meurtres-de-chretiens_6650895_3210.html

THE REALITY CONCERNING THE COST OF FRENCH PUBLIC HEALTH COVERAGE
I have read a lot about this topic. A few things really angered me, among them the idea that France is targeting American citizens, going after them because they are accused of cheating.

I would like to explain how we ended up here, with this being discussed in the French Assemblée Nationale. The starting point was the creation of the CMU in the year 2000. Public health coverage was made available for all legal residents of France, and was therefore no longer linked to working in France. This created the specific status called CMU for destitute people, for foreigners who did not work in France, many of them were and are receiving foreign retirement. At that time, these foreigners were submitting two income declarations: one for the tax office and one for URSSAF, so that the contribution towards their health coverage could be calculated. The system was working very well because each office was handling its own calculations. I even knew people who were only declaring their income to URSSAF, and this was not creating problems, as the two offices were not in contact with each other or sharing information. The reality is that these two, URSSAF and the tax office, had distrusted each other for decades!

In 2016, the system changed radically. Coverage was now specifically identified by the acronym PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie), with just one declaration being made to the tax authorities. President Macron personally insisted that URSSAF finally accept information coming from the tax office. By the way, this shows how deep the distrust had been between the two! In the midst of these changes, the way to calculate contributions was altered, which I consider to have been an error. Foreign retirement income was taken out of the calculation.

In the expatriate community, the vast majority of visiteur immigration status holders are retired. Some of them live on Social Security, pensions, and other retirement accounts. The insane consequence is that they do not pay anything into the French social system, or else a minuscule amount. This makes no economic sense: given their age, they tend to have more medical problems, and their coverage costs a lot of money compared to the rest of the population.

The current discussion among elected officials, therefore, concerns how to fix this situation. A way needs to be found that is fair to the system, with people making contributions while bearing in mind that they live on a fixed income, and that their contribution should be calculated differently as a result. The normal calculation is about 6.5% of the income used for the calculation.

It is obvious that there is no desire here to go after American citizens, nor to punish the visiteur immigration status holders. The French administration made a mistake, and it took close to ten years to become aware of it.

MY READER EXPLAINS

A very faithful reader of mine who is highly knowledgeable on the subject sent this to me:
“They are targeting – rightfully so – the “visiteur” immigration status holders. It happens that a lot of them are North Americans and therefore Artificial intelligence repeatedly claims there is no publication by France of the number of visiteur visas accorded by nationality. I have nonetheless located the attached report, which does give such figures, though not in all the detail desired. The table says that 288,049 longue durée visas were granted in 2024. Of these, 33,694 were visitor visas (note also that visiteurs represent about 2/3 of VLS (visas de long séjour) accorded for various reasons). The US obtained 6% of the VLS: 16,782 visas, according to the.

The result is that 3,710 Americans receive the VLS marked visiteur each year, in addition to those already in France who will be affected by Amendment 1751. It seems that the British have about 5,300 visitor visas. Together, the US and UK represent around 9,000 VLS in the visiteur category.

THE FRENCH BANKS’ LENIENCY REGARDING OVERDRAFTS IS OVER
Previously, banks had been giving clients the right to go negative without incurring major problems. For a very long time, including when I was a young adult, this was an informal agreement. This had some advantages, but it also had a significant drawback, in that the banker could cancel this leniency when he got scared by the situation! Before this new legislation, clients knew the limits concerning their accounts and could be charged a high interest rate if they went negative. If this scenario became more or less permanent, there could be consequences depending on the situation.

Applying a new European regulation, this is no longer possible. The bank must sign a loan agreement with the client, fixing its terms and conditions. On paper, this is good news, but bad news in reality. Many such clients cannot qualify for such a loan, as the French banking system is asking for guarantees under French law. As a result, the poorest clients will find their financial situations even more difficult, whereas the government will be happy that they have protected people from paying too much interest and falling into debt and then bankruptcy. This is a very honorable intention. The reality of poor clients, however, is that some, if not most of them, rather than being forced to make heartbreaking decisions involving children, decide it may be worth paying high interest the following month in return for still being able to put food on the table and paying rent!

The rules governing bank overdraft facilities will be tightened in November 2026, requiring banks to assess customers’ creditworthiness and ensure that they are able to repay any loans, as is the case with consumer credit.

The order amending the regulations concerning consumer credit is a transposition of the European directive on consumer credit agreements (CCD2), which will come into force on November 20, 2026.

However, overdraft facilities granted before November 2026 will not be affected by the new consumer credit regime.
https://www.lemonde.fr/argent/article/2025/10/29/des-decouverts-bancaires-plus-difficiles-a-obtenir-a-partir-de-novembre-2026_6650181_1657007.html

THERE WILL BE FRENCH ELECTIONS ON MARCH 15 AND 22
These are called “élections municipales” to choose the mayor and elected officials who will be governing towns from town halls.

Unlike the USA, France has few elections organized by the government. The upcoming one concerns the lowest level of representation. The current development is that mayors are becoming increasingly popular and are appreciated by their electorate. In the midst of the global loss of credibility among politicians, people mainly like mayors because their actions are immediately visible, giving the impression that votes count. The French media is already publishing polls regarding the main cities, including Paris.

At a time when traditionally strong political parties have lost support, and the two parties most strongly represented constitute the extreme end of each side of the political spectrum, it is difficult to anticipate the result. The situation in Paris illustrates this quite well. The Socialist Party, leading a liberal coalition, has been in charge of the city since March 25th, 2001. As of today, the identity of their candidate is still unknown, and the different factions are incapable of agreeing on who should lead the campaign and become the next mayor. The conservative side seems to have made its choice: Ms. Rachida Dati, the current mayor of the 7th arrondissement. So, depending on the polls, her chances of victory would appear to lie between possible and probable. This having been said, she is under criminal investigation for some serious felonies, and could be stripped of her right to be elected.

This, for me, illustrates the deplorable condition of French politics.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN FEBRUARY 2026
The SHIP studio is currently available on February 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION
The office will be closed for three weeks over the Christmas vacation, from the evening of Friday, December 19, to the morning of Monday, January 5. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

TVA/VAT AND AUTOENTREPENEUR STATUS

I changed to self-employed after being a visiteur for a few years. As an auto-entrepreneur making around 30,000€ every year, as a biochemist consultant, I manage every time to stay below the TVA limit. Recently, I have been following very closely the proposed changes regarding the amount of revenue I earn before I need to charge TVA. Throughout the year, the media has reported that the changes will and then will not be implemented as often as France changes prime ministers. As of 6 November, the latest news report suggests that the change is now completely off the table. At the same time, the proposed budget is lowering the limit insanely, such I would be affected. What is the reality, please, as this is totally contradictory? This is my source of information.
https://www.presse-citron.net/tva-auto-entrepreneurs-seuil-25-000-suppression-journal-officiel/

QUESTION

CONCERNS REGARDING FRENCH TESTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE

I am 72, and I have renewed my visa for over ten years. I cannot stand what is happening in my country. I am now ashamed to say that I am American. So now I am planning to apply for French citizenship in January. In your November 2025 issue, you stated in your newsletter: “People aged 65 and older will not need to take the test or the new French language exam.” Is this only applicable for residency permit applicants or also for naturalization applicants?

Hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She’s comin’ in, 12:30 flight
Her moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hopin’ to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say
“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you” 
It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothin’ that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what’s right
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what’s deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I’ve become
It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothin’ that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
Hurry, boy, she’s waiting there for you
It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothin’ that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains) 
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains) 
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (ooh, I’m gonna take the time) 
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo

WIKIPEDIA

Africa is a song by American rock band Toto, the tenth and final track on their fourth studio album Toto IV (1982). It was the second single from the album, released in Europe in June 1982 and the third in the United States in October 1982. …

In 2015, [co-writer David] Paich explained that the song is about a man’s love of a continent, Africa, rather than just a personal romance. He based the lyrics on a late-night documentary with depictions of African plight and suffering. The viewing experience made a lasting impact on Paich: “It both moved and appalled me, and the pictures just wouldn’t leave my head. I tried to imagine how I’d feel about it if I was there and what I’d do.”

Toto is not one of my favorite bands, but I listen to their music occasionally, as I find it pleasant to hear.

The African continent draws little attention unless there is a war, a huge natural disaster, President Obama having a Kenyan father, or the like – in short, something the Western media can talk about without losing its audience. In the Western media and people’s perceptions, the continent is associated with the world’s worst calamities. Of course, Africa is much more than that. For instance, the Nigerian movie industry has grown so much that it is now known as Nollywood and is the world’s second-largest film industry in terms of output, after that of India. This is a powerful statement when one thinks of the clout of the American movie industry and the glamour of Hollywood.

In the 1970s, there arose in the USA the Black Pride and Black Is Beautiful movements. During this time, several prominent entertainers in the Black community, including Nina Simone and later Sweet Honey in the Rock, researched and unveiled their African roots. Africanism has never become mainstream, despite the success of movies including Out of Africa, Cry Freedom, and Blood Diamond. The recent death of Jane Goodall put the African continent in the news for a few days. Trevor Noah presents a lot of the complexity of South Africa as a country just through who he is.

So, this month, I am showing my African side.

HOW THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR OF 1967-70 AFFECTED THE WORLD
I have been an active member of the African Fellowship at the American Church in Paris for over 20 years, as I got involved at about the time it was created. Several of my projects as a militant have been linked to the African continent. When my son was a teenager, he made trips to three different countries (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana) before the age of 18. I have a version of my column with a section describing my volunteer work and my involvement with different communities, different NGOs, and other non-profits.

I reported this to the congregation in my July 2025 issue:
African Fellowship
On June 22nd, the ACP held a “town hall” meeting on Zoom for members and others who attend the church to talk about how they saw the church and their feelings about this. As usual, I did not follow the guidelines scrupulously. I preferred focusing on what I consider one of the best achievements, as well as one of the weakest points, of the African Fellowship.

Nigerians represent at least 50% of the African Fellowship membership. My intervention on June 22nd was intended to praise the success of the African Fellowship regarding diversity and inclusion. Since the recent history of Nigeria appears to be totally unknown to the church leadership, I needed to explain once again what happened during the Biafran War.

WIKIPEDIA

“The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Biafran War, Nigeria-Biafra War, or Biafra War, was fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence from Nigeria in 1967. ….

“Within a year, Nigerian government troops surrounded Biafra and captured coastal oil facilities and the city of Port Harcourt. A blockade was imposed as a deliberate policy during the ensuing stalemate, which led to the mass starvation of Biafran civilians. During the 2+1⁄2 years of the war, there were about 100,000 overall military casualties, while between 500,000 and 2 million Biafran civilians died of starvation.”

Most of the Nigerian members of our fellowship, or their parents, personally lived through that war. The memory of this conflict is raw in the country and in the fellowship. The African Fellowship deserves considerable praise for prospering despite some members having reason to distrust others. I challenged the fellowship to continue on this path and make it possible to have Christian love throughout the fellowship, overcoming the wounds of the past.

