My Green Card Story: From Frankfurt to New York
Getting Started
After I received the temporary visa, I had 6 months to enter the U.S. or it would expire. I assumed that the visa could be re-issued (perhaps for a fee) but that I would face questions about how serious I was about the opportunity. For this reason, I wanted to move quickly.
|
Arriving at New York’s Kennedy airport for my interview trip in March 1998 started the final stage of the immigration process. Immigration officers examined my temporary visa (in a separate room, slightly intimidating), took finger prints, asked a few questions, and told me that the card would be mailed to the address I had provided. I now had a ‘I-551’ stamp in my passport, which served as temporary Green Card. It took about an hour before they let me go.
|
The plan was that one of the interviews in New York, Boston, Sarasota, and Irvine would land me a job. I thought to return to Germany and relocate within in a few weeks after first entry. Although I preferred to have a position secured by the time I moved, I was ready to relocate regardless.
After completing 8 interviews with 3 companies and 1 recruiter, I received and accepted a job offer. New York would become my new home. Things had progressed remarkably fast.
Packing up and getting ready for my move was relatively simple. I had opted not to ask for financial relocation assistance so not to jeopardize receiving a job offer. Hence, I had to do the move on my own. Though on the other hand, I lived alone and moving an entire household wasn’t necessary. Further, I decided not to ship furniture or other large household items to New York (and thus accepted that I would have to purchase everything there). I sold some of my belongings and left the remainder in the basement of my parent's home. In parallel, I submitted my resignation at work and prepared to hand off my responsibilities. My department head had known for a while that I was leaving. With his support, I had interviewed in two of the company's U.S. offices, but by the time they were ready to continue the dialog it was too late. I am glad that they never offered me a job in the U.S. The company went out of business in 2001.
A few examples from my moving to-do list:
After completing 8 interviews with 3 companies and 1 recruiter, I received and accepted a job offer. New York would become my new home. Things had progressed remarkably fast.
Packing up and getting ready for my move was relatively simple. I had opted not to ask for financial relocation assistance so not to jeopardize receiving a job offer. Hence, I had to do the move on my own. Though on the other hand, I lived alone and moving an entire household wasn’t necessary. Further, I decided not to ship furniture or other large household items to New York (and thus accepted that I would have to purchase everything there). I sold some of my belongings and left the remainder in the basement of my parent's home. In parallel, I submitted my resignation at work and prepared to hand off my responsibilities. My department head had known for a while that I was leaving. With his support, I had interviewed in two of the company's U.S. offices, but by the time they were ready to continue the dialog it was too late. I am glad that they never offered me a job in the U.S. The company went out of business in 2001.
A few examples from my moving to-do list:
|
|
My family was a little upset about my imminent departure. I probably left as fast as I did so that I couldn’t be tempted to change my mind. For me, this wasn’t a temporary move to see ‘how it goes’. I was confident that I could get organized and adjust to work, culture, people, and the city. I was planning to stay. After all this time, I remain amazed about the determination I showed at the time.
Shortly after arrival, I prioritized the following:
Shortly after arrival, I prioritized the following:
- Obtained an employment confirmation letter from my employer (useful for opening a bank account and when applying for an apartment rental)
- Requested a Social Security Number (requires passport and cash for a fee, is sent by mail); never share this number except if required by employer, bank, or tax accountant (protect the number to prevent identify theft)
- Began looking for a permanent place to live (using brokers, the Internet, personal contacts)
- Obtained official state identification (U.S. driver license is the most common form); requirements for the driving test vary from state to state (I had no plans to buy a car but got the license anyway since a more recent license issue date leads insurers to assumptions about a driver's experience)
|
I had asked my company's human resources department if they have a relationship with a particular bank and received two recommendations. Little did I know that being a new resident would make it so difficult to open an account. The reason being: when opening new customer accounts (e.g. credit cards, mortgages, loans), banks and credit card companies verify the customer's credit history. Well, there is a catch.
|
Having no Social Security Number and no credit history (let's say, you never lived in the country before now) means that banks etc. cannot verify the credit worthiness of a new customer (since there is no historical data), making it difficult to get them to agree to open an account (they might conclude that you could be a risky customer or fraudster). However, if you cannot open accounts and begin using credit cards (or take out a loan), you cannot begin building a credit history. This history is evaluated based on, amongst other data points, historical account balances and reliability of past repayments. Luck was on my side again: a bank manager opened my account and agreed to wait for the requested Social Security Number I expected within days, and he also ensured that the account stayed open despite all credit information services alerting the bank to my missing credit history.
