Some people can’t even imagine leaving their hometown for good. They want to continue living the life they have come accustomed to. This is even if they are given a chance to study or work abroad.
Others have no choice but to migrate to another location. These are usually among the number of people who need to escape poverty, conflict zones, or avoid living somewhere where the cost of living is too high. For those who voluntarily migrate abroad, their usual reasons often include family influences, higher education, better job opportunities, and better standards of living.
Simply being financially able won’t automatically make you qualified for a Green Card. There are too many things you need to prepare for if you wish to migrate to America. The following are but five must-knows for everyone wanting to be a U.S. immigrant.
Different Ways to Migrate in the U.S.
Many people think that there are only two ways to become a U.S. immigrant. The first one is by marrying a U.S. citizen. The second one is to find a U.S. company that will hire you and grant you a right of residence in America.
Aside from marrying a U.S. citizen, you can also receive a permanent residence permit if a family member who is now a permanent resident of the U.S. will petition you. This applies to unmarried kids that are under 21 years of age. One can also petition their parents.
There is also what we call a Green Card Lottery. The U.S. government grants 675 permanent residence permits to applicants who can meet their requirements. While this is the easiest way to be an immigrant, the limited slots and the stricter qualifications lead up to 40% of applicants failing the lottery each year.
Then there’s immigration via investment. Entrepreneurs can start a business venture in the U.S. and provide jobs for at least ten U.S. employees. Just remember to check the minimum capital required to start a brand in your target state.
Avoiding Deportation
Deportation is the last thing you don’t want to happen as an immigrant. But there are times when unavoidable circumstances will put you at risk of being deported. Depending on your case, there are ways you can avoid being deported back to your original country.
For instance, you were suspected of illegally staying in the U.S. and were taken into custody. You can be released if you can provide evidence of your residency. Your friend or loved one can also get an immigration bail bond for you so that you can be released.
Know that you won’t necessarily be kicked out of the U.S. right away. You can defend your case in immigration court. It is wise to acquire expert help from a lawyer and apply for legal forgiveness if you are qualified for a waiver.
Necessary Preparations Before the Big Move
If you are lucky enough to win a green card through the lottery, you must prepare many things beforehand. To make sure you got everything covered, here is a short checklist you cannot afford to ignore.
- Housing or accommodation
- Brush up your English skills
- A collection and digital copies of your pertinent documents translated into English (Don’t forget about your bank account evidence, custody declaration, medical records, and vaccination certificates)
- Travel insurance
- Foreign driver’s license
Avoiding Culture Shock
Culture shock is not uncommon to people migrating to the U.S. Learning the English language is not the only thing you need so that you can start adapting to the American culture. For best results, consider the following tips.
- Keep yourself informed of the latest news by reading newspapers and watching the news.
- Socialize to learn more about current events, politics, history, etc., and find ways to share interests with other people.
- Be confident enough to be yourself.
- Adopt technologies that will make your life easier, like social media, web mapping platforms, and messaging apps
Managing Your Finances
Immigrants must aim for financial well-being to be able to continue living a good life in the U.S. To help you better manage your finances, keep the following tips in mind.
- Spend less than what you earn
- Build an emergency fund
- Automate your savings
- Build a good credit history
- Create a separate account for short-term and long-term goals
- Have at least two income sources
- As much as possible, avoid giving in to debts
Not everyone is given a chance to migrate to another country. If you are among the lucky ones, it only becomes a must that you try to do everything the right way so you can stay in your country of choice for as long as you want. You can use this list as your guide to making your move to the U.S. a more successful one.