A READER COMMENTS
One of my readers, who learned that I had written this account, asked to receive some past issues. Shortly thereafter, this reader sent me the following statement:
“Thank you for this. I personally lived through the Biafran War… My father played a pivotal role during that war. He was the controller of the Uli Airport… the only operational airport in Biafra… When Ojukwu knew that Biafra was going to surrender in a few days, he told my father to send all his 9 nine children and my mom out of the country… He was worried that the Nigerian rebels would rape his 7 daughters and my mom… So we flew out of Biafra one night in a cargo plane and landed in Gabon where I lived in Libreville for 9 months… before returning to Nigeria…”

I share this reader’s statement, along with the excerpt from my July 2025 issue, to illustrate that most conflicts in the world have their origins in the past, sometimes several centuries or millennia ago. The analysis of the current events in the media rarely gets a sufficient historical perspective in Western countries. This is more prevalent in the USA than in Europe. There is one significant exception. Right now, the rise and fall of Nazism is mentioned in several media venues, and often the discussion only concerns the last thirty years or so. Now, in some specific situations and in some parts of Europe, the discussion can go back to the turn of the 20th century. An American visiting the beaches of Normandy can vividly experience firsthand the fervor of the people living there. In Asia and Africa, collective memories extend far into the past and still affect people’s lives. But much media coverage is still focused on what is happening today, and commentators analyze situations based on current events and the latest news. Right now, it feels like there are wars everywhere, fights across borders for no apparent reason, along with so-called spontaneous insurrections and civil wars. In some of those countries, going back four or five centuries would show the reasons why there is a war or an insurrection. I still do not understand why the Balfour declaration is not mentioned when talking about the Middle East, and similarly, how the British involvement is forgotten in the creation of Saudi Arabia, through Lawrence of Arabia, who helped the Saud family.

Choosing to write about Nigeria enables me to illustrate that conflicts and wars have ancient roots, such as a civil war that took place almost 60 years ago. That way, I do not have to choose among the current conflicts.

One last bit of information shows what a huge impact the Nigerian conflict had then, and still has now.

WIKIPEDIA

“Bernard Kouchner (born 1 November 1939) is a French politician and doctor. He is the co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde. …

Kouchner worked as a physician for the Red Cross in Biafra in 1968 (during the Nigerian Civil War). His experience as a physician for the Red Cross led him to co-found Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in 1971, and then, due to a conflict of opinion with MSF chairman Claude Malhuret, he establishedDoctors of the World (‘Médecins du Monde’) in 1980.”

Because of a Red Cross policy prohibiting aid provision against a government’s will, Kouchner quit the Red Cross to create Médecins Sans Frontières, whose purpose was to provide help anywhere, anytime, with or without government agreement, thus skirting such limitations. The operating modes of both Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde include being able to clandestinely enter the country or region where their help is needed. Today, the “French Doctors” organizations are known worldwide.

Some may wonder what this has to do with today’s news, but I make the connection to one of the most talked-about current topics. One of the two organizations, Médecins du Monde, has never left the Gaza Strip, being faithful to its oath.

NEW REQUIREMENTS FROM THE FRENCH BANKING INDUSTRY
Since October 9, a new regulation has been implemented by the banking system that is really good for consumers and the public in general.

Here is what has changed: When you make a single SEPA transfer (standard or instant) or add/change a beneficiary, there is an automatic check in real time with the beneficiary’s bank to ensure that the IBAN and beneficiary name you have entered match. If a discrepancy is detected, you will be notified and can then decide whether or not to confirm your transfer.

I have a lot of accounts registered, and I wire money to many different people and companies, as I run four businesses. For years now, I have usually added some information or a name to the exact title of the account to help keep them straight. For example, a person has one account for reimbursement, for paying fees, and for personal reasons.

Thus, I now get several messages a day asking me if I really want to proceed with this transfer because it looks suspicious and could be fraudulent. It is irritating at times, but it is for a good cause, considering the amount of money lost through scam transfers.

A NEW CIVICS EXAM FOR FOREIGNERS AS OF JANUARY 1, 2026
This latest development is a continuation of the policy to make it more difficult to obtain the best types of immigration status, including naturalization. In theory, no one can object to ensuring that applicants speak some French and, after a few years, know the basics of the French administration and government. This is a talking point of the so-called “French government,” but I believe it is a lie. It is obvious that the new requirements favor people with a certain education level who have the time to read newspapers and follow current events – i.e., white-collar workers at a minimum of mid-management level. People working in construction, sales, retail, or as a cleaner or child minder will find it hard to pass this kind of test.

The test will be required to obtain a several-year carte de séjour or a carte de résident. But it is likely to result in chaos. Already, the renewal procedure for a one-year immigration status is becoming risky, as the procedure may last more than a year, and therefore, the card expires before it is given to the applicant. This almost always results in job loss, scholastic opportunities, and so on, because people cannot prove that they are in France legally, even though, under French law, they are. But this is much less likely to happen to those holding a four-year or even a two-year carte de séjour. I see this requirement as a deliberate intent to make it harder for blue-collar workers and poor people to stay in France. The test increases the chances that these applicants lose their jobs or their student status, and thereby, no longer fulfill the requirements to have residency status. Then they are expelled.

I have translated sections of a Le Monde article about the test, detailing what is supposed to happen. One last comment: given the current political situation, I am not sure the French administration will be able to introduce this new policy on time, although the government insists it will do so. We will see. People aged 65 and older will not need to take the test or the new French language exam.

TRANSLATION

Forty questions, one point per correct answer, and a score of 80% required to pass. Starting January 1, 2026, applicants for naturalization will take a “civics exam” lasting a maximum of 45 minutes, designed to test their knowledge of French history, culture, and society. This will also be the case for foreigners applying for a residence permit or a multi-year residence card.

The exam will take the form of a multiple-choice questionnaire, the details of which were finalized by decree on Friday, October 10 and published in the official journal on October 12, but went relatively unnoticed in the tumultuous political context of that weekend.

Specifically, in this new exam, naturalization candidates will be asked 40 questions on their knowledge or situational awareness, covering five topics:

• the principles and values of the Republic (eleven questions)
• rights and duties (eleven questions)
• history, geography, and culture (eight questions)
• the institutional and political system (six questions)
• life in French society (four questions)

www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2025/10/15/les-modalites-du-nouvel-examen-civique-pour-les-etrangers-fixees-par-bruno-retailleau-juste-avant-son-depart_6646939_823448.html

A CIVIL DISCOURSE IN 1983 IN PARIS AMID A DIVERSE CROWD

WIKIPEDIA
“The Palestinian keffiyeh is a distinctly patterned black-and-white keffiyeh. White keffiyehs had been traditionally worn by Palestinian peasants and Bedouins to protect from the sun when Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire. Its use as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and resistance dates back to the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, which saw its wider use by more sections of Palestinian society.”

In 1983, an American woman in Paris wore an authentic keffiyeh from a Palestinian family. Each family has a distinctive pattern, like the Scottish tartan of each clan. A North African French woman in the gathering, at a student café near the Sorbonne University, was intrigued by this and asked how an American could wear a true family keffiyeh, since nearly all keffiyehs worn in Western countries are mass-produced and do not belong to particular families.

Her question started an interesting discussion; her curiosity was caring and well-intended. How the American had obtained it was an endearing story. The vehement reactions I see today about people wearing keffiyehs make me think of that discussion 40 years ago. I do not think such a nice and caring discussion could take place today. For one thing, few people, if any, in Western countries who are not Palestinian can differentiate a traditional keffiyeh from mass-produced ones.

Christian Palestinians are almost never part of the discussion. Before 1948, they made up 12.5% of the population of historic Palestine. Today, they account for about 1.2% in historic Palestine and 1% in the post-1967 occupied Palestinian territories. Remember, the cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem are governed by the Palestinian Authority. Christian Palestinian families also have their own keffiyeh patterns.

I QUIT, BUT I KEEP THE JOB – THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT M.O.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on October 6, stating that he could not accomplish his mission in the current circumstances, which mainly involved the possibility of getting the annual budget voted on by a majority. He was called back to be the prime minister again on October 10. In those few days, the situation had not changed, so his chances of success had not changed either. How much more ridiculous can French politics be? We can trust the French president to go even lower than that!

THE NEW SICK LEAVE PROCEDURE
This new procedure is the result of a combination of French law, which favors employees, and the social system offering free healthcare and paid sick leave.

The reality of what many employees endure is such that sick leave is usually legitimate, at least at first. What is at stake here is when it starts and how some employees game the system.

The legal underpinning of this situation is a conjunction of two things. The French legal definition of being an employee is to be a subordinate; the law and precedent always cite le lien de subordination. At the same time, to dismiss an employee, the employer must prove a cause strictly defined by law and precedent. That is why a new way of dismissing an employee was recently created, called rupture conventionnelle, in which the employer and employee can sign an agreement stating that the dismissal is occurring without citing a legal cause.

Thus, the starting point of the sick leave situation is that an employee does not have much room to contest the employer’s authority before being in violation of the subordinate status. The alternative is to go on sick leave, which gives some leverage over the employer because an employee on sick leave cannot be easily fired.

The government had a choice: either address the working conditions of employees in France, or make it more difficult to get sick leave. It chose the latter.

Among other things, the new policy affects physicians: their decision to approve sick leave is now to be scrutinized to make sure it is really medically based and not being used as a bargaining tool by the employee. The main issue is burnout, which generally happens when the workload is excessive and the working conditions are miserable. Ideally, doctors should help people with their medical conditions and address situations so there is less burnout in the workforce. I have not heard much regarding this side of the issue, only about reducing so-called abuses.

Below is my translation of the government’s guidelines on this change.

Sick leave requires a new mandatory paper form
Since July 1, 2025, a new secure paper sick leave form has been mandatory when it is not possible to submit it electronically, particularly during a home visit.

Since September 1, 2025, all old paper forms have been rejected by the French national health insurance system. Patients will therefore need to obtain the correct document from their doctor. Insured persons are advised to check that they have the new secure Cerfa form. Scans and photocopies are not valid.

The employee must send sections 1 and 2 to the CPAM within 48 hours and section 3 to the employer (or to France Travail if the patient is unemployed).

This new measure aims to strengthen the fight against sick leave fraud, which has risen sharply in recent years.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN FEBRUARY 2026
The SHIP studio is currently available on February 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION
The office will be closed for three weeks over the Christmas vacation, from the evening of Friday, December 19, to the morning of Monday, January 5. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

CAN I SELL MY APARTMENT WHILE THERE IS A DISPUTE REGARDING THE CONDO CHARGES?

I bought my first chambre de bonne, i.e., a maid’s room in the 7th, about 30 years ago. I bought the second one, which was next to the first one, 20 years ago. The same year, I got written approval from the syndic and the copropriété during a general meeting to join the two rooms.
About ten years ago, the copropriété underwent an extensive update to its by-laws called Règlements de Copropriété. It was then that the problem was discovered. One outcome was that those maids’ rooms were assigned the exact ratio linked to their measurements, called the tantièmes. They assigned me a new lot number and officially recognized the creation of a new lodging from the joining of those two rooms.
It took me a couple of years to notice that the syndic bills showed that I was being charged for my newly created lot, plus another one! My insistence to clear this up has been ongoing since 2017! So I refused to pay for this extra lot. Consequently, this unpaid balance has been growing, even showing now that I owe thousands of euros. The incorrectly assigned lot is about five doors down the hall and is much bigger than either of the two I purchased.Since I have now moved permanently to France, I wish to sell this apartment to buy a place better suited to my needs. I refused to pay those extra charges. My notaire told me that this is not possible, I must pay them. The syndic issues a document called l’état daté that details all the amounts that you owe and that they owe you. How can I get out of this situation? There is no way I will pay this money! If needed, I will take everybody to court! I know who owns the litigious maid’s room!

