7 Ways To Acclimate To Life In The US As A New Immigrant

Life in the United States might not always be easy as an immigrant. There are language barriers, legal matters, and the sadness of leaving your loved ones behind to deal with. But, when you are ready for a fresh start, sometimes a drastic change is exactly what you need. Courtesy of Icon City, here are six ideas to help you get accustomed to your new home while holding tight to the customs from childhood that you cherish so dearly.

Learn your new home country's language.

The language barrier is perhaps the biggest challenge you will have to overcome when moving to the US. Since you’re reading this, you’ve likely at least mastered our written language. But speaking can be a bit of a confusing roller coaster since we have many words that don’t always make sense. You can use an online learning course to help you make better sense out of our language. Pimsleur is a popular option that offers a free trial for most languages.

Find a job.

If you’ve already obtained your work permit, great! You’ve got the hardest part out of the way. But do not look at finding a job as simply a means to pay your bills. Find something that gives you purpose and that gets you out and about within your community. As an immigrant, you’ll bring a unique perspective to your job and the people you serve.

Obtain a driver’s license.

Even if you plan to work from home, you’ll need a drivers’ license. ThoughtCo. explains that most states require a social security number. However, you may be able to get a temporary license by using your passport, birth certificate, proof of immigration status, and passing a written and on-road test.

Support family back home.

Keeping an open line of communication with your family back in your home country is crucial in helping you settle in with a happy heart. Make a point to talk, text, or video chat with your loved ones at least weekly. And if you plan to send money back home to support children or aging parents, get yourself acquainted with various money transfer options. Not all money transfer agencies have the same rates or delivery times.

Share your culture with your new neighbors.

One way to overcome homesickness is to invite your neighbors over for dinner. In the United States, this is often in the form of a backyard barbecue. But make it known that you plan to introduce yourself with cuisine from your home country. Even if you were not considered a great cook back at home, trust that our American palates are happy to experience something new. Need ideas? CNN Travel raves about food such as adobo, sisig, and crispy pasta.

Volunteer.

Visiting with your neighbors is a great way to meet the locals, but if you want to truly be a part of your new community, volunteering is where it’s at. When you volunteer, you not only show that you are invested in your new hometown, but you also have a chance to socialize with people who share similar interests as yourself. Check around at your local food pantry, church, or your children’s school.

Start your business.

One of the amazing things about the US is that anyone can start a business. Of course, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into this process, but the opportunity is there if you want to explore it. So, put together a business plan and decide whether you’ll need funding to get started. It’s also a good idea to register your business as an LLC with the state, as doing so can help safeguard your personal finances in the event that something goes wrong. Formation services like ZenBusiness can help you file the paperwork you need; use their contact info to get in touch if you’re interested in getting the ball rolling.

Moving into the United States is the dream of many across the globe. But it is not always an easy transition. As a new immigrant, you will likely face some hardships until you learn your new hometown and the people in it, in turn, have an opportunity to get to know you.

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