I (US Citizen) took a job with a reputable organization in France that sponsored my visa. I have a spouse, kids, and 3 pets (pets alone cost $6k to relocate). We sold our belongings in the US and had all just begun to really adjust. However I was notified last week that my employer is actually getting rid of an entire segment of their business which includes my job.
My employment contract does not contain any job loss protections outside of my trial period which was 3 months, which they had originally specified verbally is standard in France and would only end if I failed to pick up on the job.
I realize I have no legal protections as it was my naiveté to not pursue additional contract language regarding job loss during the trial period. I just never imagined this.
I’ve applied to over 50 jobs in a week and have already recieved rejections for most, as most employers won’t sponsor visas for whatever reason.
Not sure the purpose of the post but to say that when relocating, please protect yourself and truly realize how much you’re putting on the line by accepting a job abroad. My husband has not found work either in France so we’re at the point of having to go back to the US, pay all of the travel costs to do so, and have nothing there for us.
I’m so sorry—that must be so stressful.
That said, do you have a passeport talent? If so, you might not need additional visa sponsorship for France. If you can find a new job meeting the same salary criteria, you might be able to change jobs without much problem, since you were terminated from the initial job.
Don’t give up yet.
And absolutely consult a lawyer (labor and immigration).
This is definitely worth looking into. Many EU countries are pragmatic when it comes to job losses like this and will facilitate an easier move to a new job. You’ll need someone with inside knowledge of the system, how to phrase things and where to send things though.
And if the passeports talent has a European Blue Card designation, it makes it easier to move between EU countries — in theory, at least. I don’t know how well it works in practice. Still, could be worth OP mentioning it when applying for jobs.
I had a German BC before moving over to NL.
They promptly exchanged it for a HSM visa, because NL as a country doesn’t want to use the BC, according to the employee at the IND.
Blue Card is valid in The Netherlands, so it doesn’t really matter if “the country wants to use it” (whatever that means). Individual companies may have different preferences of course, but from the legal perspective, the Blue Card grants all the related rights in The Netherlands.
Only Ireland and Denmark are not participating in the scheme.
I never once said the BC wasn’t valid in NL.
I said the IND told me they prefer to not give them in lieu of HSM visas.