The "been there done that" thread: life in the US after DV

[guestgulkan]

Thanks @guestgulkan ! I have an Australian AMEX - the basic "essentials" one. Do you know with the global transfer, will they give you a similar American AMEX to whichever Australian card you had? Thinking whether it's worth upgrading to a better card.

With credit history, should i be putting EVERYTHING on my AMEX and citibank accounts now? E.g. salary deposit, everyday purchases. Would that make a significant difference? Right now i'm just using them occasionally.

Just go for a no annual fee AMEX eg blue cash. I don't think volume of use matters that much. Just make sure you have zero balance owing.

With bank account. I think it's better just to open an account when you get there - without a SSN. Then call them up and add the SSN when you get it.

 

[Chriso]

No worries mate. O hey i dont need to do an ESTA do i or fill out one of those landing cards differently?

 

[SusieQQQ]

No worries mate. O hey i dont need to do an ESTA do i or fill out one of those landing cards differently?

You're going in with an immigrant visa right? So you're not a visitor. No ESTA. No landing card - just the customs declaration (that you might just do on a computer at POE depending where you land)

 

[guestgulkan]

No worries mate. O hey i dont need to do an ESTA do i or fill out one of those landing cards differently?

One difference, I always pick "resident" instead of "visitor", and choose "country of residence" "USA" on everything.

btw I said "I'm immigrating today" to anyone who asked.

 

[Chriso]

All done no worries sat there for 5 mins and they stamped me. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Chriso]

One more question. I clicked yes to wanting a ssn on my ds260. Does it come with the greencard or do i go into an office to pick it up?

 

[Guriix]

One more question. I clicked yes to wanting a ssn on my ds260. Does it come with the greencard or do i go into an office to pick it up?

San comes about a week or so after you arrive. The green card comes 30-45 days after arrival. They come in the mail. One is from Social Security Administration (SSA) and the other is from USCIS.

 

[Sm1smom]

One more question. I clicked yes to wanting a ssn on my ds260. Does it come with the greencard or do i go into an office to pick it up?

They both come in the mail separately. If your SSN doesn't show up about 2 weeks after your arrival, visit your nearest SSA office and apply for it. The GC may take 60 - 90 days before it shows up.

 

[Lucid]

They both come in the mail separately. If your SSN doesn't show up about 2 weeks after your arrival, visit your nearest SSA office and apply for it. The GC may take 60 - 90 days before it shows up.

Mine took a little less than 30 days.

 

[Lucid]

With bank account. I think it's better just to open an account when you get there - without a SSN.

One of my biggest headaches was trying to open a banking account, even with an SSN. It's worthwhile to know that some bankers are quite ignorant.

 

[guestgulkan]

One of my biggest headaches was trying to open a banking account, even with an SSN. It's worthwhile to know that some bankers are quite ignorant.

I opened my bank account with an SSN then called up later to update it.

When you move countries (which I've done a couple of times) you want your details in as many computer systems as possible, as early as possible. Having your social attached to a bank account won't get you a credit rating, however bank accounts get shared with "Chex Systems" to determine if you're good to own a check account.

BTW you can get car insurance without a USA drivers license at Progressive, just say you have an International Drivers license. But they charge you more, by ~$150 for 6 months. You need insurance to buy a car and get it registered and it's also good proof of residence ID for your drivers license application.

 

[SusieQQQ]

I opened my bank account with an SSN then called up later to update it.

When you move countries (which I've done a couple of times) you want your details in as many computer systems as possible, as early as possible. Having your social attached to a bank account won't get you a credit rating, however bank accounts get shared with "Chex Systems" to determine if you're good to own a check account.

BTW you can get car insurance without a USA drivers license at Progressive, just say you have an International Drivers license. But they charge you more, by ~$150 for 6 months. You need insurance to buy a car and get it registered and it's also good proof of residence ID for your drivers license application.

We got car insurance from GEICO with an international license and no premium on cost - but they did take the letters we'd got from our previous insurers re no claims for x years.

