WE LIVE IN USA
✈️ 新移民必備文件準備清單：護照、簽證、I-94 / I-797 / I-20 / EAD、SSN全攻略
Everything feels like starting over after you move here: opening a bank account, renting, getting a phone, working, filing taxes. All of it starts with the documents in your hand.
Do you have them ready? Are you clear on which are essential and which can wait? Here's the complete list, sorted out.
📌 1. Passport
🛂 Whether you enter on a student visa (F1), work visa (H1B), tourist visa (B2), or an immigrant visa, your passport is the first thing US customs looks at.
What to do:
Keep at least six months' validity on it.
If it's close to expiring, contact your country's consulate in the US to renew.
Carry a photocopy when you're out, and keep a scan in the cloud (Google Drive or similar).
📌 2. Visa
✈️ A visa is permission to enter the US. It is not permission to stay indefinitely.
Common categories:
F1 (student)
H1B (specialty occupation)
J1 (exchange visitor)
B2 (tourist)
L1, E2, O1, TN, and others depending on circumstances
Things to know:
Once you're in, an expired visa doesn't affect your stay. The I-94 governs that. But you'll need a new visa to re-enter after leaving.
Some visas require separate work authorization, such as an EAD.
📌 3. Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
📝 The most overlooked and one of the most important. It records your legal status on entry and how long you may stay, and it's the basis for many other applications: a driver's license, a work permit, your tax residency determination.
How to check it:
After entering, look it up and download it at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
Things to know:
Verify the entry date and status class (F1, B2, etc.) are correct.
If there's an error, contact your nearest CBP (Customs and Border Protection) office promptly.
📌 4. I-20 / DS-2019 (students and exchange visitors only)
🎓 On F1 or J1 status, the I-20 or DS-2019 is your proof of lawful status.
What to do:
Carry a paper copy when you enter the country.
Leaving the country, transferring schools, or starting an internship all require your school's DSO (international student office) to update and sign it.
📌 5. Form I-797 (if you're changing status or have been approved)
📬 The official notice from USCIS confirming an approved change of status or application.
The variants:
I-797A: comes with a new I-94, meaning your status was extended or changed successfully.
I-797C: a notice or receipt. It does not mean approval.
I-797E: a Request for Evidence (RFE).
📌 6. Social Security card (SSN)
🔐 With work authorization you can apply for a Social Security number, which you'll use for taxes, banking, and phone service.
How to apply:
If your visa permits work, take your passport, I-94, visa, and proof of employment to your local SSA office.
If you're not authorized to work, consider applying for an ITIN instead.
📌 7. EAD (Employment Authorization Document)
💼 Working on OPT, H4 EAD, or asylum status requires an Employment Authorization Document.
Things to know:
You can only work legally while the card is valid.
Apply to renew well before it expires (90 days ahead at minimum).
📌 8. Other documents, depending on your situation
📁 Depending on your status and what you're doing, you may also need:
A state-issued driver's license or ID
Tax forms: W-2, 1099, 1040
A lease or utility bill, as proof of address
Your health insurance card
✨ In closing: with the documents sorted, everything else follows
It looks like a lot. Organized systematically, it isn't. Create a cloud folder, scan everything important into it, and you'll never lose a document or scramble to find one in a hurry.
🧳 There's plenty to deal with when you're new here, but preparation makes almost all of it easier.
📦 Read next: Settling in fast: the 10 most common mistakes new arrivals make 👉 https://weliveinusa.com/zh/new-immigrant-mistakes/
Hi, I'm C from Taiwan, and I'm currently running a business in Los Angeles, USA. When I first arrived, it really wasn't easy. Whether it was the language or cultural differences, I spent a lot of time figuring out every little detail. But all those mistakes I made along the way helped me master the rhythm of adapting to life here quickly. I've gathered all my experience over the past few years on this website, hoping to help fellow Chinese speakers settle into American life sooner. Here, I share how to move over, find a job, and handle various daily tasks, saving you plenty of time and helping you avoid unnecessary detours. I hope my experience helps you start your new life in the US smoothly!
Running this site takes real work, and I'm grateful to everyone who supports it. If any of this has helped you, a small contribution keeps the updates coming.