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First 30 days in the US what to do by status green card H-1B F-1

In your first 30 days in the US, most people need to do these things: check your I-94 online, get a phone number and a bank account, apply for an SSN if you have work authorization, decide on health insurance (moving from abroad usually gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period), and report your address to USCIS on AR-11 within 10 days of moving into a longer-term home. Male immigrants aged 18–25 must also register with Selective Service within 30 days of arriving.

Not everyone follows the same path. F-1 students cannot apply for an SSN until they have an on-campus job, CPT or OPT. Men in valid nonimmigrant status such as H-1B or F-1 do not register with Selective Service. A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors do not file AR-11. This is a suggested order; legal deadlines are marked and cite the official source.

Racco holding a phone and a checklist, surrounded by icons for a passport, bank, health insurance, home and driver license

Start with your status

StatusHow to get an SSNSelective ServiceReport moves on AR-11Health insurance SEP
Entered on an immigrant visa (new green card)If you checked the SSN request on the DS-260, the card is mailed to your US address; call SSA if it has not arrived 3 weeks after entryMen 18–25 must, within 30 days of entryYesMoving from abroad counts
Adjusted status inside the US (I-485)Check the SSN request on the I-765 or I-485; if the card has not arrived 14 days after you get the EAD or green card, go to SSAMen 18–25 mustYesStatus-to-status changes do not count; only gaining lawful status for the first time
H-1B, L-1Work-authorized; apply at SSANoYesMoving from abroad counts
F-1, J-1F-1 needs an on-campus job first (DSO letter plus proof of employment), or CPT or OPTNoYesMoving from abroad counts
H-4 dependentsApply only once you have an H-4 EAD; with no work authorization and a tax filing need, use an ITINNoYesMoving from abroad counts
Refugees and asyleesAsk your resettlement agency case manager firstMen 18–25 mustYesRules changed in 2026; ask your case manager first

Who must register comes from the Selective Service Who Needs to Register chart. An ITIN is for people who need to file taxes but are not eligible for an SSN (IRS). Work authorization rules for L-2 spouses differ from H-4; for a deeper check see VISA. For the K-1 fiancé(e) order of marriage and adjustment of status, see WEDDING.

Days 1–7: I-94, phone, bank, document backups

Check your I-94 online

The I-94 is an electronic record; it is not stamped in your passport. Look it up on CBP’s i94.cbp.dhs.gov site and check your name, class of admission and admit-until date. How to do it: How to look up your I-94.

Phone number

Opening a bank account and signing in to most accounts requires a text-message code, so the phone number usually comes before the bank. Plan comparison: Mint Mobile. Do not cancel your home-country number yet; you may still need it for verification codes from banks back home.

Bank account

FDIC’s Get Banked page says to bring an SSN or ITIN plus a driver’s license, state ID or passport; noncitizens may need a foreign passport, consular ID or ITIN, some banks accept other IDs, and some accounts open with $25. Every bank has its own rules, so call first and ask whether you can open an account without an SSN. Steps: Opening a US bank account; in-depth bank comparisons are on MONEY.

Document backups

Keep a copy and a cloud backup of your passport, visa page, I-94, I-20 or I-797, and DS-260 confirmation page. Checklist: Documents to prepare before you move.

Days 7–30: SSN, health insurance, first day at work, Selective Service

SSN: a different route for each status

An SSN is not work authorization. For whether to get the SSN or the bank account first, see The order of SSN, bank, phone, address and driver license.

Health insurance: moving from abroad opens a special enrollment period

HealthCare.gov lists moving to the US from a foreign country as an event that can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, andyou usually have 60 days before or after the eventto enroll (official page). Gaining lawful status for the first time also counts, within 60 days; changing from one eligible status to another (for example refugee to green card) does not (official page). Missing Open Enrollment does not necessarily mean waiting until next year. If you have employer coverage, ask HR for the enrollment deadline first.

First day at work: I-9 within three business days

Your employer must complete Section 2 of Form I-9 within 3 business days after you start work; for jobs lasting less than 3 days, by the first day. Your employer cannot tell you which document to present (USCIS M-274 chapter 4). How to fill out the W-4: The W-4 tax form.

⚠ Male immigrants aged 18–25: register with Selective Service within 30 days of entry

Selective Service says men aged 18–25 must register within 30 days of arriving in the US, including green card holders, refugees, asylees and men on an expired visa; men on a current nonimmigrant visa (for example F or M student visas) do not (official SSS overview). Online registration requires an SSN (sss.gov FAQ). Late registration is accepted, but only before your 26th birthday.

Every move: report AR-11 within 10 days

Noncitizens must notify USCIS within 10 days of moving, except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors (uscis.gov/ar-11). Changing your address with USPS does not change it with USCIS (USCIS address change page). If you have a pending case, enter the receipt number for each case when you change your address online. If you first stay with friends or in an Airbnb, the move into your long-term address must be reported too. Details: AR-11: tell USCIS within 10 days of moving.

Days 30–90: driver license, credit, school enrollment, tax status

State driver license: each state sets its own deadline

StateNew-resident license deadlineOfficial source
CaliforniaWithin 10 days of becoming a resident; register a vehicle within 20 daysCA DMV FFDL 5, New to California
New YorkWithin 30 days of becoming a residentNY DMV
WashingtonWithin 30 days of movingWA DOL

Each state defines who counts as a “resident”; it is not the same thing as immigration status. Other states, whether a foreign license can be exchanged directly, and taking the test without an SSN are covered by CAR. How to apply: Getting a US driver license. All deadlines are collected in The first-year deadline table for newcomers.

Credit history

A first credit card usually requires an SSN or ITIN plus a US bank account. Card comparisons are on US credit card guide.

School enrollment

The US Departments of Justice and Education say public elementary and secondary schools cannot refuse enrollment because of a child’s or parent’s immigration status, and cannot ask about status to establish district residency; schools may ask for proof of residency in the district, such as a lease or utility bill (DOJ/ED fact sheet, Utah State Board of Education copy). Enrollment steps: Getting your child into school; choosing schools and districts is covered on EDU.

Tax status

The IRS says a green card holder is a US tax resident starting from the first day in the year they are present in the US as a lawful permanent resident, and worldwide income must be reported; people whose status changes during the year may be dual-status (IRS page for new immigrants). Tax details are covered by MONEY.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a bank account without an SSN?

It depends on the bank. FDIC says noncitizens may be able to open an account with a foreign passport, consular ID or ITIN, and each bank sets its own rules.

Can an F-1 student get an SSN right after arrival?

No. You need an on-campus job first, or work authorization through CPT or OPT.

Do men on H-1B need to register with Selective Service?

Not while in valid nonimmigrant status. If you later get a green card before turning 26, you must register.

If I missed Open Enrollment, do I have to wait until next year?

Moving from abroad and gaining lawful status for the first time usually give you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.

If I change my address with USPS, will USCIS know?

No. You must file AR-11 separately.

Check off each step in order: My USA Plan

The phone, bank, SSN and driver license steps in this article are all in the 30 free items of the My USA Plan checklist . Choose your status and the list is put in order; check off each item as you finish it. 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. Safety deadlines such as AR-11 and Selective Service are written out in full for free in this article and in the deadline table .

Sources and date checked

All checked on 2026-10-22. This article is not legal, immigration or tax advice; for status questions see VISA , or talk to a lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative.

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