 

[EmilyW]

Some states won't recognize previous driving insurance history (i.e. North Carolina). For now, we are 16 year olds in terms of car insurance.

 

[Britsimon]

Car insurance is a commercial negotiation. You get the deal you negotiate.

 

[saabe]

Hi all.
A question for those already settled.

My brother is still pondering over whether he should apply or not (he was selected with a good number, but because of his profession and current circumstances, he's not quite sure and doesn't want to take risks), and we need to gather as much info as possible before he takes a decision.

Are Student Loans quite easy to get? Do they require guarantees (assets, properties, etc...) like regular loans? We checked the costs of dental schools and they're ridiculously high. We're talking about 120-150k for a 2 year equivalence program for foreign-trained dentists and he obviously, as a recent graduate, doesn't have that kind of money.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi all.
A question for those already settled.

My brother is still pondering over whether he should apply or not (he was selected with a good number, but because of his profession and current circumstances, he's not quite sure and doesn't want to take risks), and we need to gather as much info as possible before he takes a decision.

Are Student Loans quite easy to get? Do they require guarantees (assets, properties, etc...) like regular loans? We checked the costs of dental schools and they're ridiculously high. We're talking about 120-150k for a 2 year equivalence program for foreign-trained dentists and he obviously, as a recent graduate, doesn't have that kind of money.

Yes student loans are easy to come by for USC and LPR students. To start with, as a LPR with low to no income, your brother may be eligible for PELL Grant and FAFSA - these are need based financial aid for college. When a FAFSA form gets filled, if the applicable government aid is not enough to cover the student's anticipated fees, there will be additional information as to the amount of student loan the student is eligible to apply for.

Calculate eligibility for FAFSA:
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1

Forbes Guide to FAFSA:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/troyon...l-aid-the-fafsa-and-css-profile/#349d67504cd4

Federal PELL Grant:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell

 

[saabe]

Yes student loans are easy to come by for USC and LPR students. To start with, as a LPR with low to no income, your brother may be eligible for PELL Grant and FAFSA - these are need based financial aid for college. When a FAFSA form gets filled, if the applicable government aid is not enough to cover the student's anticipated fees, there will be additional information as to the amount of student loan the student is eligible to apply for.

Calculate eligibility for FAFSA:
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1

Forbes Guide to FAFSA:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/troyon...l-aid-the-fafsa-and-css-profile/#349d67504cd4

Federal PELL Grant:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell

Thanks for your detailed answer. Much appreciate it.

 

[Lucid]

Yes student loans are easy to come by for USC and LPR students. To start with, as a LPR with low to no income, your brother may be eligible for PELL Grant and FAFSA - these are need based financial aid for college. When a FAFSA form gets filled, if the applicable government aid is not enough to cover the student's anticipated fees, there will be additional information as to the amount of student loan the student is eligible to apply for.

Calculate eligibility for FAFSA:
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1

Forbes Guide to FAFSA:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/troyon...l-aid-the-fafsa-and-css-profile/#349d67504cd4

Federal PELL Grant:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell

Sometimes I'm confused as to which of these federal aids connote public chargeability.

 

[SusieQQQ]

he's not quite sure and doesn't want to take risks), and we need to gather as much info as possible before he takes a decision.

Mom's helpful post aside: immigration always involves taking risks. You're leaving behind everything you know and are familiar with. Some risk-averse people need a bit of persuasion for that, but others just never manage to settle in a new place and always regret moving, or end up going back anyway even if it's somewhere "objectively" not as good to live in s the US. It's commendable that you are looking to give your brother all the information he needs to make a well informed decision, but ultimately it has to be his decision.

 

[Sm1smom]

Sometimes I'm confused as to which of these federal aids connote public chargeability.

Neither PELL grant nor FAFSA constitute public charge. Applying for PELL grant by a new immigrant without a bachelor's degree is actually highly encouraged - this is government/free money (not a loan) aimed at helping one earn a degree towards getting a desirable job.

USCIS's website has a link which provides more guidance on what constitutes public charge - the list is not exhaustive but gives a general idea:
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge