new in the usa
You finally have the visa in hand and are all set to go to the land of dreams and hopes. So what are the things you will need in the US. How do u survive the first few months. Which documents should you get processed first and why. What are the documents in the first place. What are the other services like bank accounts, cards you will need. Hell you have come to the right place. read on a step by step guide on what first and why, AFTER you land in the US.
Week 1&2. SSN-This basic number establishes your identity in the US. Memorize it, its like a last name. You need this for Driving license, income tax, credit card. Get it first. If you have to stay in the US for anything more than three months do not waste time go to the SSN office ( check it on the net ) with your passport, I 94 and Visa and fill up the forms. You will have the social security number in two weeks. Take the reciept with you, it might come in handy.
2. Bank AccountYou cant do anything much in the first week, if you are smart enough to go for the SSN. Attack the Bank account, get yourself a check in and a savings account. This is not so tough. You will get a temporary card and within a month a permanent card. You can now draw a US salary, deposit and withdraw from the ATM. Pay for your cellphone, pay for online transactions. You dont have to carry cash and can now issue checks. WOW, you are not feeling like an infant anymore. Check the walmarts and the targets for all they are worth. Go out and spend some money, you are in the US and you are young and you have money ( hopefully!)
Week 3 &4
Credit CardCongratulations! you just got your SSN. You have an identity now. Go straight to the bank and apply for a credit card with your passport and SSN. Bank of America is a decent option there are many others, choose what is convenient. This is going to take a week or more. But a credit card is extremely important when in the US. Your credit history determines the dollars you pay for insurance, and its needed for stuff like internet connections. Point of the matter, before i spread myself thin, u need to have a good credit history if u are there in the US for anything more than a year. Even if it is less than, its better to be with one rather than without. After all you are the new age guy and you want to explore and learn new things. Go back packing or other such things which everybody considers kinda cool and exclusive and so everybody ends up doing them.
Driving License Driving licence is the next thing, you need it to rent out cars and stuff. You can survive on a International driving license or an indian license but lets get this one.First find the nearest DPS and with your passport and ssn you make a grand entry and get on with the first step towards a DL. Alright before you go to the office read up the driving license handbook. ( mostly available for download from the Department of public safety website). That ways you can apply for the instructional permit, take the written test and get the instructional permit in one visit. Next step, take some driving classes and then take the driving test. Best of luck, you are about to get your licencse to freedom. America is about freedom, individuality and cars, get that licence to drive bond!
Week 5
Are you feeling like king or what. You have done it, you can do anything ( legal ) now. shop online, go to the market, rent a car, take a house, take a internet connection. Live the american dream. All you now need is a blonde with a convertible. ( sorry cant help here ). Picture yourself riding in the sunset with the top down with her hair in the wind. .. now ride that plane and get ready to go to the SSN office.
P.S: A lot of people can survive without all the above things, but you are not a survivor, you are the intellectual guy with his feet on the ground, you want to really experience the country, ride the local buses, wait for the bus with the afro americans and the mexicans, walk the streets, go to public offices, experience the friendly americans. Its a lovely country and you wont do much good by sitting at home and waiting for the assignement to get over. So go and get it. There are a lot of other forms too, but they are more professional in nature and hopefully your employer will take care of it, do have a look at the insurance policy though, thats important.
Week 1&2. SSN-This basic number establishes your identity in the US. Memorize it, its like a last name. You need this for Driving license, income tax, credit card. Get it first. If you have to stay in the US for anything more than three months do not waste time go to the SSN office ( check it on the net ) with your passport, I 94 and Visa and fill up the forms. You will have the social security number in two weeks. Take the reciept with you, it might come in handy.
2. Bank AccountYou cant do anything much in the first week, if you are smart enough to go for the SSN. Attack the Bank account, get yourself a check in and a savings account. This is not so tough. You will get a temporary card and within a month a permanent card. You can now draw a US salary, deposit and withdraw from the ATM. Pay for your cellphone, pay for online transactions. You dont have to carry cash and can now issue checks. WOW, you are not feeling like an infant anymore. Check the walmarts and the targets for all they are worth. Go out and spend some money, you are in the US and you are young and you have money ( hopefully!)
Week 3 &4
Credit CardCongratulations! you just got your SSN. You have an identity now. Go straight to the bank and apply for a credit card with your passport and SSN. Bank of America is a decent option there are many others, choose what is convenient. This is going to take a week or more. But a credit card is extremely important when in the US. Your credit history determines the dollars you pay for insurance, and its needed for stuff like internet connections. Point of the matter, before i spread myself thin, u need to have a good credit history if u are there in the US for anything more than a year. Even if it is less than, its better to be with one rather than without. After all you are the new age guy and you want to explore and learn new things. Go back packing or other such things which everybody considers kinda cool and exclusive and so everybody ends up doing them.
Driving License Driving licence is the next thing, you need it to rent out cars and stuff. You can survive on a International driving license or an indian license but lets get this one.First find the nearest DPS and with your passport and ssn you make a grand entry and get on with the first step towards a DL. Alright before you go to the office read up the driving license handbook. ( mostly available for download from the Department of public safety website). That ways you can apply for the instructional permit, take the written test and get the instructional permit in one visit. Next step, take some driving classes and then take the driving test. Best of luck, you are about to get your licencse to freedom. America is about freedom, individuality and cars, get that licence to drive bond!
Week 5
Are you feeling like king or what. You have done it, you can do anything ( legal ) now. shop online, go to the market, rent a car, take a house, take a internet connection. Live the american dream. All you now need is a blonde with a convertible. ( sorry cant help here ). Picture yourself riding in the sunset with the top down with her hair in the wind. .. now ride that plane and get ready to go to the SSN office.
P.S: A lot of people can survive without all the above things, but you are not a survivor, you are the intellectual guy with his feet on the ground, you want to really experience the country, ride the local buses, wait for the bus with the afro americans and the mexicans, walk the streets, go to public offices, experience the friendly americans. Its a lovely country and you wont do much good by sitting at home and waiting for the assignement to get over. So go and get it. There are a lot of other forms too, but they are more professional in nature and hopefully your employer will take care of it, do have a look at the insurance policy though, thats important.
posted by Anant at 8:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home