Life in the USA
Practical first steps after arriving — green card, SSN, banking, tax, and where the London community has settled.
Here's what to do from here:
- Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235) at my.uscis.gov — recommended before you travel to start the clock earlier, but can be paid after entry. Card takes up to 90 days from entry date (if paid before) or payment date (if paid after)
- Your passport will be returned via courier — pick-up averages 4 days, mail averages 12 days
- You can book a flight — if it departs soon after the projected passport return date, make sure it's a flexible ticket. One-way or return is up to you. Your green card is activated when you arrive at a US port of entry — not before — so you'll travel as a 'visitor'. Remember that you must enter the US within 6 months of your medical — this is the visa expiry date in your passport
- Confirm your address with the Customs & Border Patrol official when you arrive, and be sure to update your myUSCIS account with your new US address so that your green card is mailed to the correct place
- Green card is typically mailed within 90 days of entry to the address on file — check the Green card & SSN timelines section below for community data. You can track your green card status at egov.uscis.gov by entering the IOE receipt number from paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee. In the meantime, the temporary I-551 stamp in your passport acts as your green card for employment, travel, and identification purposes — see USCIS guidance on temporary I-551 stamps
- SSN initiates automatically if selected on DS-260 — if it hasn't arrived within 10 business days, make an appointment with your local SSA office. Some make an appointment in advance just in case so they don't have to wait. SSN cannot be tracked — instead, folks use Informed Delivery to track incoming mail and this will give you a slight advance notice of its arrival
- Register for USPS Informed Delivery to track your green card and SSN card
🗺️ Where the community has settled
Community-submitted data. Updates as members report their state of residence.
Settled in the US? Add your green card and SSN received dates to the community tracker →
🗂️ Green card & SSN timelines — community data
Days from entry date, by state. Based on community submissions. Median shown where 2+ data points exist.
Days measured from date of US entry. Intervention = any action beyond automatic processing: SSA office visit, USCIS call, I-90 filing, live agent contact for tracking, congressional inquiry, etc. Single-state entries show exact days rather than median.
This section covers what to do after you arrive as a permanent resident — IDs, banking, driving, and the UK financial and tax obligations you need to manage from day one.
Your first priority for US identification is a state driver's licence or state ID. [DHS: REAL ID] Your green card and passport with visa stamp serve as ID in the meantime, but a state-issued ID is required for many everyday purposes. If settling in a US territory (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands), the same process applies — territories issue their own IDs which are valid US identification.
Real ID is federally compliant — required for domestic flights and entry to federal buildings from May 2025. It requires more documentation than a standard ID.
Standard ID is valid for driving and general purposes but cannot be used to board domestic flights or enter federal buildings. If you have a passport you can use that for flights instead — but a Real ID is the cleaner long-term solution.
- Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
- Temporary I-551 stamp in passport (the visa stamp counts)
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- SSN card (cannot be laminated)
- W-2 form displaying 9-digit SSN
- Pay stub with name and SSN
- SSA-1099 form
- Utility bill, bank statement, or credit card statement (within 60 days)
- Current lease or mortgage
- Pay stub dated within 60 days
- W-2 or tax statement
- For Real ID: two residency documents required
Your name must match across all documents. If your name has changed (e.g. marriage), bring a marriage certificate issued by a municipality, divorce decree, or court document. This is required for Real ID; not required for a standard licence.
Massachusetts allows residents to obtain a standard driver's licence regardless of immigration status under the Work and Family Mobility Act (effective July 2023). For a standard licence you need proof of identity, date of birth, and Massachusetts residency — but not necessarily an SSN if it cannot be validated yet.
Start your application online and schedule a Class D learner's permit exam at your local RMV Service Center. The $30 exam is available in 34 languages; you must score at least 18/25 within 25 minutes. After the permit, you sit a road test to get the full licence. Check mass.gov/ID to get ready online before going in.
Requirements vary by state. Check your state's DMV website for the exact documents required in your state. The above reflects Massachusetts as an example.
Opening a US bank account is one of the first practical priorities. You need it for direct deposit, bill payments, and to pay the USCIS immigrant fee.
- Most major banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi) accept permanent residents — bring your passport with visa stamp or green card, SSN (or ITIN if SSN not yet arrived), and proof of address
- Some banks allow account opening without an SSN initially — you provide it later once received
- Consider a credit union if you are new to the area — often more flexible for new residents
- Start building US credit immediately: apply for a secured credit card if you have no US credit history
- Your UK credit history does not transfer to the US — but you do not necessarily start from zero. Being added as an authorised user on a US person's card, using a credit-building secured card, or transferring an existing Amex card from the UK to the US (Amex has a global transfer programme) are all options members have used to start with some history already in place.
