Living in the United States: the complete guide for French people

The United States remains one of the favorite destinations for French people moving abroad: career opportunities, a dynamic economy, renowned universities. But settling there takes preparation: a visa suited to your plans, an administrative and healthcare system very different from France's, and a substantial initial budget.

This guide brings together the steps to plan for in advance, from choosing a visa to your first months in the country, with references to official sources. The amounts quoted are rough estimates: they vary widely by state and city, and immigration rules change often. Always check the official websites before committing any money.

The ESTA does not allow you to settle in the United States: it covers tourist or business stays of 90 days or less, with no right to work. To live there, you need a visa suited to your situation. The main routes for French nationals:

H-1B (skilled employment)

• A U.S. employer must sponsor you for a position that requires at least a bachelor's degree (licence level in France) or equivalent.
• The number of visas is capped (85,000 per year, including 20,000 reserved for holders of a U.S. master's degree): the employer registers the candidate in the spring, then a lottery selects those who may file a petition. Check the current procedure and timeline on uscis.gov.
• A presidential proclamation of September 19, 2025, imposed a 100,000 USD payment on new petitions for a worker who is outside the United States. A federal court vacated its implementation in June 2026 and USCIS is no longer collecting it for now, but the administration has announced plans to reinstate it: check uscis.gov when you file.
• It often takes a year or more from the start of your search for an employer to your arrival.

L-1 (intracompany transfer)

• Reserved for employees of a company present in both France and the United States who have worked for the group outside the United States for at least one continuous year within the last three years.
• Expedited processing ("premium processing") guarantees a response from USCIS within 15 business days, for a fee.
• This is often the fastest route when your current employer has a U.S. subsidiary.

E-2 (investor)

• Open to nationals of countries linked to the United States by a treaty of commerce, including France.
• The law sets no minimum amount: the investment must be "substantial" relative to the business, actually committed, and the enterprise must not be marginal.
• The E visa application fee is 315 USD (travel.state.gov); the application file (business plan, proof of investment) is often prepared with a specialized attorney.
• The E-2 visa assumes you intend to leave the United States when your status ends.

Other routes: J-1 visa for internships and exchanges, F-1 for studies, O-1 for exceptional talent, green card through family or employment. Each category has its own requirements, detailed on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov.

Most visa applications end with an interview at the U.S. consulate. The officer mainly checks that your application is consistent: the position, the employer, your qualifications, whether the investment is genuine. Answer simply and honestly, without reciting a memorized script. The question of returning to France depends on the visa: the H-1B and L-1 allow "dual intent" (you can consider a green card), whereas the E-2 and most other temporary visas assume you intend to leave. Any false statement can lead to a long-lasting ban. For several visas, including the H-1B and student and exchange visas (F, M, J), the State Department also asks applicants to set their social media accounts to public during processing.

Gather the originals and copies of your civil status records (birth, marriage, divorce), your diplomas and, if requested, a criminal record extract, for yourself and for each family member.

The apostille. It authenticates a French public document for a foreign authority. Since May 1, 2025, it has been issued by notaries rather than by the courts of appeal: the procedure and its requirements are described on service-public.fr ("Légalisation ou apostille d'un acte public établi par une autorité française": legalization or apostille of a public document issued by a French authority). Only request it for documents that require it: many U.S. procedures accept a copy accompanied by a translation.

Translations. Documents in French must be accompanied by a complete English translation, certified by a translator who attests to their competence and to the accuracy of the translation (a USCIS requirement). A translator who is a member of the American Translators Association (ATA) is a good choice, but not mandatory.

For an immigrant visa (green card), a medical exam by an embassy-approved physician is mandatory: the required vaccinations, a chest X-ray and lab tests are done there. For a temporary work visa, no exam is normally required. In all cases, bring your translated vaccination record: schools require it to enroll children.

• Report your departure and your new address in your personal account on impots.gouv.fr. The following year, you declare the income for the year you left; after that, only your French-source income is still declared in France, as a non-resident.
• In the United States, a tax resident is taxed on worldwide income. The French-American tax treaty prevents double taxation: an accountant familiar with both systems is often a good investment the first year.
• Keep your French tax assessment notices: they serve as proof of your past income.

• If your French employer posts you to the United States, the French-American social security agreement can keep you in the French system for a limited period (posting form, information on cleiss.fr). Otherwise, you fall under the U.S. system.
• The Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE, the social security fund for French people abroad) lets you keep French coverage, on a voluntary basis.
• Thanks to the same agreement, periods worked in both countries can be combined to qualify for retirement benefits, with each country then paying the pension corresponding to its own periods.

