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The Currency Club

Wish to Relocate to America? Tick These off Your Checklist

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The United States is home to more than 40 million individuals who were born in a foreign country, which is nearly one-fifth of all immigrants worldwide.

America's immigrant population has quadrupled over the past five decades, standing at 13.7% as of 2020. This huge influx of foreigners is due to USA's growing career opportunities and developed economic infrastructure.

However, the immigration process is not at all straightforward, requiring knowledge about numerous regulations. So, if you choose to move to America, you must know about the following things.

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Things to Know Before Your Big Move to America

While moving to a foreign country requires adjustments and preparations on multiple levels, the following are some aspects that you cannot ignore.

1. You need to start with a temporary visa first

To permanently relocate, you need to get hold of a Green Card. Its eligibility parameters are quite strict, and the process is time-consuming and expensive.

Hence, it is generally recommended that you get a temporary visa or a non-immigrant visa first. This will allow you to reside in the USA for longer, giving you enough time to prepare for your permanent citizenship.

The types of visas you can apply for are:

B-1Visa

Individuals who wish to travel to the USA for business-related work for 6 months must apply for this visa.

You are eligible to apply for a B-1 visa if you are visiting for a:

1) Contract negotiation

2) Business consultation

3) Litigation

4) Conventions including educational and scientific

5) Conferences

6) Seminars

Tourist Visa

Individuals receive this short-term visa if they wish to visit the USA as a tourist or for medical treatment. This is valid for 10 months; however, your stay must not be longer than six months.

C-1 Visa

If you plan to transit through the United States continuously, a C-1 visa might be necessary. Workers on cruise ships are the ones who receive C-1 visas most frequently.

There is only one exception if you are in US waters for more than 29 days, a B-1 visa would be necessary. However, people working on a private yacht may also be eligible for a C-1 Visa.

H Visas

H visas are intended for non-US workers, such as UK nationals, who will work temporarily for a US-based company to fill a position for which no qualified USA citizens are available.

Your potential employer must submit a certification to the Department of Labour to demonstrate this.

L-1 Visa

A non-US employee temporarily transferred to a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the same company in the USA is eligible for an intra-company transfer or L-1 visa.

You must be a manager or executive level employee or possess particular specialised expertise that will allow you to have a management or executive role in the USA branch to be eligible for the L-1 visa.

2. Apply for a Green Card in Due Time

Before the government approves your application for a Green Card, it will conduct background and health checks. However, other requirements will vary depending on its type.

If you are applying for a family-based Green Gard, you must be related to someone possessing the same. You will also require an Affidavit Financial Support from the family member or sponsoring relative.

On the other hand, there are Employment Green Cards as well. In this case, the US employer must sponsor you.

You can fill in the Green Card application from your home country while the local Embassy or Consulate is processing it.

3. Get a Social Security Number

You need to apply for the Social Security Number and Immigration Visa simultaneously. It will track your income, and the years you have been employed. This is an important step when you move to America.

4. Apply for Citizenship

To apply for citizenship, follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Submit your documents and Form N-400 to the USCIS

Step 2: Then, submit your biometrics, photos and signatures to the FBI

Step 3: Attend the citizenship interview and exam

However, becoming a citizen is not it.

5. Get Health Insurance

The cost of healthcare in the United States is the highest in the world. In 2016, Americans spent $9,892 per person on healthcare, and the costs have increased tremendously since then.

Hence, it is recommended that you get health insurance as that will help you save from hefty medical expenditures.

6. Register for Voting Rights

Once you become a citizen, you have the right to vote. However, you must register as an oversea voter if you have just moved to America from the UK or any other country.

7. Open a Bank Account in America

Before you move to America permanently, you must open a bank account in America. To do so, you need to provide essential documents such as proof of ID and proof of address.

Once opened, you can choose to transfer your funds from the existing GBP account in the UK to your current USD account. To do so, you will have to opt for international bank transfer services from currency exchange.

It is best to select an online service provider like The Currency Club due to our reasonable exchange rates. While a bureau de change would burden you with unreasonable hidden charges, we offer you complete transparency. Also, you can read more about how to send money from the UK to the US and avoid any hiccups on the way.

We do so by letting you compare exchange rates across leading forex service providers on our very platform.

With us, you only get a 'Value for Money' service every time!

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Disclaimer

We have made every effort to ensure that the information published here is correct and accurate, however you should check and confirm the latest exchange rates with The Currency Club directly prior to making a decision. The information published is general and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Full disclaimer available

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