QUESTION

BEING INSURED BY ASSURANCE MALADIE AND A PRIVATE POLICY

The lawyer helping with my French immigration procedure, starting with the visa and stopping with the first renewal, included registering for the carte vitale in the package. To get the visa, I needed a private insurance policy. For the renewal, the lawyer asked me to renew it even though we had a request pending with CPAM. A few weeks ago, I got the form for getting the carte vitale. I asked the lawyer if I needed those two coverages, and I never got an answer. So I asked the insurance company what I should do. They answered that the policy will go to its term, and there was no way I would get a refund. They even said that I could not stop their coverage because my visa and its renewal were based on that policy. This policy is very expensive as I have some medical conditions. I heard that the public coverage can be free of charge. This is hard to believe. I would love to pay less if it is legal to do it. Also, my French doctors keep saying to me that my condition would be fully covered, they say 100%. I cannot make any sense of this.Is the insurance company telling the truth? Would I have limited coverage with the public system?

WIKIPEDIA

Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by William Goldman. It is based on Stephen King’s 1987 novel and stars James Caan as famed novelist Paul Sheldon, who is held captive by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), an obsessive fan. ….

Sheldon writes Victorian romance novels featuring a character named Misery Chastain. Though the books are profitable, Paul despises the series and wishes to focus on writing more serious literature. He has just left the hotel in Silver Creek, Colorado, where he completed a manuscript he hopes will launch his post-Misery career. En route to New York City, he is caught in a blizzard and crashes his car over an embankment. Annie Wilkes finds him and brings him to her remote home.

Paul awakens to find himself bedridden with broken legs and a dislocated shoulder. Annie, a nurse who claims to be his “number one fan,” says she will care for him until telephone lines are reconnected and the local roads are cleared following the storm. Annie’s disturbing behavior gradually emerges, culminating when she reads the newest Misery novel and discovers that Misery dies at the end. Flying into a rage, she reveals that she never informed anyone about Paul, and no one knows his whereabouts.

The fact that the main character in Sheldon’s novels should be named Misery strikes me as a very interesting twist. The novelist himself is clearly having a miserable experience, and he ends up fleeing for his life at the end of the movie.

Numerous topics are addressed in this psychological horror thriller, including the dilemma of artists caught between their desire to create according to their own inspiration and fans who are adamant that they do not like the changes! The audience sees the victim’s consternation when he realizes that this woman, who appears to be an outstanding member of the community, is a hardened criminal, although the help she provided initially seemed motivated by kindness and sincerity.

How is it that a bully can influence freedom of speech, as Annie does to Sheldon’s? How long does it take people to realize how awful such people are after they initially present themselves as so nice and supportive?

Enlarging on this title, I believe more and more people are living in poverty or facing poverty in France and the USA. I chose this title thinking of them, the French word “misère” means dire poverty, whereas the English word “misery” is more about sad emotions. I have little hope that the lives of the poor in these two countries will get any better anytime soon.

ON OCTOBER 12, THE EU ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM STARTS 
I have copied and pasted most of the front page of an official website below. I do not see a better way to give accurate, critical, and easy-to-understand information about the new system.

Starting on October 12, 2025, the European Union (EU) will begin rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES), with full implementation by April 2026

This new digital border management tool will replace traditional passport stamping with biometric records, transforming the way millions of eligible travelers experience border crossings. As part of the EU’s broader modernization efforts, the EES works hand-in-hand with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), making travel more secure, efficient, and transparent for visitors. This guide walks you through EES’ purpose, application process, and frequently asked questions, ensuring that you’re prepared by launch date.

What is the EES?

The EES is a new digital border control system being rolled out across the EU starting in October 2025, with full implementation by April 2026. It replaces traditional passport stamping with a secure process that records biometric data, entry dates, and exit dates, making border checks more accurate and efficient for travelers.

Defining the EES

At its core, the EES is an automated IT system designed to register non-EU nationals traveling for short stays at Schengen external borders. Instead of relying on manual passport stamps, the system electronically records personal details and biometric identifiers, such as facial images and fingerprints, each time you cross into or out of Schengen territory. This modernization ensures greater accuracy in tracking travel movements and helps prevent overstays.

Who Does the EES Apply to?

The EES applies to two main categories of travelers:
 Visa-exempt travelers: This includes nationals from countries exempted from applying for a Schengen visa for short stays.
 Short-stay visa holders: Those who require a visa to enter the Schengen Area for a limited duration.

If you fall into either group, you will be registered in the EES when entering a participating European country. Citizens of EU member states or Schengen-associated countries, however, are not subject to the system.

What Counts as a Short Stay?

Under the EES, a short stay is defined as a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. This rule applies across all Schengen states, meaning the days you spend in France, Spain, or any other participating country are counted together, not separately. The system will automatically calculate how many days remain for your stay, removing the guesswork from the process.

Countries Using EES

Once fully operational, the EES will cover 29 European countries, including all Schengen member states and associated nations. This ensures consistent travel rules and streamlined border checks across much of Europe.
https://etias.com/articles/eu-entry/exit-system-everything-travelers-need-to-prepare-for

In short, once the entire EES system is in place, it will not be possible to overstay a visit to the EU, or the slightly larger Schengen area, without being caught. For several months, I have been warning people that the coming procedure for registering non-EU tourists’ entry and exit dates will immediately mean that overstays have legal consequences. It will not matter what scheme you choose to try to sneak out without being caught. Once all participating countries install the EES equipment at all airports, train stations, and border crossings, there will be no way to leave any of those countries after an overstay without being discovered. I know several people who will have to drastically change their French lifestyle if they want to avoid the related consequences. I expect the EU administration to issue guidelines regarding fines and other penalties for overstaying. I will publish them as soon as they are established.

A YOUNG EASTERN EUROPEAN’S REACTION TO THE TITLE “CRY FREEDOM”
While preparing the September issue, I worked on it with a Romanian citizen. After she read the lyrics of the title song, “Cry Freedom,”
But just as I was leaving
A black car came into view
And waiting there
They could hear me breathing
They knew that I knew, cry freedom

She told me that when she was in elementary school, there was still a strong push on children, especially girls, to train to become gymnasts. Parents had seen that this could be a way for their children to flee Romania, giving them a better life in the West. She spoke at length about the champion gymnast Nadia Comăneci. My assistant was 3 years old when the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu was ousted, sentenced to death, and executed, all in just over a week. The unrest started on December 17, 1989, and he was executed by firing squad on December 25.

WIKIPEDIA

Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner (née Comăneci; born November 12, 1961) is a retired Romanian gymnast. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Montreal Olympic Games. …

On the night of November 27, 1989, a few weeks before the Romanian revolution, Comăneci defected with a group of other Romanians, crossing the Hungary-Romania border around Cenad. They were guided by Constantin Panait, a Romanian who later became an American citizen after defecting. Their journey was mostly on foot and at night. They traveled through Hungary and Austria and finally were able to take a plane to the United States.

Here are the recollections of my reader:

My mother has two brothers and a sister. Sport is practiced for pleasure. Her older brother loves fencing and won a bronze medal. My mother followed in his footsteps for six years, but after being beaten once by her teacher, she decided to give up. Violence is common in Romanian sports, as evidenced by an article found on the internet about Nadia Comaneci, the “abused star,” in which we learn that she and other girls were often beaten during training. We also learn that she sought political asylum in the US after becoming world champion at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and refused to work with her coaches after that. My father played competitive hockey from the age of 10 until he joined the Navy. He was at the ice ring with his friends when the team coach asked him to come and play hockey. He traveled to Europe for a competition, but he was too young to think about emigrating, and his family did not want to leave Romania because my grandfather was of good social standing.

I was 3 and my sister was 5 when we were in nursery school, and we had to prepare well-coordinated greetings dressed in patriotic costumes to welcome President Ceaușescu’s visit. The rehearsals were brutal; we were scared of the teachers; they were scared of what would happen if we performed poorly.

Official recruiters for the national sport of gymnastics visited elementary schools to recruit motivated children. Since it was no longer the communist regime, just a small minority signed up for it. Romanian society was experiencing freedom without much idea of what to do with it. After my mother’s description of how violent some coaches were, I definitely had no desire to get involved in any of the official sports clubs. The previous generations had found appeal in sports activities, as it was a way to escape many hardships. My generation grew up with a very new sense of freedom of choice, such as whether to participate in sports or choose which foreign language we wanted to study. It was no longer mandatory to learn Russian at a young age. Most of us chose English, reacting strongly to what had been imposed before. It was also seen as the language of freedom associated with the USA.

The old methods from the communist regime were still popular among the teachers. This meant physical and verbal abuse to coerce children in school. I remember that the religion teacher (Orthodox faith) used to hit us on the head with the Bible, and the math teacher used to hit us with a ruler. This also meant we were severely humiliated in front of the class.

Sport in the 1960s and 1970s was important in Ceaușescu’s communist regime, as it was used for propaganda inside the country as well as to show the rest of the world how powerful the country was. So it was, of course, totally controlled by the party. People were encouraged to participate in sports, especially in those that already had Romanian international athletes, as it was a safe bet our country would continue to have champions in these sports.

The international competitions were very closely monitored for professional and amateur athletes alike. They were denied visas for international competitions if there appeared to be even a slight risk they would try to leave the country. This applied even to the best champions. Their allegiance needed to be total; they needed to be obedient members of the Communist Party.

There was also another very sad aspect to this situation. If a close relative of a family lived in a Western country, every other member of that family living in Romania was not permitted to travel abroad. This included exceptional athletes or those who needed to travel for professional reasons. For example, naval officers who had family abroad could not leave the country for professional sea voyages. My father was an oil tanker captain, and he was checked to ensure he could sail internationally. He explained that one of his colleagues sailed only in Romanian waters because he had family in the West. Consequently, family members who remained in the country while it was still under the Communist regime after the defection of a family member were mercilessly persecuted by the police and the rest of the Romanian administration.

A SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISIS
Measuring the severity of a political crisis differs among countries. France is certainly going through a serious one, even if it does not really feel like it. Even the impressive demonstrations in the streets on the weekdays of September 10 and 18 were not huge enough to illustrate the seriousness of the situation. Foreigners joke that it’s impossible to live in any major French city and never encounter a demonstration in the streets. That idea is both folkloric and ironic, but it is true that demonstrating is a very French way of expressing opposition to government policies.

In my view, the true crisis has been almost silent; no one has really detailed the depth and severity of it. The Bayrou government fell on September 8 when it lost a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. That is rare enough that it should arouse people’s interest as to why it happens, who benefits from it, and so on. It was a minority government, so it knew it was in a fragile position.

Given how many weeks President Macron took to choose François Bayrou as prime minister, it came as a surprise when the new prime minister was named the next day. He is Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally and perhaps even a close friend of Macron. However, as of this writing, the rest of the Cabinet has not been nominated, so the old team is still in place until they are replaced, if indeed that happens.

Thus, three times in a row, Macron has refused to follow the practice of allowing the party or coalition with the most representatives (députés) to choose the prime minister. It is then up to that nominee to rally enough députés to form a majority so that the government can govern. The progressive coalition called the Nouveau Front Populaire has 192 députés (out of a total of 577). The far-right Rassemblement National has 140. Many thought there should be new elections, since the current Assembly cannot come up with a stable majority. In short, President Macron has chosen none of the normal democratic solutions, preferring to abuse his power and choose a member of his inner circle.

Maybe one consequence of this is the growing attendance at demonstrations, with another strike day scheduled for October 2. The message is that the unions are having a hard time controlling the grassroots organizations that have started expressing their anger in this way. As I have heard several people say, when the president does not listen to the people, the people find a way to express their anger against what they see as an illegitimate leader.

