1 Pre-arrival last 30 days in India

Print I-797 (Notice of Action) + visa stamp + offer letter — TSA + bank + DMV will all ask

Carry USD 4,000-6,000 for first month: rent (1) + security deposit (2) + 30 days food + transit + furniture base

Set up Indian bank app for ongoing UPI / FX needs — most lock without recent activity

Pre-load Airalo eSIM for US so you have data on landing — Uber, hotel, employer all need a working number

2 First 7 days essentials

Apply for SSN (Social Security Number) at a Social Security Administration office — H1B can apply 5+ days after entry; takes 2-4 weeks to receive

Open a US bank account — Bank of America, Chase, or Wells Fargo accept passport + I-797 + visa + employer letter, no SSN required at open

Buy a local SIM — Mint Mobile ($15/mo), T-Mobile prepaid, Verizon prepaid. AT&T postpaid needs SSN

Sign a 12-month apartment lease — most landlords accept I-797 + offer letter + 2-3 months' rent in advance instead of US credit history

Set up renter's insurance ($10-20/mo) — most landlords require it; Lemonade, State Farm, Geico are fast online

3 Days 8-30 build the base

Apply for a credit-builder card — Capital One Quicksilver Secured, Discover It Secured, or Bank of America Secured (SSN required)

Get a state driver's licence at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) — most states accept I-797 + passport. Some states require an SSN denial letter if you don't have an SSN yet

Enrol in employer 401(k) and contribute up to the employer match — that match is free money. Default to 100% target-date fund initially

If your employer offers HSA (Health Savings Account) with a high-deductible plan and you're healthy, max it. Triple tax advantage

Get a transit pass (NYC MTA, BART, MBTA, etc.) — pre-tax through employer commuter benefit if available

4 Days 31-60 settle in

Furnish the apartment — Walmart, Target, IKEA, Costco, Amazon are dramatically cheaper than buying in India and shipping. Comforter + pillow set $30-50

File USPS Change of Address so mail forwards from any temp address to your lease — $1.10 verification fee

Find a primary care doctor (PCP) on your insurance network — most company plans use Cigna, Aetna, BCBS, or UnitedHealthcare

Set up direct deposit with employer + verify the first paycheck against the offer letter

Find the nearest Indian grocery store — Patel Brothers, Subzi Mandi, Apna Bazar dominate East Coast; SF Bay has 3-4 chains

5 Days 61-90 optimise

Verify SSN is now linked to bank, employer, DMV — sometimes systems take a week to sync after SSN arrives

Apply for an unsecured credit card — Discover It, Capital One Quicksilver, Chase Freedom Unlimited. With 60-90 days of secured-card history many will approve

Set up automated transfer to a high-yield savings account: Marcus, Ally, Wealthfront, Discover Online Savings — earn 4-5% APY vs 0.01% at Chase / BoA

Decide first India remittance corridor — Wise for transparency, XE for zero-fee on $2K+, Remitly for first-transfer promo

FX Compare →

File W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) with HR to optimise paycheck withholding — defaults are usually too aggressive for first-year arrivals

Add yourself to FBAR (FinCEN 114) calendar reminder — required next year if any single Indian account > $10K equivalent at any point in 2026

FATCA / FBAR guide →

Plan first US tax filing for April 2027 — IRS Form 1040 + state return + FBAR. TurboTax / H&R Block work; CPA needed only if you have rental property in India

Just landed in the US? Get the foundation set in 90 days.

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