Building a credit history can take one to two years. I took on a small debt (installment account for monthly subscription payments) and began using credit cards (reasonably). I paid off balances in full and on a monthly basis to avoid the interest charges. Further, I opened a savings account to build a cash balance over time by funding it automatically and on a monthly basis. This is more relevant in case you want an emergency cash reserve fund (highly recommended) and when you apply for apartment rentals. Many landlords will want to see how big the tenants cash reserve is. I did not apply for any of the many credit cards I received offers for by mail (too many cards won’t work in your credit history's favor either). But I had contacted American Express and explained that I am a German customer who is now a resident and requires a U.S. card. I had kept my German Amex card for this reason and received a U.S. Amex a few weeks later. Luck again.
The Social Security Number is also used when employers conduct background checks. This was not an issue for my first job in New York, since the company knew that there was no history about me. As it is not common in the U.S. for employers to issue reference letters when an employee is leaving a job, and since some candidate resumes overstate qualifications, or omit unfavorable details, some hiring companies conduct background checks. An offer letter for a position then might include a statement such as “employment is contingent on completed background check”. This might look tentative to a candidate, but an offer letter is binding for the company. Unless a resume includes, for example, non-existing academic degrees (which could mean that the job offer is rescinded since the candidate lied on the resume), there should be no issue with a background check and the new hire joins the company.
A few more items (a mixed bag, actually...) about getting oriented in your new home, city, world:
Regarding saving for your retirement: if you just arrived in the country, you have a lot to learn. You may also not immediately have a good sense of your monthly cash flow. It may not be advisable to do all of the above at once. Especially financial matters, in which I include medical and dental insurance concerns, are complex and need to be understood. It may be plausible that you prioritize getting your insurance coverage right first, then start a rainy day savings fund, and only a few months later begin looking at retirement savings, 401(k), brokerage account etc.
Building a credit history can take one to two years. I took on a small debt (installment account for monthly subscription payments) and began using credit cards (reasonably). I paid off balances in full and on a monthly basis to avoid the interest charges. Further, I opened a savings account to build a cash balance over time by funding it automatically and on a monthly basis. This is more relevant in case you want an emergency cash reserve fund (highly recommended) and when you apply for apartment rentals. Many landlords will want to see how big the tenants cash reserve is. I did not apply for any of the many credit cards I received offers for by mail (too many cards won’t work in your credit history's favor either). But I had contacted American Express and explained that I am a German customer who is now a resident and requires a U.S. card. I had kept my German Amex card for this reason and received a U.S. Amex a few weeks later. Luck again.
The Social Security Number is also used when employers conduct background checks. This was not an issue for my first job in New York, since the company knew that there was no history about me. As it is not common in the U.S. for employers to issue reference letters when an employee is leaving a job, and since some candidate resumes overstate qualifications, or omit unfavorable details, some hiring companies conduct background checks. An offer letter for a position then might include a statement such as “employment is contingent on completed background check”. This might look tentative to a candidate, but an offer letter is binding for the company. Unless a resume includes, for example, non-existing academic degrees (which could mean that the job offer is rescinded since the candidate lied on the resume), there should be no issue with a background check and the new hire joins the company.
A few more items (a mixed bag, actually...) about getting oriented in your new home, city, world:
- Carry a passport until you obtained a driver license
- Use a personal expense budget, track expenses, and monitor cash flow, at least in the first year
- Work salary may be paid twice a month
- Many bills (power, gas, telecom, etc.) are paid monthly
- Review, as soon as possible, your employers' retirement benefits, incl. pre-tax investment options (stocks, bonds, funds, known as 401k); if available to you, carefully study the provided brochures and make investment choices considering your risk appetite and desired investment mix
- Also consider opening a personal brokerage account to invest in the stock market, to build a retirement nest egg
- Check your earnings statement for deductions: taxes, social security, commuter benefits, voluntary insurance, etc. (check everything directly taken out of the paycheck)
- Study health insurance coverage options (medical, dental:)
- Estimate your need and the impact of lower out-of-pocket expenses and a higher premium vs. higher out-of-pocket expenses and a lower premium
- If you have no employer-provided medical coverage, research options to buy insurance in the market (always have insurance, even a short hospital visit can be ruinous)
- If offered, consider using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), where qualified medical expenses can be purchased with pre-tax funds
- Select a primary physician who accepts your insurance ('in network') and discuss medication needs (bring the packaging of drugs for which you may require the U.S. equivalent, the Latin descriptions of ingredients may be useful to identify a U.S. equivalent)
- Expect invoices from labs and doctor offices after a visit, for portions of the services/treatment that are not covered by insurance (some of these may be FSA eligible)
- Prescriptions may largely be covered by insurance and a co-pay may qualify to be paid from an FSA (some drugs can also be purchased ‘over-the-counter’)
- Research other insurance needs (renters, home owners, life, etc.) in due time, depending on need
- Hire a tax accountant (returns are due every year on April 15, separately for federal and state)
- Depending on your life situation and assets, consider hiring an attorney to create a last will and a living will
- Research broadband Internet options, if you live in a larger city there may be a lot of choices (phone companies, local Internet providers, utilities, TV providers)
- Get Voice over IP (i.e. a calling card) in case you want to call regular landlines at home (family, friends)
- Shop around for a mobile phone contract, wait for a 'deal' if you can (there are often discounts offered for new customers during holiday weekends)
- Learn about your city, neighborhood, streets, shops, other facilities such as gyms, parks, etc.
