Start Here — your first 90 days in the US

What to do first, in order

The first three months in the United States have a natural sequence, and doing things out of order is what turns a two-week task into a two-month one. Here is the order that works for most people.

1. Days 1–7: address and bank

   Get a stable postal address you will still have in a month — almost everything official arrives by post and very little is forwarded. Open a basic bank account with your passport; policies vary, so if one bank declines, ask another and ask a credit union.

2. Day 10 onwards: Social Security number

   Wait about ten days after arrival so the Social Security Administration can see your entry record, then apply. Everything else on this list is easier once you have the number.

3. Weeks 2–4: state ID or driver's licence

   Most states want your SSN and two documents proving your address, which is why this comes third rather than first.

4. Weeks 3–6: open your credit file

   A secured credit card started now is a real credit score six months from now. It is the highest-return thing you can do in your first month.

The mistakes that cost the most time

• Applying for the SSN on day two. The immigration record is not visible yet, and the application stalls.
• Moving twice in three months. Cards, licences and bank documents follow you badly. Stability is worth more than a slightly better apartment.
• Waiting to start credit until you “settle in”. Time is the ingredient you cannot buy later.
• Carrying original documents everywhere. Keep passports and cards secured at home; carry a photo of them on your phone instead.

Once the paperwork is done, the next questions are financial. Our money and credit guides pick up from there.