About this Event
Join us for an Afterwork/Conference in Manhattan on February 24, 2026.
This event is organized by Frenchly, and will be hosted by 3 experts: Allison Grant Lounes from Your Franceformation, Judith Benamran, American and licensed French real estate agent in Paris, and David Cantor, Cross-Border Advisor and Immigration Lawyer from Liberty Atlantic.
We will cover:
1/ VISA
Learn about the different options for a temporary or long-term relocation to France, and how to approach the relocation and visa application process to ensure you get the right visa for following your dream. Topics will include:
- The different categories of visas that exist overall and how visa type determines the types of activities you can do in France and impacts your potential paths to residence
- Obtaining visas through salaried employment, self-employment or business ownership, studies, family ties, or retirement
- Why self-employment or starting a business can be a great long-term path to living in France
- The importance of your tax residence in France and how this impacts your long-term options
- Legitimate options for working remotely, as a 'digital nomad' visa does not exist
2/ REAL ESTATE
Discover the essentials of buying property in France. Topics will include:
- How the French real estate market works: What’s different from the US and what to expect
- The buying process, step by step: From finding your home to signing with the notaire
- What buyers often don’t expect: Surprises and challenges faced by international clients
- Living and owning in France: Tips on taxes, responsibilities, and ongoing considerations
3/ FINANCE
- The key points of the Franco-American tax treaty and the favorable tax treatment of U.S. pensions and investments
- Common challenges faced by expatriates (PFICs, FATCA/FBAR, access to the U.S. financial system)
- A short practical roadmap to help you prepare for your move to France
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
🎙️ Allison Grant Lounes, Your Franceformation
Allison Grant Lounes is a relocation expert and owner of the relocation agency Your Franceformation, a France-based small business providing comprehensive relocation services for moving to France.
After obtaining a degree in French and Romance Philology from Columbia University and a Master's Degree from the Middlebury College French School, both in 2009, she move to France to complete a Master's in Comparative Literature at l'université Paris VII Diderot (now Paris Cité) and began writing a blog about moving to France and navigating French admin as an independent student. She has been helping Americans move to France since ~2012.
Allison is the author of the book Foolproof French Visas, now in its 6th edition (the Complete 2025-2026 Edition) and facilitates the move of dozens of individuals, couples, and families to France each year.
She is also the admin of the group Americans in France on Facebook and hosts the Profiles in Franceformation podcast.
🎙️ David Cantor, Liberty Atlantic Advisors
David is a registered financial advisor and licensed U.S. attorney with over a decade of cross-border experience representing private clients.
Originally from New York, he commenced his legal career at a U.S. law firm focusing on immigration matters. During this time, he successfully supported hundreds of clients and their families to accomplish their immigration and cross-border goals – from launching cafés in SoHo to obtaining Citizenship for Iranian doctors.
In 2019, David relocated to Florence, Italy, with his family (where he currently resides) and launched several new ventures aimed at easing the burdens of migration. He forged partnerships with hundreds of vetted professionals in 35+ countries and continued to support individual clients, namely U.S. nationals, seeking to move to major EU destinations, such as Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain.
David joined Liberty Atlantic Advisors in early 2025, where he actively advises individual clients with cross-border wealth management and financial planning solutions.
🎙️ Judith Benamran, Judith Benamran Group
Originally from New York and happily based in Paris for over 30 years, Judith is a licensed French real estate agent and the founder of a boutique property search agency dedicated to helping Americans buy property in Paris.
Judith began her career in international executive search, pairing top talent with leading global companies. She later transitioned to real estate, applying her matchmaking skills to connect clients with their ideal home.
She holds a BA from Tufts University, an MBA from École des Ponts Business School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Management from the École Supérieure des Professions Immobilières (ESPI).
ABOUT FRENCHLY
Frenchly is the n°1 webmagazine for American Francophiles. Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to access our amazing content about all things French!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Maison de l'Occitanie, 244-250 West 54th Street, New York, United States
USD 12.51
