Five Top Tips When Moving to the US

Understand US Healthcare

Healthcare is a major issue in America and has been a key political topic in recent years. It is important to understand that medical treatment in the US is not free, so you must ensure you have a health insurance policy in place to avoid significant costs.

In some cases, your employer will provide insurance cover for you and your family. The level of coverage can vary and you may be required to top-up the monthly payments so you can access specific medical services.

You should consider having a valid health insurance policy in place for your arrival in the US so you are covered immediately otherwise you could end up facing financial difficulties if you require treatment.

Open a US Bank Account

A US-based bank account will make your day-to-day living easier and prevent you from incurring significant charges if you need to rely on an overseas bank card in the US.

To open a bank account, you will be asked to provide a range of paperwork to verify your identity and financial status, including:

• Proof of residence in the US
• Passport
• Evidence of your immigration status
• Proof of income, such as a payslip or employment contract
• Funds to deposit into the new account

The three most popular banks in the US with branches across the country are JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo.

Apply for a Social Security Number

The US Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique 9-digit number that is used to report your earnings to the government and access benefits such as social security. Everyone in the US is required to have a valid SSN and you must provide it to your employer.

It is possible to apply for a SSN from overseas when applying for an immigrant visa, or if coming to the US on a non-immigrant visa you can apply once you arrive in the country. The application can be made at your local Social Security Office, there is no application cost and you should receive your SSN card within two weeks.

Coping with Time Zones

People new to the US are often astonished at how vast the country is and one of the most surprising issues for new arrivals is dealing with the different time zones.

The country has multiple standard time zones, plus additional zones for Alaska, Hawaii and other US dependencies.  It is important to be aware of these when dealing with companies or services that are based in another part of the US.

Depending on where you are in the US, you are likely to be in one of the four standard time zones:

• EST (Eastern Standard Time) = GMT minus 5 hours
• CST (Central Standard Time) = GMT minus 6 hours
• MST (Mountain Standard Time = GMT minus 7 hours
• PST (Pacific Standard Time) = GMT minus 8 hours

For those in Alaska, the time is GMT minus 9 hours, while in Hawaii it is GMT minus 10 hours.

Remember to Tip

Tipping is a day-to-day part of life in the US, but it can take a bit of time to get use to! If you eat in a restaurant, you should be ready to pay a tip or gratuity of around 20 per cent of the total bill.

However, tipping is not just limited to the food industry, you are expected to tip anyone who provides you with a service. For example taxi drivers, hairdressers, or hotel housekeepers.  

It can feel awkward at first but tipping is standard practice and workers heavily rely on the tips to supplement their wages.

Need Help Relocating to the US?

Are you considering moving to the US and need help in deciding which visa route is the most suitable for you? We offer tailored 1-2-1 advice sessions with US immigration experts as well as support in making an application for a US visa and document checking services. Reach out to our expert team for personalised advice on +1 844 290 6312 or use our live chat to find out how we can help you start a new life in the US.