Hi, I hope such questions are welcome here!
I’m an American citizen by birth but never actually lived in the US. No relatives, connections, friends, nothing but a passport. I’m currently finishing my university studies abroad with a business admin degree, and I’m planning to go to the US after graduation. Any advice on how to prepare ( I have a year ), what to do, how to start? Additionally any tips on getting prepare culturally – books, movies, journals?
Thank you for taking the time to respond 🙂
Comments
Very first question, obviously — where are you coming from? Where did you grow up / what culture are you used to?
Age range? You didn’t say which degree and people of all ages do post-grad.
Some more info about you might make it easier for people to give advice/tips.
Do your research on where you want to live and the job market there. Mynextmove.org can be a very helpful tool. Save up enough money for rental deposits. In many cities you can get by without a car but if you’re looking at a suburb a car may be required if you have to commute.
What culture are you coming from?
Start researching where you can get a job after graduation. I wouldn’t move here until you have a job locked down.
Stay on top of your visa until the day you get permanent residency.
Where do you go to school? It matters. US companies usually don’t hire foreign graduates unless they recognise their universities.
Oxford/Cambridge, and top Canadian are like Ivy. European probably will be no problem. orher countries will be more difficult.
Place to live, job, set up bank account, get your drivers license, get/rent a car.
A lot of this may not be able to be done remotely, so you may need to get a hotel, AirBNB, or friend/family once you land.
Healthcare.gov for insurance until you get a job. Only apply once you land.
Honestly? The advice I would give you is to stay away. This is not a safe place to be right now.
Where do you go to school, and what’s your plan for employment? I wouldn’t move here until you have a job locked down – it’s a tight entry level job market right now, particularly in business, and particularly for international people. Also, do your research for where you’d want to live, how expensive it is, whether you’d need a car, how your projected income impacts affordability, etc.
My best advice is to go to Canada. Nothing against you, but this is not the place to be right now.
Go back.
That’s not because I don’t want people coming here, it’s because this country is on a STEEEEEP decline.
Save every cent you can and nail down a job before coming here. Have a social security number if you are allowed to get one. Everything revolves around that number even though it states right on the card that you can’t use the number for that. Get a government ID whether it’s a driver’s license or state ID. You’ll need downpayments and security deposits on your place to live along with an application and background/credit check. Depending on the state, you may need to supply your own appliances. Get a U.S. phone number.
Work and save. Don’t fall into the trap of buying things you don’t need and financing. Don’t get a credit card. SAVE SAVE SAVE.
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You need money or you will be living in the woods or your car
Probably need to go to a certain few areas because some places basically have no good jobs
You might want to see the climate and weather. Do you want to have a frozen wasteland winter or can you be in 100+ degree weather F. Be near the beach or mountains
You need a car in most of the country outside major cities
Don’t do that.
Find a group of like minded people. That can be a hiking group, a religious group, boardgames group, or basically anything.
Life is easier when you have meaningful relationships.
Also, understand that the USA is remarkably large and diverse. You may love one part and hate another part. That’s normal.
You’re gonna need a credit score.
US is very diverse. So it depends on where you are planning to move to.
Honestly first you have to figure out if you have all of the necessary paperwork, make sure you have a social security number and get a license or state ID ASAP once you get here
Figure out which region you want to live in because you can live in any climate that exists on Earth in the United States
After you figure all that out start applying for jobs and looking for places to either rent or buy depending on your financial situation
Once you are here it’s time to get social, Europeans while they can be social and they can be generally friendly they’re standoffish compared to the United States, people get into random conversations with strangers here all the goddamn time, in checkout lines just randomly on the street it happens all the time, so to meet people outside of work go wherever your hobbies are, there’s usually a specialist store around you can go to
Be prepared to travel more, I know that sounds crazy but Europe is small comparatively, it is not uncommon for people to drive up to an hour and a half to get to work everyday, personally I’ve never had a job that was less than 40 minutes away but I live in a remote town so that’s not a great comparison
Now depending on where you live is going to determine the speed at which things happen all around you, the South generally goes a lot slower, I once went to a fast food restaurant in a Southern state and it took 40 minutes to get my food, meanwhile in the Northeast I can go to a normal restaurant and get my food in front of me in about 15 minutes
Don’t be afraid to show your culture, Americans are extremely accepting of other cultures and most of the time people are going to be excited to learn about it, especially any friends you make
Edit: also it’s okay to say no but be polite about it, a lot of people are going to offer you a lot of different things, going to places, foodstuffs, parties, it could be any number of things honestly, and it’s okay to say no you don’t want to do that or no you don’t want to have that or whatever but be polite about it
Where are you moving to? Cultures can vary quite a bit depending where you go.
