April 2025
Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back
I want my money back
I want my money back
It’s all or nothing
And nothing’s all I ever get
Every time I turn it on
I burn it up and burn it out
It’s always something
There’s always something going wrong
That’s the only guarantee
That’s what this is all about
It’s a never ending attack
Everything’s a lie and that’s a fact
Life is a lemon
And I want my money back
And all the morons
And all the stooges with their coins
They’re the ones who make the rules
It’s not a game it’s just a rout
There’s desperation
There’s desperation in the air
It leaves a stain on all your clothes
And no detergent gets it out
And we’re always slipping through the cracks
Then the movie’s over, fade to black
Life is a lemon
And I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
What about love
It’s defective
It’s always breaking in half
What about sex
It’s defective
It’s never built to really last
What about your family
It’s defective
All the batteries are shot
What about your friends
They’re defective
All the parts are out of stock
What about hope
It’s defective
It’s corroded and decayed
What about faith
It’s defective
It’s tattered and it’s frayed
What about your gods
They’re defective
They forgot the warranty
What about your town
It’s defective
It’s a dead-end street to me
What about your school
It’s defective
It’s a pack of useless lies
What about your work
It’s defective
It’s a crock and then you die
What about your childhood
It’s defective
It’s dead and buried in the past
What about your future
It’s defective
And you can shove it up your ass
Oh, I want my money back
(Life is a lemon)
I want my money back
(Life is a lemon, life is a lemon)
It’s all or nothing
And nothing’s all I ever get
Every time I turn it on
I burn it up and burn it out
It’s a never ending attack
Everything’s a lie and that’s a fact
Life is a lemon
And I want my money back
And we’re always slipping through the cracks
Then the movie’s over, fade to black
Life is a lemon
And I want my money back
I want my money back
Back, back, back, back
I want my money back
I want my money back
“Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back” was the second single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell by Meat Loaf, released in October 1993. I am not sure how many people are still familiar with this artist.
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 worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The first album stayed on the charts for over nine years and is one of the best-selling albums in history, still selling an estimated 200,000 copies annually as of 2016.
I have been a Meat Loaf fan since my junior year in high school. I believe I bought all his studio albums. I saw him on May 30th, 1996, in Paris at the Grand Rex concert hall and movie theater. I could dedicate an entire section to this landmark, which first opened on December 8th, 1932, but for now, here is some information from Wikipedia about the Grand Rex:
It is located at No. 1, boulevard Poissonnière in the 2nd arrondissement, in the Grands Boulevards area. Its facades and roofs, as well as its hall and its decor, have been listed as a Monument historique since October 5, 1981. This giant cinema has a capacity of more than 2,700 people in its great hall and posts an average attendance level of 1 million visitors per year.
Meat Loaf was a storyteller covering many situations and experiences, including some heroic fantasy stories like the song Bat Out of Hell. He was also known as one of the actors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The thing that led me to choose this title was the synopsis of an article published in February in an Indian newspaper, The Economic Times:
“Residents in the USA might get a $5,000 tax refund from Elon Musk. James Fishback, the CEO of investment firm Azoria, has proposed the idea of a DOGE Dividend. Fishback posted on social media that the proposal would guarantee a $5,000 (Rs 4,34,730) refund to every American taxpayer household, funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency. Elon Musk has responded to it. Trump has also backed the idea.
Read the full article at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-elon-musk-doge-dividend-james-fishback-will-americans-get-a-refund-of-5000-from-elon-musk-all-about-doge-dividend-plan/articleshow/118393131.cms
Autocratic and populist politicians often use this kind of argument, saying, for instance:
You pay too much in taxes.
The government is wasting your money.
They should reimburse you for all the waste they create.
But until now, as far as I know, these were talking points, things said at political rallies, in Congress, and in the media without giving figures or measurable data. Now, people working for the Executive Branch release such detailed figures that they have proposed a $5,000 refund to every American taxpayer household. This idea goes much further than previous far-right candidates in the Western World. Their audience, the people who hear and believe it, will support this idea for years, absolutely convinced that the IRS will one day send them a $5,000 check. It is just like the situation described in the song: they believe it because they think their life is worthless. Everything has been rigged against them from the beginning.
