Considering moving to France/Geneva for DH's job

[CatmumTTC]

So DH has finally got a job offer for his dream job in Geneva. I've always said if he ever gets it we'll move because it is an adventure etc. but it was always a slim possibility.

Trouble is we are pretty settled in the UK and have been TTC for a while and about to start fertility treatment (which is what I usually use Mumsnet for, hence the username!). We also have a few other things that have tied us down, house and pets, good friends. My job in the UK is pretty good but couldn't do it there, and would not be entitled to a work visa unless I could find a job there that would sponsor me, which is unlikely. I could live there with DH on his visa but not work. We are both UK citizens.

Contract is only for two years and then we'd need to make a decision about moving back to the UK or not, depending on what other job options open up.

I'm considering keeping my job and UK tax residency and visiting DH for part of the year. My job is remote and I could move to my parents which is closer to an airport in the UK that does cheap flights to Geneva whilst making sure I spend at least 183 days out of the year in the UK. Then we could go between these locations and still keep our cat (who is elderly so moving her would be pretty hard). That way we can still continue fertility treatment in the UK. However might get harder to travel if I actually do get pregnant so I'd probably need to make the move eventually.

Alternatively, we both move straight away and I become a lady of leisure in a foreign city whilst TTC, and possibly have a baby over there. But taking a pretty big career break that could limit my options for the future. And we'd be living on one salary (a pretty good salary mind). Geneva is lovely, and close to my outdoorsy hobbies so wouldn't be too much of a hardship! But I know being a new mum can be lonely and my french is pretty poor so that's a concern.

Guess I'm just looking for some thoughts on these ideas. Things I might need to consider. Like paying taxes etc. Anyone moved to the French suburbs just outside Geneva and got any advice? Are we crazy to do this at this stage in our lives?

My kids were born and brought up in France. I have dual nationality (which was a pain because I waited decades to do it).

I would say the experience of doing it here was amazing. I cannot imagine choosing to do anything health wise in the UK over France or Switzerland.
Great healthcare, private hospital room in my health insurance for post-natal stay.
Cheap quality childcare.
Short maternity leave (good for me)
Great quality of life
Nice friends
Not far from family

Lots of interesting advice and points of view. We’re in the German part but we did do IVF here so my experience may be helpful. We paid 6,000chf for the cycle plus around 3,000chf for drugs. So around £8,000 total which isn’t too dissimilar to the UK. There was no problem with speaking English at the clinic. The pregnancy care was fantastic. Pregnancy is fully covered with basic insurance (the coverage of this is set out by law so you can’t be refused). IVF is never covered but IUI can be if the clinic recommends it to your insurer.

I live a little further round the lake, and we love it here. I had one bit of experience that might add to what others have said. I work remotely for a UK company, whilst residing in Switzerland. I realise that your current employer won't allow that but maybe you can find a job that will? It is not overly complicated with tax and social insurance across the two counties, the downside is that a UK salary does not go far here. But for 2 years it would allow you to keep investing in your career and avoid that gap in your CV, so the actual money is not that important.
'Bon courage', whichever option you choose!

As well as the costs, Geneva is quite a small city - people often pop over the border into France for shopping and entertainment.

We had friends, a couple with good jobs and language skills who moved there for work but found it hard to integrate with rather more formal Swiss colleagues and neighbours.
It was a bit suffocating and regimented for them with little social rules like not flushing the toilet at night or washing the car on a Sunday.
They stayed a year or so then returned to the UK. Glad they did it but could not recommend particularly.

I moved to France for DH job before we had kids, done in the knowledge that it meant we would have kids and I would stay home with them. 7 years and 2 kids later and we love it, his job is always a bit unstable but it will never be our first choice to move back to the Uk but would happily try another part of France.

I’m slowly getting back to work, freelance, it’s been hard given the time out and my previous career but I personally wouldn’t change it. But then I have never been hugely career oriented myself, I do want a job but I don’t care about being massively successful. DH has been happy to carry the majority of the financial load, we are equal partners and each appreciate what the other does. This kind of life is great for some but a worst nightmare for others, only you know whether it’s something you will enjoy. All I can say is give it proper thought, don’t worry about what others might think but be honest with yourself about the compromises.