How to Move to the USA: Full Guide (2025)

Jump to: Quick Facts · Living Essentials · Pros · Cons · Visas Guide · Residency & Citizenship · Business · Resources

Interested in moving to the USA? Here’s what you need to know:

🇺🇸 The USA at a Glance

• 4th largest country by area
• Population: ~342 million
• World’s largest economy (~22% of global GDP, $16.2 trillion)
• Extremely ethnically diverse with deep immigration roots
• Unofficial global superpower (39% of total military spending)
• Major influence on global politics and culture

🏠 Living Essentials

• Currency: US Dollar (USD).
• Main language: English; Spanish widely spoken; many other languages present
• Major religions: 78.4% Christian, 16.1% atheist/agnostic, 1.7% Jewish
• Major races: White (72.4%), Black American (12.6%), Asian (4.8%)
• Largest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia

🤔 Why choose the USA

• Highly diverse: wide variation between states, cities, and neighborhoods; something for everyone if you invest time
• Melting pot of races and cultures; many languages spoken; find familiar communities
• Strong focus on integration; most immigrant families identify as proudly American within a few generations
• Stunning natural beauty with rich biodiversity; nearly 60 National Parks preserving landscapes and wildlife
• Consumer heaven: almost everything available, usually at competitive prices; convenience-driven culture
• Generally affordable compared to other expat destinations: cheap, plentiful food (especially near agricultural hubs like California), competitive goods and services prices
• Car and home ownership costs low outside major cities; still pricier than many countries; widening income gap
• Friendly, welcoming people often willing to help and connect with newcomers
• Entrepreneurial, risk-taking culture supportive of new ventures; failure seen as a learning opportunity, not the end
• World-class colleges and universities offer excellent education opportunities

⚠️ USA Challenges

Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.

• Work Culture
  • Only 10 public holidays/year
  • No mandatory minimum vacation days
  • Maternity/leave policies vary widely
  • Among longest working hours globally (2nd to South Korea)
  • Work/life balance can be tough
  • For many, work is central to identity
• Residency & Citizenship
  • Process often exceeds 10 years
  • Work visas limited and restrictive
• Education
  • Quality varies greatly by area
  • Private schools costly with long waiting lists, especially in metro areas
  • Public schools inconsistent in quality
• Transportation
  • Public transit often poor or nonexistent in many cities
  • Heavy reliance on cars
  • Many cities are sprawling suburbs with distant amenities
  • Downtown areas may have aging infrastructure
• Culture
  • Not everyone’s cup of tea
  • High consumerism and celebrity obsession
  • Strong focus on money and status
  • Embrace it or move on!

🛂 USA Visa Guide

Common visas issued to people relocating to the USA:

• J-1 Visa
  • For trainees, temporary workers, scholars, students, au pairs, specialists, educators
  • Requires private sector/corporate sponsorship (job offer)
  • Stay: ~18 months; usually income caps apply
  • After stay: must leave within 30 days + 2-year home residency before reapplying (except some countries removed from Skills List as of Dec 9, 2024, e.g., China, India, Brazil, South Korea)
  • Dependents: J-2 visa
• H-1B Visa
  • For professional-level workers (Bachelor’s degree required)
  • Common in STEM fields but not limited to them
  • Valid 3 years, extendable to 6
  • Application deadline: early April; FY 2025 registration was March 1–18, 2024
  • Annual cap: 65,000 + 20,000 for U.S. Master’s+ degrees
  • Dual intent visa: can apply for green card while on H-1B
• H-1B1 Visa
  • Like H-1B but only for Singapore (cap 5,400) & Chile (cap 1,400) nationals
• E-3 Visa
  • Same as H-1B but for Australian citizens only
  • Faster application, renewable indefinitely (in 2-year increments)
  • Annual cap: 10,500
• L-1 Visa
  • For employees transferred by current employer to U.S. (usually managers/executives)
  • Must have worked at company abroad ≥1 year
  • Smooth process for internal company transfers
• F-1 Visa
  • For full-time students in the U.S.
  • Work limited to 20 hours/week on-campus during term
  • Eligible for 12 months Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation
  • STEM students can extend OPT to 29 months
• B-1 Visa
  • Temporary business visitors sent by foreign company
  • Valid for 6 months
  • Can apply to change status while in U.S.
• TN Visa
  • For Canadian & Mexican nationals under USMCA professions list
  • Issued at U.S. port of entry after interview, proof of job offer & credential required
  • Valid for 1–3 years; no annual cap
  • Not dual intent; can’t directly apply for green card without switching visa type
  • May be revoked at border re-entry; proof of continued employment needed
• E-2 Investor Visa
  • For entrepreneurs investing substantially in a U.S. business
• O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability)
  • For individuals with exceptional talents in sciences, arts, entertainment, etc.

Bottom Line:

• Most visas require a job offer, preferably in an in-demand field
• Always research qualifications and application timelines carefully

🛬 Residency & Citizenship

• Permanent Residency (“Green Card”)
  • Securing employment sponsorship is long and complex; getting residency is even tougher.
  • Significant backlog exists, including for spouses and relatives of U.S. citizens/residents.
  • Typical wait times: 5–15 years.
  • Common employment-based visa categories:
    • EB-1 & EB-2: For specialized workers, those with advanced degrees or extensive experience.
    • EB-3: For skilled workers and professionals.
  • Annual cap: max 7% of EB-2 & EB-3 visas per country.
  • Backlogs heavily affect applicants from China, India, and Mexico.
• Citizenship (Naturalization)
  • Eligible after 5 years as a permanent resident (3 years if married to a U.S. citizen).
  • Must pass a basic U.S. history and government test.
  • Application requires continuous residence and good moral character during eligibility period.

💼 Business in the USA

• Anyone with an SSN, tax ID, and mailing address (PO box OK) can legally start a business.
• To work for your own business, you need a valid work visa (e.g., H-1B).
• Operating your own business as a foreign entrepreneur is challenging.

Common Paths for Immigrant Entrepreneurs:

• Co-found a business + get H-1B:
  • Own less than 50% of shares.
  • Paid via W-2 payroll.
  • Must report to someone else (e.g., co-founder, board).
  • Usually requires at least one U.S. co-founder.
  • Rare but possible.
• EB-5 Investor Visa:
  • Invest $1,000,000 (or $500,000 in rural/high-unemployment areas).
  • Funds go to new or troubled existing enterprise.
  • Grants conditional permanent residency for 2 years.
  • Must create or maintain 10 U.S. jobs.
  • After 2 years, business and investment evaluated for full residency.
• Operate business abroad + maintain U.S. subsidiary:
  • Easier for non-immigrant entrepreneurs to stay passive (shareholder or supervisory role).
  • Work/active management in U.S. requires visa.
  • Visit U.S. for business via:
    • Visa Waiver (90 days, business meetings only)
    • B-1 Business Visitor Visa (up to 6 months)
    • H-1B (for working)

Additional Tips:

• Some states are more business-friendly: Texas, Florida, Nevada stand out.
• Passive involvement (shareholder/director) is simpler than active day-to-day work without proper visa.

📚 Helpful Resources

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – official government website
• Visa Bulletin – the latest on wait times and backlogs for various visa types
• Indeed – One of the largest global job aggregators, with extensive filters and many listings indicating visa sponsorship.

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