I think sometimes the media overlooks such stories, believing they are not worth talking about. But as long as they believe this, the administration can count on significant support through thick and thin as long as voters expect a check with their name in the mail someday. They envision President Trump personally handing them this check and taking care of them. The president even sent out an email asking, “Would you accept a DOGE dividend check signed by Trump?”
The US news contains a constant hurricane of executive orders, court decisions, and closing of Federal buildings, and it is impossible to deal with all the life-changing decisions made since January 21st, Inauguration Day. The spectacular is what is discussed in the media. I believe that what catches people’s attention and arouses their emotions is not always worthy of being called news, as it rarely explains the roots of the situations. The news should inform people of the reality of their situation in the local community, their country, and the world. I hope politicians and elected officials will try to tackle this invisible long-term problem in the USA, which can be summed up this way:
And we’re always slipping through the crack / Then the movie’s over, fade to black/ Life is a lemon/ And I want my money back.
Meat Loaf sang that 32 years ago!
I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER IN THE USA AND FRANCE FOR 40 YEARS
I am getting more and more involved in charitable projects. I believe I can trace this practice back to 1985. I always reflect on this after meeting someone involved in a project and being moved by it. As odd as it may sound, I have the impression that I am chosen by them, that I am not the one who wants to get involved in a specific cause. These projects are almost always about people, fighting for them, serving them, and welcoming them. My volunteer work at the American Church in Paris (ACP) was where I acquired my expertise in immigration law and from where I launched my practice in July 1997.
My latest involvement is with Rhobi Samwelly from Tanzania. The French government awarded her a prize in 2022, making her a laureate of the Marianne Initiative, for her contribution to the fight for human rights in her country. In 2017 she established a non-government organization, Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania, setting up safe houses to protect girls wishing to escape female genital mutilation and to support women who have experienced gender-based violence in Tanzania.
In 2022, she spent several months in France, where a movie about her work, In the Name of Your Daughter,was screened several times, including at the ACP and the Foyer de Grenelle (I am a long-term member of both). She was again awarded a prize in 2023 and returned to France at the government’s invitation. She met with President Macron during the final ceremony.
Another screening of In the Name of Your Daughter is scheduled at the ACP on May 14th, although she will not be present. Since the last round of viewings, a French association called Hope for Girls and Women has been established to support her organization, so we hope to have an even larger crowd this time and raise a large amount of money to support her NGO.
https://www.initiativemarianne.fr/les-laureats/?_promotions=2022
https://hopeforgirlsandwomen.org/rhobi-samwelly-selected-for-human-rights-defenders-award/
https://mubi.com/en/fr/films/in-the-name-of-your-daughter
VFS GLOBAL HAS BEEN REPLACED BY TLScontact
On April 18th, the French administration is changing providers for the procedure of issuing immigration visas. I have often expressed my dissatisfaction with VFS Global’s services, so it would be an understatement to say I welcome the news. One can only hope that the new company, TLScontact, offers a better service.
One thing I am certain of is that the French consulate in Washington, DC, will continue to review visa requests and make the final decisions. So, the minimum that I really want is for files to be accepted and forwarded to the consulate without any modifications. If, in addition, the employees of TLScontact know their jobs and can advise and guide applicants, this change will be welcome indeed.
– Here is what the company has to say for itself at https://www.tlscontact.com/en/
: At TLScontact, we work with governments from around the world to provide visa and consular services on their behalf to travelers and citizens. Our core expertise, built up in visa processing, enables us to apply our secure processing experience to a wide range of government and citizen services, both abroad and in-country. Harnessing new technology, we support governments in their digital transformation, helping to improve efficiency and enhance customer service.
