Helpful Tips for U.S. Immigrants

Your going to the United States as a legitimate immigrant is one big decision that will truly have a significant impact on your life and your family, regardless of where you are coming from. Your readiness on documentation and compliance of travel requirements will help you avoid hassles and inconvenience that could hamper your trip, and/or jeopardize your migration.

Ready your passport, along with your plane ticket. Put in a safe pocket of your hand carry bag, along with your U.S. visa packet. Bring sufficient money, preferably in U.S. $ to support you during the first few months of your stay in the United States. However, you are not allowed to carry more than $10,000 for money laundering reasons. If you are traveling with someone that person's money and whatever you have with you will be computed as one and altogether it shouldn't exceed also the $10,000 maximum limit.

For Baggage allowance always refer to the guidelines of the airline where you've purchase your plane ticket. Ask the airline concierge or customer service about free baggage allowance, restrictions on carry-on-items, and charges for overweight or excess baggage. Typically, you'd be allowed 2 pieces check-in baggage (both should weigh 32 kgs, w/the dimension of 62") and 1 carry-on bag (weighs 7kgs) excluding personal hand bags for women.

Check-in at least 3 hours before your scheduled flight and submit yourself for proper security check and pay all travel taxes due and terminal fee. Proceed to waiting area and wait until boarding time is announced.

Arrival in the United States

As the plane gets close to your port of entry you'd probably have mix feelings of excitement, tensions of facing border officials and leaving your native country. But, the best thing to do is to relax and compose yourself, prepare your carry-on bag and ready your passport, visa packets and all other travel documents.

Present your entry documents for immigration clearance, which includes your passport, visa, embassy packet, medical records and customs declaration form before the U.S. Immigration counter.

Claim your baggage from your airline's designated baggage area and proceed to the domestic leg of your journey. If you expect someone to pick you up, be patient and position yourself in a visible location.

Getting Settled in U.S.

Being new in any place is never easy for anybody. You have to totally adjust and blend yourself with the environment. You'd find things done in different ways from what you are accustomed to. But, Americans are liberal in their way of thinking and they would always let you do things the way you want it too because, that's part of everybody's liberty here but, what is sound is for you to be open to learn new things and understand diversity amongst different cultures.

There are times you'd find yourself being homesick, missing families and friends and the life you left in your native country. It is normal for a start but, it's definitely just a pace. Once you get your green card, followed by your social security and finally get a job, you'd be just fine.

To help you get more settled in your migration, below are critical terminologies and their importance to your brand new life in the land of greener pasture and vast opportunities.

Green Card. It is also known as Alien Card, a proof of your permanent residency. It's a hard laminated, not literally green but, with all the security components on it; containing your name, your picture, 9-digit alien number, your birthday, your immigrant category, gender, country of birth, card expiry and the date when your residency have kicked in. There two types of it: there's the permanent, which is valid for 10 years and conditional, which is only good for 2 years. They must be renewed before their expiry and must be carried at all times.

Social Security. This means your life in the United States. When you get approved to migrate in U.S., there's actually an assigned number for you already but, you won't have it, until your entry had been validated or after a month of staying in the country. In the event you don't get the card, you can call SSA at 1-800-772-1213, or you may visit their website @ http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

Your social security number will entitle you to so many benefits, almost the same as what citizens get. And you can't get employed without having one. Some of the major benefits of social security are retirement pensions, survivor's benefits, disability and unemployment benefits. And only citizens and lawful residents will be granted a social security number. Born citizens get theirs, the moment they were brought to earth, or at birth. Naturalized, they are already assigned one during their permanent residency and it will be the same because, the number is permanent.

You don't share your social security number to anyone, even to families and spouses. It's just for you and you would only give it when there's a lawful reason for it, like when you apply for a job and upon hiring, when you go to hospitals and doctors. Don't provide your SSN to any forms online requiring your social security not unless it's a government website, either a state or federal. If you don't want your identity get stolen from you, and pay something you never purchased. So, be careful!

State IDs. A lawful permanent resident must apply for a state identification card at any state's Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) and it's valid for 6 years. But, if the immigrant is already at the age of 62 and up, she/he may apply for a senior citizen card, which is valid for 10 years.

Driver's License. The driver's license obtained from your country of origin may be used in the United States for only a limited period of time. Si, if you wish to apply you have to first get familiarize with all the traffic laws and driving standards of the state where you reside. Securing a driver's handbook from bookstores at the local DMV office will help you get acquainted with the traffic laws enforced in your state. And, when you know you've learned enough, take the written examination and the road test. DMV would also require you social security prior to granting you card to confirm your identity. You would only take the written test once, when you pass it and so with the road test and you just have to renew your card once it expires.

But, if you transfer to another state, chances are you would still have to get the license of their own, because, each state has different sets of traffic laws.

Taxes. As lawful resident, you'd be taxed just like the citizens. The U.S. government will tax your income inside and outside the U.S. You must yearly file your income tax statements at the Internal Revenue Service regardless of whether you owe them more monies, or you are entitled to a refund.

United States Military Selective Service. All male permanent resident aliens ages 18 to 26 must register with Selective Service System (SSS). Registration must be accomplished within 30 days before and after reaching the 18^th birthday. If the age upon arrival to United States is already 18, registration must be done before reaching the 30^th day of your arrival.

It is important for you to comply with the law and regulations set by the U. S. government to avoid revocation of your immigrant status and deportation.

You are one step away from U.S. Citizenship, staying lawful is highly encouraged for you to enjoy the maximum immigration rights available in the United States.