Permanent Residents who have just moved to the United States should figure out how to get their social security card as quickly as possible. The social security program affects one’s life in three primary ways:

• You will need a social security number to hold a job;
• Social Security taxes will be automatically deducted from your paychecks; and
• You will eventually be able to collect social security payments after you retire.

Documentation

In order to get your social security card and number you will need to show a few different documents that show your identity, age, work eligibility and immigration status.

Age and identity can normally be demonstrated with your passport or other national identification document.

Work eligibility only needs to be shown if you are in the United States as a non-immigrant. Permanent Residents (green card holders) are automatically allowed to work and can prove their immigration status with the same document.

Non-immigrants will need to have both their Employment Authorization Documents and a copy of their visa.

Filing Form

Depending on where you currently reside you are to use one of the Applications for a Social Security Card:

• Outside of the United States you will use Form SS-5-FS.
• Inside of the United States you will use Form SS-5.

This form contains instructions and a series of questions regarding your demographic data and history.

Mailing the Form

You have the option to either mail the form into your local social security office or to turn it into those officials yourself. You can find the address to your local office online at SSA.gov.

With a green card you can live wherever you please in the United States and there are plenty of apartments to be had.

Finding the best apartment for you is a process. Here are some helpful hints for your search for your home-sweet-home.

Skylines often feature buildings that house both apartments and offices, like in this photo of Boston.

Planning

Planning out your move is integral to a successful transition to a new apartment. Not only will you have to arrange for utilities to be set up in your new home a couple weeks in advance of moving there, but it is also essential to manage the physical move in an efficient way.

Efficient planning will ensure that you have plenty of time to find your preferred living arrangement. There are many ways to search for an apartment, including:

• The newspaper,
• An apartment-finder magazine publication in your city,
• Online resources (accessible from public libraries), or
• A REALTOR who specializes in apartments and condominiums.

Funds

Many apartments require that you be able to supply a large sum of money before moving into the building. This move in payment includes:

• The first month’s rent,
• The last month’s rent,
• A security deposit of variable amounts.

The first month is the first month of your lease, the last month is the last month of your agreed upon lease.

Some apartments have specials which allow you to move in for significantly less money than that, but these are not always available. Often times you will need to save for a while to get an apartment.

Your rights

The United States, being a federal republic, has several levels of government. From the federal, to the state, and into city government there are laws which protect consumers when it comes to apartments.

It is important to understand your rights in these cases so as to not be exploited. However, many apartments are owned by organizations who are interested in the preservation of lawful conditions.

Online Banking

Bank accounts are very important for a variety of reasons in the United States:

• They keep your money safe,
• They help you build credit and relationships with financial institutions (which will help you get loans in the future),
• And they help you pay for things in a variety of ways.

After you create your bank account (which may require proof of legal immigration)you can then have the option to use online banking. With these secure and largely free services you can do a multitude of things online.

• Check your savings or checking accounts any time of the day from your own home.
• Pay bills automatically without writing a check.
• Transfer funds between accounts and banks with ease.
• Research information through your bank about loans and other banking programs.
• Managing your credit cards online is useful.
• You might also have the option to do your banking through your smartphone.

Security

With the added convenience of online banking also comes the added responsibility of greater security. Mostly, online banks are very secure, but that does not mean you are completely free of risk.

There are many steps you should take to ensure that you do not inadvertently give someone the opportunity to steal your identity.

• A good password, for your bank account and your email address, is an excellent start. A good password is one that uses both upper and lower case characters, symbols and numbers and does not have an immediately recognizable meaning.
• Shred documents when necessary. It’s probably best to have your bank statements sent to you through your email, but if you still choose to receive paper statements you should destroy these after a period of time.
• Don’t tell anyone your password or PIN ever. There is no one in the world who should know your password or PIN except for you. Many hackers simply contact you and ask for you to give up your personal information assuming that you are naïve enough to give it to them. Do not. Even the bank will not ask you what your password is.

Newcomers to the United States should look into the requirements of their state to obtain a driver’s license and operate a motor vehicle.

Because of the size of the United States driving is most often the easiest way to get around, but as with all machines, cars tend to break down eventually.

