Looking at moving to the USA? Top 5 things you need to know

 

Green Cards allow non-US residents to gain permanent residence in the USA. This enables the green card holder to gain permanent resident status, allowing you to live and work anywhere in the USA and qualify for US citizenship after three to five years.

If you are planning to move to the USA, you will need to obtain a visa; there are several different visa options you will need to consider. These would depend on your reasons for moving to the USA. Here are some common visa categories you should consider:

Work Visa (H-1B, L-1): If you have a job offer from a US-based employer, you can apply for a work visa. Common work visas are the following:

H-1B: For speciality occupations 

L-1: For intra-company transfers.

Family Visa: (K-1, CR-1, IR-1): If you're joining a member of your family or your spouse who is already either a US citizen or a permanent resident, you can apply for a family-based visa.

K-1: Allows a US citizen's fiancé(e) to enter the USA to get married within 90 days of the arrival date. When married, the fiancé(e) can apply for a green card.

CR-1: This type of visa is issued to the spouse of a current US citizen. Intended for couples married less than two years, it allows them to live together permanently in the US. Once the CR-1 visa has been obtained, the spouse becomes a permanent resident and can apply for a green card.

IR-1: Designed for the spouse who has been married to a US citizen for at least two years; this allows them entry as permanent residents. This visa allows the spouse to live and work in the US and eventually apply for a green card if they meet specific eligibility requirements.

Tourist Visa (B-2): If your stay in the US is for either tourism, medical treatment, or visiting family and friends, this is the visa for you. This visa is primarily designed for short vacations or exploring the country.

Investor Visa (E-2): If you plan to invest a substantial amount of money in the US, you will become eligible for this type of visa. It is primarily designed if you want to develop or direct operations within a business in the US and have invested substantial capital to do so. This visa is typically granted to nationals of countries with US commerce treaties.

Student Visa (F-1, J-1): You will require a specific student visa if you plan to study in the US.

F-1: This visa is granted when you enrol in academic, vocational or language programmes. It enables limited work opportunities on academic campuses during your studies with some allowances for off-campus work under certain conditions.

J-1: This visa is designed for exchange students who are participating in programmes. This allows you to visit the US temporarily to study, teach, research or receive training.

A great first step in understanding which visa is best for you is to visit the official website of the US Embassy or the specific consulate in your home country. This will ensure you can receive detailed and up-to-date information about visa options and the specific application procedure, plus any recent changes made to visa policies. You may also wish to contact an immigration advisor to ensure you have the latest guidance for your specific circumstances.

If you are planning to move to the US, you will, of course, be keen to understand the situation regarding your and your family's healthcare. Whilst the US government does not require you, as a new emigrant to the US, to obtain a health insurance plan, the cost of health care is very high, so it is highly recommended that you obtain health insurance.

This may, of course, be provided by your employer in the form of Employer-Sponsored Insurance. This is a very popular avenue if you are moving to the US with your current employer and will potentially ensure that you and your family receive the necessary health insurance as part of your benefits package.

Health Insurance providers will be the main option in the form of a healthcare plan if you are not able to gain employee-subsidised insurance. A range of providers are available, and you will need to select one that suits your financial situation. Often the health insurance you can afford dictates the healthcare you receive as this will often dictate which hospitals and doctors are available to you, so it is important to choose this wisely.

Some cities and states may also offer specific healthcare programmes for new arrivals, so it will be worth checking the local resources available.

Most hospitals in the US are private organisations, and the level of healthcare is very high. The advantage of private medical care is shorter waiting times and access to world-class doctors and medical technology.

It's worth noting that the high cost extends to buying medicines at pharmacies also, and whilst access to pharmacies is plentiful, you will want to keep your receipts to bill back to your insurance provider.

It is important to note that unless it is an emergency, and possibly even when it is, you could be turned away by a US hospital if you don't have healthcare insurance in place.

Factors such as distance, quantity of items, budget and timeline are all important points to consider when thinking about moving your belongings from your current home to your new country.

A very popular route is to select an international moving company such as Crown Relocations that specialise in overseas relocations. This will ensure your peace of mind as they will specialise and assist with the packing, shipping and customs procedures taking one more thing to do off of your list! Companies such as Crown Relocations can also assist with calculating the cost of your move so you can ensure you plan which items you wish to take with you and those that you will leave behind.

Other points to consider will also be reducing the number of items you need to move to your new location. You might want to consider selling, donating or selling any items you own that you potentially will no longer require.

The best approach taken by many people who relocate internationally is to research your options online and ensure plenty of forward planning to ensure as smooth a relocation process as possible.

If you are planning to move to the US, you will find a wide range of good quality accommodation available. As with many countries, housing is pricy in large cities and cheaper on the outskirts.

Renting is normally the preferred option when you are first moving to the US. This will ensure you can try a number of different types of housing or locations to suit your needs. 

Finding rented accommodation in the US is pretty simple. Start by researching the area you plan to move to, and you will find plenty of websites offering all types of property types and rental periods. Whilst plenty of free websites can assist in your process, you can also work with an estate agent, but as they tend to specialise in finding people homes to buy, there is often a fee involved if they are helping find a rental property – typically this will be a month's rent paid as commission.

Most people moving to the US tend to open a bank account as soon as they arrive, assisting with their settling, paying bills, and sending and receiving money.

Opening a bank account in the US is relatively straightforward.

As a new arrival talking directly with somebody in a bank branch is often the most popular approach. Generally, a range of documents will be required, including a passport or driving license. Depending on your residential status, you will usually need to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Usually, as a newcomer, it will be the ITIN, a nine-digit number issued to individuals who don't qualify for a social security number but have a taxable income and pay taxes in the US. As with many countries' banking regulations, you will also need to supply proof of your residency status, typically your visa, along with proof of address via a utility bill or lease agreement.