When relocating to the USA, there will be a wide range of high-quality accommodations on offer, and multiple ways of securing your accomodation. As expected, accommodation in the major cities will be significantly more expensive that rural surrounding areas, so there are options to suit all budgets.

Accommodation in the USA is typically divided into the following categories:

• Apartments
• Single family homes (stand-alone houses on a small plot of land)
• Duplexes (two or more homes housed in the same building)
• Condos (a community of homes, that all look very similar and share amenities)
• Mansions (larger, more extravagant homes that are on a large plot of land)

There will also be many opportunities to 'house-share' in or nearby to your desired city. There are many websites that can be found using a simple search that will allow you to carry out long and short-term accommodation searches. If you come across any web portals that require payment or the submission of personal information, we advise that you avoid them.

It can be very difficult, when moving to a brand new city, to know which neighborhoods are going to be suitable for you and your family. You're not going to get a good understanding of a neighborhood by doing an internet search. So it could be a good idea to use a short-term rental site such as Airbnb to secure accommodation for a few weeks, whilst you review the local area. A drive around different neighborhoods to review their suitability, keeping an eye out for rental signs, is a great idea.

As an ex-pat, once you've found a suitable property, you'll need to tender a lease application. In most cases, you'll need to prove that you're committed and demonstrate that you can afford the rental cost. Credit and background checks are often carried out and references from previous landlords are requested. It would be a good idea to include these references along with your application.

You'll typically be required to pay the first month's rent, upfront, and the equivalent of an additional month to cover a security deposit. Some utilities will be included in your rental cost, but they're normally at the extra expense of the tenant. These additional costs include gas, electricity, water, waste, and a phone/internet connection.

You can use our free online cost of living calculator, to compare the price of accommodation across the USA, and worldwide. 

If you are searching for work in the US, you'll need to acquire a visa.

There are a total of 185 visas and they fall into two main categories: immigrant visas; are for people who are planning to move to the US permanently. Non-immigrant visas; These are for those who are temporarily visiting the county for work, traveling, and business.

To become a resident in America, you'll need a residence permit, this is commonly known as a green card. Having a green card is extremely beneficial, as it will allow you to receive various types of education and health benefits. The green card will help you work and live in the USA for up to ten years. If you wish to have a residency permit, there are many available such as employment-based green card, family-based green card or you can participate in a green card lottery; this lottery can assist you in winning a stable and permanent residency in America.

If you plan to apply for a family-based green card, you must obtain a sponsor upon application, either a partner or relative, and need to be at least twenty-one. If you wish to apply for a family-based green card, your sponsor must complete an I-130 form, Immigrant Petition for an alien relative, and a registration fee.

If you're applying for an employment-based green card, you'll only receive this card if you are intending to work in the US. However, there is a limit on how many employment-based green cards are issued per year. After receiving a green card, you can potentially apply for US citizenship. To apply for citizenship you must be eighteen years or older and must be a green card holder for five years or more. But this will be reduced to three years if you're married to an American citizen. After this, you'll need to go through a process named the 'ten-step naturalization process'.

When registering, you'll need to complete the N-400 form as soon as possible. This form will ask you to fill in your details, employment history, and marital history. You'll also need to submit two pictures of yourself; these images must be the size of a passport photograph. Additionally, you must provide the following documentation

• A copy of your green card - Your passport.
• Your visa
• Your birth certificate.

If any of these documents aren’t in English they must be translated as soon as possible before or after arrival.

After completing this document, you'll need to send this documentation to the USCIS office. Once an application is completed and sent off it will be processed by the USCIS office. Once processed, you'll be asked to take a biometric verification at the USCIS office. As part of this verification process, you'll need to submit your fingerprints upon registration. Afterward, you'll need to sit for a naturalization interview; this is where you'll be asked questions covering your background and the application that you submitted. As part of this process, you must provide honest answers, answering falsely can lead to instantaneous rejection of your application and citizenship. You'll also be tested on your ability to read, write, speak and understand English.

When moving to a new country, various insurances are required to keep you and others safe. In America, it is mandatory for citizens to have health care insurance.

