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Settling in

Settling in San Francisco

San Francisco is quickly tamed, as long as you take the steps in the right order: each person's visa and I-94, the consular register, the US Social Security number, health insurance, then housing, banking and the California licence. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official sources.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

Nobody settles in the United States without a visa, and every family member has their own, attached to the working parent's visa. The spouse's status determines whether they can work: check it before leaving.

Good to know

  • The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a transferred employee (L-1 visa) get an L-2 visa, usually for the same period. Since 30 January 2022, an L-2S spouse is authorised to work by virtue of their status: an I-94 marked L-2S is enough as proof. Source
  • With an H-1B visa, the family receives H-4 visas; the spouse can only apply for a work permit (Form I-765) if the employer has already started the H-1B holder's green card process. Source
  • On entry, each person receives an electronic I-94 that sets the authorised length of stay: download the whole family's from the official CBP website and check the date and category, you will be asked for them everywhere. Source
  • Registration with the French consular register is free, valid 5 years and strongly recommended: it is done online on service-public.fr with French ID, proof of US residence and a recent photo, and you can link your children to it. Source
  • Week 1, in order: download the I-94s, apply for the Social Security number (SSN) of whoever is working, open a bank account, find an in-network paediatrician, then start school enrolment and the California licence.
  • The San Francisco consulate covers Northern California, Oregon, Washington State, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Utah and Wyoming; it receives visitors by appointment only. Source

Addresses

  • Consulat général de France à San Francisco

    Consulate

    44 Montgomery Street, Suite 3400, San Francisco, CA 94104

    In the Financial District. Visits by appointment on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 16:30, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 12:30. Questions about procedures go through France Consulaire.

    Website Source

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Housing: neighbourhoods and renting

French families follow the schools: around the Lycée Français campuses (Ashbury, Ortega, Sausalito), the International School in Hayes Valley, or Silicon Valley International School in Palo Alto. The market is one of the most expensive in the United States and competition between applications is fierce.

Good to know

  • For families, lepetitjournal.com San Francisco recommends Noe Valley (well-regarded schools, a village feel French speakers love), Cole Valley (parks and safety) and West Portal (residential, good schools), and advises avoiding the Tenderloin. Source
  • Since 1 July 2024, the security deposit in California is capped at one month's rent, furnished or not (two months for some small landlords); all extra fees (cleaning, pets, keys) count towards the cap, and the deposit must be returned within 21 days of moving out with an itemised statement. Source
  • Applications are demanding: proof of income of up to three times the rent, a US credit score (which you will not have yet), sometimes a copy of your passport and visa. An employer letter and a few months' rent upfront help make up for the lack of history. Source
  • Favour a home covered by the city's rent control, which limits annual increases; the San Francisco Rent Board gives tenants free information on their rights. Source
  • Private listings (Craigslist in particular) are targeted by scammers: never pay before visiting and seeing the lease. Also check fog exposure, which varies a lot from one neighbourhood to another in summer. Source

Addresses

  • Cole Valley et Haight-Ashbury

    Neighbourhood

    The Lycée Français Ashbury campus and the International School's Cole Valley campus, with Golden Gate Park nearby. Quiet, safe and very family-friendly.

    Source

  • Noe Valley

    Neighbourhood

    Village feel, well-regarded schools, the 24th Street shopping strip and often more sun than the west of the city. Highly sought after, so expensive.

    Source

  • Inner Sunset, Parkside et West Portal

    Neighbourhood

    Around the Lycée Français Ortega campus: houses with gardens, a residential feel, more affordable than the centre but foggier.

    Source

  • Hayes Valley

    Neighbourhood

    The main campus of the International School of San Francisco (150 Oak Street), shops and restaurants. Central and lively, smaller homes.

    Source

  • Sausalito et Mill Valley (Marin)

    Neighbourhood

    Across the Golden Gate: the Lycée Français Sausalito campus, nature, houses. The commute by bridge or ferry is part of daily life.

    Source

  • Palo Alto, Menlo Park et Sunnyvale

    Neighbourhood

    The choice of families working in Silicon Valley: Silicon Valley International School and the French-American School in Sunnyvale. A car becomes almost essential.

    Source

  • Berkeley et Oakland

    Neighbourhood

    On the East Bay side: the École Bilingue de Berkeley, a university atmosphere and rents generally lower than in the city, linked to San Francisco by BART.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

Without a credit history, the first mobile plan is often prepaid. On insurance, health and car cover are non-negotiable in California.

Good to know

  • Without a credit history, mobile carriers mostly offer prepaid plans or ask for a deposit: a good solution for the first month, before switching to a family plan.
  • California has required health coverage for all residents since 2020: without insurance (the employer's or a Covered California plan), a penalty applies on the state tax return. Source
  • Car insurance (minimum liability) is compulsory for any vehicle driven or parked in California, and proof must be kept in the car. Renters insurance is not required by law, but many leases demand it. Source

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Banking and money

The checking account opens at a branch in the first days, with your passport. The real project is the credit score: without a US history it takes a few months to build. Day to day, everything is paid by card, and Zelle or Venmo are used between individuals.

Good to know

  • To open a checking account, a bank asks for government-issued photo ID (a passport works), a US address and a Social Security number (SSN) or an ITIN; many banks accept non-citizens with a foreign passport. Book a branch appointment: opening online often requires an SSN. Source
  • A spouse who is not eligible for an SSN applies for an ITIN, the IRS tax number, usually with the first joint tax return: some banks and card issuers also accept it. Source
  • Without a US credit history, start with a debit card and a secured credit card (backed by a deposit) or your bank's newcomer card, paid off in full every month: your credit score builds over a few months and will matter for housing, phone and car. Source
  • Until your local account is open, your French card works in shops and at ATMs (check foreign fees with your bank). Wise offers US residents an account and card for spending and converting several currencies, handy for the transition. Source
  • Day to day, everything is paid by card, credit first, then debit, often contactless or by phone; cash now accounts for only about one payment in seven according to the Federal Reserve. Still keep a few notes for tips and small shops. Source
  • Between individuals (babysitter, lessons, splitting costs), people use Zelle, built into most banks' apps (the standalone Zelle app closed in April 2025), and Venmo. Rent and school are paid by transfer, check or online portal: ask for a checkbook when you open the account. Source
  • To send or receive money with France, compare your bank's international wire with online transfer services such as Wise, which show the exchange rate applied before you send. Source
  • Keep your French account, useful for payments and trips back, but tell your bank you are leaving: a resident account has to become a non-resident account, and not every bank keeps clients settled outside Europe. Check with it before you leave. Source

Addresses

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Getting set up

Three IKEA stores serve the Bay Area, including one downtown on Market Street. For everything else, rely on big-box stores, Peninsula shopping centres and a very active second-hand scene.

Addresses

  • IKEA San Francisco

    Furniture and home

    945 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

    City-centre store on Market Street, designed for small spaces; delivery and assembly can be booked.

    Website Source

  • IKEA Emeryville

    Furniture and home

    4400 Shellmound Street, Emeryville, CA 94608

    Large East Bay store, reachable from Oakland and Berkeley.

    Website Source

  • IKEA East Palo Alto

    Furniture and home

    1700 East Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303

    For families on the Peninsula and in Silicon Valley.

    Website Source

  • Target San Francisco Central

    Supermarket

    789 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

    Big-box store for home, children, groceries and first essentials.

    Website Source

  • Costco San Francisco

    Supermarket

    450 10th St, San Francisco, CA

    Membership warehouse club: household linen, appliances, family bulk shopping.

    Website Source

  • Safeway

    Supermarket

    The most widespread supermarket network in the city.

    Website Source

  • Trader Joe's

    Supermarket

    Neighbourhood own-brand grocery stores, with cheese and imported European products.

    Website Source

  • Whole Foods Market

    Supermarket

    Organic supermarkets (Amazon group), good cheese and European products aisle.

    Website Source

  • Stonestown Galleria

    Shopping mall

    3251 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

    The shopping centre in the west of the city, near Lake Merced.

    Website Source

  • Hillsdale Shopping Center

    Shopping mall

    San Mateo, CA

    Peninsula shopping centre in San Mateo.