AT LEAST ONE THING WORKS IN FRANCE: FORMER PRESIDENT SARKOZY IS GOING TO JAIL
On September 25, a court handed down a verdict against Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 financing of his presidential campaign. He was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to prepare acts of corruption with representatives of the Libyan state, along with his associates Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux. He received a five-year prison sentence. The whole judicial process took eight years, as Sarkozy had a long practice as a lawyer and used every maneuver possible to delay the proceedings. He will know on October 13 when his imprisonment is to start. It is a first in modern French history.

I CANNOT COMPLAIN WHEN OTHERS ARE TRULY DISABLED
I received many messages expressing concern for my well-being after I published the September issue, mentioning my fall and the sling I wore for five weeks. Once again, I want to thank all of you for caring and reaching out to me. I also want to point out that when people who ordinarily live without disabilities are incapacitated for a little while, they immediately feel frustration and discomfort. They want to go back to normal, their normal.

Such incapacities, though, are minuscule compared to real disabilities, and the norm of the truly disabled cannot be compared with these little temporary inconveniences. I have some familiarity with both sides now, as I have long been a member of a non-profit group helping patients with ataxia, which is a degenerative disease of the nervous system caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movement.

Hence, this month I want to write a sequel to the previous column, which was about thanking people from the bottom of my heart. I have belonged to the non-profit Connaître les Syndromes Cérébelleux (CSC) for 30 years, having joined in 1995, the year it was established (which explains why my membership card has the number 5). I have seen firsthand the disconnect between what non-disabled people go through when, say, they break a leg or are recovering from surgery, as opposed to people who have to live with a physical handicap that restricts them to a wheelchair, and who will need help for the rest of their lives with the most basic things in life.

Those whose condition is temporary rarely manage to stay philosophical about it, even though they know it just requires time, medical supervision, and physical therapy. I myself was impatient, frustrated, and unsettled by this relatively tiny thing that happened to me, even after all those years as a member of CSC. The difference was that I was aware of how small the inconvenience was compared to someone who has a degenerative disease; their losses are permanent, and they have to rebuild their life from that point.

Societies, and especially cities, would be organized quite differently if everything were planned and constructed using wheelchair users as the standard. People would have more personal space in public and private buildings and in public transportation, and, most importantly to me as a city dweller, cities would be accessible for everyone, disabled or not. That would be true inclusion, and it would enhance peaceful living together to heights that can hardly be envisioned.

THOUGHTS ON TAIWAN’S POLITICAL SITUATION
I would like to preface my thoughts on Taiwan by quoting excerpts from a recent article by Tessa Wong, Asia digital reporter for the BBC:
It was just another Friday morning on the Taiwanese island of Kinmen, a few kilometers from the coast of China, when an air raid siren pierced the calm.

At a local government office, people switched off their lights and dove under tables. Others fled to an underground car park. At a nearby hospital, staff rushed to treat people staggering in with bloody injuries.

But the blood was fake, and the casualties were volunteer actors. Together with the government workers, they were taking part in mandatory civil defence and military drills held across Taiwan last month.

The purpose? Rehearsing their response to a possible attack by China.

…There are myriad ways China could attack. Besides landing on Taiwan’s beaches or launching missile attacks, it could also announce air and sea blockades or sever undersea communication cables. Many of these scenarios are illustrated in a Taiwanese government-funded TV series depicting a fictional Chinese invasion.

But some, particularly the Taiwanese government, believe a subtler invasion may already be taking place: one where China is trying to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Taiwanese in the hopes they would one day choose unification.

Officially, China has been encouraging trade and economic ties with Taiwan, as well as cultural links.

Unofficially, though, according to analysts and Taiwan officials, Beijing has also invested in disinformation campaigns and influence operations. One study by the V-Dem Institute of Sweden’s University of Gothenberg found that for many years, Taiwan has been the most targeted place in the world for disinformation campaigns initiated by a foreign government.

In March, Lai warned of China’s deepening influence in Taiwan’s economy, culture, media, and even the government, and announced several measures to tighten security.
www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp94v42gmg9o

Few people are aware of the interesting evolution that Taiwanese political life has been undergoing. It started some 30 or 40 years ago, depending on what is considered the first definitive move toward a democratic system. The Kuomintang (KMT) is the party representing the people who fled mainland China after the government fell to the communists under Mao Zedong. The KMT ruled Taiwan by martial law until 1987. The democratization of the political system continued with the second election of President Lee Teng-hui in 1996. That vote was considered fully open and fair, and thus the final step in the process. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), representing about 70% of the population who were there before the Kuomintang invaded the island, won the presidential election for the first time in 2000.

At first, the KMT was vehemently anti-mainland China, and the DPP did not really have a strong stand either way. Both parties alternated in winning the presidency until 2016. Since that election, the DPP has won all the time. The reason many give is that the KMT has gradually shifted closer to mainland China, while the DPP has moved more toward independence and distanced itself further from mainland China. Thus, for a long time, the mainland had no ally in Taiwan, but now there is a party dedicated to closer ties with China. Beijing interferes with elections as much as it can, to the extent that it is obvious to all. Sadly, little can be done against them, since the KMT executes all the orders it gets from Beijing.

Mainland China will soon have the military capacity to conquer Taiwan, even if US military forces are there trying to protect it. The strengthening of the armed forces is the driving force behind the mainland’s growing influence in the South China Sea and several small islands belonging to Vietnam and the Philippines. It is also a catalyst for those Taiwanese who are ready to vote for the KMT out of fear or indifference. Sadly, this is a common reaction from those faced with a powerful bully.

The most probable scenario for the takeover of Taiwan by mainland China would be that the KMT, fully backed by Beijing, wins the next presidential election, due to be held in 2028. Then everything would be ready for a slow and steady change in policies, leaving Taiwan no longer independent; this would resemble the Hong Kong transition.

The unknown factor, which in many ways is a lot scarier, is what would happen if the DPP continued to win presidential elections and remained on the path to complete independence. What would be the step too far that would lead mainland China to annihilate Taiwan, destroying everything to assert its full authority? Would the USA send enough troops to protect Taiwan in such a case? Objectively, a soft takeover is more likely than a military one. But China’s President Xi Jinping is not a patient man and wants it to happen sooner rather than later.

THE FRENCH POST OFFICE SUSPENDS PARCEL DELIVERIES TO THE USA
American political decisions sometimes have unforeseen consequences which are not anticipated by the US government. As private individuals, we send gifts, which are always defined as personal when it comes to customs. Many of us have made the mistake of ordering a gift online and having the merchant send it overseas.

When the destination country is France, such a gift will almost always come with a huge duty bill, as it is considered an import. Legally speaking, it is not, but the tax code states that the legal assumption is that everything shipped that enters France is commercial and is subject to duty unless proved otherwise. A person in the USA initiates the transaction by purchasing something. When it is delivered to a third party in France, Customs assumes it is a commercial transaction because there is nothing indicating otherwise.

When a person sends a gift directly, they mark the box as a gift, which normally prevents taxation. Since the French postal system does not know what to do with US tariffs applied to European goods, it blocks everything worth $100 or more. For many, this is a low amount when giving a meaningful gift for Christmas, a birthday, an anniversary, etc. It will be interesting to see how this situation gets fixed.
www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/08/22/la-poste-suspend-l-envoi-de-colis-vers-les-etats-unis_6633516_3234.html

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL IN NOVEMBER
The SHIP studio is currently available on November 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION
The office will be closed for three weeks over the Christmas vacation, from the evening of Friday, December 19, to the morning of Monday, January 5. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of the time, but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

WHAT ACTIVITY QUALIFIES AS BEING AN ARTIST FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES?

I have been making a living as a pottery artist for about 20 years, and I want to continue after moving to France. Aside from all the exhibits I have had mostly in California, I now have a letter from my gallery in Los Angeles and another one from a gallery in France, and I am awaiting responses from galleries in Paris as well.
I have been researching residences in Paris and the Ateliers d’art that assist artists with getting lodging and organizing exhibitions. I have contacted several of them, and I’ve not yet been able to confirm an opportunity to work there. In the meantime, I have sent my artist bio to many people in France along with a link to my art website.Can I get the artist’s immigration status by myself if I have all those letters from the galleries in Los Angeles and in France?

QUESTION

INTRUSIVE QUESTIONS WHEN RENTING IN PARIS

My girlfriend is French and we just had a baby girl. We need a new and, of course, bigger place to live. I just got my new carte de séjour as the father of a French citizen, and I have had a good local job with French pay slips. She has a good job, and being on maternity leave for about a year is fine; she receives the same amount of salary. We have compiled a file about ourselves as thick and detailed as what I gave the prefecture! The agency just got back to us, asking for additional documents needed to validate the file with GLI (Garantie des loyers impayés) in order to rent the apartment.
They ask for RIBs for all of our bank accounts to check our solvency, as well as for the family record book (livret de famille). They explained that it is also required to check whether the person is married and whether or not there is a marriage contract, and then, for solvency, too. We are not married nor PACSed, so there is no official document about us. My girlfriend has a copy of her parents’ livret de famille, as she is mentioned in there. She thought of sending that one as her parents are our guarantors.This feels totally intrusive and even illegal. We earn together almost four times the monthly rent, so that should be it. Can they steal money from our accounts without us signing anything?

Cry Freedom

She told the story
I listened with my eyes closed
So sad but so true
She whispered softly
I asked her why she did so
She knew that I knew
She was a skater
The ice was her second home
The country’s finest
Everyone could see
She had a plan
To break across the border
Instead of waiting for
The powers that be
Cry freedom, sweet freedom
Tell the whole world
To get ready
Cry freedom, sweet freedom
Tell the whole world
That we’re ready
She said goodnight
But just as I was leaving
A black car came into view
And waiting there
They could hear me breathing
They knew that I knew, cry freedom
Insane questions
They asked me what did I know
So strange, they let me go
But more they try
The stronger our love grows
I know that I know. Cry freedom
Cry freedom, sweet freedom …

WIKIPEDIA

Raging Silence is the 17th album by British Rock group Uriah Heep. It marked the studio debut of Canadian vocalist Bernie Shaw and keyboardist Phil Lanzon, both of whom have remained with the band since. It was produced by Richard Dodd and the title is an allusion to the Manfred Man’s Earth Band album The Roaring Silence (1976).

“Cry Freedom” is the fifth track on this album, released on April 24th, 1989. I discovered this British band during my early years of college. I still listen to some of their albums with admiration. I find the group totally underrated, regardless of which lineup it is throughout their 50 years of existence.

The lyrics of the song are close to the message I want to convey. They can be taken literally, as I have helped undocumented aliens for 30 years. They can be taken figuratively: arbitrary arrests, the desire to flee to another country. Indeed, this desire to flee is bigger than romantic love; staying behind, being a champion. Being famous is not enough to keep you there.

The song apparently describes an Eastern European ice skater hoping to flee to a Western country to be free and safe. After WWII, Europe was divided into two with a no-man’s-land in between, guarded by lookout towers and barbed wire. The best-known section was the Berlin Wall. Eastern Europe was under the authority of the Communist USSR regime in Moscow. When the song was made, athletes defecting from East Bloc countries by staying in a Western country after a competition generally received immediate refugee status. Such people fled their countries by the thousands. Some became American world champions, such as the tennis player Martina Navratilova, born a citizen of Czechoslovakia.

