I moved to the United States from India for work in 2022. When you move to a new country you don’t know what to expect, the same was the case for me. I was under the impression that it would be easy for me to open a bank account online or get a credit card like I could in India. Though I did get those things done, I wish I had known some things that I know now so that it could have been less overwhelming. The first month is the toughest when you move to the US as it involves, getting a lot of things done. In this post I’ll focus on 5 things to do in the first 4 weeks that you’re in the US. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in California but all of this should be applicable to most US cities and states.

Get a US cellular number

One of the first thing that you need to do after you come to the US is get cellular number There are many US cellular brands that can get the numbers from but the three largest players are T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. There are also smaller brands that operate as Virtual Mobile Network Operators (MVNO). These MVNOs run on one of these larger company’s network but aren’t owned by them. MVNOs lease wireless capacity from a third-party mobile network operator (MNO) at wholesale prices and resell it to consumers at reduced retail prices under their own brands. Some examples are Mint Mobile, Fi Wireless by Google (T-Mobile), Xfinity Mobile (Verizon), Boost (AT&T). This helps MVNOs price their services at a lower cost than the Big 3. I would recommend if you’re new to the US, get one of the MVNO providers. However my best recommendation will be to join someone’s family plan. If you have someone who you know in the US – a friend or relative check if they can add you to their family plan. This could work out to be quite reasonable for you. When I moved to the US in 2022, I got on my the family plat of my sister’s in laws. They had an extra slot in their T-Mobile Magenta family plan and were generous enough to add me to their plan. I’ve been using it since. I could get into details of what the plans of different MNOs offers, but that’s for another time.

Open a Bank Account

If possible, open a bank account within the first 2 days of landing in the US. Think of it this way – the faster you open a bank account, the earlier you will be able to provide the details to your employer where they can deposit your paycheck.

It generally doesn’t matter which bank you open an account with, but since it’s your first bank in the US, I would recommend choosing a bank with a large number of branches and ATM network. The bank I chose was Chase because it was closet to the hotel that I was staying at. You can directly walk into the bank and depending on how busy the staff are you can either request them to open an account for you the same day or get the earliest appointment with their staff so they can help you with opening an account. There is also a chance that your employer may have a preferred banker and can help you open an account for you. If that is not the case, then you also could walk into any major bank and they will definitely help you.

Before you step into the bank, gather the required documents. Most banks will require you to provide the following:

• Valid government-issued ID, such as a passport and valid visa
• Proof of US address, such as a utility bill or lease agreement. Since you’re new to the US, request you employer to provide a bonafide letter which states that they are your employer and that you’re staying at XYZ place. You can also temporarily put your hotel’s address if you’re going to be staying there a few weeks before you find housing for yourself. You can always change the address later online.
• US tax identification number, such as a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you do not have a SSN or ITIN, you should still be able to open a bank account. Some banks like Chase will open an account for you and update your SSN or ITIN as soon as you receive one.

If you’re going to Chase bank, look for offers/ promo codes on Google. Chase generally offers a bonus of around $200-$300 if you open a new checking account and setup a direct deposit with them. The offer keeps changing, but you should easily be able to find one. Don’t miss out on this as this is free money! I would also recommend opening a savings account in along with your checking account. Savings account offer higher rates than checking accounts and you can use this for meeting your short-term financial goals.

If you’re new to the US, you will not have a credit score or history, but based on your income range, banks could generally offer your a base credit card for your usage. When I opened an account, Chase also was kind enough to issue a Freedom Student Credit Card for me. When my wife opened her account, they issued her a Chase Freedom Unlimited card. The credit limit for these cards will be between $2,000-$3,000 but that should meet your initial spending needs.

Apply for a Social Security Number

To apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) in the US as an immigrant on a work visa, you will need to:

1. Complete an application for a Social Security card. You can download the application from the Social Security Administration (SSA) website or pick one up at a local SSA office.
2. Gather your required documents. You will need to provide original documents proving your identity, work-authorized immigration status, and age. Acceptable documents include:
   • Passport
   • Work visa OR Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
   • Birth certificate

Note: If you do not have a work authorization, you will not be eligible to apply for an SSN.

When I applied for my SSN, I directly walked into an SSA office, manually filled out an application, and submitted it. It took me around 2 hours to do so, but it is possible to complete it in 1 day. Alternatively, you could also schedule an appointment online and submit the application.

At the SSA office, you will be asked to complete a short interview. The SSA representative will review your documents and verify your eligibility for an SSN. Once your application is approved, you will receive your SSN card in the mail within 10 business days.

Here are some additional tips for applying for an SSN in the US as an immigrant on a work visa:

• Apply as soon as possible after you arrive in the US. This will help you to avoid any delays in getting your SSN card.
• Be prepared to wait. The SSA may take several days or weeks to process your application. However, in my case, it got delivered within 10 days
• If you have any changes to your immigration status or work authorization, be sure to notify the SSA immediately.

If you have any questions or problems applying for an SSN, you can contact the SSA for assistance.

Start looking for an apartment/ roommate

I was lucky enough to have a lot of school friends in the Bay Area and I ended up sharing an apartment with my childhood friend. However, if you’re new to the US, it can be challenging to lease an apartment by yourself. Many leasing companies require you to provide an SSN, address, and identity proofs which other than your passport you may not have. In this case, it is better to live with someone who has a spare room in their apartment or get added as a secondary on their lease.
Since I came to the US alone and didn’t have my spouse come with me initially, I was able to find a roommate and get added to his lease. If you don’t know anyone in the US, you can join Facebook groups local to your area – there are many who are looking for roommates. You could also try Craigslist.

Enroll yourself & dependents in healthcare

I cannot stress this one enough. Get enrolled with your employer’s health care within the first week. I moved to the US in the second half of the year and didn’t pay much attention to the health plan, but when it was time for enrollment for the next year, I made sure I understood all the terms of the insurance. Since I was coming from India, terms like deductibles, co-insurance, co-pay, HSA, etc. were all new to me. Be sure to research and compare the insurance plans that your employer provides. I would look at getting a plan that has a low deductible. Even if you are healthy, I would still encourage you to find a PCP – A primary care physician. A PCP is your primary doctor and you need to be on their system and my experience has been that it’s not easy to get an appointment with a doctor at the last minute.

If your dependent is not with you and is going to join you later, you can enroll them in your plan once they join you in the US.

There are many other things that you should do as soon as you arrive in the US, but in my opinion these five are the most important things that you should do.