Checking vs Savings Account<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A checking account does not pay any interest on your money. Instead, you will be charged monthly fees if you do not qualify for a fee waiver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can skip opening a current account and can only opt for Savings account at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your bank to open a ‘Secured Credit Card<\/strong>‘ for you along with a savings bank account. You will need to deposit some dollars like $100 to $300 and you will get the same credit limit too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not forget to ask for an account opening BONUS. Yes, most banks offer a $100-150 credit card account opening bonus in the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My personal favorite credit cards are<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since you are new to the USA, you do not have any credit history and most banks will NOT open a new credit card for you. It takes about 4-6 months to create any useful history for a newcomer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, you should sign up for Amazon Prime Free Trial<\/a> (US full service) or you can get Amazon prime<\/a> $5.99\/mo for the EBT deal if you have a US Medicaid card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My suggestions for Credit Card offers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The most lucrative offer though is Amazon prime student 6 month free trial<\/a> for international students on F1 visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should locate the<\/a> nearest Social Security office and apply for SSN immediately if you are on a work visa or have entered using a Green card. SSN cards can take 4-6 weeks to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A social security card is needed to start employment and getting paid. Most US employers pay you bi-weekly which means that you will get paid 26 times from Jan to December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the US financial year (Jan to Dec), you will be able to file your tax returns using free online software like e-file<\/a>, TaxAct<\/a>, HR Block<\/a>, or TurboTax<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are from India, your Indian income will also be taxed in US<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can easily get a rental apartment within a week of landing in the USA. It’s a mature and consumer-driven market and everything is available online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your home search should focus on school ratings 7 to 10 and try to get a living place closest to the top-ranking education center. We have used GreatSchools<\/a> to find school ratings given by parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rental Move-in Bonus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each apartment rental website offers a move-in bonus based on demand and supply. Most apartment communities also offer a lease sign-up bonus as first-month rent-free or maybe a free TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bonus could be in the range of $100 to $500 or half month rent free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not forget or feel shy to ask for move-in bonuses. Its common in US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rental Referral Bonus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a friend already living in any rental community, they can get a referral bonus, and then you both can share it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your friend can get a $500 rental referral bonus, you can ask him to share it with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quality of education in US state-operated schools is very good. If you are coming from India, China, or any other developing country, you will feel the difference immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the new ex-pats coming to the US send their kids to local government-operated schools unless you have extra dollars to spend on private ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each state has its own independent school district and is funded by the house or property taxes that you pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schools do not pay any enrollment bonus money and if you are yourself joining the college in the US, you can safely skip this step :).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can drive in the USA on your home country license<\/a> if it is valid and is in English. Each state has a different time period though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I still recommend getting a state driving license as early as possible even if you do not plan to drive. Buying a car on a visa is easy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting a driving license starts your driving history <\/strong>which helps in reducing your car insurance rates<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n US auto insurance companies like Geico, Amica, StateFarm, and others give you lower rates if you have at least 6 years of driving history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you finish the above tasks, your life in the USA will start running smoothly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many phone plans available and it varies based on your needs. The all cost almost the same per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All cell phone numbers in the USA are universal in the sense that they can be used within the USA from anywhere without worrying about roaming charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My favorite mobile phone<\/a> plans are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I suggest to buy a smartphone<\/a> and cell phone service separately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do the math, buying them separately will cost you less in the long run as compared to choosing contract-based phone + service plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Credit Karma<\/a> is a website that offers free credit score<\/a> reporting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will be able to sign up for this account after about 3 months of using a card like an Amazon Credit Card or a secured card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They validate your identity using your SSN number and would open your account only after verification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your SSN data takes time to be added to various credit scores managing companies like Experian, TransUnion, and others. So, wait for 3 months and then create an account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are settled and ready to send money to your home country, you have plenty of options available. I will list them based on the maximum conversion rate offered consistently by money transfer companies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 Secured Credit Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#2 Apply SSN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"USA](\"https:\/\/am22tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/usa-ssn-card-sample.jpg\")
#3 Rental Apartment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Rent](\"https:\/\/am22tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/rent-apartment-in-usa.jpg\")
#3 Kid School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#4 Get Driving License<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Driving](\"https:\/\/am22tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/driving-in-us-foreign-license-am22tech-truvisa-470x287.png\")
<\/a>#5 Mobile Phone Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#6 Free Credit History Score<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#7 Send Money to Home Country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n