THE FRENCH ADMINISTRATION IS INCREASING ITS ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS
The government intends to further strengthen measures to recover public funds lost to fraud. New measures targeting companies and the self-employed are envisaged. In 2024, the fight against fraud related to social charges underwent an unprecedented acceleration. The amount recovered through reassessments by Urssaf reached 1.6 billion euros, up 33% on the previous year. This increase reflects heightened surveillance of employers and self-employed workers, who are the main targets of these efforts. In the same period, recovery of social security fraud by the Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales rose by 20% to 450 million euros.
The new measures under consideration include better supervision of foreign companies operating in France without a permanent base. In addition, digital platforms may be obliged to declare and withhold social security contributions for micro-entrepreneurs operating in France.
THE TAXE LAPIN (RABBIT TAX) – FIGHTING NO-SHOWS FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
Increasingly, people book medical appointments and do not show up. This disrupts medical professionals’ activity and makes it harder for people who really need an appointment to get one. Now French lawmakers are considering how to address this situation. One possible measure is known as the taxe lapin, literally “rabbit tax.” It is named for the common French expression poser un lapin, which means to stand someone up, i.e., failing to show up for an appointment and not canceling.
The taxe lapin plan could involve requiring a bank pre-authorization for payment of the penalty, whose amount would be set by decree, along with a reasonable time limit for canceling an appointment. The Constitutional Council has rejected the current proposal on definitional grounds but did not question the principle of such a penalty.
www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2025/02/28/rendez-vous-chez-le-medecin-non-honores-le-conseil-constitutionnel-censure-la-taxe-lapin-et-d-autres-articles-de-la-loi-du-budget-de-la-secu_6570013_1651302.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
HOW TO OBTAIN A 4-YEAR EMPLOYEE CARTE DE SÉJOUR
I am an American who has been living in France for the last six years. I applied for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle last year as a salaried worker. I took all of the steps necessary to have this multiyear card/visa but when I picked it up at the prefecture, it was only valid for one year and they didn’t explain to me why. Upon numerous attempts to contact the prefecture for more information I have received no response and it has been six months. My visa now expires in 1 month and my appointment to renew (the soonest available) is in July. I’ve now applied to prolong my visa twice until my appointment but I’ve heard no response so I’m worried about what’s next. I was hoping to find some guidance as I want to continue to work here in France long-term. I have a French partner and we’re willing to PACS if this will help my case. We’ve been together for 5 years and have lived together for 1 year. Thank you for any help you can offer. I am very motivated to stay in France and am open to any option that will help my situation.
ANSWER
The bottom line is that the prefecture evaluates the situation and decides if you receive a 1-year or a 4-year carte de séjour. The guidelines state that the employee position must be stable to issue a 4-year card. Any modification of your job, real or apparent, can be taken as a reason to deny the carte pluriannuelle. Without knowing the specifics of your situation, I cannot say what motivated their decision. Among the events that could prevent you from getting the 4-year card are being promoted, having your job title changed, or the employer being bought out and, therefore, you going to work for the new company even though it is exactly the same position.
The office where you pick up the card does not have access to your file. People there cannot answer your questions even if they want to help you. The only way is to get access to the file itself and read the notes on the different levels of review your file went through. An A2 level of French is required, which is not always explained. You must bring a document proving your level.
The prefecture never answers such queries, especially now that it is impossible to talk to anyone who works on the files. So, it is a waste of time and energy to send messages through the communication page or try to get someone to answer these questions over the phone. A récépissé should be issued before your current card expires. According to the prefecture guidelines, you should ask for it about two weeks before. It is the same thing if you need to renew the récépissé, as it is only valid for three months in these circumstances.
I would like to focus on your desire to continue to work in France long-term. Judging by what you wrote, you have been working as an employee with the carte de séjour salarié for at least two years. So I can reassure you that you have definitively secured the right to work as an employee. This means you can change employer, and so on, and the prefecture will not take away your card. But you must ask for the right to work if your job changes significantly. One client whose employer was bought by a bigger corporation had to ask for this right again. Nevertheless, even though these requirements may give you the impression that your professional stay in France is not secured, you are in France for the long term.
