Guides for your move to the US
Search for the guide you need, or narrow the list by where you are in your move.
Showing 11 guides
Get your SSN
The number your employer needs to run payroll and your bank needs to open an account. Here is how to apply for it.
4 chapters
The Newcomer's Guide to Renting in the US
How to rent a US apartment with no US credit history, which documents landlords ask for, and how to spot a scam listing.
6 chapters
Open a US bank account
A US checking account is what your employer pays into and what your landlord charges rent from.
4 chapters
Get a US phone number
Banks, government portals, and employers ask for a US mobile number. Here is how to get one without US credit.
4 chapters
Get a US driver's license
It is your everyday photo ID, and in most of the country it is how you get around.
4 chapters
Get a state ID card
A photo ID you can carry every day, without needing to drive.
4 chapters
Get a US credit card
The account that starts the US credit history landlords, lenders, and insurers read.
4 chapters
Choose US health insurance
Coverage puts a ceiling on what a bad year can cost you. Here is what you can buy in 2026, and what changes on October 1.
4 chapters
New to the US? Our top 3 tips to boost your score
How US credit scores work, and how to start building one with no US credit history.
2 chapters
Fund your US bank account
How to move money into your new US account, and what wires and transfers really cost.
Get an SSN waiver for your ID
What to do when you need a state ID or driver's license but are not yet eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN).
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