First Weeks in America · Arrival Checklist
Your first 72 hours: the right order to do things
Everything in the US chains off something else — the bank wants an address, the landlord wants credit, the SSN wants your immigration record. Doing things in the right order saves weeks.
Your first 72 hours in the United States can feel overwhelming, but following the right sequence of actions saves you weeks of bureaucratic delay. The US immigration and financial system works on a chain of dependencies: your bank account requires an address, credit requires a Social Security number, and your Social Security number requires proof of your immigration status. Getting the order right means you'll unlock access to everything else within days rather than months.
Day One: Check and Print Your I-94 Arrival Record
Your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is your proof of legal entry and status in the United States. It records your admission date, visa type, and the date until which you are authorized to remain. Print it immediately after you clear customs, even if you received a paper form at a land border.
How to retrieve your electronic I-94
If you arrived by air or sea, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued your I-94 electronically. You will not receive a paper document at the airport. Go to the CBP I-94 website at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov to log in and download your record. You will need your passport number and the date you entered the US. Print a copy—do not rely on having it only on your phone. Carry this printout with you at all times for the next weeks, especially when you travel, visit your bank, or go to government offices.
What to check on your I-94
- Your name and passport number match your passport exactly
- Your date of entry is correct
- Your visa class (F-1 for student, H-1B for work, etc.) is what you expected
- Your 'Admit Until' date is correct—this is your legal expiration date in the US; staying past this date is unlawful
If you spot an error—misspelled name, wrong date, wrong visa type—report it to CBP immediately. The window to correct errors is tight. If you arrived by air, contact the CBP office at the airport where you landed. If errors exist and are not corrected, they can delay everything downstream, from bank opening to employment.
Day One or Two: Get a Prepaid US Phone Number
A US phone number is often the first requirement to access the rest of the system. Nearly every US business, government office, and online service asks for a phone number before you can verify your identity or set up an account. You cannot reliably use your home country number because SMS verification codes often fail on foreign numbers, and many services refuse to accept them.
Why prepaid, not postpaid
Do not try to open a postpaid (contract) plan. Postpaid plans require a Social Security number (SSN) and a credit check. You don't have an SSN yet, and you have no US credit history. Instead, buy a prepaid plan. Prepaid requires only your passport and, optionally, a US address. You pay in advance for 30 days or a month of service, and there is no contract or credit check. Prices typically start around $25–30 per month.
How to buy a prepaid number
- Walk into a phone store (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) or an authorized reseller and ask for prepaid
- You can also use a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) like Mint Mobile, Visible, or Cricket Wireless—these use the networks of major carriers but offer cheaper plans
- Bring your passport
- You may be asked for a US address where you are staying (a hotel, apartment, or even a care-of address)—this does not need to be permanent
- Activation is immediate or within hours via eSIM (electronic SIM), which is faster than ordering a physical SIM card
If you order online, eSIM activation can take 15 minutes to an hour. Physical SIM cards may arrive in 1–3 business days. For the fastest service in your first 48 hours, visit a carrier store in person.
Days Two to Three: Book a Social Security Administration Appointment (If Work-Authorized)
If your visa allows you to work, your next priority is to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). The SSN is the master key that unlocks banking, credit, and payroll. However, you must book an appointment at your local Social Security Administration office early—appointments can fill up 2–3 weeks in advance in busy areas, especially in cities.
Who is eligible for an SSN
You are eligible for an SSN if you have a US work visa and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has authorized you to work. This includes most common work visas such as H-1B, L-1, E-2, and many others. International students on F-1 visas may be eligible if their school has authorized on-campus or off-campus practical training work. Some visa categories—like certain tourist visas (B-1/B-2)—do not include work authorization, and if that is your status, you are not eligible. Ask your immigration attorney, school international student office, or employer before you apply.
How to schedule an SSA appointment
- Call the Social Security Administration's national hotline at 1-800-772-1213 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time)
- Or visit ssa.gov, click 'Get Started,' then 'Apply Now' to begin an online application and self-schedule an appointment
- Have your I-94 record, passport, and evidence of work authorization (visa page, EAD card, or I-797 approval notice) ready
The SSA recommends waiting 7–10 business days after your arrival before you apply, to allow time for the DHS immigration records to sync with the SSA's systems. If you apply too early, your eligibility may not verify.