I hear your resentment regarding your situation vis-à-vis the French administration when it comes to renewing your immigration status. I fully understand; it is scary every time. The system gives the impression that they have all the rights and you could lose everything, with no way to have an impact on the procedure. You imply that holding a “vie privée & familiale” carte de séjour might secure your stay in France. But I am not convinced that this is true nor that this would be the best choice for you. For one thing, you would start with a 1-year card and the maximum you would get is a 2-year one. Since “vie privée & familiale” grants all rights to work in France, the prefecture treats these requests with a much higher level of scrutiny. Hence I advise against it based on what you told me.
QUESTION
PICKING UP THE CARTE DE SÉJOUR AT THE PREFECTURE
I would like to have your opinion about what happened to me when I renewed my carte de séjour. I was informed with a text message that my titre de séjour was waiting for me at the prefecture. So I got up early, took the bus for an hour, got there, took a number, and waited in line, only to be told that I should come the day before the expiration date of the current carte de séjour!!
The message did not mention this of course and they admit it never does. Unlike the appointment for the fingerprints, it does not even mention a date. So I made that long trip once again on the right day and got my card! I did not even get a good explanation as to why I was not allowed to get it the first time, even though it was there and they could have given it to me. I was told that the computer system does not allow it. Do you have an explanation that makes sense?I translated the message I received so you can see for yourself:
Hello,
You have applied for a residence permit, which is currently available.
Please go to the Préfecture reception desk between 8:30am and 10:00am, Monday to Friday, with the following documents:
– your valid original passport or a passport application certificate if your passport is being renewed;
– your residence permit (carte de séjour);
– your récépissé;
– a €225 fiscal stamp.
PLEASE BRING THIS E-MAIL WITH YOU.
ANSWER
The explanation is twofold. If you had been given the new card the first time, the prefecture would have taken away your current one while it was still valid. You would have been without a valid French ID for several days, which is unacceptable to the system.
Of course, you are not allowed to hold two cards at once, as the system is built on the exchange of the old one for the new one. This is why you can only get your new card at the expiration date or later.
I take it from your description that you live in a remote countryside location and deal with a small prefecture. Only a small one can sustain a procedure that does not require a secured appointment.
I would like to review how this situation is possible with today’s procedure.
The guidelines of ANEF, the organization that runs the website Étrangers en France, allow submitting the renewal request four months before the expiration date. Then, depending on who is handling your request, the file is reviewed a couple of weeks to a couple of months after it is submitted, and sometimes even longer than that. If the file is perfect, the request is generally approved right away. At that time, the prefecture takes over and asks for the carte de séjour to be made. This takes two to four months. So, until recently, it was possible to get a message that the card was ready before the expiration of the current one.
The prefectures in Paris and most of its suburbs demand an appointment, which is often several weeks away. When you add up everything, picking up the card often happens several weeks after the current one has expired. This means people who have reached this stage of the procedure travel holding the official document stating that the renewal request was approved outside of the Schengen area. This document is the “attestation de décision favorable sur une demande de renouvellement de titre de séjour” which does not look official, and this is quite unsettling for many.
An even worse case is when people submit their request closer to two months before the expiration date, or even after it. They are often left without valid ID for weeks or months if the file is reviewed two months or more after it was submitted. This means the person has no valid immigration documents and is not supposed to travel outside of France.
There are also situations where the administration asks for more documents and gives the person thirty days to answer. If this happens twice, as is increasingly common, the delays end up being enormous. I have accompanied clients at the Paris prefecture where the carte de séjour picked up had already expired through no fault of the applicant. That, of course, is a completely different nightmare.
DISCLAIMER
Please forward this message to all those who would be interested in its contents. The information contained in this newsletter is intended only as general information. I strongly urge readers to seek professional guidance concerning the legal and tax matters mentioned. This newsletter is intended as a general guide and is not to be taken as professional advice.