10 Practical Tips for Immigrants
By Sarah Bailey

Families immigrating to the United States will find that it can be overwhelming to navigate a new culture. If this is an adventure you’re facing, you’ll find that the right resources can help meet the needs of your family and make the transition easier for everyone overall.
Health Is Wealth. When immigrants first move to the U.S., they often find themselves without health care or insurance. Help reduce the burden with these resources:

1. One For Health Foundation is committed to helping kids become their best and healthiest selves through wellness instruction, nutrition guidance, and assistance for the whole family.
2. Families who have immigrated legally will benefit from Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
3. Vaccination is the best way to protect against illnesses such as measles, chickenpox, and more and is widely available for people of all ages in the country. Some may be required in the visa application process.

Work Options and Self-Employment

     Immigrants moving to the U.S. are often anxious to start earning a living. Finding work and accessing financial support may be easier than you think.

1. Depending on your immigration status, you can apply for Labor Certification to access work, though this is not necessary in many circumstances. Check out the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website to learn of the various options available.
2. A study by CareerBuilder shows that information technology is growing the most rapidly — 50% of companies in this industry expect to hire more workers within the year of the study, followed by 38% in financial services. Immigrants are likely to secure well-paying jobs in these sectors.
3. Immigrants who dream of owning a business may find that the U.S. is a great place to make it happen. Small Business Association loans can be accessed by immigrants and may help with the process.

Supporting Family from Afar

     Often, immigrants want to send financial support back home to loved ones. There are many ways for immigrants to offer support.

1. Sending money to loved ones back home is now easier than ever with a service like Remitly. The fee structure is competitive, too — it costs less than $5 to send funds to the Philippines if your recipient chooses to receive them in PHP.
2. You may also find that sending care packages back home can be a fun way to introduce loved ones to American foods and culture. Consider filling up a balikbayan box to send as many items as possible at a fixed rate.

Settling Into Your New Community

     Getting settled in a new area can be challenging, particularly when you have emigrated from another country. To ease your transition, consider a few ways to build connections and make yourself at home.

1. Consider meeting people in areas where new faces are frequently welcomed, like a church service or community meeting. Meetup groups for special interests are another fun way to introduce yourself while participating in a fun activity.
2. An important part of settling into your new area is setting up your home. You can find familiar reminders of your homeland through online vendors such as Tradeford, where you can also support Philippine businesses.

 
     Your new life in the U.S. awaits and the resources to help your transition abound! If you have a youngster who would benefit, check out One for Health  to find the resources they need to grow up healthy and well. 

​