Consider the industry you want to go into, the companies in that industry, and where the jobs are. Once you have some locations in mind, start to understand what it costs to live there, how to get around, and what kind of salary you will need from your work. Keep this in mind as you look for work. I think you’d have a better time if you sort out the job first, then create your life rather than the other way around.
Currently? My advice would be to stay the hell away. Wait until we find out if the country is going to survive the current administration.
Go to a large population center such as NYC or Chicago do you can connect with your ethnic group there. Those connections may get you a job. It’s cheaper in Chicago than LA or NYC. Here are links to a community. They have Facebook pages too.
https://aacillinois.com/en/?
I don’t have any special insight, but my basic advice would be:
You need to buy a baseball cap with a NY Yankees logo.
Wear it often to get it broken in and a little bit dirty.
starting from scratch? congratulations, you’re a baby, drink your milk and learn how to enjoy books at a young age, stay away from computer screens, cellphones and tablets, spend more time outside, and also read books. Learn to draw and use your imagination.
Since you are a US citizen, you should have a seocial security number already. On day 1 in the US (or a trip to the US prior to moving – this would be preferred), Open a US bank account and get a secured credit card on day 1. You need to build a credit score. Without it, it is much harder to rent an appartment, get utilities like electricity and gas. It is possible without a credit score, but you’ll be paying a higher security deposit for rent and security deposits for utilities and everything else. Also, you’ll likely need a car. WIthout a credit score, you’ll only get financing with insanely high interest rates.
Make sure to pay off the credit card in full every month and put at least some purchases on it.
This is an absolutely giant country. There are many, many subcultures within. If you have the ability to explore before you settle, it would be beneficial to you. Try out different areas to see if you like it
Have more money than you think you’ll need to start. America is full of hidden expenses.
Beyond that, people will pick up pretty quickly that you’ve been living overseas. It’s usually not a big deal particularly if your spoken English is good. For the most part, Americans are quite used to individuals with different life paths. I would definitely avoid politics at first. This will probably be the one topic that can potentially cause you some friction. Other than that, a couple months and a streaming account or two will catch you up on most of the day to day American culture. Thanks to algorithmic content American culture has shifted more to "what do we have in common" and away from "these are the thing we all like".
Where are you moving in the US? And where are you in Turkey? I think the biggest advice that comes to mind is focus hard on finding a community. It seems a lot of people go to the US and fall into the sleep/work/sleep/work/sleep/work rut and that can become quite depressing, especially if you’re in a really cold state or come from a very social culture. Best of luck 🙂 If you don’t have any states in mind, I think Virginia, South/North Carolina and Tennessee are all fairly affordable and moderate states with decent nature. In a dream world, I’d live on the west coast because it’s so so beautiful, but it’s expensive.
You will need money saved up, like 6 months of living expenses. And it will be more expensive than you expect, especially since you won’t have a credit score.
You will need to get a checking account (you don’t have to write checks, but that will come with a debit card, and your paycheck can go into it).
What type of work do you want to get into? A business degree doesn’t really say a lot. (And yes I know you want to do your own thing, but let’s be real here, you will need a job.)
Do you have the opportunity to just spend some time traveling to and in the US for now? That would be optimal. Same as I’ve told people who want to move from the US to another country…go spend some time there on recon type of vacations to at least get a glimpse of areas and cities and places that appeal. The US is huge and can be quite different from region to region…east coast vs west coast and everything in between. Culturally things can be different from region to region…the way business is conducted…the way people dress more formally or more casually, etc.
Honestly though, why would you want to come here? The political landscape is horrible and the U.S. isn’t going to have any allies left. You’d probably be much better off where you’re at.
Well, you need a budget. You can look up apartment costs in the area you plan to move. Security deposits are generally equal to 1 month’s rent. Familiarize yourself with the state laws for renting so you know your rights.
You will need transportation. (FYI, renting a car for someone under 25 is difficult and more expensive) If you pick an urban center, download Uber or Lyft for ride sharing. Anywhere else, you will need a car. Make sure to familiarize yourself with US traffic laws. Used cars in the US are relatively expensive. Figure $8-10k minimum for an older used car that is mostly reliable. You can certainly find cheaper ones, but they will cost you in repairs. You cannot legally drive unless the car is insured and you have only a few days to register the car with the DMV. Find an insurance agent before you buy the car, and call them the same day you buy it to start coverage. You are under 25, so you will pay more for car insurance.