What to bring to the SSA office
- Your passport (original and unexpired)
- Your I-94 arrival record (the printed version from CBP's website)
- Your visa page or visa stamp
- Your employment authorization document or letter from your employer confirming you are work-authorized (if not on your visa)
- A secondary form of ID (student ID, driver's license from your home country, or credit card)
- Your confirmation number if you started the application online
Timeline and receipt
At your appointment, the SSA officer will review your documents, take a photo, and issue you a receipt. Your actual Social Security card will arrive by mail in 2–4 weeks. The receipt itself is valid proof of SSN for some purposes (like opening a bank account) before the card arrives. You can legally begin work before you receive the physical card—show your employer the receipt. Your Social Security card never changes once issued, even if you change visa status or become a permanent resident.
What If You Are Not Work-Authorized?
If your visa does not permit work (such as some tourist visas or student visas still awaiting work authorization), you are not eligible for an SSN. Instead, you may apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. An ITIN is not a work permit, but it allows you to open a bank account, file taxes, and perform some other financial tasks. ITINs take 4–7 weeks to arrive. You must apply through the IRS, not the SSA. Check with your school or immigration attorney about whether you need an ITIN and when to file.
The Banking Chain: Address, SSN, Credit
Once you have a phone number and (ideally) have submitted your SSA application, you can begin thinking about opening a bank account. But banks require a stack of documents that depend on one another.
What banks need from you
- Proof of identity (passport, visa page, or government ID)
- Proof of US address (utility bill, lease, mail from a government agency, or a bank statement from another US account)
- A tax identification number: your SSN (if you have it), your SSA receipt (if you are still waiting for the card), or an ITIN (if you are not work-authorized)
- Initial deposit (amount varies by bank, typically $25–100)
The catch is the address. Most banks will not open an account without proof of a US address. You must have already signed a lease, be staying in a dorm, or have a permanent hotel booking. This is why settling your housing first is critical. If you are arriving to a hotel or Airbnb, get a confirmation letter from the property that includes your name and address, and bring it to the bank.
Many banks also require an SSN or at least proof that you have applied for one. If you have not yet visited the SSA office, bring your SSA receipt. Some banks accept an ITIN or even a foreign passport number as a substitute, but policies vary. Call your bank's customer service line before you go in, and confirm what they will accept.
Which bank to choose
Large national banks (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi) have branches everywhere and accept immigrants more routinely. Smaller regional or local banks may have more stringent requirements or less experience with non-resident accounts. If you will be in the US for more than a few months, open an account at a large national bank so you have access to branches and ATMs nationwide.
Why Order Matters: The Sequence
Here is why the sequence matters: Your bank will not open an account without an address. You won't have an address until you secure housing. Once you have an address and a phone number, you can apply for an SSN. Once you have an SSN (or receipt), you can open a bank account. Once you have a bank account, you can get a credit card, rent a car, or put down a deposit for utilities. Each step unlocks the next.
Skipping steps—for example, trying to open a bank account before you have an address, or before you have applied for an SSN—will only send you back to the end of the queue. Rushing to the wrong office in the wrong order can cost you a week or more.
Common Mistakes in the First 72 Hours
- Not checking your I-94 for errors immediately—errors compounded later are harder to fix
- Relying on your home country phone number instead of getting a US number—many US services will not accept foreign numbers for SMS verification
- Waiting weeks to apply for an SSN—slots fill up fast, and the card takes 2–4 weeks to arrive
- Trying to open a bank account before securing a housing address—banks require address proof
- Buying a postpaid phone plan instead of prepaid—you will be denied without an SSN
- Not printing your I-94—you will be asked for it constantly and will not always have internet access
State Variations: What You Need to Know
Many US rules are set by individual states, not by the federal government. Banking rules (which banks operate in your state) and address requirements are the same nationwide, but some services differ significantly. For example, if you plan to rent an apartment, the rules about security deposits, lease terms, and eviction protections vary by state. If you plan to get a driver's license, the requirements, fees, and wait times differ by state. Before you settle on a location, check your state's DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) website to understand what documents you will need for a driver's license and how long the process takes.
Keep reading — Arrival Checklist
Getting a state ID card (even if you don't drive)Carrying your passport everywhere is a bad idea. Every state's DMV issues a photo ID card to non-drivers — it becomes your everyday proof of identity and age.
Proof of address — the document everyone demandsThe DMV, the bank, the school district: all of them want proof you live where you say. Newcomers get stuck in a loop — no address proof without accounts, no accounts without address proof. Here's how to break it.