• Keep a French account active for any remaining direct debits.
• Open a multi-currency account (Wise, Revolut, etc.) before you leave, to transfer money at a lower cost.
• Tell your bank you are moving abroad to avoid having your cards blocked.

That comes to about 40,000 USD. In New York, San Francisco or Boston, housing can push this total significantly higher.

It often takes twelve to eighteen months to reach a decent score (around 700).

The SSN is essential to get paid, open certain accounts and file your taxes. With a work visa, you apply at a Social Security Administration office (ssa.gov), with your passport, your visa and your I-94 (proof of entry, downloadable online). The agency recommends waiting about ten days after arrival, so that your entry has time to be recorded. Immigrant visa holders can apply for their SSN on the visa application form itself and receive it by mail.

Major banks (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc.) often open an account on presentation of your passport, visa and proof of address, sometimes even before you have your SSN; requirements vary by branch. Plan for an initial deposit.

U.S. phone plans are expensive. Prepaid plans and virtual carriers (Mint Mobile and others) are a good solution at first; some plans include international roaming, useful for trips back and forth to France. Avoid two-year contracts until your credit is established.

The pitfalls: without a credit history, the landlord may require several months' deposit; the application fee is charged for each application and is non-refundable; utilities are rarely included; a pet often means an additional deposit.

Each state sets its own rules. Once you have settled, you must obtain a local license within a period that varies: 10 days in California, 30 days in New York State and Florida, 90 days in Texas. The process usually includes a written test, a vision test and a road test, with fees of a few dozen dollars. Check the rules on your state's DMV website.

The U.S. healthcare system is one of the most expensive in the world, and insurance most often comes through your employer.

• Premium: the monthly payment (from a few hundred to more than 1,500 USD per month for a family, depending on the employer and the plan).
• Deductible: the annual amount you pay yourself before any reimbursement.
• Copay: a fixed amount per visit.
• Coinsurance: the share of costs you still pay after the deductible (often 20%).
• Out-of-pocket maximum: the annual cap on your expenses, set by law for plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act and revised every year (healthcare.gov).

Worked example. A fracture billed at 15,000 USD, with a 2,000 USD deductible not yet met and 20% coinsurance: you pay 2,000 USD, then 20% of the remaining 13,000 USD, or 2,600 USD, for a total of 4,600 USD.

Types of plans: HMO (cheaper, limited network, you must go through your primary care physician), PPO (more flexible and more expensive, direct access to specialists), HDHP (high deductible, but compatible with an HSA).

1. Your primary care physician: for ongoing care, by appointment, often with a wait of several weeks.
2. Urgent care centers: for minor emergencies (fever, sprain), no appointment needed.
3. The hospital emergency room: for real emergencies only; this is where the bill is highest.
4. Pharmacy clinics (CVS, Walgreens): for basic care.

To save money: always ask for generics, compare drug prices (apps such as GoodRx offer discounts) and consider telemedicine.

Contribution limits are set each year by the IRS (irs.gov).

• Public school is free and tied to your address: each home falls within a school district, whose quality varies widely (sites such as GreatSchools.org publish ratings).
• Elementary school: from kindergarten (age 5) to 5th grade (CM2 in France); middle school: 6th to 8th grade; high school: 9th to 12th grade (ages 14 to 18).
• The school year starts in late August or early September, and summer vacation runs from mid-June to late August.
• For enrollment, prepare proof of residence, the translated vaccination record, the birth certificate and the latest translated report cards.

What often surprises French parents: no French-style school canteen (packed lunch or cafeteria), the involvement expected of parents (parent-teacher association, volunteering) and regular fundraising drives.

• Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education exist in major cities (New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, etc.); their tuition often runs to several tens of thousands of dollars per year. The list is published by the AEFE (the agency for French education abroad).
• FLAM programs (Français langue maternelle, French as a mother tongue) offer French classes after school, a few hours a week.
• The CNED (the French national distance learning center) makes it possible to follow French schooling remotely, in addition to or instead of American school.

Costs vary enormously: a public university costs much less for residents of the state ("in-state") than for others, private universities are the most expensive, and community college (two years) is an affordable entry point before transferring to a university. In-state tuition generally requires one year of residence in the state, and some states exclude certain visa statuses: check each institution's rules.