Health insurance is another large cost. Employer based health insurance is offered to generally full time (more than 35 hours a week) employees only. The cost to you can vary depending on the plan your employer offers, but premiums alone will be 4 figures a year. If you start your own business or don’t get coverage through your employer, your main option is the ACA. There are income based subsidies, but have you ever filed a US tax return to prove your income? As a citizen, you should have been doing that as soon as you started working. Your student income probably isn’t enough to owe much if anything at all, but you could be walking into a headache. The deadline to file is April 15. You may want to do that this weekend.
You typically need to pay first and last months rent plus a security deposit equal to a month and then you need a deposit on gas and electric upfront too. It is REALLY expensive to start living in an apartment and I just want you to know this. Like it could be $5000 pretty easily on day one. And you would just have an empty room. You might run into problems with not having a credit score because often they check. You’d want a credit card fast and pay it on time. I’d try to find room mates online. Like Craigslist used to be the spot and you could find a single room in someone’s house to start with and it would be a good step in to finding friends. I think the US can be really tough on people who are alone. I wish you the best tho.
Dont.
America’s a hot mess right now. you might want to make alternate plans.
Where are you going in U.S.? Different parts are different.
Main piece of advice is to be yourself and let everyone else do the same without judgment and you’ll probably be fine.
Don’t USA is full of
Go back. We suck.
Save a lot of money. Enough to live on for a year or more. This way you don’t end up taking a shitty job just because you need the money now.
While doing that, research places in the US that have enclaves from your culture. It will help assimilation to have resources familiar with the culture you are accustomed to. This will most likely be an urban or suburban area. If you have access to google maps, you could even check out neighborhoods on street view.
Do you have any specific location you’re thinking of relocating to? It could vary a lot depending on city or region, but overall Americans are a very diverse and welcoming group of people despite what the media may portray. A huge percentage of Americans are immigrants from all over the world, or have parents that are immigrants.
First of all, if you’re a male, register for Selective Service before you turn 26. Secondly you need a proof of mailing address; without one, you can’t apply for a driver’s license, sign up for utilities, etc. One hack is to mail yourself a letter or postcard. Then apply for a Social Security number/card, if you haven’t already. The next part is the hardest bit – establishing a credit record. Without a US-issued credit card, you won’t be able to get a cell phone service, cable, etc. without forking a security deposit. One way of establishing credit record is, if you’re still in school, to apply for federally subsidized student loans or apply for a store credit card. You’ll get several rejections but you need to keep on trying and you’ll finally get one. Don’t fall for companies that promise credit cards to those without credit record. Good luck with your move and welcome to America.
Americans are highly mobile in their 20s when they’re going to school and building their careers. In other countries, everyone moves to just a few cities, but the US has opportunities and industries spread out over dozens of cities.
So, moving to a new city for work or school during your 20s is very common in the US. Big US cities with a lot of jobs will have a steady supply of new transplants who are also trying to find friends. Americans are also generally open, outgoing, and friendly. I moved cities 3 times in my 20s and each time it took about 2 years to fully settle in, but at the end of it I was able to find a new group of friends.
Are you a man or a woman?
Jobs will probably be the primary driver of where you choose to move, but consider climate and culture as well. Both of those things can vary considerably across the country.
What is your industry?
What kind of climate do you like and what is your preferred social life like? What do you like to do for fun?
The r/samegrassbutgreener subreddit has a lot of discussion around pros and cons of moving to different American cities.
The rental market varies quite a lot between cities both in housing stock and rental laws and conventions. So, you are better off asking in each city’s specific subreddit about that.
If you want to expose yourself to our cultural references, you can read books that we’re generally all required to read in high school
You can also watch this list of pop culture movies: list
Go to a medium to small-medium sized Asian church. They will do everything possible to make sure you come back.
Get yourself a credit rating. Make small purchases, such as a TV and computer, on easy terms and pay the instalments faultlessly. In the US it can even be better to have a poor credit rating than have no rating at all.
Consider renting a room in the city/town you plan to move to. Roomies is a resource I have used many times when relocating. Cheaper, still uses background checks, and is a quick way to get housing. Culture will come naturally as you make local friends and talk with coworkers. Also, you have probably consumed a lot of American culture naturally to get an idea of what’s going on.
TV Show Recommendations: Family Guy, Sopranos, Regular Show, The Boondocks, King of the Hill, Mission Hill (personal favorite).