However, if your income falls under the poverty level, you're entitled to government funding and support for all the financial aspects of your health insurance. If you're a permanent US resident who has been in the US for at least five years, you can request a health program named Medicaid. Medicaid is a public health insurance program that is funded by incoming tax; this is frequently used by low-income adults, children, and people with certain disabilities.

There are many different health insurance options for anyone who doesn't fall into this bracket, which include health maintenance organizations, exclusive provider organizations, point of service plans, and preferred provider organizations.

If you're eligible to drive, you must legally register your car; the price of car insurance will depend on which state you are planning to relocate to. Certain states require more thorough coverage than others and some states will require you to file an injury claim after an accident. When driving, you'll also need liability insurance to help guarantee you can repay any damages if there is an accident to your car. However, there is no requirement for Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP; this insurance will help cover medical bills if either passenger or driver is involved in an accident. This, again, varies from state to state.

In America it's vital to have Homeowners insurance; this policy helps cover property damage.  Other potential insurance options may include long-term disability coverage and life insurance.

When moving to a different country, opening a bank account will be the main priority; a lot of banks within the US can enforce fees on foreign transactions, therefore, open an account makes financial sense.

In America, banks rely on face-to-face exchanges so we recommend you go into a bank when handling paperwork. When opening an account, you'll need to obtain a variety of documentation. However, this will vary depending on the bank you choose; banks will ask for a Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification, ID, US address, proof of address, minimum deposit, and a US phone number.

There are three common bank account types; these are named checking accounts. These accounts are used for deposits and withdrawals, which will be used for salary deposits and help pay any bills you will gain after becoming a resident. With checking accounts, you will be given a checkbook as well as a debit card, and saving accounts are for long deposits and accumulated interests. These accounts often have minimum balance requirements and interest rates; of course, this will vary depending on your chosen bank.

If you're a non-resident of the US, it's advised that you set up an account with one of the larger banks; as some smaller banks may not be able to provide non-resident account applications.

Before making an appointment with the bank you wish to apply to, you must call in advance and check the requirements for non-residents.

Traveling around a new country can be a daunting task. However, there are various options at hand for traveling around the US, from public transport and driving to flying.

Public transport within the US can differ between various states and cities. Larger city areas have access to buses, subways, trams, taxis, and ferries; with taxis being the most common within major cities, but, they’re one of the more expensive ways to travel, for sure. When traveling by taxi, you're expected to pay a tip of at least 10% to your driver.

For longer distances, shuttles and buses are widely available and should be used more often because they are effective, cheaper, and effortless to use. Trains are most common and frequently used by US citizens as the journeys are relatively shorter; tickets can be bought from the station, long-distance traveling via train is possible, but with the absence of routes available, it can make traveling long-distance tough.

Due to the US being a large country, flying is used the most often for longer journeys and is the most convenient due to it being relatively cheap. However, the pricing may vary depending on which state you'll be traveling to.

If you wish to drive and are visiting the US on a ninety-day visitor visa, you can obtain an international driving license which will allow you to drive in all states. If you're planning to stay for longer than three months, you'll need to apply for a new driving license in your state. If you wish to apply for an American driving license you must visit the DMV, to complete a driving test, theory written exam, and an application.

To apply for an American license you'll need the following documentation; social security number, visa/green card, passport, proof of residency, and pay all the related fees required.

You can use our free online cost of living calculator to compare the cost of traveling across America, and worldwide. 

When relocating to a new country with children, their education willl be at the top of your list of priorities.

Education within the US offers a range of choices for international students.

The US education system is divided into three levels, elementary (Grades K-five), Middle school (Grades six to eight), and high school (Grades nine to twelve).

Before your child reaches the level of education, preschool is available for children between three to five.

Children start education at the age of six; commonly known as an elementary age, where they will attend for five to six years before transitioning to secondary school.

Secondary school consists of middle school and high school; once your child has completed the additional seven years of secondary education, they will receive a diploma or certificate.

After graduating high school, students can go to higher education, such as college or university, which will be an additional 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree.

School terms usually begin in August or September and will continue through to May or June. The academic year within a US school consists of two or three terms which are called semesters.

Students will take 6 one-hour classes or four for ninety minutes within the high school with 10-minute breaks between classes. The school day within both elementary and high schools can vary depending on your child's enrollment; however, schools will usually run from 8:00 am-3:30 pm, with an hour for lunch.