America is one of the countries where most Filipinos dream to settle. Since the USA is one of the most flourished and developed countries in the world, the American lifestyle such as home sanitation, living space, and salary wages aren’t a problem because this country gives you the chance to grow, build or create new ventures of business every day.
So if you’re planning to fulfill your American Dream for a peaceful, better, and luxurious life, Check out some of the essential things that you must do before leaving your home country.
1. Research your state
If you’ve already chosen which state in the US you’re planning to live in, read up on it! Make sure that you’ve chosen a state where the availability of your needs is accessible which includes the place you’re staying, your work, and even if it can help you save time and money from going to different locations. The more knowledge you have, the better prepared you’ll be when you arrive.
2. Save some money
Of Course, before planning to settle in the US, you must be saving up money first. Prepare a budget to have an overview of your expenses when you get there. A good practice is to save up enough to cover three months of expenses and a return ticket, just in case.
It is also important to inform your bank of your plans of migrating abroad so you can figure out what their overseas transaction fees are, or if they need to be kept informed as to where you are so that they can prevent fraud on your account.
3. Get a Visa
If you’re planning to move to the USA because you got accepted into a job, you’ll be needing an employment-related visa or a Green Card. An employer-related visa permits you to work for a specific US employer only, while a Green Card provides permanent residency.
So if you want to proceed with a Green Card, you’ll need a US citizen preferably a relative or a family member to sponsor your application. However, the whole process can take months or even years, depending on the type of immigration.
If your employer is applying on your behalf, they’ll need to push your case. Your employer needs to show that you can provide the skills that are in short supply in the US (such as scientific, medical, or technical) since there is a quota of Green Cards issued per year and competition for getting a US visa is tough.
4. Bring all your important documents
Chances are you’ll still be needing to bring your important documents from your home country to the US. Be sure to organize all of them in your hand luggage to avoid misplacing them. Here’s a checklist of documents you may need:
- Passport (with at least six months validity) and if relevant your ID card
- Visa documents
- Signed work contract and CV
- Marriage/divorce certificate and all your dependent’s documentation too (children’s birth certificates etc) as relevant
- Academic certificates
- Medical insurance policies
- Bank statements and investment documents
- Driving license (international license if available)
- Medical certificates and history, vaccination records
- Religious certificates e.g. baptism records as relevant
If you are looking to start over with a new career and life in the United States, make sure that you’ve managed to do these priority lists to avoid troubles and inconvenience in the future or you can always seek professional help with visa eligibility services so your time, effort and money can be used accurately to ensure you the shortest time to getting your visa approved to work in America.