To prepare for this contingency, many insurance companies and car clubs have what is called roadside assistance. In other parts of the world this service is called Breakdown cover, but the service is the same.

If your car breaks down for some reason you can call up a roadside assistance company to help you get back on the road again and back on track to get to your destination.

Services provided by roadside assistance includes:

• Jump-starting discharged batteries.
• Changing flat or blown-out tires.
• Small amounts of fuel to get you to the next gas station.
• Getting your car out of mud or snow.
• Jimmying open cars which have their keys locked inside of them.
• Towing a car to a mechanic or garage for more complex car problems.

This service is relatively inexpensive and is often included in insurance plans or with the purchase of a new car. In the case of it coming with a new car, the service is often free for a certain amount of time.

While this service is very convenient and can get you out of a tight spot it should not be a replacement for regular car maintenance and repair. To keep your car functioning it should be taken into a garage regularly for oil changes, tire replacement and brake service  to prevent break downs on the road.

By keeping your car maintained you can be sure to be safer on the road and will likely spend significantly less on repairs, not to mention that your car will last much longer.

Of course, saving money is an important part of shopping for car insurance, but one must also pay particular attention to the benefits within those programs.

Benefits are wide ranging and not standardized. Each company offers something different. Make sure you are getting the right insurance for you and take your time researching the many car insurance companies.

Cost of Insurance

The cost of insurance is dramatically affected by a variety of circumstances which insurance companies believe impact risk. The monthly cost of car insurance is called a premium. This amount must be paid monthly (or at least on time) in order to maintain insurance. Lapses in insurance are looked down upon by the state and you may face a series of fines if you allow your insurance to lapse.

Below is a list of contributing factors to the cost of insurance premiums (the reason for why higher premiums are charged to some people is because they have a higher perceived risk when driving):

• Men are charged higher premiums than women.
• Younger people are charged higher premiums than older people.
• Drivers who have previously been involved in car accidents are charged higher premiums than drivers who have never been in an accident.
• The color of your car can even affect the cost of your premium. Red and yellow cars are often charged a higher premium than other colors.
• People whose daily commute to work is longer than others are often charged a higher premium.
• People who live in accident prone places in the United States are charged higher premiums.

Vehicle insurance, commonly referred to as car insurance, is regulated by each individual state and territory throughout the union and it is important to be familiar with your local requirements before purchasing insurance.

There are two general levels of auto insurance: liability and comprehensive.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance serves to protect you in the case that you happen to have an accident in your car. Without liability insurance the other vehicles involved in the accident can sue you directly and you would be directly responsible for the damage. When you have liability insurance, the company will pay for a great deal of these costs and generally prevent others involved in the accident from suing you directly for damages.

Comprehensive Insurance

Along with all of the benefits of liability insurance, comprehensive insurance has many other ancillary benefits. Some programs provide roadside assistance (covered in another one of our blogs this month), or cash to replace a totaled car.

Because of these added benefits, the cost of maintaining comprehensive insurance is much greater than liability, however, there are still some circumstances where the state may require you to keep this kind of insurance on your vehicle.

This marks the end of part one of our series on Car insurance “What Is Car Insurance?” Check back to AdjustmentofStatus.org on Wednesday for part two, “How to Get Car Insurance”.

Sometimes it may be a better idea to keep your green card at home. There are other documents that work just as well as a green card and are more commonly used. A driver’s license is an excellent example of a common ID.

Things that you may need an ID for include withdrawing money from the bank, applying for a job, buying a bottle of wine, or applying for government benefits. You’ll be asked to provide ID whenever you have to confirm your identity or age.

The green card document is useful because it not only establishes your age and identity, but it also shows your immigration status. The green card is absolutely essential for applying for government benefits or getting a job. You even need a green card to apply for a driver’s license in most states!

There are some states that currently require immigrants to always carry their green cards with them and more states attempting to institute similar legislation. However, the constitutionality of such laws is currently being examined because no one is quite sure whether or not it is racial discrimination.

