Those who plan to immigrate to the USA from France benefit from various advantages if they first decide to visit the States, as their home country is in the Schengen area, therefore, they benefit from simplified visa procedures. For those who want to relocate here on a long-term or permanent basis, various types of residence permits are available.
If you want to move to the USA from France and need information or assistance, our immigration law firm in Miami is at your disposal with tailored services.
Visas that can be used for immigration to the USA from France
Many persons from European countries are attracted by the quality of life in the United States and decide to apply for visas that enable them to move here. This is also the case of French citizens who are practical and see the opportunities they can explore in a large country like the US.
The residency options for those who want to relocate to the USA from France are quite complex due to the number of visas that can be obtained depending on the reason for relocation. However, these are divided into immigrant and non-immigrant visas in order to make the decision simpler.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for French nationals | No, as France is a member of the Schengen Area. French citizens can obtain an ETA. |
|
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) |
No. |
|
Relocation options |
– studentship, – employment, – investment, – family reunion. |
| Temporary residence options |
Non-immigrant and immigrant visas are available for French nationals moving to the USA. |
| Permanent residence options |
Employment, investment, and family reunification can lead to US permanent residence. |
| Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa |
Yes, French nationals must apply for the EB-5 visa for investors. |
| Timeframe for obtaining a US Green Card (approx.) |
The procedure can take up to 2 years. |
| Types of family reunification visas (YES/NO) |
– spouse visa, – fiance visa, – the immediate relative visa for bringing parents and children to the USA. |
| Investment visa requirements |
An investor needs a capital of USD 800,000 to obtain an EB-5 visa. |
| Special immigration programs for French citizens | Yes, the France-USA Working Holiday Program which comes with a 12-month visa. |
| Citizenship requirements |
– 5 years through permanent residency, – 3 years through marriage. |
| Dual nationality permitted (YES/NO) |
Yes, in both countries. |
| USA-France double tax treaty (YES/NO) |
Yes, since 1994. |
| Immigration services (YES/NO) |
Yes. |
| Post-immigration support (YES/NO) | Yes, we offer various post-immigration services, such as assistance in drafting the paperwork for obtaining a Green Card or citizenship. |
While non-immigrant visas enable short-term visits to the USA, the other category targets those who want to establish themselves in this country and are:
- the business visa which can be obtained by those seeking to start companies in the USA,
- the Green Card that can be obtained through employment,
- the investor visa that can be obtained through investment,
- the Green Card that can be obtained through family reunification,
- the spouse and the fiancé visa for US which can be obtained by French citizens who are married, respectively engaged to American citizens.
No matter the choice, if you decide to apply for a Green Card, our immigration lawyers in USA are at your service with advice and information on the requirements of the visas presented above.
Applying for a spouse visa for the USA is one of the ways through which you can bring your partner here. If you are an American citizen, you can start the procedure here, however, there are also aspects that need to be completed by your foreign spouse. Contact us for details on the exact steps of the process.
Entrepreneurship is one of the dreams of those who move to the United States. For this purpose, one must apply for an investor visa in the USA, which comes with numerous benefits, but also responsibilities. If you are interested in accessing this program, contact us. We can help you find the best solution.
How to relocate to the USA from France based on employment
Because the US Green Card is available for various immigration pathways, sometimes it can be confusing when you find out that you are eligible for a Green Card through employment, business, and family reunion. In fact, there are several differences between the documents and procedures to immigrate to the USA and obtain this residence document.
If you decide to move to the USA from France as an employee, you have the following options:
- temporary employment through which you can obtain a conditional Green Card;
- intra-company transfer, through which you move there temporarily as well, however, in this case, you can move with close family members and obtain more benefits;
- permanent employment.
The main similarity between all 3 options is that the US employer must commence the relocation process. This step will simplify the immigration procedure for you, as most of the documents will be in place. However, pay attention to the fact that you still need to go through a visa interview, which may determine whether you are granted permission to immigrate to the USA from France.
Our immigration lawyers in Miami are at your disposal with detailed information on the changes in the procedures, if applicable.
Entrepreneurship, a great way to move to the USA from France
The United States is still the land of opportunities, so relocating here as a businessperson can be a great option for you in the following situations:
- you have studied in the USA and know how the business environment works;
- you are a French entrepreneur and rely on your experience to continue a business here;
- you have sufficient money to apply for the US investor visa.
Either of the 3 options can be explored with the help of our US immigration lawyers who will help you prepare the immigration documents accordingly.
Immigrate to the USA from France based on family ties
If you have family members who are established here, you are lucky as this is one of the simplest ways to relocate to the USA from France. You can use kinship to immigrate and settle here temporarily and permanently through the:
- fiancé visa;
- US spouse visa;
- immediate relative visa, if you are a sibling or parent of a US resident.
Feel free to inquire about this option with our immigration lawyer in the United States.
How to immigrate to USA from Miami and obtain permanent residency
Compared to the French residence requirements, applying for a Green Card for the USA is more direct, meaning that in certain cases there is no need to wait for years in order to obtain it.
Obtaining a Green Card for the US implies the following steps:
- selecting the way to obtain the visa (there are several channels that can be used),
- filing for a visa and waiting until the Green Card application process is open,
- if the application is approved, the visa interview will be scheduled,
- report for the Green Card interview and file the necessary documents after the visa is granted,
- relocation to the USA is the final step in obtaining residency.
As mentioned above, there are several ways to relocate to the USA from France by means of a Green Card.
The first, and safest way to obtain it is through family reunification for those who already have family members established in the US. However, there is also the option of applying for a Green Card based on employment. Another way of moving to USA from France is through the Green Card Lottery – a program created for those who want to immigrate here under none of the previous options.
If you want to immigrate to the USA from France and obtain a Green Card, our immigration lawyers in Miami can help you understand how the visa procedure works and how long it takes to obtain permanent residence. French citizens interested in getting a spouse visa for US, can also receive legal assistance from our team of attorneys.
A non-immigrant visa can also be turned into a green card in the United States. In this case, the applicant is usually already in the country, and all that is needed to do is submit an application to change his/her current status—such as a work visa, student visa, or visitor visa—to permanent residency. Our US immigration lawyer can help in this sense.
Assistance in moving to the USA from France
Because of the lengthy and multiple stages of the immigration procedure, it is quite common for citizens of European countries to ask for the support of lawyers in the US, as the processes are completely different on the two continents.
Our immigration lawyers in the US come to the aid of those who want to relocate to the USA from France with the following services:
- information on the available types of visas and the procedures to obtain them,
- assistance in preparing and filing the documents with the immigration authorities in due time,
- guidance after relocation when it is required to register with various local authorities.
If you plan to immigrate to the USA from France, our lawyers can help you.
How many French citizens live in the USA?
According to data here, at the level of 2025:
- Maine is the state with the largest number of people of French descent, with 11.48%;
- another 10.71% of them live in New Hampshire;
- 9.6% of the French population lives in Louisiana.
If you want to immigrate to the USA from France and need assistance, do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyer in Miami for help.