A secured credit card (you deposit a fixed amount as collateral) is the standard starting point. Use it for small regular purchases and pay it off in full each month. After 6–12 months of on-time payments you will have enough history to apply for unsecured cards. Do not carry a balance — the interest rates are high and it is unnecessary for building credit.
Becoming a US person triggers worldwide income reporting, FBAR [FinCEN: FBAR] and FATCA [IRS: FATCA] obligations, and potential PFIC exposure on UK investments. These are commonly missed and carry significant penalties. Address them early.
As a green card holder you must file US taxes annually and report worldwide income — regardless of where income is earned or whether tax was already paid in the UK. A tax treaty generally prevents double taxation, but you still must report everything. For the first year, use a tax preparer experienced in international/expat filings.
If your total combined foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any point in the year (cumulative across all accounts, not per account), you must file an FBAR. This covers all UK bank accounts, ISAs, and investment accounts.
- Report all foreign account details, highest balance during the year, and year-end balance
- File at: bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov
- This is one of the most commonly missed obligations and carries significant penalties
- Consolidate UK accounts before moving where possible and maintain clear balance records
If you hold foreign financial assets over approximately $50,000 (varies by filing status), you must also file Form 8938. This covers foreign bank accounts, investments, and certain pensions. More info: irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8938
If you receive large foreign gifts (including from family in the UK), this may need to be reported via Form 3520. It is a reporting requirement, not necessarily a tax. More info: irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-3520
Many UK-based US tax preparers do not support clients after relocation. Register with an expat specialist early — before your first US filing year — and expect higher costs for that first year. It is worth it to get it right.
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Male immigrants are required by law to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or within 30 days of entry into the United States if they are between the ages of 18 and 25. This applies to legal permanent residents entering on an immigrant visa.
Registration does not mean military service — it is a legal administrative requirement. Failure to register can affect eligibility for federal employment, student loans, and naturalisation.
Exempt: those who were on a valid non-immigrant visa continuously until age 26. Immigrant visa holders (CR1, IR1, IR2, IR5 etc.) are not exempt — registration is required.
Register at sss.gov/register — takes a few minutes online. [SSS: Who needs to register]
Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows pre-approved travellers to clear customs faster when entering the United States. As a permanent resident, you are eligible to apply — British citizens can participate. It is worth doing!
- Use dedicated Global Entry kiosks at US airports — skip the regular customs queue entirely
- Includes TSA PreCheck automatically — no separate application needed. Means expedited security screening at US domestic airports: no removing shoes, laptops, or liquids
- Makes re-entry to the US significantly faster, especially at busy international airports like JFK, LAX, and Heathrow. Also available at U.S. pre-clearance in Dublin and Shannon. Can use at land borders re-entering the U.S. from Canada
- Fee: $120 for a 5-year membership
- Children under 18 are free — they can be added to a parent's account at no extra cost
- Many US credit cards cover the application fee as a benefit — check cards like Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture, and Citi cards. If you or your US citizen spouse hold one of these, the fee is likely covered
- Permanent residents are eligible — green card holders can apply regardless of nationality
Source: CBP — Global Entry
- Create an account at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov (Trusted Traveler Programs portal)
- Complete the online application — takes around 20 minutes. Provide travel history, employment, and background information
- Wait for conditional approval — typically a few days to a few weeks
- Schedule an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Alternatively, your Global Entry enrollment interview can be completed without the need to schedule an appointment at an Enrollment Center. Enrollment on Departure (EoD) and Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) are two convenient options.
- Bring your green card, passport, and any other documents listed in your approval notice
- Note that flight bookings must include your Known Traveler Number aka your Global Entry number on your booking to get the benefit!
Processing times vary. Applying early in your LPR status gives more time before your next international trip. As an LPR you will receive a physical Global Entry card (eligible British citizens who are not LPRs can apply, but Global Entry is tied only to the passport. Not all nationalities who are not LPRs can apply).
London members have set up regional Signal groups for ongoing support after arrival. These are independent community groups, not affiliated with American Visa Guide or any official organisation. They use Signal so you do not need to exchange phone numbers until you are ready.
- California: Join group
- Massachusetts / New England: Join group
- Texas: Join group
Your data helps the community — takes 5 minutes
Once you have arrived as a lawful permanent resident, there are further steps to understand — protecting your status when you travel, removing the conditions on a CR1 green card, and eventually applying for US citizenship. Each section below includes a checklist of the key forms involved.
Your green card grants lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, but that status can be lost if you abandon it. The key question USCIS and CBP ask is: do you intend to make the United States your permanent home?
