Is there an "Idiot's guide to moving to the US"?

Hi guys!
I'm a newbie, looking for info on moving to the US. I have secured a job, and the company has an immigration lawyer assembling my TN visa package for my entry into the US next week. I'm just looking for a checklist/guide for all the other mundane things that need to be done, and suggestions on how to do them in an easy manner. Things like:
[*]do I need a new drivers license & plates for my car?
[*]how do I get an SSN?
[*]what do I need to get a bank account?
[*]what are the best banks?
[*]what do I have to tell the Canadian government?

That sort of stuff. Is there an everyday checklist/guide out there?

I don't know about an "idiot's guide", but this site likely has a ton of those answers in the topics that have been posted and replied to. Do a little digging in the US Forum and see what you find.
(The get rich selling us the summary!)

Allyssa

Hi

Yes, you'll find a lot of information about this in the forums. Unfortunately you'll have to search a little.

Nevertheless, we are attempting to put together this type of information on our website to ease the relocation process. Take a look, there may be some information that will help you:
http://www.tnvisaexpert.com/

Look at the bottom of the webpage in the "Easy Relocation" section

Good Luck!

I only wish there was an idiot's guide, because trust me I've felt like an idiot at every new discovery of what I had to do!

[*]do I need a new drivers license & plates for my car?
With your passport that includes your visa you can get a US driver's license, but you must get your SSN before.

[*]how do I get an SSN?
Find in the phone book the local IRS, you simply show up there, with your passport, and other official proof of identity and fill in the form. You'll get your SSN card in about a week. This is surprisingly the easiest of all the steps you have to do.

[*]what do I need to get a bank account?
Nothing much really, but I recommend you wait until you get your SSN, not that you need it, but they prefer it. Once again, show up and apply.
[*]what are the best banks?
It depends on where you are. But banks in the US are not like in Canada. There are not national networks. but some are. I have Wells Fargo, which I love since I travel all over the States non stop, and it is very convenient with branches in most States. Wa-Mu is also fantastic, very low rates, free credit cards, etc.

[*]what do I have to tell the Canadian government?
Let them know of your departure date. If you live in Ontario, you get health insurance for 5 years! That's a great bonus.

Good luck!

I only wish there was an idiot's guide, because trust me I've felt like an idiot at every new discovery of what I had to do!

I think we all feel like idiots when we move to a new country. Perhaps the degree of difference between your home and host culture makes the biggest impact on this, but when I moved overseas I felt like an idiot on every front. Couldn't speak either official language, didn't know where to get important documents, didn't even know how to dial an emergency number or how to cook a meal (many differences in available ingredients).
My advice: do the best homework you can now before you go (which it sounds like you are trying to do) and then give yourself a lot of grace once you get there!

Allyssa

I am still waiting for my SSN and Green Card, but banking was no problem because I opened an account with RBC Centura (the US arm of Royal Bank of Canada).

I have been an RBC client for many years in Canada, and have an account there to receive my pension deposits. It is extremely easy to transfer funds electronically from one to the other. It is especially good right now because the $Can has grown so much that I got a virtual 20% raise because of it.

You don't need a Canadian RBC account, but it is very convenient.

Good luck.

Mike

P.S. Our insurance premiums went up by $1K/yr because I don't have a Georgia drivers license. The Catch 22 here is that I have to wait until Homeland Security approves me for the SSN.

I have only the Employment Authorization card so far. It is the one thing I don't need because I don't intend to work here. I have my own health insurance, and am bringing my Canadian Pension Dollars here to spend, without being a burden on the system.

I want to pay my taxes here, but must wait like everyone else? You'd think they would rubber stamp me and put a gold star on my APP, especially considering that I am retired from The Canadian Navy, so my life is an open book for 30 years and had a NATO Top Secret Security clearance while in the Navy.

I guess I must seem like an odd duck, coming to the US to escape free medical care?

Homeland Security doesn't approve SSNs. The Social Security Administration does.

Without an EAD, you can't even volunteer at a local church, so be glad you have at least that!

Everyone who is applying to immigrate to the US is supposed to be treated the same. Suspicious. Doesn't matter if you were in the Canadian Navy or the former King of Denmark.

I was in the Cdn Army, navy and Air force, doesn't mean a thing,one goes through the same process, as it should be. Security clearances don't mean a thing either. Even if One still had a "valid" Cdn security Clearance, it would not follow you to a USA gov't position! Some USA govt positions won't allow the USA spouse to marry a foreigner, no matter what! The fun and games

Thanks for the snarky remarks. FYI, I finally received my SSN today, AFTER it went to Homeland Security for their OK. I typed that very slowly for you.

My point was not to somehow get special treatment, but that there should be another immigration class for people who are easy to check out, aren't a burden to the system, and are putting foreign money into the US economy and IRS coffers at no cost to the system.

The security clearance point was to say that my background is simple to check out. I KNOW that they don't follow you unless you are still serving, and are attached to a US unit. Geez!

When I drove a desk, the easy files flew into my outbox first, so that I could spend the appropriate time on the ones that required more research. If those easy ones are sitting there waiting in line, the inbox grows unnecessarily.

Thanks for the friendly responses.

Mike
aka Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

P.S. Administrators, please beam me out of this forum.

Sorry you felt we're being snarky, that wasn't the intent at all. I was simply answering your questions as I know them to be processed by the US government as I've been through it myself.

If you've applied for an immigrant visa to the US, and checked that box on the DS form for the SSN, Homeland Security (Dept. of State) passes that on to the Social Security Administration (sometimes), and the SSA creates your SSN. Not DOS or HS. Why would Homeland Security need to have anything to do with creating a tax ID for immigrants? No matter their security clearance in their home country? Of course, things may have changed in the 3 years since I've endured the paperwork. Please, excuse my ignorance if so. I'm just here to try and help.

Its all well and good to wish that USCIS had different processes and quicker processes for special people but they don't. Canadians on immigration forums wish it every day, just because they're Canadians. Wishing won't make it so. We all have to go through the same processing. Although we can be thankful we're not from Iraq or somesuch, because citizens of those countries ARE treated differently and take far longer to process.