Apart from its strongest economy in the world and endless job opportunities, the USA is a country that treats all of its citizens equally, no matter their race, ethnicity, or religion. So, it is no wonder you decided to move to the United States and live your American dream.
However, the USA has its own “rules” and regulations like every other country and culture. Here are some things everyone who wants to move to the USA should know:
1. First, you need to get your USA Visa
To enter the USA, you will need to apply for a US visa. It is a legal document that enables you to live in the US, and it has an expiration date. Depending on the reason you put on your visa application, the visa’s expiration date could be anywhere from 6 months to 10 years.
Family-based visas are for people who want to bring their family members to the USA. If you are looking for family-based immigration, getting advice from the law offices of Spar and Bernstein for family migrations could help you speed up the process.
For employment-based immigration, you can apply for a green card for permanent residency. For this, you would need to submit any proof of training and qualification you have to prove how you can benefit the country.
2. Laws differ from one state to another
Considering there are fifty states in the country, they will differ from one another in many ways. Each country has its own state government, court, and constitution. Before moving to a state, you should get accustomed to its laws and regulations since every country takes them very seriously.
3. The USA has certain customs and regulations that you might be new to
Every country has its own rules that make it different from others, like traditions and holidays, but also some legal regulations. Here are some things you want to keep in mind so the culture shock is as minimal as it can be:
There is no such thing as free healthcare
If you are in need of medical assistance, keep in mind that procedures and prescriptions cost much more in the USA than in most countries. For this reason, it is best to have private medical insurance.
More work and fewer holidays
Employers decide if their workers get days off, even on public holidays. Also, they are not obliged to give paid leave at all. On average, workers in the USA work 44 hours per week if they are in full-time employment.
The imperial system
Unlike most countries in the world, Americans don’t use the metric system. For easier adjustment to the US standards, switch from kilometers to miles and kilograms to pounds. Also, use feet and inches instead of meters and centimeters.
Tipping
Tipping is a big part of customer service in the US. Usually, the servers are not well paid in the US, so it is always good to leave at least a tip that is at least 15% of the actual price of what you’re paying.
Even though it is considered optional, you will be looked down upon if you don’t leave any tips for the service workers.
4. The USA has a variety of climate and geographical features
Before moving to a certain state, check if the weather conditions are suitable for you. The country has almost all possible geographical features, from deserts to tropics and mountain ranges.
If you want to move to a place with a hot climate, Arizona or Nevada might be the right places for you. They are mostly covered with desert, with temperatures going up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters here are milder and the temperatures drop to a minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are looking for a tropical climate, Florida would be the state for you. It has a wet season that lasts from May to October, and a dry season from November to April.
The Pacific Northwest has an oceanic climate. It is wet and cold for almost the whole year, except in summer. Even though it can get cold in this region, it is not nearly as cold as it can get in the interior northern states like Minnesota or North Dakota, where temperatures can drop to 8.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
Conclusion
From adapting to a new climate to getting used to everyday things, getting used to a new culture and lifestyle can be quite challenging. For this reason, it is always good to be well-informed about the USA before deciding to move there.
