Going to aux États-Unis: Formalities and administrative steps
Organize your stay aux États-Unis
Money aux États-Unis
The currency is the American dollar (US$ or $). Coin is called a wedge, and currency is called change. A dollar is divided into 100 cents. The 25 cent coin is called a quarter, the 10 cent dime (very small), the 5 cent nickel (larger than the dime) and the 1 cent penny (very small). There are also, but very rarely used, half dollar and one dollar coins. The coins are used to make up the difference, and for the rest we use 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 US$ bills. There are also US$50, US$100 and US$500 bills. All bills are the same size. It is advisable to always have a good supply of quarters and even to devote a special purse to them because they are used all day long for the bus, the telephone, the parking lots, the Laundromat, etc.
Budget & Tips aux États-Unis
Tips: don't forget it! You should always give at least 15% of the bill in restaurants, and US$1 or US$2 to cab drivers, parking valets (when returning the car) or luggage porters in a hotel (US$1 per suitcase). If you pay with a credit card, don't forget to fill in the tip box on the bill yourself and add it up. Tipping is very much a part of American culture, rewarding value and quality of work, and therefore merit. You will be given bad looks if, like many French people, you don't give anything. It is important to keep in mind that bar or restaurant waiters rely heavily on their tip to live, as their salary is relatively low. At the bar, you put the tip, at least 1 US$ per glass, in front of the waiter at the counter, not when you leave but as soon as you pay.
Haggling: American consumers have a new tactic to save money: haggling. Like in the souk, they negotiate the price. Not just for cars and jewelry, but also for digital audio-visual technology, sofas, rugs and even clothing. This practice has been implemented in department stores. It is a consequence of the American economic crisis. Salesmen and managers have more freedom on the price, in order to retain customers. In these negotiations, the customer often has the upper hand and the seller quickly lowers his price. In addition, selling on the Internet gives consumers the power to challenge store prices and causes competition for the lowest prices. For tourists, negotiation is possible out of season and/or in low-traffic areas. In many mid-range hotels (such as Best Western), prices are negotiable. Hoteliers would rather lower the price of a room by 10-20% to get a good occupancy rate than to leave rooms unoccupied.
Taxes: There is no generalized VAT in the United States. Therefore, a local sales tax must always be added to the price in stores and restaurants. This tax varies by county - for example, it is 8.75% in San Francisco - and by product. No label, advertisement or brochure ever shows the final price: you have to calculate it. However, the price of gasoline at the pump includes taxes. Prices for hotels and restaurants are given excluding VAT.
Passport and visas aux États-Unis
France is still part of the Visa Waiver Pilot program, which allows all French nationals to enter the United States without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. To enter, all you need is:
A valid biometric passport.
A non-refundable round-trip ticket to the United States and no intention of extending your stay.
It is necessary to have filled out the ESTA form on the Internet at least 72 hours before departure and to have paid the US$14 fee that accompanies this form. Go to the website (and only to this website) https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
Finally, for any stay longer than 90 days, the visitor must have a visa. Several types of visas exist (student, work, etc.), but they are all quite difficult to obtain. To learn more about the type of visa to apply for and the steps to follow, visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in France (french.france.usembassy.gov).
Driver's license aux États-Unis
Your French driver's license is only valid in the United States for a maximum stay of 3 months. Beyond that, you will need an American license. The International Driving Permit (IDP) is increasingly required in order to rent a vehicle and drive legally in the United States. The IDP consists of a standardized translation of your French driver's license that you must request from the prefecture and show to the police when requested.
Health aux États-Unis
There are no particular health risks in the United States. It is up to you to be careful in case of extreme sports practices, swimming in rough seas, etc.
Mandatory vaccination aux États-Unis
It is best to be up to date with your vaccinations, even if you will not be asked for your vaccination booklet at the border. However, the last time I checked, you must be up to date with at least your Covid vaccinations. You will be asked to confirm this. The 14 days after the last dose must be complete to board a flight to the United States. The EU Covid-19 digital certificate in paper or digital format is a valid document as long as all of this information, name, date of birth, date of vaccinations, etc., appears and not just the QR code.
Security aux États-Unis
The United States of America is a safe country. However, there are some specific situations and some cautionary advice: in large cities, find out which neighborhoods to avoid and the hours after which you should be particularly vigilant. You should also be aware that there has been an increase in carjackings with violence and threats in large cities.
Time difference aux États-Unis
There are 6 time zones in the United States. Since 2007, the changeover to summer time takes place on the second Sunday of March and the changeover to winter time on the first Sunday of November. But Arizona remains in Mountain Time all year long (the time change is only applied in the Navajo reservation). Keep in mind to simplify things that the time difference is : - 6 hours with the East Coast of the United States (when it is noon in Paris, it is 6 am in New York) and - 9 hours with the West Coast (when it is noon in Paris, it is 3 am in San Francisco).
Eastern Time
: - 6 hours. New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Louisville...Central Time
: - 7 hours. Minneapolis, Chicago, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Des Moines, St-Louis, Kansas City...Mountain Time
: - 8 hours. Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, El Paso, Albuquerque, Cheyenne, Flagstaff, Tucson, Helena...Pacific Time
: - 9 hours. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas...Alaska
: - 10 hours.Hawaii: - 11 hours. These time zones do not follow the meridians or state borders. Thus, there may be a time difference within a state or between two neighboring states.
Spoken languages aux États-Unis
You won't be surprised to learn that English is the common language in the United States. Few Americans know French, but we find your French accent charming when you speak English. So go for it! Spanish and Chinese are thesecond andthird most spoken languages in the United States.
Communication aux États-Unis
To use your cell phone and Internet in the United States, you have the choice between a French plan with roaming for the USA, a prepaid SIM card (from 20 €), a USA Pass from your usual operator, an American plan (for long stays). The network is good in all cities and most of the time in the countryside, some mountain areas remain white. Since February 2022, 3G does not work in the United States, you must fall back on 5G.
Electricity and measurements aux États-Unis
Voltage. 110/115 volts, 60 periods. The plugs are flat: it is therefore better to leave with an adapter (not always easy to find on the spot, look for it in DIY stores). Hotel rooms are usually equipped with hair dryers and irons. Since American standards are totally different from French standards, make sure you only buy compatible equipment, as voltage is not the only issue, far from it.
Weight. 1 pound (lb.) = 0.4536 kg. 1 ounce (oz.) = 28.35 g
Capacity. 1 gallon = 3.785 liters. 1 quart = 0.946 liters. 1 pint = 0.473 liter.
Distances - Lengths. The good old metric system is almost never used. Everything is given in miles, orfeet andinches for small distances or height. 1 mile = 1.609 km (1 6 0 9 : "a new scissor"). 1 yard = 0.918 m (not often used except in golf or American soccer). 1 foot = 30.48 cm. 1 inch = 2.54 cm and conversely 1 cm = 0.39 inch. But as Americans are not very used to the decimal system, nobody will say that he measures 5.74 feet (for 1.75 m). So we combine feet and inches: 1,75 m = 5 feet 9 inches (which is written 5'9").
Daily life aux États-Unis
Hello? aux États-Unis
To call from the United States to France
, dial the international access code 011, followed by the country code (33 for France), then the number of your correspondent without the 0.U.S. numbers are ten digits long, consisting of three digits indicating the calling area, then the seven digits of the number. When calling within a zone, do not dial the first three digits.
Numbers beginning with 800, 888, 877 or 866 are free. They work only within the country, some are limited to within a state or only to another state. Numbers with letters (e.g., 1-800-KINKOS) mean dial the numbers corresponding to the letters on the keypad (here, 1-800-546-567). The prefixes 550, 554, 900, 920, 940 and 976 are special rate calls, and usually high.
Cell phone.