• At-will employment: in most states, the employer can end the employment contract without notice or cause, and the employee can leave the same way (two weeks' notice is customary).
• Vacation: no legal minimum at the federal level; ten to fifteen days a year is common in the private sector.
• Lunch break: short, often taken at the office.
• Networking matters a lot for career advancement, and quick replies to emails are expected.

Be careful: with an H-1B or L-1 visa, losing your job means you must find a new employer or change status within a short time. Do your research before accepting a position.

Beyond salary, compare health insurance (often worth several thousand dollars a year), the employer's 401(k) match on retirement savings, free stock (RSUs) in tech, the signing bonus and relocation assistance.

• The LLC: a simple structure that protects your personal assets, with formation fees of a few hundred dollars depending on the state.
• The C-Corp: necessary to raise money from investors.
• The steps: employer identification number (EIN, free on irs.gov), business bank account, local licenses depending on the activity, liability insurance, bookkeeping from day one.
• Common mistakes: mixing personal and business finances, forgetting quarterly estimated tax payments, neglecting local licenses.

Reminder: setting up a company does not give you the right to work for it. You need a visa that allows it (E-2, L-1 for a subsidiary, etc.).

The United States is vast (Dallas-Houston: about 385 km, a four-hour drive) and, outside the big cities, public transportation is scarce: a car, often two per household, is essential. Teenagers can drive from age 16 in most states.

• Temperature: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32; 20°C = 68°F, 30°C = 86°F, 0°C = 32°F.
• Distance: 1 mile = 1.6 km.
• Volume: 1 gallon = 3.8 liters.
• Weight: 1 pound (lb) = 454 g.

The major chains range from discount stores (Walmart, Target) to high-end (Whole Foods), with traditional supermarkets (Kroger, Safeway), bulk buying (Costco) and Trader Joe's in between. Return policies are generous: often 30 to 90 days and, at Costco, no time limit for most items (90 days for electronics). Always keep your receipts.

• Online groups: the "Français à [your city]" Facebook groups (French people in [your city]) and Meetup are very active for practical questions.
• The Alliance Française: present in many cities, with cultural programming.
• Associations: Union des Français de l'étranger (UFE), Français du monde (ADFE), French-American chambers of commerce, alumni associations.
• Media: French Morning and Le Petit Journal publish news for French people in the United States.

The French consulates general (for example newyork.consulfrance.org) handle civil status records, passports and ID cards, voting proxies and life certificates for pensions. Enrolling in the register of French nationals living outside France (registre des Français établis hors de France) is optional but recommended: it makes these formalities easier and allows you to be contacted in a crisis.

1. Choosing the cheapest health insurance: a hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Always look at the annual out-of-pocket maximum.
2. Neglecting your credit score: without a history, renting a decent apartment becomes difficult. Open a secured card as soon as you arrive.
3. Underestimating distances: a home far from work can mean two hours of commuting a day. Test the commute before signing.
4. Forgetting quarterly estimated tax payments when self-employed: penalties add up fast.
5. Choosing the wrong state: taxes (Texas and Florida have no state income tax), housing costs and schools vary widely.
6. Signing a lease too quickly: a one-month temporary rental lets you explore the neighborhoods.
7. Moving all your furniture: personal belongings used for more than a year generally enter duty-free, but shipping is expensive; compare with buying replacements locally.
8. Leaving without a plan B: a visa may not be renewed. Keep options open in France.
9. Working without authorization: a visa that does not allow it (ESTA, B1/B2) cannot be "regularized" once you are there.

• travel.state.gov: visas, their requirements and their fees.
• uscis.gov: work petitions, the green card, change of status.
• ssa.gov: the Social Security number.
• irs.gov: federal taxes.
• healthcare.gov: health insurance.
• impots.gouv.fr and service-public.fr: French formalities when you leave.
• cleiss.fr: social security between France and the United States.
• The website of the French consulate for your consular district.

Three to six months before departure: choose your visa and start the process, have the relevant documents apostilled and translated, open a multi-currency account, book temporary housing.

The first month: SSN (about ten days after arrival), bank account, phone line, driver's license depending on the state, secured credit card, school enrollment for the children.

The first three months: long-term housing, car, primary care physician, first professional contacts.

The first year: tax returns in both countries, review of your health insurance, taking stock of the move as a family.

Moving to the United States first requires the right visa and serious preparation: budget, health and credit are the three areas that surprise people most. With a solid application and up-to-date official sources, the move goes much more smoothly. Check the entry requirements on our France → United States page and on travel.state.gov before committing any money.