I’m Kayla. I moved from the U.S. to Lyon, France, with two suitcases, a cat, and a very nervous smile. If you want the blow-by-blow of that leap, I already laid it out in this real, messy, and worth-it diary. This isn’t a dream post. It’s what I did, what broke, and what I’d do again. You know what? It was hard. But it was also good—like fresh bread after a rough day.
I’ll share my own path (work visa). I’ll also share two real paths I watched up close: my friend’s student path and my sister’s “visitor” path. Three routes. Three moods. One croissant-heavy ending.
The quick snapshot (so you know if this helps you)
- Me: Work visa (VLS-TS salarié). Lyon. Moved July 2023.
- Friend (Jenna): Student visa. Bordeaux. Moved August 2022.
- Sister (Maya): Visitor visa (no job, remote income). Nice. Moved March 2024.
We used the same core steps: visa at VFS, flight, first weeks setup, and then lots of papers. The flavor changes by visa type, but the bones are the same.
Why France? The honest bit
I wanted slower lunches, walkable streets, and cheese that tastes like a story. Also, my U.S. rent kept creeping up. To picture the geography I was trading, I found it mind-blowing that France is only a fraction of the U.S. in sheer landmass. I write for work. My partner codes. Our cat minds her own business. France looked like a place where life could breathe. I was right, but the admin? Oof. Bring snacks.
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My path: step by step, with real dates and receipts
1) The visa—what I sent and what they asked me
I booked my visa appointment with VFS in New York for May 24, 2023. I had:
- Work contract from my French employer (a CDI).
- Passport, photos, and a U.S. address.
- Proof of a place to stay in Lyon for the first month (an Airbnb booking).
- Health insurance for the early months.
- Bank statements. They really looked at these.
VFS took my papers and my fingerprints. I paid the fees. Two and a half weeks later, my passport came back with a long-stay visa sticker (if you need a full walkthrough of every requirement, this detailed long-stay visa guide is gold). I cried a little. Then I made pasta. Normal.
Tip from that day: bring extra copies. They asked for things twice. I handed them a neat folder. It helped.
2) Landing at CDG—what border control asked
I landed July 3. The officer asked where I’d live, and what my work was. He stamped my passport. No drama. He did not ask for a return ticket. For a long-stay visa, you don’t need one.
3) The first 10 days—phone, bank, roof, food
- Phone: I grabbed a Free Mobile SIM from a vending machine at the airport. The plan was about 20 euros. It worked fast.
Before I started pinging friends back home, I wanted an encrypted messaging tool that wouldn’t eat my data plan or creep on my conversations. I ended up reading this hands-on Signal review which breaks down the app’s end-to-end encryption, group-chat quirks, and even how well it handles flirty photo sharing—super helpful if you’re about to rely on Wi-Fi calls and want total privacy. - Bank: Opened an account at BNP Paribas the next week. They wanted my lease, my visa, and my passport. No payslips yet, so my work contract had to do. It took 10 days to get my card.
- Money bridge: Before that, I used Wise to pay my deposit and first rent. That saved me.
- Roof: I found my long-term place on SeLoger. They wanted a big “dossier” (ID, work contract, bank stuff). I didn’t have French payslips yet, so I used a guarantor service. Approved in two days. Agency fee hurt, but the place was clean.
Real snag: August in France is slow. Many offices close. My keys were late by three days because the agent went on holiday. I sat on my suitcase. I ate melon from the market and tried not to cry. It passed.
4) Visa validation—do not skip this
With a VLS-TS, you must validate it online within three months. I did mine on week two. I paid a tax online (about 200 euros). Later, they called me for a small visit to check papers. It was quick. No drama.
5) Healthcare—how long it took me
I applied for the public system (Ameli) after three months in France. France’s public healthcare system works on a universal model, so once you’re in it, most costs are largely reimbursed. It took five months to get my number. In the meantime, I used my private plan for basic stuff. When my Carte Vitale came, I felt like I won a game show.
6) Work life—little cultural things that matter
Lunch is not a joke here. People sit. They talk. Meetings end on time more often. Don’t email at 10 p.m. unless it’s urgent. Say “Bonjour” often. It’s like a key.
Two more real paths I watched up close
Jenna’s student path (Bordeaux, 2022)
She got into a master’s program. Her visa file was heavy on:
- School admission letter.
- Proof of funds (bank statements).
- Housing proof from the school.
She paid a smaller visa tax. She got a student transport card. She also found a room through the CROUS site. It was tiny but cheap. Her tip: register with the French health system early through the student portal. It saved her when she got sick in October.
Maya’s visitor path (Nice, 2024)
Maya didn’t have a French job. She showed steady remote income from the U.S., plus a chunky savings account. Her file needed:
- A promise not to work in France.
- Private health insurance for a year.
- A long lease and proof she could pay it.
She got approved in about four weeks. Her life is beach walks, markets, and long calls with our mom. She renews each year. The admin is more “prove it again” than mine.
What I messed up (and fixed)
- I brought my U.S. blender. It died in a puff of smoke. France runs on 230V. Use a real converter or buy new.
- I thought I could get everything done in August. Many offices were closed. Plan around that month.
- I waited to take French classes. Should’ve started day one. I joined Alliance Française in week eight. My brain woke up. Small talk at the bakery got easier.
Pets, shipping, and cars—quick hits from my move
- Cat travel: Microchip. Rabies shot. EU health form signed by a USDA vet. Air France let her ride in the cabin. She slept the whole time like a tiny boss.
- Shipping: I used UPakWeShip for a small cube of stuff. It took five weeks to reach Le Havre, then a truck to Lyon. I had to list every box in French and sign a note that I wouldn’t sell the items. Customs was fine because it was used household goods.
- Driving: I checked if my U.S. license could be swapped. Mine could. I sent a translation, copies, and proof of my address through the ANTS site. It took months, but it worked. Side bonus: the whole country is basically Texas-sized, so even the longest French road trip felt doable once I had my new license.
The money side (ballpark, so you can plan)
- Visa fees and VFS service: A few hundred dollars total.
- Plane ticket: Summer prices hurt. I paid more than I wanted.
- First month’s rent plus deposit plus agency fee: About three months’ rent up front.
- Phone and internet: About 20–35 euros a month for mobile. Home internet around 30–40 euros.
- Health: Private plan for a few months, then public. It evened out later.
Was it cheap? No. Was it fair for what I got? Mostly, yes.