Category: Visas and Bureaucracy
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Applying for a Carte de Séjour (Visitor) in France: What It’s Really Like
If you’re planning to stay in France long-term on a Visitor visa, at some point you’ll need to face the process of renewing and applying for a Carte de Séjour. On paper, the requirements seem straightforward. In reality, the experience can be anything but. When we went through our own renewal, we expected a relatively…
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Opening a Bank Account in France: A Practical Guide for Americans
Many American expats dread the need to open a local bank account when they move to France. They’ve heard the rumors on how difficult it can be and how no local bank will do business with Americans. While it is difficult for Americans to open a bank account in France, it’s certainly not impossible. Many…
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Remote Work on a French Visitor Visa: Rules, Risks, and Reality
Introduction: Why This Question Comes Up So Often One of the most hotly debated questions amongst expats in France is whether the VLS-TS Visitor visa allows remote work in France. Legally, the Visitor visa does not authorize any professional activity. Despite that, enforcement and approvals in practice have created confusion. The confusion starts with the…
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How to Retire to France from the US: Visas, Healthcare, Taxes & Cost of Living
Thinking about retiring to France from the US? You’re not alone. It’s possible for Americans to retire to France, but the process is more structured than many expect. This guide explains exactly how US citizens retire in France, including the visa you’ll need, income requirements, healthcare access, taxes, and realistic monthly budgets. It’s written specifically…
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Charge Them More! France’s 2026 Plan to Raise Visa Fees
Update: these fees are going into effect starting in May 2026. Read our article about all of the updates here. Immigrants are once again the solution to all of France’s budget woes. The recent idea to charge Americans more for healthcare may have fallen a bit short of closing the €23 billion budget deficit, so…
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The Great Driver’s License Exchange: Swapping American for French
Driving is an integral part of American culture. Everyone does it every day for everything. Need milk and eggs from the store a block away? Drive there. Want to spend 40 hours in a car traveling across the country? Totally reasonable. Enjoying the scenery of the great outdoors? It looks better through the windshield. While…
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Is the VLS-TS Visitor Visa a Path to French Citizenship?
Years ago, the path from visa holder to French citizen was straightforward and attainable. Living in France for 5 years, speaking French at a B1 level, and knowing some of the country’s history was all it took to qualify and likely obtain citizenship. In 2025, things are changing rapidly, and not for the better. With…
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The French VLS-TS Visa Validation and OFII Medical Exam
Finding an apartment, moving in, and getting everything set up were the hardest parts of moving to France for us so far. By comparison, the rest of the process has been quite straightforward. VLS-TS Visa Validation French visas valid for 6-12 months require online validation. Presumably, this is to prevent these visas from being used…
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The French VLS-TS Visa Process
If you’re applying for the French VLS-TS Visitor visa and want a clear, real-world explanation of how the process actually works, this guide walks through our exact experience from start to approval. My wife and I applied for the VLS-TS Visiteur visa in December 2024 in Washington, DC. We received our approval in January, 2025.…