    Website Source

  • Best Buy

    Appliances

    Appliances, electronics, adapters; delivery and installation of large appliances.

    Website Source

  • The Home Depot

    Appliances

    DIY and large appliances (washer, fridge), with delivery.

    Website Source

  • craigslist SF Bay Area

    Second-hand

    The long-standing classifieds site: furniture, strollers, bikes. Meet sellers in a public place and never pay in advance.

    Website Source

  • Buy Nothing

    Second-hand

    Neighbourhood gifting groups, via the app or Facebook, where children's things are given away too.

    Website Source

Getting around with children

In the city you can live very well without a car thanks to Muni (buses, streetcars, cable cars) and BART. As soon as you live on the Peninsula, in Marin or Silicon Valley, the car is the norm again, and a French licence does not last long.

Good to know

  • Muni is free for all young people aged 18 and under, regardless of income or residency, with no registration or card (except cable cars, free up to age 4). From 16, carrying ID is recommended. Source
  • On BART, children aged 4 and under ride free and 5 to 18 year olds get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card, requested by mail or at a staffed location with proof of age. Source
  • Pushchairs: on Muni they can stay open if there is room (brake on, out of the aisle), and the operator may ask you to fold them if the vehicle is full; on cable cars, the pushchair must be folded and the child carried. Source
  • A French licence cannot be exchanged: once resident, you must get a California licence within 10 days, by passing the knowledge test then the drive test (with an accompanying driver to get to the test if you only hold a foreign licence). Source
  • In the car, children under 2 ride rear-facing (unless they weigh 40 pounds or measure 40 inches or more) and those under 8 in a car seat or booster, in the back. Source
  • A car registered outside California must be registered with the DMV within 20 days of becoming a resident. Source

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Admin: SSN, taxes and consulate

Three numbers shape admin life: the I-94, the SSN and, for whoever is not working, the ITIN. Taxes are filed at two levels, federal and California, and France stays in the picture.

Good to know

  • The SSN is requested from the Social Security Administration with your immigration documents (passport, visa, I-94); it is essential for payroll, credit and many subscriptions. Source
  • A US tax resident reports worldwide income to the IRS, like a citizen, and files a separate return with California. The France-US tax treaty avoids double taxation: get advice in your first year. Source
  • Your French accounts must be reported to the US Treasury (FBAR) as soon as their combined value exceeds 10,000 dollars at any point in the year. Source
  • The consulate issues passports and ID cards, registers births, handles school grants and means-tested social aid; it does not issue US visas and does not cover your medical costs. Source
  • For your French social protection, the consulate refers you to your employer (local contract or secondment) and reminds you that local health insurance does not necessarily cover repatriation. Source

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Budget: what costs more or less

San Francisco and Silicon Valley are among the most expensive places in the United States. A family budget hinges on four lines: housing, school, health and childcare.

Good to know

  • Rent is by far the biggest line, often several times that of a large French city for a similar size, and the priciest neighbourhoods are the Financial District, Russian Hill and Pacific Heights. Source
  • French or bilingual school is private and fee-paying, from preschool to high school: negotiate it in your expat package. Actual fees are detailed on our School fees page.
  • Healthcare costs much more than in France even when well insured: annual deductible, copays at each visit, prescriptions. Compare employer plans on the annual total, not just the premium.
  • Childcare (daycare, nanny, after-school) and summer camps weigh heavily: count them in your very first budget. Source
  • What costs less: children's transport (Muni free up to 18), the library card, many museums that are free for children and the big parks, all free. Source
  • Electronics and fuel are generally comparable or cheaper than in France; restaurants, tipping and quality fresh produce noticeably more expensive.

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of San Francisco will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à San Francisco
  2. 2 Consulat, inscription au registre des Français
  3. 3 USCIS, visas L-1 et L-2
  4. 4 California Courts, guide du dépôt de garantie
  5. 5 SFMTA, Free Muni for All Youth
  6. 6 FDIC, ouvrir un compte bancaire aux États-Unis
  7. 7 California DMV, permis de conduire
  8. 8 lepetitjournal.com San Francisco, comment se loger

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Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the San Francisco guide changes, never more than once a week.

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