How long does it take to move to United States?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 20 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to United States?

Driving licences, property rules and how health insurance works all depend heavily on which state you land in.

How much of the United States guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to United States

Moving to United States, step by step

20 steps for your move to United States - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for United States

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
The US has no single 'a visa' - which category you qualify under (and whether that leads to a green card at all) decides everything else in this list, and the wrong assumption here costs months.
9 steps
2
First few weeks after you arrive
What you can apply for next depends entirely on what status you arrived with.
3 steps
3
First three months
A number that unlocks work and banking, then health cover and a driving credential - both run by the state, not the federal government.
4 steps
4
Steps for the children
School enrolment is local, and a 2025 tax-law change now ties the federal Child Tax Credit to Social Security Numbers for both parent and child.
2 steps
5
If you are buying property
Optional - skip if you are renting. Rules and even outright restrictions on foreign buyers are set state by state, not nationally.
2 steps

9 of the 20 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in United States

911 Emergency services
1-800-375-5283 USCIS Contact Center

Things people don't expect about moving to United States

State, not federal, decides a lot of the practical stuff
Driving licences, property rules and how health insurance works all depend heavily on which state you land in.
Health insurance isn't automatic or simple
There's no default public system to fall back on - understand your options before you need care, not during an emergency.
Your visa type dictates almost everything downstream
What you can and can't do depends entirely on the specific visa category, and the rules between categories differ more than people expect.

Questions people ask about moving to United States

How long does it take to move to United States?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, First few weeks after you arrive, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 20 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to United States?
Driving licences, property rules and how health insurance works all depend heavily on which state you land in.
How much of the United States guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to United States from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for United States - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to United States

Moving to United States, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

First few weeks after you arrive

First three months

Steps for the children

If you are buying property

If you get stuck in United States

Things people don't expect about moving to United States

State, not federal, decides a lot of the practical stuff

Health insurance isn't automatic or simple

Your visa type dictates almost everything downstream