Moving to the United States
A practical first-30-days checklist for newcomers to the US — Social Security, banking, government registration, groceries, telecom, transport, and housing, with links to the official sources you actually need.
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- Currency
- United States Dollar (USD, $)
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Official language
- English (de facto; no federal official language)
- Dialing code
- +1
- Time zones
- Six in the contiguous US — ET, CT, MT, PT, AKT, HAT
Read in another language
English(English)
Sort out your immigration and government records
Almost every other step — opening a bank account, signing a lease, starting work, registering a child for school — depends on having lawful status documented and a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Settle these first.
1.Confirm your immigration status and keep documents safe
Most newcomers arrive with a visa and an I-94 admission record (the electronic record of entry), a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Print or download your I-94 from the CBP website on day one — employers and landlords ask for it during I-9 and rental verification.
Get your I-94 record2.Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)
Your SSN is the de facto national ID for tax, banking, credit, and most consumer services. Most work-authorized newcomers can apply at a local Social Security Administration office; some visa categories now have SSN-on-arrival options. The card arrives by mail in 2–4 weeks.
Apply for a Social Security number — SSA3.If you cannot get an SSN, apply for an ITIN
Spouses and dependents on certain visas, and people without work authorization who still owe US tax, file IRS Form W-7 to receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The ITIN works for tax filing and some banking but not for credit reporting or employment.
Apply for an ITIN — IRS4.Register a US address with USPS and update USCIS
Set up mail forwarding at usps.com once you have an address. If you are a Green Card holder or non-immigrant who is required to report address changes, file Form AR-11 with USCIS within 10 days of any move — failing to do so is a violation of immigration law.
Change of address — USCIS Form AR-11
Open a bank account
US banks are friendly to newcomers but credit history matters more here than almost anywhere else. Open a checking account on day one; build a credit file in parallel because nearly every later financial product (apartment lease, phone contract, car loan, mortgage) is gated by a credit score.
1.Open a checking and savings account
Major banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi) and online banks (Ally, Capital One 360, SoFi, Charles Schwab) open accounts with a passport, US visa, and either an SSN or ITIN. Some branches let you open with just a passport plus an address while the SSN is being issued — phone ahead to confirm.
FDIC — find an insured bank2.Set up direct deposit and bill pay
Direct deposit (your routing number + account number given to your employer) gets you paid faster than a paper check and is required by many employers. Online bill pay covers utilities, rent, and credit cards from inside your bank app — typically free.
3.Get a credit card and start building a credit file
Without a US credit history, prime credit cards are out of reach in the first months. Secured cards (Capital One Quicksilver Secured, Discover it Secured) and newcomer cards (American Express Global Transfer if you held an Amex abroad, Petal, Deserve, or your bank's student/credit-builder card) accept thin-file applicants. Charge a small amount monthly and pay it in full to build a clean payment history fast.
4.Move money in cheaply
Avoid your home bank for the initial transfer — fees of 3–5% are common. Wise and Revolut typically convert at near-mid-market rates with a flat fee under $10 for transfers up to $5,000.
Open a Wise multi-currency account
Find a place to live
Most newcomers rent for the first year. Expect to provide proof of income (typically 2.5–3x the monthly rent), a credit check (or alternative income verification for thin-file applicants), a security deposit equal to 1–2 months of rent, and a first month's rent up front.
1.Search the right portals
Zillow, Apartments.com, Redfin, and Trulia carry the bulk of large-building listings. StreetEasy dominates New York City; HotPads and Craigslist are popular for direct-from-landlord lettings in many cities. Move quickly — desirable apartments in coastal cities are often gone within 24–48 hours.
Browse rentals on Zillow2.Pass the credit check
Landlords run a credit check (typically through TransUnion SmartMove or Experian RentBureau) and look for a FICO score above 620. With a thin file, expect to provide proof of savings, a co-signer, or 2–3 months of rent up front. Some property managers accept international credit reports through Nova Credit for newcomers from Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, and the UK.
Translate your foreign credit history — Nova Credit3.Understand the lease and renter rights
Standard leases run 12 months and renew month-to-month if you do not give notice (typically 30–60 days). Renter protections vary dramatically by state and city — New York, California, Oregon, and DC have rent-stabilization rules; Texas and Florida do not. The HUD tenant rights page links to your state's landlord-tenant office.
Tenant rights by state — HUD
Get a US phone number and home internet
A US phone number unlocks two-factor authentication for almost every American service. Prepaid SIMs are available without ID; postpaid plans require an SSN and a credit check.
1.Pick up a prepaid SIM on day one
Mint Mobile, Visible, Cricket Wireless, US Mobile, and the carriers' own prepaid lines (T-Mobile Prepaid, AT&T Prepaid) start from around $15–25/month with generous data — no contract, no credit check, no SSN required. Most ship the SIM the same day or sell at major retailers (Walmart, Target, Best Buy).
2.Move to a postpaid plan once your credit history exists
After a few months, postpaid carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) often work out cheaper for heavy users and bundle handset finance. They run a credit check and require an SSN; the result feeds your credit file (a small but real benefit).
3.Compare home internet
Most homes can choose between cable (Spectrum, Xfinity/Comcast, Cox), fiber (Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber, Frontier Fiber), and DSL or fixed wireless in less-served areas. The FCC broadband map shows what is genuinely available at your address — provider self-reporting is often optimistic.
