Immigrating to the U.S. Focus U.S. Immigration Guide: For new immigrants who have successfully obtained a U.S. immigrant visa and are about to start a new life in the United States, the first landing is crucial. In addition to making thorough life and psychological preparations before arrival, there are certain documents that must be carried when entering the United States. Our editors will introduce the matters needing attention and the relevant materials to prepare for your first landing in the U.S., helping our immigrant friends successfully take the first step into their new lives!
Before Entry
I. Important documents that must be carried upon landing include:
1.Passport, immigrant visa;
2.Medical examination certificate,X-ray chest film;
3.Unopened consulate document packet;
4.Sufficient living expenses;
5.If you need to rent a car in the U.S. and have not yet obtained a U.S. driver's license, you need to prepare the original Chinese driver's license (both main and copy) and the original ID card.
II. To handle school enrollment procedures for children, the following documents need to be prepared in China:
1.Children's school enrollment proof and transcripts (Chinese-English bilingual version);
2.Standard Chinese-English bilingual vaccination certificate (under 18 years old);
3.Original birth certificate (original notarized document).
III. Other documents that may be needed:
1.Birth notarization;
2.Marriage notarization;
3.Academic or degree certificates, professional training certificates, transcripts;
4.Domestic employment proof, letters of recommendation, personal resume;
5.Immunization records or relevant health records.
Upon Entry
For many new immigrants, the series of English forms required during entry and the questioning by customs officers are the first challenges of stepping onto U.S. soil. Everyone must remember to comply with U.S. government regulations and be honest and objective when answering questions.
I.Filling out the Customs Declaration Form
Before entering the U.S., flight attendants will distribute these forms to passengers on the plane. However, those entering with an immigrant visa or green card do not need to fill out the I-94 form. When declaring the items you are carrying, it is best to declare them truthfully; otherwise, you will be fined if caught.
After getting off the plane, you will be guided to the immigration inspection counter.
At this stage, you will queue for inspection according to the type of entry visa. You need to stand at the inspection counter for citizens/residents if you hold an immigrant visa or green card. When it is your turn to be inspected, please hand over your passport, the package delivered by the consulate, and the customs declaration form filled out on the plane to the immigration officer for inspection. As is customary, the immigration officer will ask you some questions; just answer them calmly and truthfully. After the immigration officer finishes asking questions, they will take fingerprints for all family members. The entry date will be stamped on the immigrant visa page (this endorsement makes your immigrant visa valid for one year, and you can use this endorsement to enter and exit the U.S. before the green card is issued).
II.Claiming luggage, submitting customs declaration forms, and customs inspection
Follow the signs on the walkway to the Baggage Claim area, and find your flight's luggage carousel according to the computer screen or signs. Pick up your luggage here. When queuing for customs inspection, you might as well choose the shortest line. Do not look around or hesitate, and definitely do not switch lines because another line is moving faster, as this may make you look suspicious and lead to a thorough search. Smile, be sincere, and answer questions when asked, but do not talk too much to avoid unnecessary trouble.
When checking luggage, hand over the customs declaration form and documents. If customs requests to open the luggage for inspection, open it immediately without hesitation. If the customs officer signals you to pass, do not doubt it; take your luggage and leave immediately. According to U.S. law, customs officers do not have the right to open your luggage without permission, but if they ask you to open it and you refuse, they have the right to open it. If any prohibited items are found in your luggage, they will be confiscated on the spot, and you will have to spend effort putting things back in order. However, if you are lucky, you can pass through quickly. Always keep an eye on your luggage and documents and do not let them leave your side to prevent theft. If the amount of money you are carrying exceeds $10,000, you should proactively declare it to customs and fill out the corresponding form to avoid unnecessary trouble.
After Entry
After experiencing the initial freshness and joy, you still have many things to do on this brand-new land to get your life on track as soon as possible. The most important of these include:
I.Opening a bank account and getting a card
Many friends choose to carry traveler's checks and cash when they first arrive in the U.S., but this is not convenient for daily use in the U.S. Therefore, after getting off the plane, you need to go to a bank to open an account to deposit your money and apply for a bank card for daily consumption. There are many large banks in Seattle with Chinese-speaking staff who will help you open a bank account according to your different needs.
Expert reminder: Be sure to apply for a credit card, because the U.S. is a credit-based society. You will need to check your credit record in many aspects such as renting a house, finding a job, applying for loans, and buying insurance. You need to accumulate your credit limit from the very beginning. However, applying for a credit card requires providing employment information and credit information. Some friends may not be able to provide this temporarily. Banks also have a secured credit card, where you can deposit money yourself to accumulate your credit limit. After a period of time, you can apply for a formal credit card. This is a good method at the beginning.
II.Activating phone service
It is too expensive to continue using a Chinese phone card for calls after arriving in the U.S. At this time, you need to apply for a U.S. phone card for domestic contact in the U.S. There are national telecommunications companies in the U.S. such as T-MOBILE, AT&T, and Verizon. These companies provide prepaid phone services, family plan services, and individual plan services, etc. You can choose to purchase different services according to your own calling and internet needs. If you want to call back to China, you can choose to purchase an international long-distance calling card, but currently, it is more popular to use the internet phone software Skype. You just need to download the Skype software and prepay online to make calls to China, which is cheap and fast. At the same time, the popularity of QQ and WeChat on mobile phones makes communication between the U.S. and China increasingly convenient and simple.
III.Taking a driver's license test
If you have a valid driver's license issued in China, you can drive in Washington state with the original Chinese driver's license. Once you start driving, you need to purchase vehicle insurance to avoid potential problems. State laws do not explicitly require that the driver's license must have an English translation or notarization, but it is recommended that you keep an English translation. At the same time, you need to apply for a driver's license in your state as soon as possible.
IV.Buying a car
The United States is known as a "nation on wheels." Because public transportation is not well-developed, it is almost impossible to get around here without a car. After arriving in the U.S., you should also consider buying a car. Buying a car in the U.S. is similar to China but with differences. If you buy a new car, the price of the new car consists of the following parts: base car price, tax, registration fees, and labor costs. If you want to bargain, you can start from the base car price part, because taxes and registration fees are fixed. If you buy a used car, you need to check the mileage, check for accident, flood, and repair records to avoid buying old cars with these records or problems, and be careful not to be deceived. At the same time, after buying an old car, you must go to your local DMV to change the car's Title as soon as possible.
V.Purchasing medical insurance
You must purchase medical insurance as soon as possible after arriving in the U.S. just in case. People who have applied for medical insurance will receive a medical insurance card, and the hospital will settle the bill with the relevant insurance company based on this card and number. When the insured person seeks treatment due to illness or injury, they must notify the insurance company as soon as possible and request an insurance payment application form.
VI.Applying for a Social Security Number
The Social Security Number is the 9-digit number on the Social Security card, referred to as "Social Security Number," or SSN for short. You can log on to the Social Security Administration website to view the materials required for applying for a Social Security Number and Social Security card and the application steps.
There are three types of Social Security cards:
The first type only has the name and number on it. This card is only issued to U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders). People holding this type of Social Security card have no restrictions on working in the U.S.
The second type of card, in addition to the name and number, also has the words "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION." These words roughly mean "only valid for work with work authorization issued by the Department of Homeland Security." This card is issued to foreigners who have work authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and can work in the U.S. on a temporary and short-term basis.
The third type of card has your name and number printed on it, as well as the words "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT." This card is issued to foreigners who have legal status in the U.S. but cannot legally work in the U.S.
The U.S. Social Security Number is the basis for personal credit records. Through this number, investigators can see various information such as each person's income, tax payment, bank account opening, stock trading, loans, car purchases, job changes, changes of home address, and criminal records. The content of the Social Security Number record directly affects the success or failure of an individual's application for credit cards, mobile phone numbers, and job applications. The credit card is so important that it must be kept safe and not disclosed to others casually.
VII.Understand American society and actively participate in community activities
After completing these necessary aspects of life, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, you still have many things to adapt to. As a new immigrant, you need to understand this country, its culture, and its government system. You need to understand your rights, responsibilities, and obligations, understand how the federal, state, and local governments operate, and learn American history. You can go to a public library or community college near your home to participate in various free or low-cost English courses. You can log on to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website (www.uscis.gov) and read the "Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants" handbook published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which can help you find what you need in your daily life and help you find the units and institutions you need.