Regardless of your particular states regulations on the matter, you should always keep your green card in a safe place. Be sure to have it renewed when it expires (green cards are most often good for 10 year periods) and replace it if it is ever lost, damaged or stolen.

Why Open a Bank Account?

Bank accounts are useful for a number of reasons such as:

• Establishing credit,
• Keeping your money safe, and
• Managing your money.

Keeping your pay at home under the mattress is probably not the best way to keep your funds secure. Also, when you go to pay for an apartment, a mortgage or other such bill having a bank account will make that process all the more simple.

With checks or a bank card you can easily pay for most things very easily.

Some employers have direct deposit programs where your paychecks are automatically deposited into your bank account on pay-day. This cuts out the hassle of having to go to the bank to deposit your checks in person.

Depending on your situation, it is possible that you will hardly ever have to enter a bank for any reason. Almost all bank transactions can be done online as long as you already have a bank account.

How to Get a Bank Account

The first step in getting a bank account is deciding which bank is the best option for you. The only way to decide this is through some research on your part. There are many banks available throughout the nation. Some are national and some are local. Be sure to examine their features closely to ensure the best match.

The best way to open a bank account is to go into the bank in person. There are many different kinds of accounts that you can open, but the primary two are checking and savings.

Checking accounts will be linked to your bank card and the checks that you can write. The savings account is for, rather obviously, saving money. Banks often give savings account holders a certain amount of money periodically for keeping the money in that account. This is called interest.

There are several different kinds of taxes and we will examine some of them here.

Federal and State Taxes

There are several levels of taxation in the United States regarding income. The money that you earn working at a job will be automatically taxed and deducted. This is called the Federal Income Tax. On April 15 of every year, Income tax returns must be filed with the IRS. Tax returns determine whether the United States owes you money for the year or if you owe the state money.

States sometimes have their own taxation systems and you should be sure to address these taxes during income tax season as well. It is important to recognize that there are many levels of taxes from Federal to State to county or municipality.

Sales Taxes

Most states in the US have sales taxes which are applied to every purchase. When you buy something, a certain percentage is calculated, added to the total and then it is the business’s responsibility to give this extra money to the government.

Property Taxes

Large possessions, like houses or boats, are sometimes subject to property taxes based on their market value. These taxes are most often implemented by local governments.

The Purpose of Taxes

Many people understandably ask themselves why, exactly, do they have to give the government money all the time?

The fact of the matter is that taxes are what makes society work. Without taxes there would be no money for public roads or services. Police departments would not exist and neither would fire departments. The army would not exist and not be able to defend the United States.

Taxes, while an unpleasant reality, are a necessity. It’s always better to pay one’s taxes because if you don’t the IRS can take a lot of your money and possessions.

When immigrating to the United States all form fees are paid for in US currency and it is highly advisable for immigrants to become familiar with United States coin and bill denominations.

Here are some of the most common coins in use:

• $0.01, also known as the penny or the cent. This coin is bronze and features President Lincoln.
• $0.05, also known as the nickel. Made out of nickel this coin is silvery looking and has a picture of President Jefferson on it.
• $0.10, also known as the dime. Made out of silver, this coin is smaller than the penny or the nickel and features a picture of President Franklin Roosevelt.
• $0.25, known as the quarter (as in quarter of a dollar) this coin has a portrait of President Washington on its face.

Some rarer, but still in circulation coins are:

• $0.50, or the half-dollar. Depending on which series it came from it could either have President Kennedy or Susan B. Anthony’s face on it.
• $1, or the Sacajawea Dollar. Although this coin looks golden it contains no gold whatsoever.

Bills, also called dollar bills have a greenish hue and various counterfeit-prevention features. The most common are:

• $1, with George Washington’s portrait.
• $5, with Abraham Lincoln’s portrait.
• $10, with Alexander Hamilton’s portrait.
• $20, with Thomas Jefferson’s portrait.
• $50, with Ulysses S. Grant’s portrait.
• $100, with Benjamin Franklin’s portrait.

Because of the standardization of currency in the United States there is a phrase derived from the system that describes something phony, strange or illegitimate: queer as a three-dollar bill. There of course has never been a three dollar bill.