Many people never meet a newly arrived refugee. The media may have shown people entering in large numbers and described them as a gang ready to invade the country. It takes time to listen to their story, one person at a time. Even though there are usually similarities, each story is unique because these people are unique individuals. Depending on what happened in their life and the description they provide of their situation in their home country, they may or may not qualify as a refugee, asylum seeker, or for another legal immigration status. I strongly believe in due process, giving everyone a fair chance to explain their situation in detail.

This does take time and a large amount of staff. In France, the process involves two levels of administrative procedure – OFPRA (Office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons) and the Commission de Recours, and then going to court, with its three levels of jurisdiction. The prefectures handle requests by undocumented aliens who never got an immigration visa to start with, but who comply with specific provisions of the law. The current French government is seeking to modify the legislation to make it more difficult to comply.

There is a lot of pain and suffering right now in many countries. The French media keeps talking about a general strike on 10 September that supposedly will put France on its knees. I doubt it is going to be that extensive. At the same time, we should be ready to face difficult times for a couple of months, maybe longer. There is growing pain and anger in France, reaching the point where people could increase their demonstrations and strikes, and, sadly, violence could occasionally break out.

I do not see an end anytime soon to the issues behind “Crying Freedom,” however you relate the song to situations throughout the world.

BORN IN THE USA VERSUS BORN FRENCH
The above discussion leads me to this topic. The USA and France are both countries of immigration, built through history by people coming from other lands. Wave after wave of those populations find their way, facing some resistance and difficulties in fitting in. So there are grounds for comparing how these two countries define nationality and how it is obtained.

The USA specifies three ways to become American:
Be born in the USA
Be born to an American parent anywhere in the world
Be naturalized.

France defines four ways to become French:
Be born in France of two foreign parents and confirm one’s French nationality at ages 13 and 18
Be born to a French parent anywhere in the world
Marry a French citizen living in France or anywhere else
Be naturalized.

Written as lists, these criteria look somewhat similar. But in reality, there are huge differences between the two countries in terms of what is seen as a “real” American or French person. The most visible one is that in the USA, it feels like everybody owns an American flag, and there are flags pretty much everywhere. It is easy to get the impression that everything you see bears the flag. In France, aside from public buildings, public ceremonies, and soccer victories, the French flag is nowhere to be found. That example is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to US-French differences.

Media coverage of the executive decision in the USA challenging birthright citizenship made me think deeper about how a country of immigration views citizenship. For several months, there has been an intense discussion in the USA, including a Supreme Court decision, about American citizenship linked to simply being born on American territory. I prefer to avoid discussing the legal court cases and debates on both sides of the aisle about birthright citizenship.

On the American side, the song “Born in the U.S.A.” immediately comes to mind. It is the title track of Bruce Springsteen’s seventh album, released on June 4th, 1984. The song vividly describes a physical connection, almost like there is a body chained to the land, and being proud of where one was born in the USA. The lyrics are often misunderstood, but it is undeniable that they refer to a strong link between American birth, what one expects to get from it, and the disillusionment when those expectations are not met. We might also mention Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, the focus on his birth certificate, and the fact that many Americans believe he was not born in the USA. Aside from the fact that American birth is a constitutional requirement for becoming president, the viciousness of the attacks indicated that some people were not ready for a non-white president.

By contrast, no one in France is inclined to think that being born in France is what makes you French. Being born French is more important for some people because it sets these French-born people apart from those who are naturalized. Here is how I would define French nationality:

French nationality is linked to a shared national history and therefore adherence to a broad set of values, including the top values of the Republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Few people remember that the 1848 French Revolution, which lasted only three days, began on February 22nd as a large-scale protest against the government and ended on February 24th with the abdication of King Louis-Philippe. It triggered a gigantic shock wave aspiring to freedom, liberty, and democracy throughout Europe. In some ways, the phenomenon was similar to the way the 1968 hippy movement began in California and shook the world. For at least a century, people who were born in a different country, with no family ties to France, have grown up feeling French because they shared French visions and values, and have moved to France to be where they feel they belong.

For example, Eva Joly, born Gro Eva Farseth in Norway, is a former French magistrate who became a politician in France. She was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019. She also ran as a candidate for Europe Écologie –Les Verts in the 2012 presidential election. During that entire campaign, no one ever questioned her legitimacy as a candidate to become the next French president. She became French in her 20s through marriage to a Frenchman.

THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR CARING FOR ME AFTER MY ACCIDENT 
On June 17th, I fell and hurt myself pretty badly. An ambulance took me to the emergency room of the nearby Saint Antoine Hospital. I walked out with a sling and my right arm immobilized. The accident had an immediate and long-lasting effect on my life. I had gone through life without ever going to an emergency room and being on sick leave afterward. I have had a couple of surgeries, but I was not handicapped with an immobilized limb.

Typing on my computer was difficult. I could not ride my bicycle and had to use public transport. I did not cancel any client appointments but handled them as best I could. It came as a shock. No need to detail all I went through to adjust to this new way of life; I had a difficult time accepting it. I posted my picture wearing the sling as quickly as possible on Facebook because I wanted people to know I would be less efficient for a while. I never expected the outpouring of love and care on my page, as well as the calls, messages, and people offering to help. This was unsettling for someone who helps and cares for a living and has a ministry doing the same thing; it swept me away. I was not used to it.

Then came my birthday on June 29th and a second wave of best wishes and get-well messages, just like the first time. I cannot thank you enough, everybody. I tried to answer every single person, but I am sure I missed a couple. It made up for the fact that this year I had no celebration, but I did not mind. The office was scheduled to close anyway on July 4th, so I left Paris a tad early to get to the countryside, where it would be easier to handle the situation.

I was off the sling by July 17th, and the physical therapy started a few days later in the small town, Cluny, where I spent my entire summer. I am slowly getting back in shape, still experiencing some pain. There should not be any lasting effect; it is just getting the muscles and tendons back to work.

Feeling vulnerable, feeling handicapped, even though it was a tiny thing compared to a real permanent disability, made me think of my physical strength, which can disappear in the blink of an eye. Turning 66 while wearing a sling made me think twice.

Today I want to pour out my thanks, love, and care to all of you who were so sweet and caring. It is a very different feeling I want to share with you, having been on the receiving end for once.

A NEW PROCEDURE FOR RENEWING THE CARTE DE RESIDENT
For a while, renewing a carte de résident at the Paris prefecture started by booking an appointment on the prefecture website. At the appointment, the required documents were minimal: passport, carte de résident, and a recent proof of address, i.e., less than three months.

This followed the letter of the law, as the burden of proof is on the state to show that the candidate is disqualified from renewing the card. The state has the right to do so in three cases: when the person has engaged in terrorist activities, has served a prison term in France, or has lived outside France for at least three years as a non-fiscal resident.

Now the procedure starts with filling out a form on the ANEF website. The candidate must then submit the last three French income tax notices (avis d’imposition sur le revenu), which prove fiscal residence. For most people, it is not an inconvenience to add these documents to the file. There are people holding the carte de résident who live in another country and want to move back to France in time to renew it. I used to advise them to come about 18 months before the expected date of the appointment so that there was at least one “avis d’imposition” on the record, as the prefecture does a background check before issuing the new card.

This is no longer possible. The new requirement is that the applicant must have lived in France for the better part of the past four years. And nothing prevents them from asking for seven avis d’imposition.

Now, the following information is critical and should be disseminated as widely as possible. When an applicant does not qualify for renewal of the carte de résident because of insufficient years of presence in France, I strongly advise submitting the request anyway. The law states that, in such cases, the applicant MUST receive a private life (vie privée et familiale) carte de séjour. As long as the applicant proves current legal and fiscal residence in France when submitting the renewal request, the prefecture will issue a vie privée card. The key point is that this card grants all the same broad rights to work in France as the carte de résident, so nothing changes in daily life. It just means renewing more often and being more in contact with the prefecture. All things considered, that is a small inconvenience compared to the total loss of the immigration status if the person thinks all is lost and does not apply at all.

Considering the desire expressed by some living in France wanting to live in Europe and therefore in France, holding a valid carte de résident allows you to come back for sure. You should not be worried about what happens next, you will have the right to stay in France.

ARE AMERICANS REALLY MOVING OUT OF THE USA?
In June 2003, I met Maître Christophe Jean when he opened his law firm in the 17th arrondissement. I have referred people to his firm ever since.

All the professionals who deal with French immigration procedures are seeing a surge in requests from Americans wanting to move out of the USA. I have seen it myself, even though my clientele and marketing exposure set me apart (I avoid digital marketing, for one thing). I am now getting messages from clients who contacted me several years ago, telling me the plan to move to France that they started then is happening now. Eventually, we will see how many stay in France and elsewhere in Europe (the same trend has been observed in other countries over the past three years). I would just point out that France is by no means “liberal” as Americans define the term; France is French first and foremost. Its social democratic structure does indeed offer numerous programs, rights, and services that American liberals wish for in the USA. But everything is done the French way for French people.

Maître Jean has had an international clientele from the beginning, as he holds an LLM from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, as well as being a fully licensed French lawyer. He believes the recent surge is necessarily accompanied by increased demand by Americans for lodging in France. Hence, he has started a new business in real estate. The idea is that a lawyer finds the property and secures the transaction through a separate corporation dedicated to this service. The new firm is called Lex Realty. Here is its website:
https://lex-realty.com

USAID DEFUNDING LED TO INCREASED FAMILY FINANCIAL AID TRANSFERS – WHICH WILL SOON BE TAXED
Except from the Bright!Tax, website:
Just when you thought U.S. tax policy couldn’t get any more complicated, Congress has passed a major change: a federal remittance tax on money sent abroad. Starting January 1, 2026, anyone wiring funds out of the United States – including U.S. citizens, green card holders, and even non-citizens will face a new 1% tax on qualifying transfers when they send money overseas.

Why does this matter? For expats, cross-border families, and anyone relying on international money transfers, this is more than just another fee. The remittance tax adds a new layer of cost on top of already complex reporting rules, and it hits everything from family support to tuition.

Here’s what you need to know about the new remittance tax, who it affects, and what steps you should consider before your next international transfer.

What is a remittance tax?

When you send money from the U.S. to another country – whether it’s helping out family or paying for tuition – you are making what is known as a remittance. Traditionally, these transfers weren’t taxed by the U.S. government. But thanks to a new law passed by the House of Representatives in July 2025, that has changed.

A remittance tax is a federal excise tax applied directly to outbound money transfers. Unlike a typical use tax or sales tax, this one isn’t tied to what you buy or earn –It is simply a fee charged on qualifying funds sent overseas. The goal? To increase tax payments to the Treasury, crack down on money laundering, and give the government more insight into international money flows.
https://brighttax.com/blog/remittance-tax/#:~:text=Starting%20January%201%2C%202026%2C%20anyone,when%20they%20send%20money%20overseas

This will have a significant and immediate impact on American citizens living outside the USA, whether they work or are retired. The usual way people now handle the situation is to arrange for money to be sent to their American checking account, from which it is transferred to their French account when needed, with a good exchange rate if possible. This was a way to minimize the exchange rate variations between the two currencies. I would like to know if the tax will be owed on IRS refunds or Social Security payments when the payment is sent directly to the French bank account.

