Q & AMoving/Living/WorkingWork in France Visa

Question: Thank you for this wonderfully informative page!!! It is a godsend. I am marrying a French woman and we are going to live in Besançon, France. I was looking at your shipping page and am somewhat daunted at the cost of shipping furniture; however, I will be shipping far less than that, and hope that that will help offset the cost.
I have a question, and don't know if you can answer it for me, but here goes: I know that marrying a French citizen will enable me to obtain a "livret de famille" for the purpose of residing in France, but will it enable me to be eligible for hire? If not, do you know what type of visa I will need, and how do I obtain it? I've worked 4 years as a teacher in the US, and am a US citizen. I plan to enter France on a tourist visa, marry my fiancée, and find a job. Does this plan sound feasible? If you know of any obstacles I have not forseen, please advise me.
I most graciously appreciate your time to my question.

Answer: A livret de famille is the French equivalent of marriage certificate. Once married you will use it to either get a long-term French visa or if so desired, modify a long-term visa to let the holder work in France. A French long-term visa is called a Carte de Sejour. It will either have written on it that you can work in France or not work in France. Once married you will have the right to work in France, but not before, as I understand it. Obtaining a Carte de Sejour can sometimes be a tricky process. Often times you will be told conflicting information. This is normal and just a part of France. My suggestion to you is to call your nearest French consulate explain your situation and see what they say. They might tell you that you are going to need to get a long-term visa before you go to France. This is one option, another is to just go to France on a tourist visa, given when you enter France and then once married change this to a long-term visa. This is what I did BUT I was married when I moved to France. Not sure how difficult it makes things to be married after entering France.