Becoming a Digital Nomad in the United States: The Essentials to Get Started

There is no digital nomad visa in the United States: your project has to be built around statuses that were never designed for remote work. This article helps you understand what the ESTA and the visitor visa allow, spot the tax question, plan for health, housing, and budget, and avoid the most common pitfalls. It gives you the essentials to decide whether your project holds up, not the detail of every procedure.

The Essentials at a Glance

• No federal visa is dedicated to digital nomads: neither the ESTA nor the B-1/B-2 visitor visa authorizes employment in the United States^[1].
• The ESTA is applied for online on the official website and costs $21^[2].
• A U.S. tax resident is taxed on worldwide income^[3].
• Tax residence is determined by the green card test or the substantial presence test^[4].
• There is no universal public health system: coverage comes through private insurance^[5].
• A hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars^[3].
• Without a U.S. credit history, most landlords require income of 40 times the monthly rent, a guarantor, or several months of rent in advance^[6].
• The cost of living varies enormously: reasonable in the Midwest, very high in New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles^[7].

No Nomad Visa: What the ESTA and B-1/B-2 Really Allow

The United States does not offer a federal digital nomad visa category^[6]. For French citizens, the most common entry route is the ESTA, under the Visa Waiver Program, valid for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or short business trips^[1]. Applications are made online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and cost $21^[2].

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa can cover certain specific business trips, such as meetings, conferences, or negotiations, but not employment on site^[1]. Visitor status prohibits any employment in the United States, and remote work for a foreign employer is not formally authorized: each U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer decides on a case-by-case basis^[6].

In practice, a stay of a few weeks with a laptop is usually not a problem, but stating "I am coming to work remotely for 90 days" can end in a denial of entry^[6]. The classic mistake is confusing ease of entry with the legal security of the project^[1].

Work, Talent, and Investor Visas

No automatic right of residence or work is granted to foreign nationals: you must obtain the appropriate immigration status before settling in^[7]. Most work visas require an employer or sponsoring organization to file a petition on your behalf; the H-1B visa, for example, is employer-sponsored^[7].

Some categories can be applied for without a sponsor: for people with extraordinary ability, those whose work is deemed of national interest, or those investing under the EB-5 program^[7]. If your project looks like a genuine move to work remotely, to repeated assignments, or to a long-term presence, you are no longer in a comfortable zone^[1].

Work Status: Employee, Self-Employed, and Compliance

Distinguish who pays you from where the work is performed: the ESTA and B-1/B-2 do not authorize employment in the United States^[1]. U.S. authorities clearly separate temporary visits, short business trips, and employment^[1].

If you are an employee, relocating temporarily to another country, even while working remotely, is not a minor matter: your employer's approval and a review of the legal and tax risks, for both you and the company, are necessary^[8]. If you are self-employed, your situation depends on the activity you actually carry out: have it reviewed by an immigration professional before you leave.

Taxes and Tax Residence

According to the U.S. tax authority (IRS), you are considered a resident if you meet the green card test or the substantial presence test^[4]. The latter is based on the number of days present: at least 31 days in the current year and at least 183 weighted days over three years (all days in the current year, plus one third of the days in the previous year, plus one sixth of the days from the year before that)^[5].

Even if you meet this test, you are not considered a resident if you qualify for the "closer connection to a foreign country" exception or if you can be treated as a nonresident under a tax treaty^[4]. The 183-day rule is widely used, but it does not apply universally^[9].

A tax resident is taxed on worldwide income; the 1994 France-United States tax treaty avoids double taxation through a tax credit^[3]. Federal income tax is progressive, ranging from 10% to 37%, but most states levy their own income tax, and some cities such as New York add their own on top^[3]. Florida, Texas, and Nevada levy no state income tax at all^[3].

Taxes are the topic with the most serious consequences: confirm your situation with a tax specialist in international mobility before you act^[10].

Health and Insurance

There is no universal public system: coverage comes through private insurance, usually provided by your employer if you are an employee, or purchased individually on the marketplace for everyone else^[3]. Care is technically excellent but extremely expensive: a specialist consultation costs $150 to $400, and a hospital stay can run to tens of thousands of dollars^[3].

Medicare and Medicaid are, in practice, out of reach for a newcomer: Medicare requires strict age and contribution conditions, and Medicaid requires meeting income limits^[5]. If you are enrolled in the French Social Security system, there are two main options: the CFE combined with international insurance calibrated for the U.S., or a €1-a-day health plan "worldwide including USA" that alone covers the full cost of care^[5].

Insurers such as Genki and SafetyWing offer products designed for the digital nomad lifestyle^[11]. Compare the actual coverage, especially the network of approved doctors and hospitals (in-network), to avoid very high bills for out-of-network care^[7].

Arrival Steps: Phone, Bank, Address, Driver's License

Start with your phone: a prepaid SIM or eSIM (Mint, US Mobile, or T-Mobile prepaid, for example) requires neither a Social Security number (SSN) nor a credit history^[12].

