Many countries around the world require that individuals, whether residents, visitors, or citizens, carry some form of identification (ID) card or document when outside their homes. This post discusses whether and to what extent the US is one of those countries where you should carry ID with you, in theory and in practice. First of… Read More Do You Need to Carry ID With You in the USA?
One of the questions that new immigrants must deal with is deciding how to take care of their transportation needs most efficiently and affordably. While I think it’s reasonably well known that America is a more car-friendly place on average than, say, most of Western Europe, still new immigrants are often shocked by the poor… Read More Should You Buy a Car Right Away?
You may be tempted to postpone setting up your first bank account in the USA. After all, you likely can get away with using your bank account from your home country to make purchases and fulfill your basic banking needs for several weeks upon arrival, especially if you have a Visa or Mastercard credit or… Read More Setting Up Your First Bank Account in the USA
One of the things that I find that I’m asked about most when talking to international students and other newcomers to the USA is the much-publicized concept of “travel hacking,” or acquiring miles and points in travel loyalty programs to cut down on the cost of travel. And, that inevitably leads to a discussion of… Read More A Few Notes about “Travel Hacking” and Credit Cards for New Immigrants
Sooner or later, you’ll probably want to watch television at home. What are your choices for viewing television in America, and how do they compare on price? Here are some options for watching TV in your new home: You can always buy an antenna and watch free TV broadcast over the air. If you go… Read More A Guide to Television in America: Getting Started
This is a short post – really just a fun fact that you hopefully might find useful. Did you know that a green card from the United States can be used to enter other countries as well? Unsurprisingly, two of the countries that will permit visa-free travel with your US green card, regardless of the… Read More Visa-Free Travel to Other Countries with a Green Card
One of the things that new immigrants regularly report finding to be a pleasant surprise about the United States is the presence of free, clean tap water all over the place. In general, it is safe to assume that tap water is safe to drink nationwide. There are a few exceptions, namely, Flint, Michigan, and… Read More Is tap water safe to drink in the USA?
There are four major mobile (cellular) telephone carriers in the United States. Or more than twenty. Confused? Let me explain. The process of choosing a mobile carrier in the US can be overwhelming! There are four major corporations that operate more-or-less nationwide cellular service networks – that is, they own their own towers and physical… Read More Choosing a Mobile Carrier: A Few Considerations
One of the most overwhelming choices you may face as a new immigrant is choosing where to live in America. With 19,429 officially designated cities and towns to choose from, you have many options! You might have already decided more or less where to live on the basis of where your family or employer is… Read More Where to Live in America? Choosing a City
Setting up new accounts for utilities – such as water, electricity, natural gas or oil (depending on the type of heating system in your home), and Internet access – can be a hassle anywhere in the world, and the United States is no exception. The good news, however, is that in many cases it is… Read More Setting Up Utilities for Your New Home