United States
The world's biggest opportunity — plan the visa carefully.
Key facts
Language
English
Best visa route
H-1B / L-1 / O-1 / EB green card
Residency path
Green card → citizenship ~5 yrs
The verdict
Biggest upside, trickiest visa.
The US offers unmatched career upside, top universities, and vast regional variety — but immigration is complex and largely employer- or family-driven. This guide breaks down every major visa category, the SSN and credit-building essentials, healthcare, federal/state taxes, and a 90-day plan.
What's inside
1. Overview & Why Move Here
The United States remains the world's magnet for ambition: the deepest job market, top universities, and leading tech and finance hubs, with enormous regional variety.
Where people land
- New York — finance, media, and global culture.
- San Francisco Bay Area — tech and venture capital; highest costs.
- Austin, Miami, Denver, Seattle — fast-growing hubs, some with no state income tax.
- Boston — universities, biotech, and healthcare.
The reality check
The upside is scale — salaries, opportunity, and mobility are unmatched. The trade-offs are specific: there is no simple 'move' visa (you qualify through a category), healthcare must be actively arranged and can be costly, and costs vary enormously by state and city. Success starts with nailing the right visa strategy early — usually with an immigration attorney.
2. Visa & Residency Options
You qualify through a category, not a general residence visa. Common work & study routes H-1B — specialty-occupation work visa; lottery-based, employer-sponsored, October start. L-1 — intracompany tra…
3. Required Documents & Timeline
Documents (category-specific) Valid passport. An approved petition — e.g., USCIS I-129 (work) or I-130 (family). The DS-160 online nonimmigrant application. Supporting evidence: job offer/contract, de…
4. Cost of Living Breakdown
Costs swing dramatically by location. Monthly figures for a single person: Mid-cost cities (Austin, Denver, Atlanta) One-bedroom rent: $1,300–2,200 Utilities + internet: $150–280 Groceries: $350–500 T…
5. Housing — Renting vs Buying
Renting (credit is king) Landlords run credit checks — new arrivals have no US credit history, so expect to provide proof of income, an offer letter, several months' rent upfront, or a co-signer. Depo…
6. Healthcare & Insurance
The US has no universal healthcare — coverage is essential and mostly private. Your options Employer-sponsored insurance — most common; you choose a plan during onboarding/open enrollment. ACA marketp…
7. Taxes & Financial Obligations
The US taxes residents — and citizens/green-card holders worldwide — on income. The layers Federal income tax — progressive 10%–37%. State income tax — 0% in TX/FL/WA/NV/TN and others; up to ~13% in C…
8. Banking & Setting Up Finances
Opening an account Do this soon after arrival — needed for salary direct deposit, rent, and bills. Banks: Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo; online: Ally, SoFi, Capital One. Bring passport + US addr…
9. First 90 Days Checklist
Weeks 1–2 Apply for your SSN; get a phone plan (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). Open a bank account. Weeks 2–4 Secure housing (bring income proof/offer letter); set up utilities and internet. Enroll in heal…
10. Local Tips, Culture & Useful Links
Culture & etiquette The US is vast and regionally diverse — 'American culture' varies hugely by city and state. Expect a fast-paced, direct, opportunity-driven work culture, with less vacation than Eu…
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