When you start living as an immigrant, every day seems to pose a different challenge altogether. From fulfilling job requirements to meeting immigrant law specifications, you have your work cut out for you every step of the way.
That is why it is essential to have as much legal information at hand as possible. This not only helps you navigate your new home country with ease but also helps you steer clear of preventable issues.
To support you through this journey, here are five things to know as an immigrant in the US.
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1. Being an Immigrant is Not the Same as Being a Citizen
When you get a new job, you make it a point to be aware of major HR activities in your new organization. Similar to that mindset, it is crucial to learn about the rules associated with being a new immigrant. This helps you understand what to expect with your new status in the US.
Whether you applied for asylum with a withholding of removal or moved due to career obligations, your status as an immigrant does not equal being a US citizen. You can only become a citizen after living in the US for a few years and going through the naturalization process. This is an important point to keep in mind.
2. You May Need Some Help From Official Resources
Speaking of naturalization, you can learn more about the topic through official resources, such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Keeping these platforms in mind also helps you with other avenues, including but not limited to employment, education, and residence. This ensures that you can maneuver through your new home with reliable information.
If you want to keep specific information with you, storing details through a note-taking platform may help. This ensures that you have crucial info at your fingertips at all times. In turn, you can navigate through different situations in light of official rules and policies. This saves you from inadvertently ending up in hot water with the authorities.
3. It’s Important to Keep Your Papers With You
If you are traveling non-stop to visit famous landmarks or see relatives, you must keep your immigration papers with you. In case you happen to be checked by law enforcement agencies, the availability of your documentation keeps you out of unnecessary trouble and stress.
You don’t need to move mountains to fulfill this necessity. In fact, a sleek leather wallet is more than enough to keep all required papers in check. For further assurance, you can also make copies of your important documents and store them in more than one place for safekeeping. This particular measure saves you from undue grief if you happen to misplace your original papers.
4. You Will Need to Abide by Tax Obligations
Even when you have not gone through the naturalization process, you must file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year. Many businesses find benefits in hiring chartered accountants for this purpose. As an immigrant, you can get support through an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. It is important to remember this task because it can affect your naturalization in the future.
While doing your taxes, you can also get help from third-party tools, such as a tax filing app. This ensures that you can easily move forward with filing your taxes, avoid any unnecessary delays, and stay on top of this highly crucial obligation. While the first instance of filing your taxes can seem daunting, the practice becomes familiar with time.
5. Keep Your Long Term Goals in Mind
Many immigrants in the US move to the country with the thought of becoming US citizend. If you have the same goals, you must keep the necessary requirements in mind. This includes physically residing in the US for three to five years and pledging your allegiance to the US permanently.
You should also note that becoming a US citizen requires a long wait as well as an interview. A Naturalization Test is also a part of the process, which is a test where you need to answer questions about civics and the English language. Once you are ready to take on these requirements, you can apply for citizenship.
By keeping these details in mind, you can obtain significant comfort during your experience of living as an immigrant. This ensures that you are steering clear of undue stress while living in the land of the free.
