Hey everyone,<p>I'm an immigrant seeking information on how to get started in the US. Apart of the obligations of signing up with Selective Service, getting a SSN, setup a bank account, etc. I'm especially interested in the best ways of finding a job, house, friends, etc. and in terms of financial security, what to look out for when searching for a job. My background is Computer Science/Economics (M.Sc.) with 5+ years experience in IT consultancy and software engineering (iOS/Android).<p>Thanks for the help.
1. House - get a roommate (or 3) if you're young and have no family living with you. They will be your main friend(s)<p>2. Get a secured credit card from a credit union to build up your credit<p>3. Take out a loan with said credit union after a few months (even if you don't need it)<p>4. Friends --- work, meetup.com, gym classes, sports leagues,
random bars if you're an extrovert. Go everywhere you are invited.<p>5. Job - Use consulting firms here to get contracts and work your way in. Look for healthcare mainly,but a job in a decent sized city so you can connect with others (after an ok salary of course)<p>6. Phone - Get a cheap prepaid cell
You will realize soon that getting a phone can be very tricky.<p>Pre-paid plans are incredibly expensive and in order to get postpaid plan you need to have a credit history which takes over a year to build.<p>I made some friends and then joined one of their existing plans while I waited to build my own credit history.<p>Meetup.com is a good resource to get involved in the community and make friends. Also look for local volunteering opportunities on weekends to get you started on a social circle.