First Weeks in America
3guides
Mail, furnishing a home on a budget, and finding your community.
USPS, packages and changing your addressPhysical mail still matters in the US — banks, USCIS and the IRS all send crucial documents by post. Losing mail in a move can mean missing an immigration notice.
Furnishing an empty apartment without going brokeUS rentals often come completely empty — sometimes without even a fridge. Furnishing from zero is a real cost, but America's second-hand economy is enormous if you know where to look.
Finding your people — community, faith and friendshipLoneliness is the unlisted cost of emigrating. The US has deep community infrastructure — diaspora associations, places of worship, meetup culture — but you have to walk in the door.