- 1
Get your Social Security Number
Week 1Apply at a Social Security office with passport, visa, I-94 and status documents. Free — always.
- 2
Open a US bank account
Week 1Most major banks accept passport + visa + I-94 before your SSN arrives. Verify FDIC insurance.
- 3
Get your driver's license
Weeks 2–4State DMV: proof of status, residency, knowledge test, road test. It becomes your everyday ID.
- 4
Start building credit
Month 1Secured or newcomer credit card, one small recurring bill, autopay in full. Your future rates depend on it.
- 5
Sort your health insurance
Month 1Enroll in the employer or university plan by the deadline; learn deductible, network, out-of-pocket max.
- 6
Understand your tax position
Months 1–3Resident vs nonresident status decides everything. Note FBAR/FATCA if you kept Indian accounts.
- 7
Find your community
From day 1Temple, gurdwara, mosque or church; cricket league; language association — and 300,000 of us online.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Procedures vary by state and visa category — always verify with the official source linked at each step.