- Ge smart about highways (if you drive), busses, and trains
- Your employer will request the following:
- Form I-9 to certify employment eligibility (certifies that you are legally permitted to work in the US)
- Form W-4, to determine tax withholding allowances, which determines how much money is taken out of your paycheck (estimate this correctly so that you do not underpay)
- Check Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports annually and request that inaccuracies are corrected
- Consider subscribing to magazines from your home country (could be expensive) and locate Internet news sites to stay in touch with affairs at home (the Cable TV provider may have a few international channels, too)
- Look online for discussion forums or networking groups that may provide information you look for as you get started in your new home town, or introduce you to like-minded people (e.g. other immigrants)
- Opt-out from tele-marketing calls (federal do-not-call list) and advertising sent by regular mail (Direct Marketing Association)
- Consider purchasing identity theft protection services to monitor your identity and protect your assets
Regarding saving for your retirement: if you just arrived in the country, you have a lot to learn. You may also not immediately have a good sense of your monthly cash flow. It may not be advisable to do all of the above at once. Especially financial matters, in which I include medical and dental insurance concerns, are complex and need to be understood. It may be plausible that you prioritize getting your insurance coverage right first, then start a rainy day savings fund, and only a few months later begin looking at retirement savings, 401(k), brokerage account etc.
|
There is one last subject about which I cannot provide much practical advice, but plenty of opinion: cultural adjustment. Anyone moving to another country will experience the adjustment to culture, lifestyle, language, politics, economics, and society in their own way. In my case, there are many commonalities between German and U.S. societies. One might think that the adjustment should have been easy. It was not.
|
|
Recognizing that cultural differences affect the self, and the many ways they do, is not trivial and occasionally perhaps even painful. I can say this much: there is a lot of America that I like, and a few things that I dislike (I can say the same about Germany, by the way). But moving to New York was the single-best decision I made in my life. The pro's continuously outweigh the con's. I am not homesick. I do not regret what I gave up to start again. Coming here was right. Nevertheless, my cultural adjustment was challenging at times.
An example: one cliché about Americans is their alleged superficiality. They greet one another by saying 'how are you doing'. Or they say 'let's do dinner soon'. Some Europeans take these statements literally and share their aches and make specific plans for a meal. This can cause confusion, since (often) the greeting is simply a polite phrase and the invitation is an expression of courtesy. Such exchanges are not evidence of superficiality. They are part of the social protocol. It took me a while to become comfortable with the finer distinctions of this protocol. My personality certainly played an important role in how I learned to adjust. Yet many nuances relating to cultural, social, and interpersonal expectations and behaviors are informed by national origin. Intercultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, often provide learning opportunities, and occasionally cause extensive laughter (my American pop-culture knowledge gap can lead to quite funny misunderstandings). My main point here is that culture does not adjust to the individual. It is the individual who adjusts to the culture. And that takes time and a growth-oriented mind.
An example: one cliché about Americans is their alleged superficiality. They greet one another by saying 'how are you doing'. Or they say 'let's do dinner soon'. Some Europeans take these statements literally and share their aches and make specific plans for a meal. This can cause confusion, since (often) the greeting is simply a polite phrase and the invitation is an expression of courtesy. Such exchanges are not evidence of superficiality. They are part of the social protocol. It took me a while to become comfortable with the finer distinctions of this protocol. My personality certainly played an important role in how I learned to adjust. Yet many nuances relating to cultural, social, and interpersonal expectations and behaviors are informed by national origin. Intercultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, often provide learning opportunities, and occasionally cause extensive laughter (my American pop-culture knowledge gap can lead to quite funny misunderstandings). My main point here is that culture does not adjust to the individual. It is the individual who adjusts to the culture. And that takes time and a growth-oriented mind.
Reading is clearly no substitute for first-hand experience and immersion in a new culture (to learn). However, there are a few books that helped me understand U.S. society, culture, history, work, and life. In order of recommended reading-sequence:
|
|
* * *
It rained continuously and hard during my first weekend living in New York City in the summer of 1998, making it unattractive to leave the Bed & Breakfast. I wrote to my mother and a close friend since I had the urge to share my experience. A myriad of emotions came and went. I felt uprooted. Concerned about getting organized. Stressed about finding a place to live. On the positive side, though: I had figured out the subway system. My first week in the office went well. The new colleagues all seemed nice. I thought: "This is right. I need to be here." Now that I think back, it seems as if curiosity and determination made me look at the future not with fear, but as being a blank canvas. 1998 may have been the year I grew up.