Below is a link to a French article focusing on the impact of the tax on foreigners and naturalized Americans who send significant amounts of money to their families in their countries of origin. Since the almost total defunding of USAID earlier this year, many foreign-born people in the USA have increased their support in an effort to partially offset the lost support. As of next year, they will also have to pay the new remittance tax on these transfers. No doubt the US federal government will rejoice in the increased revenue, and I imagine a significant portion of the American population will approve of this extra hardship on the foreign-born.
www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2025/07/24/aux-etats-unis-la-diaspora-africaine-fragilisee-par-la-nouvelle-taxe-sur-les-envois-d-argent-a-l-etranger_6623496_3212.html

Best regards,

QUESTION

ACCUSED OF NOT DECLARING OR PAYING URSSAF CHARGES

My four-year carte de séjour is expiring on 21/11/2025. Recently, I received a letter from URSSAF threatening me with court procedures and fines as they claim that I have not declared the revenue for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. I declared my income as a consultant to the tax office for these years on time. I do not understand their insulting letter. Indeed, I pay URSSAF every month, money is deducted by URSSAF from my account, until a few months back when they stopped suddenly without any explanation.
A while ago, the tax office sent me a letter informing me that I was no longer an auto-entrepreneur because I was making too much money, and URSSAF will tell me how to handle the taxes I owe them. I thought that URSSAF would be writing me about how much I would pay in the future. This letter really makes no sense to me.Can this nonsense coming from URSSAF have an effect on renewing my carte de séjour?

QUESTION

NOT COMPLYING WITH THE FOUR-YEAR CARTE DE SEJOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR A WHILE

I currently hold a titre de séjour – passeport talent as a young employee, which is valid for another two years. I have been admitted to a two-year graduate program in Glasgow, Scotland. I am confused about the next steps on how to follow this curriculum. Some tell me that I need to switch to a student visa to pursue the master’s degree. Others tell me to ask my employer for a sabbatical and ask the prefecture for the visiteur status, as I will not be working. I would like to know if I can continue using my current residence permit and say nothing to anyone. I have been told that taking an unpaid sabbatical might allow me to keep my current visa while studying, but I haven’t found a clear answer. I have contacted the étrangers en France website multiple times, but they keep redirecting me to the prefecture. I wrote to the prefecture and never got an answer. Unfortunately, I am not sure who to reach out to there or how to explain my situation, let alone book an appointment.

I would like to wish you all a great summer and a very nice vacation, enjoying the freedom of the moment. Also, if possible, stay away from the anxiety of the moment with so many crises happening at the same time. I will close my office on July 4th.

Phoenix

Bird, rise high from the cinders. 
Leave it all far behind, all the ruins and the fire. 
Bird, raise your head from the ashes. 
Many men lay dead, you can see them like I. 
Phoenix rise, raise your head to the sky, 
Phoenix rise, raise your head to the sky.

Those are the full lyrics to the 10-minute version of “Phoenix” found on the self-named debut album of Wishbone Ash, released in 1970. A concert version on the Live Dates album from November 1973 lasts over 17 minutes. As you can see, the lyrics are pretty much non-existent.

Wishbone Ash guitarist Ted Turner described “Phoenix” as an elongated, structured jam. It is considered one of the band’s masterpieces.

I discovered Wishbone Ash at the end of high school, while listening to the Live Dates version of the song. I have been a fan of the band ever since

WIKIPEDIA

“The phoenix is a legendary immortal bird that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again. Originating in Greek mythology, it exists in many cultures, such as Egyptian and Persian mythology. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some legends say it dies in a show of flames and combustion, while others say that it simply dies and decomposes before being born again.”

This mythical bird is often used as an allegory about what happens after severe destruction. The world today abounds with war and destruction, but we seldom see the outcomes. Even without war, one can say that a country, a nation, or a group is going to its final destruction. In the media and in everyday discourse, people talk about what is happening today, how terrible the situation is, and never talk about what could come afterward. The media is an industry that must make a profit and thus sell a product that people want to buy. Images of war and combat sell well. Communicating about upcoming political decisions, creating anxiety, is also good for business. But reflecting on what may be the outcome of what looks like WWIII to many people, or the seemingly endless conflicts in the Middle East, does not attract attention and hence does not sell.

This is where the phoenix allegory comes into play. As we enter the summer and vacation time, enjoying leisure with family and friends, it might help to look beyond what the news is telling us. I do not mean to downplay the frightening time we are going through, but humans tend to believe that they are experiencing the worst situation ever, that no one has ever suffered as much pain, and that their country is on the brink of collapsing.

History shows us that such situations have happened in the past, and yet life has continued. The American Civil War is one example, and the 1789 French Revolution is another. It is a fact that humanity, continents, and countries have survived much worse episodes than what is happening today. This does not make our life any better, or watching the news any easier.

Persia, or as we call it today, Iran, has existed as a country for about 3000 years. Most likely, this nation will continue to exist, even though it is difficult to foresee what it will look like in the future. Even when a country disappears as a structured entity with a constitution and government, the people living there will create a new entity with representative leadership and a set of rules that will end up being a constitution.

The message that the allegory of the Phoenix gives here can seem counterintuitive. On the contrary, I see it as a vibrant, optimistic message. People should fight against destruction and incivility, and stand by those who are defenseless. Yet any loss, setback, or defeat discourages people from continuing. Still, even without knowing how terrible the destruction will be at the end, there will be a time to rebuild, and people should be ready to do the best they can so the best of humanity shines. This is where “Phoenix” comes into play for its allegorical message. I am lucky to regularly be reminded of that message by listening to this exceptional piece of music.

I WAS SLIGHTLY HANDICAPPED IN THE SECOND HALF OF JUNE 
On June 17th, I ended up in the emergency room of Saint-Antoine Hospital near my office. It was nothing really serious, but I have had my right arm in a sling. This severely hampered my ability to type and work. For the first time, I drafted most of this column using a dictaphone. My son, Eric, helped me with the research. That is why it is shorter than usual and may not be the same style. I am sure to be fully recovered by September. Perhaps I should take this as a sign that my life and workload should be aligned with my age, considering that I celebrated my 66th birthday yesterday.

Another first was that I published my picture with the sling on Facebook. For my column, I always use a picture of myself dating back about 30 years. I decided I should inform my clients and the people who follow me of my condition so they would not be surprised at how slowly I was answering them.

A DIFFERENT WAY OF CALCULATING INCOME TAX IS PROPOSED
It takes a fair amount of time for foreigners to understand the way income tax is calculated in France. Since I am not a professional tax expert, I always say it is impossible for me to know your bracket without knowing if you are married, if you have children, and so on. The household (foyer fiscal) is taxed, rather than an individual. For a long time, the calculation of the amount of income tax owed was based on the income or pay of a husband and father, who was assumed to be the sole wage-earner. Inequality between the husband’s and wife’s salaries lowered the husband’s income tax and increased the wife’s. The tax office was paid in three increments every year: February 15, May 15, and September 15th. Today, only the last date is mentioned as being the deadline to pay all the income tax you owe.

A few years back, withholding of taxes on the monthly salary became mandatory, and the tax bill was split into two. This severely disadvantaged the spouse with the lower income. A new regulation now changes this and prorates the amount of withholding to the salary earned. Here is my translation of an article explaining the new regulation.

Starting September 1, 2025, a new tax rule will come into force for all married or PACSed couples: the withholding tax rate will be automatically individualized. This measure, which stems from the French Finance Act for 2024, is designed to correct the imbalances generated by the single rate previously applied to both members of the household. Currently, a single rate based on the couple’s combined income is applied to each, putting the member with the lower income at a significant disadvantage. In the new system, each spouse will receive a personalized rate based on their own income, unless they expressly choose to retain the household rate. Contrary to popular belief, this reform does not change the total amount of tax payable by the couple. It simply changes the way the monthly deductions are distributed. Tax calculation remains based on joint taxation, which means that any advantages associated with the family quotient are retained. This option has already existed ever since the introduction of tax withholding in 2019, but fewer than a quarter of the households concerned made use of it as of 2024. Its automatic adoption aims to generalize a fairer mechanism, while leaving the possibility of reverting to the common rate for couples who so wish. Understandably, not all sources of income will be affected by this: joint income, such as rent received in joint ownership or dividends from shared accounts, will remain subject to the household’s overall rate. Additionally, annual tax adjustments can be problematic: no tool is yet proposed for the equitable distribution of overpayments or outstanding balances, requiring complex calculations if incomes are very unequal.www.lemonde.fr/argent/article/2025/04/23/impot-sur-le-revenu-le-taux-de-prelevement-a-la-source-sera-individuel-pour-les-couples-a-partir-de-septembre_6599165_1657007.html

A POLICE RAID AT GARE DU NORD 
On the 18th and 19th of June, nearly 4,000 officers were mobilized for a massive immigration control effort at train and bus stations. The Interior Minister announced that this mobilization was focused mainly on identifying undocumented aliens by asking everyone for their French ID.

“During these 48 hours, we will mobilize 4,000 officers of different services to question people in order to catch undocumented aliens,” declared the minister, Bruno Retailleau, on the new outlets Cnews and Europe 1. “Since the beginning of this year, we have arrested 47,000 people.” The minister has made the fight against illegal immigration his top priority. He personally supervised the operation at Paris’s biggest train station, the Gare Du Nord, on June 19th.

Similar raids have been made in the past, notably in 2024 under Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin, who had also required stricter sanctions for non-respect of the Covid lockdown and curfew. But in general, such operations have been met with a lot of criticism, notably concerning racial profiling. Accusations of discrimination have been leveled, with cases where young men were approached with no visible cause. Some of these led to court cases that are still pending.

Since January 12th, 2015, elite French military personnel have patrolled the streets of Paris, train stations, and other places where large crowds gather. Their sole aim is to prevent terrorist attacks; they never get involved in policing and do not assist municipal police forces. As a result, some interesting situations occur when these two types of forces cross paths, though they pretty much ignore each other.

Without wanting to make too much of a comparison between what I consider to be two quite different situations, it is worth noting both the similarities – or what could appear to be similarities – and the striking differences between the French approach and that in the USA.www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/06/19/operation-nationale-contre-les-sans-papiers-bruno-retailleau-prone-la-tolerance-zero_6614668_3224.html (article available in English on the website – please click “read in English.)

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL THIS SUMMER
The SHIP studio is currently available on August 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer holidays, from the evening of Friday, July 4th to the morning of Monday, August 25th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of that time but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

BUYING REAL ESTATE IN FRANCE

Can I make an appointment with you to discuss financial matters and buying property in Paris? … I’m an American but have French nationality.

During World War II, Churchill supposedly asked Stalin to respect religious freedoms in Eastern Europe because not doing so could upset the pope. Stalin is alleged to have replied, “The pope. How many divisions does he have?” This was meant to show the military powerlessness of the Vatican, a state with a surface area of 0.44 square kilometers and 800-some inhabitants. But even if the pope carries no military weight and little diplomatic influence, he does have an extremely powerful symbolic impact.

WORD HISTORIES WEBSITE
1943: FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE QUESTION ALLEGEDLY POSED BY STALIN

The earliest mention that I have found of this question is from Time: The Weekly Newsmagazine (New York City, N.Y.) of Monday, 27th December 1943:

Raconteur
Prime Minister Jan Christiaan Smuts of South Africa set the week’s best Teheran story in motion. His version: “Winston Churchill suggested to Stalin the possibility of the Pope’s being associated with some of the decisions taken. ‘The Pope,’ said Stalin thoughtfully. ‘The Pope. How many divisions has he?’”
https://wordhistories.net/2019/08/23/how-many-divisions-pope/

WIKIPEDIA

The Pontifical Swiss Guard, also known as the Papal Swiss Guard or simply Swiss Guard, is an armed force, guard of honor, and protective security unit, maintained by the Holy See to protect the Pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City State. Established in 1506 under Pope Julius II, it is among the oldest military units in continuous operation and is sometimes called “the world’s smallest army.” … As of 2024, there were 135 members.