FCC National Broadband Map
Where to buy food and household goods
American supermarkets sprawl. Match the chain to the trip: budget weekly shop at Aldi or Walmart, weekday standard at Kroger, Safeway, or Publix, premium at Whole Foods, Wegmans, or Trader Joe's, bulk at Costco or Sam's Club. Store coverage varies sharply by region.
1.Budget chains: Aldi, Walmart, regional discount
Aldi runs tight ranges (around 1,400 SKUs vs 30,000 at a typical Kroger) and prices most basics 25–40% below the major chains. Walmart Supercenters carry the broadest range at low prices but require a car in most regions. Regional discount chains (WinCo on the West Coast, Food 4 Less, Save A Lot) compete strongly in their territories.
2.Standard weekly shop: Kroger family, Safeway/Albertsons, Publix, H-E-B
The big regional supermarket chains (Kroger / King Soopers / Ralphs / Fred Meyer in much of the country, Safeway / Albertsons in the West, Publix in the Southeast, H-E-B in Texas) cover almost every category and run loyalty programs (Kroger Plus, Safeway Just for U) where members see significantly lower prices on selected items. Worth signing up to your closest one on day one.
3.Premium and specialty: Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Sprouts
Whole Foods (Amazon-owned) and Wegmans (East Coast and growing) carry higher-quality produce, prepared foods, and broader specialty ranges. Trader Joe's sits between budget and premium with a tight, almost entirely own-label range and a cult following. Sprouts is the natural-foods discount option in much of the West and South.
4.Bulk warehouse clubs: Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's
Membership warehouse clubs ($60–130/year) sell groceries, household goods, electronics, and even prescription glasses in bulk at very low per-unit prices. Worth it for families and households that store and freeze; rarely for a single person in a small apartment.
5.Online delivery and click-and-collect
Instacart aggregates delivery from most major chains; Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods deliver in most cities; Walmart+ and Kroger Boost are subscription delivery services for their own stores. Expect $5–10 delivery fees plus tip; subscriptions waive the fee for frequent shoppers.
Get around — public transit and driving
Outside a handful of dense cities (NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia), most of the US assumes you have a car. Driving is on the right; foreign licences are valid for visitors but residents typically need to obtain a US driver's license within 30–90 days, depending on the state.
1.Public transit in major cities
NYC (MTA — subway, bus, commuter rail), Boston (MBTA), Chicago (CTA), DC (WMATA Metro), Philadelphia (SEPTA), and the San Francisco Bay Area (BART, Muni, Caltrain) have usable transit networks. Most accept contactless debit/credit cards or phone wallets directly at the gate (OMNY in NYC, Tap in LA, Clipper in the Bay Area).
OMNY — pay as you go in NYC2.Get a state-issued driver's license
New residents typically have 30–90 days (state-dependent) to convert a foreign licence at the local DMV — Department of Motor Vehicles. Some states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas) require a written and road test; others (most of the EU/EEA, Canada, Korea, Japan, Taiwan) qualify for direct exchange in many states. Bring proof of identity, residency, and SSN/ineligibility letter.
Find your state DMV — USA.gov3.Buy or lease a car (if you need one)
Most Americans finance a car through the dealership or a credit union (PenFed, Navy Federal, USAA — last two require military affiliation). Without a US credit history, expect higher rates or a co-signer. Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and Carvana give honest market prices; buying used is typically much better value than new.
4.Auto insurance is mandatory
Every state requires liability insurance to register a vehicle; minimums vary. Comprehensive coverage (collision + theft + weather) typically runs $100–200/month with a clean foreign driving record. Geico, State Farm, Progressive, and Allstate are the main national carriers; The Zebra and Insurify aggregate quotes.
5.Intercity travel: Amtrak, buses, flights
Amtrak runs a usable rail network in the Northeast Corridor (Boston–NYC–DC) and a few other corridors; outside those, intercity coach (Greyhound, FlixBus, Megabus) or domestic flights are cheaper and faster. Domestic flights are dominated by Delta, American, United, and the low-cost carriers (Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier).
Topic deep dives
Once you have the basics in place, these in-depth guides cover the parts of life that come up after the first month — and the social norms newcomers most often notice.
Other countries
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a US address before I arrive?
Not strictly. Some banks open accounts with just a passport; many newcomers use a friend's address, a corporate housing address, or a UPS Store mailbox during the first weeks. You will need a real residential address for SSN paperwork, a state ID, and most leases.
How long does it take to get an SSN?
Typically 2–4 weeks after you visit a Social Security Administration office and submit your application. Some visa categories now have an SSN-on-arrival pilot through CBP that delivers the card in days. You can usually start work and pay tax under a temporary process while waiting.
Is health insurance really required?
Federally, no — the individual mandate penalty was zeroed out in 2019. A few states (Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, DC) still penalize being uninsured. Practically, healthcare costs without insurance are catastrophic — a single ER visit can run tens of thousands of dollars. See the healthcare deep-dive for newcomer options.
Which US city is cheapest to settle in?
Cost of living varies hugely. Outside coastal metros, cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis, San Antonio, and Tulsa offer rents 50–70% below NYC or San Francisco for comparable size, with state income taxes also typically lower (Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Nevada have no state income tax).