If you’re preparing to move to the United States and want to make Portland your home, it’s important to know what to expect. Megan Hannah shares a few things you should know before making the transition.
The Immigration Process
1. Green Cards Aren’t the Only Option
While a permanent resident card (green card) might be the dream, it isn’t your only option. There are numerous types of visas, each with unique requirements, benefits, and drawbacks.
2. The Amount of Paperwork Is Staggering
Saying you’ll need a lot of documents to immigrate is an understatement. Identification documents, vital records, financial statements, and many others may be required, so review a checklist in advance to prepare.
3. Getting Your Documents Professionally Translated Is Essential
Many of the documents you’ll provide during the immigration process have to be translated. You can’t translate your own documents for USCIS. Instead, you need professional, certified translations from an approved service.
4. You’ll Need a Medical Exam
If you’re immigrating to the U.S., you’ll need a medical exam from an approved source. This ensures you don’t have any inadmissible health-related conditions before you relocate.
Working in the United States
5. You May Get Less Paid Time Off
If you’re eligible and get a job, you may have less paid time off than you did in your home country. Paid time off isn’t mandated in most cases, many businesses operate on holidays, and employers aren’t always required to give employees days off for religious purposes if it would cause an undue hardship.
6. Pay Rates Vary Dramatically by Location
While there is a federal minimum wage, pay rates aren’t consistent across the board. States and cities can have their own minimum wages, influencing compensation for all positions in the area. As a result, two people doing the same job could earn different salaries if they don’t live in the same area.
7. Medical Insurance Isn’t Guaranteed
The U.S. doesn’t have universal healthcare. Additionally, some employers aren’t required to offer medical insurance. As a result, you may have to explore getting insurance on your own.
Living in the U.S.
8. The Cost of Living Varies Dramatically
How much it costs to handle your daily expenses is highly dependent on location. Along with differences between states, the cost of living in individual cities may vary.
9. Find the Right Services to Support Family from Afar Helps
If you want to support your family in your home country, you need to find the right services. For example, if you have family, a transfer service like Remitly can make sending money safely easy. Consider what services you need, then research your options thoroughly, ensuring you get the right ones for your needs.
10. You Can Buy a Home, Even If You’re a Non-Resident
Regardless of your residency status, there are no U.S. laws that bar you from homeownership. In fact, you may have access to the same home-buying options as citizens, depending on the nuances of your situation. As a result, getting a home of your own in Portland is on the table, allowing you to capture this part of the American dream. Contact Megan for help with your home search.
Comments