A new pope was elected a few weeks ago: Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, an American-Peruvian dual national with some French ancestry, as his last name shows. Throughout recorded history, some leaders and rulers have thought that power is what governs the world, and that fighting capacities determine who gives orders and who submits to them. Whether the Stalin quote is true is beside the point. As the end of WWII neared, Stalin was among those who thought strictly in terms of the military forces each country had. He dismissed all leaders who did not have an army comparable to that of the USSR, which almost single-handedly defeated the German Army at a critical point of the war with the victory at Stalingrad and its aftermath, until D-Day, when a Western front was opened. He was not the only ruler to think that way; many heads of state follow the same logic today. Around the world, more and more countries are adopting or leaning toward autocratic leadership, and I would put France in that category.It is my belief that, since the early 1960s, the Roman Catholic Church has evolved in such a way that the pope is seen as a moral authority. Each pope since Pope John XXIII has followed this evolution, adapting it to his personality.

WIKIPEDIA

“The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the Second Vatican Council or Vatican II, was the 21st and most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City for sessions of eight and twelve weeks.”

One definitive illustration of this evolution was the papacy of Pope John-Paul II, sovereign of the Vatican City State from October 16th, 1978 until he died in 2005. He is considered to have played a major role in the collapse of the Soviet regime and the dissolution of the USSR on December 26th, 1991. History can have a powerful sense of humor, as demonstrated by the fall of Stalin’s country.

It feels like the media around the world are stating in unison that Pope Leo XIV will follow a similar path. I may be over-optimistic in thinking that he will be instrumental in restoring a more humane and democratic way of governing countries, organizations, and so on. Maybe it is time now to measure the influence of the pope and other spiritual leaders, not by the size of their respective armies, but by the number of their followers, the people who pay attention to their message, and the real impact these leaders have on the world’s population.

The rise of autocracies may be balanced by moral leaders strengthening soft power. It is possible that counting on armed forces to secure power and wealth is a losing proposition, given the forces aspiring to ethical rulers and leaders complying with the constitutions of their countries and the rights of the people. I believe that the question “How many divisions does the Pope have?” is a thing of the past, with no future in the long run. I suppose that might make me an unreasonable optimist.

I RECENTLY STOOD ON OMAHA BEACH 
The movies, pictures, and descriptions of Allied forces taking the beaches of Normandy often show high cliffs, a struggle to climb, and so on. Looking at photos and watching the movies gives the impression that they were extremely difficult locations to capture.

Then I stood looking at Omaha Beach. Where I was, there was no cliff; it was a normal sandy beach. But this was where the bloodiest battle occurred. It felt counterintuitive. Then I analyzed the situation militarily. A lot of things added up to create this situation. Something obvious came to mind. Firearms that are put on a stand shoot horizontally and up in the air. They cannot shoot downward. So a low-slope beach is an open range for these weapons. This is not the case with high cliffs. The next thing was that the American bombing of the German defenses reached their targets – except on Omaha Beach. The last thing was that, due to strong winds, the American troops reached that beach behind schedule when the tide was lowest. The beach recedes so far at that moment that there is a huge stretch of sand before dry land is reached.

The other D-Day beaches, comparatively, have a safe and secure space at the foot of the cliff, and the beach is quite narrow. So they ended up being easier to take.

Standing there looking at the beach at low tide, I could easily imagine how there was such a bloodbath on this beach. Looking again, I saw children playing, families strolling, everybody enjoying the sunshine on a nice day. Omaha Beach is not a shrine. There are monuments celebrating and memorializing what happened in 1944. But today it is a beach like many others in the region and popular because of its size. After all, this is for the better, and I believe many think so, including the veterans who fought there and who come back as if on a pilgrimage.

MORE SCRUTINY REVIEWING THE NATURALIZATION PROCEDURE 
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, citing a provision of the immigration law championed by his predecessor, Gérald Darmanin, is asking prefects to pay close attention to the level of French language proficiency, as well as allegiance to the values of the Republic required to obtain naturalization. He has also drawn up a list of criteria that would show “the exemplary nature of the applicant’s background.” The list addresses, among other things, whether the applicant has been an undocumented resident. Then the procedure requires having lived in France for a minimum of seven years instead of five.

The applicant’s financial means are also heavily scrutinized. The last five years must be reviewed, and the earned income must prove a successful “professional integration.” The review must now meet a stricter threshold. This implies that applicants must provide proof of “sufficient and stable resources,” excluding social benefits. In other words, they must not rely even partially on welfare to live. Prefects are required to submit a report on the application of the Retailleau circular to the minister within three months.

This latest crackdown raises two serious issues, proving that political decisions are too often out of touch with the reality of the people being governed.

1. Relying on welfare

The Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) pays a large range of subsidies. Most of them cannot be considered as relying even partially on welfare to live. One of the best examples is the lodging payment, the Aide Personnalisée au Logement. To keep it simple, when the income of a family is considered too low compared to their rent amount, CAF pays a fraction of the rent either to the individual or directly to the landlord. It affects over six million households, or about 12.6 million people. Another example is the Prime à la naissance. This subsidy is received right after the birth of a child, pretty much regardless of the family’s income. So it is critical to define carefully which subsidy paid by CAF can block naturalization.

2. Undocumented individuals must have resided in France for 7 years instead of 5 to comply with the requirements

Everybody is complaining about excessive delays linked to immigration status renewal. Normally, the applicant for naturalization must at all times have a document proving their legal stay in France. The reality is different, however, and it is not unusual now for people to go several weeks or even months without documents. The prefecture does not consider such people to be in France illegally, but it can feel that way to those individuals affected if the reality of their daily life causes them to lose their job, financial support, health coverage, and so on. This can happen at various stages of the procedure, especially when the renewal is submitted online.

Currently, when the prefecture issues a negative answer to the submitted request, it may result in the applicant receiving an Obligation de Quitter le Territoire Français, with its expulsion order. Both the prefecture and the applicant can make mistakes; however, a standard in-house appeal might fix the situation. What is happening now is that all refusals come with an expulsion order, which, of course, is not obeyed and is never enforced when the appeal is accepted. The lowest level appeal, called recours gracieux, is sent to the prefecture explaining the way in which the initial presentation was wrong and expressing hope that a new, more pertinent presentation will lead to the decision being changed.

But now the statement mentioned above from the Ministry of the Interior indicates that such a situation would make it a lot more difficult to obtain naturalization. There are also court decisions in favor of the foreigner sanctioning the prefecture for wrongdoing and summoning it to reinstate all the plaintiff’s immigration rights. Given how long court rulings take to be delivered, it is certain that in such a case, the foreigner has been staying illegally in France for several years. It would be absurd for the prefecture to argue that such years of illegal stay prevent the foreigner from becoming French after a five-year stay, when it was the prefecture that lost in court!

I do not want to appear cynical, I just have a hard time with the current government, including the minister of the interior, and am not sure I trust them to be fair after seven years and not hold such situations against the applicants.

Thus, the talking points of the French government create a huge distortion, giving the impression that only so-called good, upstanding, and well-integrated candidates are being considered, and casting shame on those who have lived off public money or been delinquents. The reality is very different, and the unfairness of the government’s decision is illustrated here. The existing requirements for naturalization already allow for the denial of any request by an applicant receiving RSA, which meets the definition of welfare. On the other hand, currently, those who have been so-called delinquents because they have regularized their stay in France get the same treatment as any others.

THE GOVERNMENT IS CLOSE TO ABANDONING ITS PLAN TO LOWER THE VAT THRESHOLD FOR AUTO-ENTREPRENEURS
The government has decided to postpone the proposed VAT (TVA) reform for auto-entrepreneurs and looks likely to give up on it entirely. The original plan was that on March 1st, 2025, the threshold of the TVA exemption would be lowered to 25,000 euros of annual sales, compared with the previous level of 37,500 euros.

This plan might still be discussed as part of the 2026 budget if the government maintains its desire to lower the threshold. But several of my sources believe this will not happen. There is a real issue regarding craftsmanship that should be properly addressed. There are craftspeople (artisans), fully registered as professionals in their field, who pay the standard social charges and collect TVA. And then there are people similarly engaged who register not as artisan but just as “auto-entrepreneur”, paying lower social charges and no TVA. In theory, this situation should please everybody: the highly skilled professionals charge their clients the appropriate rate, and the others cannot compete and charge a lot less. But in reality, they compete for a large portion of the work. Clients are increasingly asking non-professionals to do things like fix a basic leak, change a gasket, paint a room, or add a couple of electrical sockets. The clients do so because they think such tasks do not require much expertise.

This problem has existed for years and is difficult to address. The crafts trades, i.e., the artisanat, have a de facto monopoly when an insurance company, landlord, syndic, etc., demands a professional invoice with a statement of good standing related to the TVA collection. There are too few people doing those jobs. This is why many now believe that lowering the threshold for everybody is not the solution, and so the government has given up on this idea. Therefore, profession libérale auto-entrepreneurs may be reassured that the problem is probably fixed as far as they are concerned.

A SOPHISTICATED SCAM RELATED TO PAYING RENT IN FRANCE
I have been hearing about a simple but effective scam that involves sending fake emails that claim to come from rental management companies. The messages inform the recipient that a rent payment has been missed and that new bank details must be used to make the payment. Sometimes the scam is presented as a technical error on the landlord’s account. In both cases, the tone of the message is designed to generate stress, encouraging the victim to pay quickly, without verifying the information.

The scammers use temporary bank account numbers (IBANs), which they regularly replace after a few transactions. Even though French tenants tend to be suspicious and rebellious toward landlords and agencies, this scam has been working. Attention, foreigners tend to worry that something is wrong and it is their fault. That makes them ideal victims who comply with the email’s request.

Therefore, let me put it this way: I advise all my readers to respond in the way a typical French tenant would: contact the landlord or the agency, and blame them for the situation. Clearly mention the email you received. If it is a scam, they will debunk the situation right away. Also, never change the bank account to which you pay your rent unless you have carefully confirmed that it is genuine. Once again, be French: ask that the request be sent by postal mail. It is extremely difficult for a scammer to send postal mail that really looks genuine.

TRAVEL WARNINGS AGAINST THE USA
For decades now, I have seen the notices that the American Embassy sends to Americans living abroad, warning them about travel to specific countries. On a few occasions, the embassy in Paris has even mentioned a need for caution when there are demonstrations and unrest in parts of Paris or other cities in France. This keen attention to the safety of Americans living abroad is well known. 

Now, several countries are warning their citizens against visiting the USA as tourists. On the day I wrote this section of my column, this was the list of countries making such warnings:
Canada
Germany
Denmark
U.K. 
China
Ireland
France
Finland
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden. 

The issue, as I see it, is not whether the situation in the USA related to border control merits these warnings. Whether the foreign governments are right or wrong, it is shocking to find the USA on a list of dangerous countries to visit as tourists.

The American media and the media of other Western countries have relayed numerous stories of people detained or expelled at the border while trying to enter the USA. For example, the French media covered at great length an incident in which a French researcher was turned away at Houston after trying to attend a conference.
www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/03/22/le-refoulement-d-un-chercheur-francais-aux-etats-unis-tourne-a-l-imbroglio-diplomatique_6584561_3210.html

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL THIS SUMMER
The SHIP studio is currently available on August 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer holidays, from the evening of Friday, July 4th to the morning of Monday, August 25th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of that time but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

WHEN CAN I START TO WORK IN FRANCE?