For banking, most major banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) open an account with your passport, without requiring an SSN^[12]. This depends on the branch: call ahead or go in person^[12]. For proof of address, most states require two physical documents showing your name and a local residential address^[13].

A debit card draws directly from your account and builds no credit score^[12]. For a driver's license, the rules are set by each state, and an International Driving Permit must be obtained before departure: a consulate cannot issue one^[5].

Housing

Finding housing is often the first big challenge for newcomers, because renting without a credit history is difficult^[7]. Without U.S. history, most landlords require proven income of 40 times the monthly rent, a guarantor, or several months' rent in advance^[6].

Landlords also commonly ask for a letter of employment, a prior rental history, and, occasionally, reference letters^[7]. Outside peak season, concessions are common: one or two months free on a twelve-month lease, especially in Chicago, Austin, and Miami^[14].

Cost of Living by City

The cost of living for a single person averages €2,403 per month, rent and utilities included, which together account for more than half of that^[15]. Housing and healthcare are usually the biggest expenses^[7].

The gaps between cities are significant: in Chicago, from €1,730 per month on a frugal budget to €4,030 without any restrictions^[16]; in Miami, from €2,140 to €5,020^[14]; in New York, from €2,490 to €5,850^[6].

Internet, Mobile, and Coworking

In New York, fiber runs at about 500 Mb/s for $60 to $80 a month, and coworking spaces range from $250 (shared desk in Brooklyn) to $600 (WeWork Manhattan)^[6]. Mobile coverage is generally very good in the city, with plenty of free Wi-Fi spots in tourist areas and cafés^[17]. To work, you need a stable connection with no surprises^[18]; a prepaid SIM or eSIM lets you anticipate costs^[17].

Cities and Regions

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than half of American digital nomads stay in the United States while working remotely^[19]. Chicago offers the best urban value in the country: a true metropolis at mid-sized city rents^[16]. In Miami, hurricane season runs from June to November: evacuation is possible, and Florida homeowners insurance is the most expensive in the country^[14]. Differences between neighborhoods can be significant, so try several before you commit.

Transportation and Travel

In New York, the subway runs 24/7, at $2.90 per ride, capped at $34 per week with OMNY^[20]. In Chicago, the "L" costs $2.50 per ride, and the Blue Line connects O'Hare to downtown in 45 minutes for $5^[20]. In Los Angeles, a car is nearly essential: expect $45 to $70 per day, rental included, plus gas and parking^[20].

Language, Integration and Community

In Chicago, the French community is present without being massive, centered on the Alliance française and a few tech meetups^[16]. A French-speaking community helps you get started, but coworking and local activities open up your professional network more.

Pitfalls, Scams and Points of Caution

• Confusing easy entry with the right to work: the ESTA and B-1/B-2 do not authorize employment^[1], and declaring a 90-day remote-work stay can lead to denial of entry^[6].
• Rental applications without credit history: proven income of 40 times the rent, a guarantor, or several months of advance payment^[6].
• In New York, broker fees: 12 to 15% of annual rent, paid by the tenant^[6].
• In Las Vegas, resort fees on rentals^[6].
• Health: according to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, emergency room admission is "conditioned on a financial guarantee"^[5]; in an emergency, call 911 without delay, and out-of-network care can result in very high bills^[7].
• Bank fees: about $35 per transaction when overdrawn, and $12 to $15 per month in minimum balance fees at some banks^[12].
• Rental scams: hijacked listings asking for fees, deposits, or rent via Western Union or MoneyGram wire transfer^[21]. Pay by credit card, which offers the best protections^[21].
• Travel scams: fraudsters buy paid ads or create sites imitating a hotel chain; check non-sponsored results or type the site address directly^[22].
• After obtaining a green card or citizenship, U.S. tax obligations become lasting, including after a return to France^[3].

Steps, in Order

• Clarify your status: employer, clients, duration, and the right visa before you leave^[7].
• If you are eligible, apply for the ESTA on the official website^[2].
• Take out health insurance suited to the U.S. before departure^[5].
• Book a temporary monthly rental before departure, then get a SIM and open a bank account in your first week^[12].
• Have a tax advisor confirm your tax residence before you exceed day-count thresholds^[10].

This article gives you the essentials. To truly settle in, you'll need to go further with step-by-step procedures, a line-by-line budget, and choosing your neighborhood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you work remotely on the ESTA?

The ESTA does not authorize employment in the United States^[1]; see the first section for details on the risk at the border.

Which visas can be applied for without an employer?

Certain categories allow you to file without a sponsor: extraordinary ability, national interest, or investment under the EB-5 program^[7].

Can you access Medicare or Medicaid?

In practice, no: these programs are subject to strict age, contribution, or income requirements^[5].

Can you open a bank account without an SSN?

Yes, often, with your passport, depending on the agency: call ahead^[12].

Can you drive with a French license?

The rules are set by each state, and the international driving permit should be requested before departure^[5].