Your first 30 days in the US set up everything else. Do them in this order, skipping a step usually means you can't do the next.
Day 1–3: arrival
- Check the I-94 entry record at i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of landing. This proves you entered legally, keep the PDF.
- Get a US SIM. Mint Mobile, Visible, US Mobile all let you sign up online with no SSN.
- Move into temporary housing or your apartment. Sign your lease if not done yet.
Day 3–7: enrollment + ID
- Attend international student orientation at your university. They will:
- Activate your SEVIS record
- Issue your student ID
- Give you the SSN application support letter (huge, needed for SSN)
- If you don't already have a US bank account, open one with:
- Bank of America (most international student-friendly)
- Chase (good for credit card later)
- Wells Fargo
Day 7–14: SSN application
You can apply for an SSN once your SEVIS record is active and you have an on-campus or CPT job offer (most schools count GRA/GTA/work study). The process:
- Get the SSN support letter from your International Office.
- Make an appointment at the nearest Social Security Administration office (ssa.gov).
- Bring: passport, I-20, I-94 printout, support letter, job offer letter.
- SSN card arrives by mail in 2–4 weeks.
Day 14–30: credit + insurance + utilities
- Once SSN arrives, apply for a secured credit card (Discover It Secured is the gold standard). This starts your US credit history.
- Set up renter's insurance. Lemonade, Toggle, or Geico run $10–$15/month.
- Transfer utilities into your name (gas, electric, internet) if they're not bundled.
- Update your address with USPS (free), your bank, and your school.
- Get a state ID (DMV), you'll need it for buying alcohol, domestic flights, voting (where eligible).
Documents to keep safe (paper + scanned PDFs)
- Passport + visa
- I-20 (every page)
- I-94 PDF
- SEVIS receipt (I-901)
- Admission letter
- SSN card (after issued)
- Lease agreement
- Bank statements
- Health insurance card
Things people forget
- Tax filing, you must file a US tax return every April even if you earned $0 (Form 8843). Free via Sprintax for many schools.
- Visa stamp ≠ I-94 status. The visa can expire while you're inside the US, that's fine. You only need a valid visa to re-enter after travel.
- Travel signature on I-20, must be less than 12 months old to re-enter the US after international travel.
Once you have your housing locked in, this checklist makes everything else manageable. Submit the form below if you need housing help, we respond in 24 hours.
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Written by MyHomeversity
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