- Under 6 months: generally fine — green card is valid for re-entry
- 6 months to 1 year: CBP may question whether you have abandoned residence. Be prepared to show strong US ties (employment, home, tax filings, family)
- Over 1 year: your green card alone is not sufficient for re-entry. You should apply for a Reentry Permit (Form I-131) before leaving the US — processing takes 3–6 months and must be filed while physically in the US
- Over 2 years: a reentry permit will have expired. You may need to apply for a Returning Resident Visa (SB-1) at a US Embassy
Source: USCIS — International Travel as a Permanent Resident
- Duration and frequency of absences from the US
- Whether you maintained a US home, employment, and bank accounts
- Whether you filed US income taxes as a resident
- Whether your immediate family remained in the US
- Whether you held a valid US driver's licence and maintained a US mailing address
- Whether you owned property or ran a business in the US
A reentry permit preserves your green card status but does not protect continuous residence for naturalization purposes. An absence of 6 months or more may disrupt the continuous residence clock. An absence of 1 year or more will generally break it entirely, resetting your eligibility unless you file Form N-470 (Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes) before leaving. Source: USCIS Form I-131 Instructions
10-year green cards should be renewed using Form I-90 before they expire. USCIS recommends filing 6 months before expiry. An expired card does not mean you have lost LPR status, but it may affect employment verification and travel. Source: USCIS — Form I-90
- Must be filed while physically in the US — cannot be filed from abroad
- Form I-131 completed online or by mail
- Copy of your green card (front and back)
- Passport-style photo
- Filing fee: check USCIS fee schedule
- Biometrics appointment will be scheduled after filing
- Permit is valid for 2 years — apply at least 3–6 months before departure
If you entered on a CR1 visa (married less than 2 years at the time of US entry), you received a 2-year conditional green card. You must file Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) to upgrade it to a permanent 10-year green card. If you do not file, your conditional status terminates automatically when the card expires.
You must file I-751 during the 90-day window immediately before your 2-year green card expires. Look at the "Card Expires" date on your green card and count back 90 days — that is your earliest filing date.
- Filing even one day too early: USCIS will reject and return the petition
- Filing after expiry: your conditional status automatically terminates
- USCIS sends a Form I-797C Receipt Notice — this automatically extends your conditional green card for 48 months past its expiry date, allowing you to live and work legally while your petition is processed
- Processing time as of 2026: typically 21–24 months — some cases longer
- USCIS has increased scrutiny in 2026 and may require an in-person interview
Source: USCIS — Form I-751
I-751 requires evidence that your marriage is genuine. Strong evidence includes:
- Joint bank account statements
- Joint lease or mortgage
- Joint tax returns
- Insurance policies naming each other as beneficiaries
- Birth certificates of children born to the marriage
- Photos together over time with dates and locations
- Correspondence, travel records, affidavits from people who know you as a couple
You can file Form N-400 (naturalization) while your I-751 is still pending — you do not need to wait for I-751 approval before applying for citizenship, as long as you are otherwise eligible. Filing N-400 can sometimes prompt USCIS to adjudicate the I-751 more quickly. This is a legitimate and commonly used strategy. Seek legal advice if you are unsure of your timing.
- Form I-751 (joint petition with spouse, or waiver)
- Copy of your 2-year conditional green card (front and back)
- Filing fee: check USCIS fee schedule
- Evidence of bona fide marriage: joint accounts, lease/mortgage, tax returns, photos, insurance
- Passport-style photos (if filing by mail)
- If divorced: divorce decree or evidence proceedings have begun
- File during the 90-day window before card expires — not before, not after
If your minor children immigrated with you on IR2 or CR2 visas, they may already be US citizens — automatically, by operation of law. Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (INA §320), a child born outside the US automatically acquires US citizenship the moment all of the following are true:
- At least one parent is a US citizen (by birth or naturalization)
- The child is under 18
- The child is a lawful permanent resident (green card or I-551 stamp)
- The child resides in the US in the legal and physical custody of the US citizen parent
No application is needed to acquire citizenship — it happens automatically when the last condition is met. What you do need is proof. There are two ways to document it: a US passport (Form DS-11, through the Department of State) and a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600, through USCIS). The passport is faster and cheaper; the certificate never expires and is the permanent record. Many families start with the passport.
Sources: US Department of State — Obtaining US Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act · USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part H, Ch. 4 — Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship after Birth (INA 320)
Apply in person at a passport acceptance facility — most commonly a USPS post office. Both parents/guardians must appear with the child, or the absent parent must provide a notarised Form DS-3053 consent. Per the State Department, submit:
- Proof of relationship to the US citizen parent: certified copy of the child's foreign birth certificate (with translation if not in English)
- Proof of LPR admission: the child's permanent resident card, or foreign passport with I-551 stamp
- Evidence of the US citizen parent's citizenship (e.g. US passport or naturalisation certificate) and photo ID
- Evidence the child resides in the US with the US citizen parent — the green card alone is not proof of residence. Provide at least two documents such as a lease or rental agreement naming the household, school enrolment records, or medical/doctor records
- Completed Form DS-11, passport photo, and fees
Fees: $135 total for a child's passport book ($100 application fee paid to the Department of State plus $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility). Expedited service is an additional $60. Routine processing is typically 4–6 weeks; expedited 2–3 weeks, plus mailing time. Check the current fee chart before applying.