As of February 22, 2022, 3G is phasing out in the United States. This means you will no longer be able to make calls with a 3G cell phone. This decision comes as part of the implementation of 5G in the U.S. territory, but risks plunging many users into significant digital insecurity. Phone booths and prepaid cardsPhone booths:
there arephone booths in good condition everywhere: in shopping malls, streets and along roads. Bring $0.25 coins (quarters). Local calls are cheap (50 cents, unlimited talk time). However, if you are calling another county, state or overseas, it is cheaper to use a card and you won't have to carry a lot of quarters.
Phone cards: The easiest and cheapest way to get a phone card is to buy aprepaid card, which can be purchased at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations. It is also possible to buy a prepaid card from a U.S. carrier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) that offers to buy a certain number of units in advance and then recharge the account when it is exhausted. In the U.S., smart cards do not exist. When you buy a phone card, you are actually buying a personal code that has a number of units assigned to it. To find out what the code is, scratch off the frame of the card (check at the time of purchase to make sure this part has not already been uncovered). To call, dial the toll-free number that begins with 800 and enter your personal code. You will hear a tone indicating that you can dial the number of your correspondent.
Accessibility aux États-Unis
Do you have a disability? Don't miss out on travel to the United States, which is particularly well adapted to disabled travelers. For several decades, especially since the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the fight against discrimination related to disabilities has been effective. The law imposes, in particular, conditions of accessibility to all public places.
Health aux États-Unis
Medical costs in the United States are among the highest in the world. Check before you leave that you are well insured and that you benefit from a medical repatriation in case of necessity.
Emergency numbers aux États-Unis
One number for all emergencies: 911.
Securty aux États-Unis
Remember that with the police, it is imperative not to make false statements, not to raise your voice and to avoid sudden or aggressive gestures. In the event of a dispute, alert the Consulate General of the district concerned. Thefts of means of payment and identity documents are more frequent in tourist areas. Keep your passports and means of payment in a safe place and carry a photocopy of the first pages of your passport and the green "visa waiver" document given to you by the immigration services when you enter the country
LGBTQ aux États-Unis
LGBT people had a special social place in pre-Columbian Native American tribes, but it was not until the late 20th century that their rights were adopted. The Stonewall riots in New York City in 1969 marked the beginning of the modern era of gay civil rights, and the AIDS crisis in the 1980s had a great influence on gay communities and activism.
It's no secret that if there's one city in the world where it's good to live as a lesbian, gay, bi or transgender person, it's San Francisco. As the capital of the LGBT community, San Francisco vibrates with the dynamism and activism of the community: festivals, charity events, support groups, artistic and cultural associations, etc., the list would be too long to enumerate. At the end of June, the city celebrates this fabulous freedom with the sounds of Gay Pride, one of the biggest events of the year. Progressivism and open-mindedness are the key words in San Francisco.
As is often the case outside of the major metropolises, conservatism is the order of the day. The Bible Belt states, for example, in the south of the country, are not at the forefront of progress in terms of minority rights
Embassies and consulates aux États-Unis
France is represented in the United States by its Embassy in Washington, D.C. (4101 Reservoir Road, N.W. 20007 Washington D.C. - +1 202 944 60 00 - [email protected] - https://fr.franceintheus.org/) and by ten Consulates General: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. (attached to the Embassy). You can find the contacts on the Embassy's website.
Mail aux États-Unis
To send a letter to France from the United States, all you need to do is stamp it with 2 American stamps or an international stamp at US$1.20. Generally, your letter takes 5 days to arrive at your recipient's address in France.
Local media aux États-Unis
The United States is known for its television series and reality shows. Television is the most important media in the country, it is present in 99% of American homes for entertainment and information. The main channels are ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS. As for the print media, it totals hundreds of titles, daily newspapers and tabloids combined. The best-selling, most progressive and most serious daily is the New York Times , whose Sunday edition regularly sells 1.5 million copies. The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times follow. Among conservative newspapers, the Wall Street Journal is the most popular.