Last year, I got my visiteur visa from the DC consulate. A couple of months ago, I submitted the request to renew it, and I have not heard yet from the prefecture. My visa expires very soon. I am setting up my company with my daughters, who are French nationals. I have been managing rental property in Paris, and I want to do international business development with my background in finance and tech. How do I change my status, and do I need to wait for their answer?

The Apprentice, according to Wikipedia, was “an American reality television series that judged the business skills of a group of contestants. It ran in various formats across fifteen seasons on NBC from 2004 to 2017. The Apprentice was created by British television producer Mark Burnett, and co-produced with Donald Trump, who was the show’s host for the first fourteen seasons.”

The exclamation “You’re fired!” is still iconic despite the end of the show some eight years ago. In the series, Donald Trump was an actor playing a successful businessman who trained people to be as successful as he supposedly was. The current situation makes me think of interviews with actors who gained international fame playing medical doctors and were then asked to save people in real life at the scene of an accident. It is fascinating to me that a significant portion of the population in the USA and many other countries are so drawn into TV programs that they end up mistaking fiction for reality. The fame of Donald Trump due to this program helped considerably in attracting voters and ultimately winning elections.

This is not the first time an actor has been elected president of the USA. But while Ronald Reagan’s career as an actor certainly helped him get elected as governor of California, when he ran for president in 1980, it was as a governor, not a movie star. Donald Trump claimed that the character he played in The Apprentice was also him in real life. He maintained that he owned and ran a real estate empire in the USA and abroad.

During his first term, as well as the first 100 days of his second term, he never publicly used the famous exclamation “You’re fired” even though, as president, he has fired many people or forced them to resign. For me, it illustrates that his appearance of strength and determination came from his ability as an actor, and he played it very well. I believe that in real life, as president, he does not show these characteristics, although he is a gifted communicator. Some might go so far as to think that the actor, i.e., the character, was elected and not so much the individual in real life.

One could say there is nothing new here, and since the JFK presidential campaign, advertising aired on TV has marketed the candidates more than anything else. I often go back to Donald Trump’s first campaign in 2016, which was built on the fame he had coming out of the TV series. I believe the question of reality vs “reality” TV has some merits regarding the truthfulness of his representation as a successful businessman in real life.

WIKIPEDIA

Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, was an American singer and actor. He was known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. His Bat Out of Hell album trilogy – Bat Out of Hell (1977), Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993), and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006 – has sold more than 100 million records

THE EU SETS TIMELINES FOR TWO NEW BORDER CONTROL SYSTEMS 

In the last quarter of 2026, the European Commission plans to implement new border management systems, including the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

ETIAS is a travel permit, not a visa.

The 30 member states of the enlarged Schengen area will require it for entry. It involves payment of a seven-euro fee, which will be charged to nationals of some 60 countries outside the European Union who are currently authorized to travel to countries in the enlarged Schengen area for up to 90 days without a visa. The fee will not be charged to people under 18 or over 70, or to family members of European citizens or third-country nationals who have the right to move freely within the European Union.

This fully electronic system, similar to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), will reinforce checks on foreign travelers within the European Union, intended to detect potential threats. ETIAS will have to be applied for prior to travel and will be valid for three years or until the expiry of the travel document registered at the time of application.

The EU Entry/Exit System Will Be Implemented Earlier

From October 2025, under current plans, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to strengthen control procedures at the Schengen area’s external borders, will be used to electronically record the entry, exit, and refusal of entry into the Schengen area of third-country nationals wishing to enter the Schengen area for a short stay (maximum 90 days out of a total period of 180 days).

In concrete terms, manual stamping of travel documents will be replaced by registration of individual files in a centralized database, including date and place of entry and exit, facial images, and fingerprints. The database will automatically calculate the duration of the authorized short stay. The remaining time can be consulted by the traveler and border guards, as well as police and military personnel on missions to combat illegal immigration.

The new timeline for putting the EES and ETIAS into effect was adopted on March 5th, 2025, by EU home affairs ministers. The plan is to phase in the EES gradually over six months to give border authorities and the transportation industry time to adjust to the new procedures.

This might sound abstract, but people should realize how it will affect their lives. For many years, North Americans have been able to overstay in France for anything from a few months to several years without encountering difficulties. I am aware of only two instances where police acted on flagrant abuse of the situation at the airport. One person had to pay a fine of about 100 euros, and the other was sent home without any criminal charges.

Now, the incredible leniency of the French police will have to stop. The EES will mean creating an electronic record. Overstaying will become obvious. This is EU legislation, and the French police will have to enforce it, including the imposition of penalties. Those who have been taking advantage of police leniency should think about getting a lawful immigration status if they want to continue to live in France and travel occasionally to the USA.
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/revised-timeline-ees-and-etias-2025-03-07_en

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is already operating

I normally do not address British issues so I have copied and pasted text from the UK website on its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which affects people living in France.
www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Who can get an ETA

Whether you can get an ETA depends on your nationality as shown on your passport.
Check if you can apply for an ETA.

Who does not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA if:

• 1 – you have a visa 
• 2 – you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• 3 – you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control – check with your airline if you are not sure
• 4 – you are a British or Irish citizen
• 5 – you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• 6 – you are travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport 
• 7 – you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• 8 – you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• 9 – you are exempt from immigration control or obtaining permission to enter

Dual citizens

If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an ETA. Prove your permission to travel using a: :

• 1 – valid British passport
• 2 – valid Irish passport
• 3 – other valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement

What you can do with an ETA

You can:

• 1 – come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study 
• 2 – come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
• 3 – come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
• 4 – transit through a UK airport if you will pass through border control – check with your airline if you are not sure

If you are coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead.

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to either:

• 1 – see a Border Force officer
• 2 – use an ePassport gate 

You may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead if you have a criminal record or you were previously refused entry into the UK.

What you cannot do with an ETA

You cannot: 

• 1 – stay in the UK for longer than 6 months 
• 2 – do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
• 3 – claim public funds (benefits)
• 4 – live in the UK through frequent or successive visits 
• 5 – marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership – you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

How much it cost

It costs £16 to apply.
Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people. You cannot get a refund after you apply.

FRENCH INCOME TAX DECLARATION TIME IS NOW
Just a quick reminder: the paper version of the 2024 income declaration must be filed in France by midnight on May 22nd, 2025. The declaration forms have been available at www.impots.gouv.fr since April 13th. That is also the day you can start filing your declaration on the same website. To do so, you need a tax ID number (numéro fiscal) and a password.

Note that the deadline for online declarations is later than that for paper declarations. The schedule depends on your postal code:
• Départements 01 to 19 must file by midnight on May 25th.
• Départements 20 to 54 by June 1st.
• Départements 55 and up by June 8th.

THE TRAFFIC IN PARIS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE SAME (SORT OF!)
It feels like every foreigner living in Paris has a blog, and they all comment on the Parisian traffic and how much it is constantly changing. The part about the constant change is true. It is also true that one reason Henry IV was assassinated in Paris on May 14th, 1610, was because there was a huge traffic jam and François Ravaillac had plenty of time to commit his crime.

To illustrate what is happening today, I would like to describe two modifications in my neighborhood.

The nearby kindergarten and elementary school that our children attended share the same building. For a long time, the street was wide with a large volume of traffic. The sidewalks were widened to provide space where parents could wait for the children to come out, and for other gatherings. Then the tiny portion of the street in front of the schools went from one way to no way in early 2021. Construction was carried out for six months or more. The space between the two school buildings was remodeled. The stairs up to each building were eliminated, and each school’s entrance is now at street level. There are trees and plants alongside each building, with a space in the middle for bicycles. All this sounds great, but driving a car on that street is now a nightmare, as on both sides, the traffic makes a U-turn, sending the cars back to where they came from and then in the direction of leaving Paris.

We park our car in a nearby modern building that faces another kindergarten and elementary school. The entrance and exit are at opposite ends of this wide building. Two barriers were added, making the street a dead end on both sides. Leaving and entering the underground parking is now a lot easier, as there is no traffic. The space dedicated to the children and their parents is safe and looks almost like a playground. But a succession of one-way streets, with several right and left turns, makes it complicated to get back to the normal fluid traffic.

One reason driving a car in Paris is getting so complicated and traffic jams appear so quickly is that the municipal government is intentionally changing the way traffic flows to make it less fluid everywhere it can. One needs to live in the same neighborhood long enough to see the evolution.

All these renovations, modifications, and improvements have two distinct goals. One is to add vegetation everywhere possible, increase the number of pedestrian streets as well as the bicycle paths, and improve the safety of streets near schools, hospitals, and other facilities. The other is to redesign car and truck traffic to make it a nightmare to drive in Paris, the main aim being to cut down on air pollution by discouraging the use of private vehicles.

A HIDDEN TAX INCREASE WHEN PURCHASING FRENCH REAL ESTATE
Governments always try to hide tax increases so that people are unaware of them. Here is a recent case in point.

The vast majority of the amount paid to the notaire when purchasing real estate is a combination of various taxes. One of them is called the Droits de Mutation à Titre Onéreux (DMTO). The latest rise in notary fees is the result of a decision by some départements to increase the DMTO by 0.5 points under the Finance Act of 2025. This decision was taken after three consecutive years of declining real estate transactions, resulting in a reduction in tax revenue for the départements, which benefit from DMTO collection. To compensate for the loss of revenue, the increase in notaire fees was authorized.

This affects buyers’ budgets in the départements that have adopted this increase. The extra cost for buyers is 500 euros for every 100,000 euros of property price. For example, the buyer of a property costing 300,000 euros will have to pay an extra 1,500 euros. This additional cost may prove difficult for some buyers.

THE SHIP STUDIO IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL THIS SUMMER
The SHIP studio is currently available on August 1st. I am finally getting a lot more requests and have had to refuse a few lately as it was already rented. When people contact me about renting it, I send them to the website. I hope it shows how cozy the accommodations are. The monthly rent of 1,400€ is all-inclusive. While I continue to favor rentals lasting between two and six months, under certain conditions I have accepted one-month rentals.
https://www.jeantaquet.com/home-in-paris

OFFICE CLOSED FOR SUMMER VACATION
The office will be closed for seven weeks over the summer holidays, from the evening of Friday, July 4th to the morning of Monday, August 25th. As always, I will be reachable by email for emergencies and important matters. The service I offer of receiving mail for clients will continue while the office is closed, and Sarah or I will honor prefecture meetings already scheduled, as well as a few other engagements. Like last year, I should be away from the office for most of that time but I will stay in France.

Best regards,

QUESTION

HEIR OF A FRENCH ESTATE WHILE LIVING IN THE USA

I live in the USA, and my uncle died last month. He was a US citizen who had been living in Nantes for the last 40 years. He left without a will, and I believe that I am the next of kin as his siblings are all dead, including my father.
The next step after the funeral is settling my uncle’s estate. I have been communicating with a notaire’s office as he owned an apartment in Nantes. The notaire’s firm told me to hire a genealogist to prove I am the legitimate heir. This would cost about 3,000 euros and I would have to pay for it.I do not see the need for this, but the notaire refuses to take my word for it.

QUESTION

WAYS TO GET A LEGAL STAY IN FRANCE WITHOUT A VISA

I need someone who can help people get a carte de séjour. I am Argentinian. I just found a home, a maid’s room! I have a couple of jobs and I am paid officially about 450 per month. My son has been attending elementary school for the past three years. I came with my wife on a tourist visa over three years ago. Can I ask for my regularization now? Should it be linked to my work, my wife, or my son?