Sources: State Department — Apply for a Child's Passport (Under 16) · State Department — Passport Fees
- Members report being told at the post office that a photocopy of the green card is sufficient — and then receiving a request for the original, delaying the application by weeks. The State Department requires original or certified documents with photocopies, so include the child's physical green card with the application even if the acceptance agent says a copy will do. You will then have to mail it separately if it is requested later
- Once the child's citizenship is documented, the green card no longer reflects their status — do not expect to rely on it again
- Including a copy of your lease or rental agreement showing the child living at the US citizen parent's address has worked well as residence evidence
- Community timelines: passports received in roughly 3–4 weeks with expedited service, around 6 weeks routine
Community-reported experience, 2026. Official document requirements: State Department — Citizenship Evidence
The passport proves citizenship but expires (5 years for under-16s). A Certificate of Citizenship from USCIS never expires and is the definitive lifetime record that citizenship was acquired under INA §320. It is not required, and the filing fee is substantial — check the current fee before deciding. Many families obtain the passport first and file the N-600 later, or keep careful certified copies of the underlying evidence instead.
Source: USCIS — Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
- Wait until the child has their physical green card (and ideally their SSN card) in hand
- Form DS-11 — do not sign until instructed by the acceptance agent
- Child's certified foreign birth certificate + translation if needed (original and photocopy)
- Child's physical green card (original and photocopy of front and back)
- US citizen parent's proof of citizenship and photo ID (originals and photocopies)
- Two or more documents showing the child lives with the US citizen parent (lease/rental agreement, school records, medical records)
- Both parents present, or notarised DS-3053 from the absent parent
- Passport photo, application fee ($100 cheque to US Department of State) and $35 execution fee — plus $60 if expediting
Eligibility pathways
- Must be married to and living with your US citizen spouse
- 3 years continuous residence as an LPR
- Physical presence in the US for at least 18 months of those 3 years
- Can apply up to 90 days before the 3-year mark
CR1 holders: I-751 must be filed before or alongside N-400. You cannot receive citizenship without conditions being removed — but you can file both simultaneously.
Applies to: IR2 (child), IR5 (parent), F1/F2/F3/F4, and IR1/CR1 holders no longer living with their US citizen spouse.
- 5 years continuous residence as an LPR
- Physical presence in the US for at least 30 months of those 5 years
- Can apply up to 90 days before the 5-year mark
Continuous residence means maintaining your principal dwelling in the US for the required period. It is distinct from physical presence, which must also be met separately.
- Absences over 6 months create a presumption of broken residence
- Absences of 1 year or more automatically break continuous residence and reset your eligibility clock, unless you filed Form N-470 before leaving
- Short trips are fine but USCIS evaluates the overall pattern: home, employment, family ties, taxes all count
Core requirements
- Age 18 or older
- Continuous residence maintained (3 or 5 years depending on category)
- Physical presence requirement met
- Good moral character
- Basic English proficiency (reading, writing, speaking)
- Pass the civics test (100 questions — 10 asked, 6 correct required)
Application process
Online via USCIS account. Fee: $710 online / $760 paper. Biometrics included — no separate fee.
Fingerprinting at a USCIS Application Support Centre.
English and civics test. Review of your application. Most applicants are approved at interview.
Take the Oath of Allegiance — you become a US citizen at this moment.
Timeline
N-400 to interview: typically 6–12 months, though this varies significantly by field office. Interview to oath: same day to several months depending on location.
Check current processing times at USCIS Processing Times
English & civics test exemptions
| Condition | Exemption |
|---|---|
| Age 50+ with 20 years as LPR | English test waived — interview in native language |
| Age 55+ with 15 years as LPR | English test waived — interview in native language |
| Age 65+ with 20 years as LPR | Simplified civics test (65/20 list) |
Free test preparation resources
- USCIS official civics question bank and practice materials
- Public libraries — ESL classes, citizenship prep, 1:1 tutoring (free)
- Community college adult education and literacy programmes
- State adult literacy programmes
Private tutors and paid prep courses exist but are generally unnecessary — free resources are typically sufficient. Source: USCIS — Form N-400
- Form N-400 filed online via USCIS online account
- Filing fee: $710 online / $760 paper (biometrics included)
- Copy of your green card (front and back)
- If CR1 holder: evidence I-751 has been filed (receipt notice)
- Tax returns for the past 3 or 5 years
- Travel records: list of all trips outside the US (dates, destinations, duration)
- Any arrest records or court dispositions (if applicable)
- Study the 100 civics questions