Don’t take life advice from Tony Montana
Bring money
Because you don’t mention what country you’re from, but enough people have been burned by foreign university hires to be wary of their credentials
1) Try to get a job when you come over.
2) It will also depend what part of the country you’re in. Look up the climate- you’ll need different gear for a Minnosotan winter than a Floridian one. If the climate is different from what you’re used to, and the weather, read up on how people cope with it there and on the basic tips locals grow up with. Do you know how to deal with a heat wave? Blizzard? Tornado?
3) Look up transportation options. If you need to buy a car that’s a huge expense so be prepared. It’s probably best to start somewhere with good public transport, but that also means city renting prices.
4) Read up on the US government/general laws of the state you’re moving to. There may be weird liquor laws and the like. The Throughline podcast also has a good series of episodes that are deep dives on various constitutional amendments, though you don’t need a thorough deep dive. Getting familiar with your constitutional rights, labor rights (varies state to state), property rights, ect. can only help you in getting your feet on the ground.
5) Look for local social groups to join. Meetup.com helps, as do fliers at the local library where you’re living. Local libraries are fantastic resources, you’ll need it when you get there.
6) NPR and PBS have some good stuff on US culture that’s pretty informative. Be careful about various news stations since they have a reputation for being heavily biased. Local news can be helpful there.
Know that Americans are workaholics and employers expect you to be a workaholic. There’s pretty much no work/life balance, so friends rarely have time for you.
There’s a reason people make more money, but it doesn’t equate a good life.
Cultivate contacts. Get on LinkedIn.
Prepare to be absolutely rinsed at the border, especially if you are non white
What type of environment do you want to live in? The US is vast. I would try to narrow down whether you want to live in an urban area (this would be my suggestion for someone moving with no connections and looking for culture) or more suburban. What weather do you want? We have it all. Are you looking to be able to get Russian/turkish/Azerbaijani food? That’ll limit your options. Once you decide on what you’re looking for then start to look for jobs.
Tbh, don’t. The US is not the place to be right now.
If you’re being asked questions by a cop ask if you are free to go. If they say no ask why you are being detained. Then ask them for their name, badge number, and business card.
These are the priorities.
1) you must learn to drive and buy a car. Unless you live in an extremely big city like New York or Chicago, you really can’t get anywhere without a car. And big cities out west still require cars because those cities were built after cars became common. Public transportation is low quality and often unavailable.
2) Aquire health insurance. I don’t know how healthcare works in your home country of Azerbaijan, but there is not really any reliable government run health insurance for people except for people who have very low income. In my experience, your best bet is to buy an "Obamacare" plan from healthcare.gov. Depending on your income, this often costs less than employer provided health insurance plans (yes, you have to pay for the insurance you get from your employer). AND it has the benefit that you can change jobs any time you want without losing your health insurance. If you have very low income, you may qualify for Medicaid which in my experience is actually pretty good, but unfortunately Republican governors are making Medicaid less available.
3) in my experience, foreigners sometimes struggle to understand u.s. racial politics and that can get them into trouble. Learn about the history of racism and the history of the civil rights movement. People in the u.s. are very sensitive about racial issues, including many white people. While there are tons of racists in the u.s., most people have very little tolerance for what they perceive to be racism. It can be complicated as there are unspoken rules about how it is and isn’t acceptable to discuss race, (in general it is best not to talk about it.). But being knowledgeable about the history of racism and about ongoing anti-racist political movements can help.
4). There is a lot of stigma right now against immigrants and people perceived to be immigrants. The trump admin is cracking down on immigrants, and you cannot trust that having u.s. citizenship will protect you. Even citizens sometimes get arrested and sent to immigration detention camps. In my opinion, you should keep copies of your immigration documents and citizenship documents on your person at all times. I emphasize COPIES, and not the originals, as the originals are very precious and you need to keep them at home in a safe location so they don’t get lost or stolen.
I’m not sure why you would want to move to the US right now, to be honest. And I’m not sure how employers would react to a degree from your country. But I guess if you’re running your own business that won’t be an issue but all this will probably take a lot of money.
Don’t spend more money than you make
What I meant about proof of address is you’ll need it to apply for a drivers license, bank account, cell phone service, credit card, etc. As for starting a credit history, a good start is to apply for a store credit card or student loan. You will not qualify for a federal loan if you did not register for Selective Service.
Are you a man? If so register for the Selective Service immediately if you haven’t. It is a legal requirement for all American men 18 to 25.
Why would you want to come here now? It’s a dumpster fire
Move to Japan and wait for the nonsense to die down a bit.
Half kidding.
Good luck.