Visa, SSN, bank, phone — your first 30 days in the US (2026)

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
  You can open without an SSN — bring passport, I-20, lease, school ID.

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:

1. Get the SSN support letter from your International Office.
2. Make an appointment at the nearest Social Security Administration office (ssa.gov).
3. Bring: passport, I-20, I-94 printout, support letter, job offer letter.
4. 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.