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Before moving to the US get documents ready by status and bring up to 90 days of medicine

Before moving to the US, three things apply whatever your status: carry your entry documents with you; keep prescription medicine in its original container with an English prescription or doctor’s letter, generally no more than a 90-day supply; and if your family is traveling together and your cash and monetary instruments total more than $10,000, report them to CBP on FinCEN 105 when you enter. Status-specific: immigrant visa holders pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee before leaving; F-1 and M-1 students carry a signed I-20, pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before entering, and may enter up to 30 days before the program start date.

For the order of steps after you land, see the links at the end.

Documents to prepare by status

StatusWhat to do or bring before you leaveOfficial source
Immigrant visa (new green card)Passport and immigrant visa; pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee after getting the visa and before leaving; DS-260 confirmation pageUSCIS
F-1 and M-1 studentsPassport, visa and a signed I-20 (carry it with you, not in checked luggage); pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before entering; enter no earlier than 30 days before the program start dateDHS Study in the States
H-1B, L-1Passport and visa; the I-797 approval notice and other documents, following the list from your employer or lawyer—
EveryoneCopies and cloud backups of your documents; children’s birth certificates, vaccination records and school transcriptsSee below

The H-1B and L-1 row has no official source because which supporting documents to carry at entry varies by case; prepare them from your employer’s or lawyer’s list. For backing up documents, see Documents to prepare before you move.

Immigrant visa: pay the Immigrant Fee before you leave

USCIS strongly encourages paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee after you pick up your immigrant visa and before you travel to the US; if you do not pay, USCIS will not mail your green card, and your only proof is valid for 1 year from entry. Orphan and Hague adoptee children, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning residents (SB-1) and K visa holders do not pay (USCIS). For the amount, use the USCIS fee page; this article does not give a figure. Whether your immigrant visa documents come as a paper packet or are sent electronically, follow the instructions of the post that issued your visa.

For the order of steps after you land, see What to do within 90 days of arriving with a green card.

F-1 and M-1: the I-20 and the SEVIS fee

DHS says to carry your signed I-20 with you when you enter, not in your luggage; the I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid before you enter the US; you may enter up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20; and your visa type must match your I-20 (Study in the States). What happens once you reach your school is covered by EDU; for when an F-1 student can get an SSN, see SSN or bank account first.

Prescription medicine: original container, English prescription, 90-day supply

CBP’s guidance for non-US citizens: keep medicine in its original container with the doctor’s instructions on the bottle; carry a valid prescription or doctor’s note written in English; and generally bring no more than a 90-day supply. If you stay longer than 90 days, it can be mailed later with copies of your visa and passport, a doctor’s letter and an English prescription (CBP). Medicine in the US is regulated by the FDA, and the CBP page also says bringing medicine from abroad generally has to comply with FDA rules.

Cash: report family totals over $10,000

When entering or leaving, if cash, traveler’s checks and certain negotiable instruments total more than $10,000, report them to CBP on FinCEN 105, which can be filed online. For family members traveling together, the amount is combined, not counted per person. Failing to report or reporting falsely can lead to seizure of the money and possibly civil or criminal penalties (CBP). Opening an account and sending money after you arrive are covered by MONEY.

Children’s documents

Bring birth certificates, vaccination records and school transcripts. The Departments of Justice and Education say public elementary and secondary schools may ask for proof of age (such as a birth certificate or a hospital or doctor’s certificate) and proof of district residency, but cannot refuse enrollment because of a child’s or parent’s immigration status, and a foreign birth certificate cannot be used to refuse it either (DOJ/ED fact sheet). Vaccination deadlines vary by state; choosing schools and enrollment are covered by EDU.

Driver license: check your new state’s rules before you leave

Each state has its own rules for exchanging a license. In Texas, for example, DPS says adults with a valid license from Taiwan, South Korea, France, Germany or the United Arab Emirates can generally exchange it without the knowledge and skills tests, and a foreign license not in English or Spanish must be translated before you arrive in Texas (Texas DPS). Other states and English certificates for licenses are covered by CAR; state exchange deadlines are in The newcomer deadline table.

Housing and shipping

Book short-term housing for your first stop; sign a long-term lease after you have seen the place. Renting and avoiding rental scams are covered by RENT. International moving, ocean shipping and customs are covered by MOVE.

Frequently asked questions

Is it illegal to bring more than $10,000 in cash into the US?

The CBP page is about the reporting requirement: amounts over $10,000 must be reported on FinCEN 105. Not reporting can lead to seizure or penalties.

How much medicine can I bring?

CBP says generally no more than a 90-day supply, in the original container, with an English prescription or doctor’s letter.

How early can an F-1 student enter the US?

Up to 30 days before the program start date on the I-20.

Do I have to pay the Immigrant Fee before leaving?

USCIS strongly encourages paying before you leave; without payment, the green card is not mailed.

Can my child go to school without a US birth certificate?

Yes. A foreign birth certificate cannot be used to refuse enrollment, and schools cannot refuse a child because of immigration status.

After you land

For how to order your first 30 days by status, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status; for H-1B and L-1, see H-1B first month in the US fill out I-9 when you start work then apply for a Social Security number; for all deadlines, see The newcomer deadline table. Document backups are one of the 30 free items in the My USA Plan checklist ; the full 91 items add taxes, the USCIS online account and status expiration reminders for US$9.90, a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

Sources and date checked

All checked on 2026-10-26. This article is not legal, immigration or medical advice.

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