The Newcomer Guide

1Before you move

Last reviewed: June 2026. Local rules, fees, and official pages can change; verify high-stakes information with official sources before acting.

A little preparation before you arrive makes the first weeks far smoother. Focus on three things: your documents, how you'll access money, and a place to stay for the first nights.

• Keep both digital and paper copies of your key documents — passport, visa, and (for students) your I-20 or DS-2019, plus admission or offer letters and any other immigration paperwork. Keep the digital copies somewhere you can reach even without your phone.
• Plan how you'll access money from day one. Because of U.S. sanctions on Iran, Iranian-issued bank cards (the Shetab network) do not work in the United States — arrange an international card, a transfer, or cash before you travel. If you carry more than $10,000 in cash or equivalents, you must declare it to U.S. customs on arrival.
• Bring proof of funds and a few recent months of bank statements — landlords and banks often ask for them.
• Arrange short-term housing for your first week or two — a furnished or extended-stay rental, or staying with someone — before committing to a lease you haven't seen in person.
• Line up a U.S. address you can use first, even a temporary one, since you'll need one for a phone, a bank account, and most sign-ups.

2First-week checklist

Once you've landed, here's a sensible order for your first days in St. Louis — each of these is covered in more detail below.

• Get a U.S. phone number — a prepaid SIM works the same day and needs no credit history.
• Open a bank account so you can receive and send money locally.
• If you're eligible (students with on-campus jobs, or anyone work-authorized), start your Social Security number application early — you'll need it for work, building credit, and some accounts.
• Confirm your housing — settle into your short-term stay and start apartment hunting, or move into your lease.
• Sort out getting around — a transit pass, rideshare apps, or beginning the car-and-insurance process.
• Find your nearest grocery store, and a Persian or Middle Eastern market for the foods of home.
• Students: check in with your university's international student office — it's one of your most useful resources.
• Save the essentials in your phone: 911 for emergencies, your full U.S. address, and a couple of local contacts.

3Housing & renting

Most newcomers rent first. Apartment applications usually ask for photo ID, proof of income (commonly about 2.5–3 times the monthly rent), and a credit check — and as a new arrival you won't have U.S. credit yet, so it helps to know your options in advance.

• With no U.S. credit history, ask whether the landlord will accept a larger security deposit, several months of rent up front, or a guarantor. Bringing proof of funds and bank statements to the showing helps your case.
• Applications often run a credit check tied to a Social Security number. If you don't have one yet, ask whether they'll consider your passport, proof of funds, and a bigger deposit instead.
• Always tour the place in person, or have someone you trust do it for you — and never wire a deposit or sign for an apartment you haven't verified is real. Rental scams often target people renting from abroad.
• Ask what's included in the rent (water, trash, heating) and what costs extra — parking, pets, or a non-refundable application fee.
• Read the lease carefully before signing: the term length, how much notice you must give, renewal terms, and any early-termination penalty.
• Browse the directory for Iranian or Farsi-speaking realtors who can help you navigate neighborhoods and the process.

4Driver's license & car

In Missouri, driver's licenses and vehicle registration are handled by the Department of Revenue at local license offices. Once you establish residency you have 30 days to get a Missouri license and to title and register a vehicle, so it's worth sorting early. Requirements differ by immigration status, so confirm the current list before you go.

• Bring documents proving your identity and date of birth, your Social Security number (or proof you're not eligible for one), your lawful immigration status, and a Missouri residential address. If you're still gathering status documents, Missouri offers a one-year license that gives you time to complete them.
• A foreign license (including an Iranian one) doesn't transfer directly. You can usually drive on it for a short period right after arriving — an International Driving Permit, arranged before you leave, helps as an official translation — but as a resident you'll apply as a first-time Missouri driver and take the knowledge, road-sign, vision, and road (driving) tests. (Only a current license from another U.S. state lets you skip the written and driving tests.)
• Car insurance is required before you register or drive. Missouri's minimum liability coverage is 25/50/25 and you must carry proof at all times — arrange a policy before you buy a car.
• When buying a car, budget beyond the price for the title fee, plates and registration, state and local sales tax, and inspection costs.
• In the St. Louis area (the city plus St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson counties), most vehicles need an emissions test through the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program along with a state safety inspection — though newer, lower-mileage cars are often exempt from one or both, and many stations do both in one visit.

5Banking & phone

A local bank account and U.S. phone number unlock almost everything else — apartments, jobs, paychecks, and bills — so set both up early.

• To open a bank account, most banks ask for your passport, a second form of ID, a U.S. address, and often a Social Security number. If you're not eligible for an SSN, ask about opening an account with an ITIN (a tax ID number you can apply for) — many banks and credit unions accept it.
• Compare monthly maintenance fees, minimum-balance requirements, and ATM access. Banks often waive fees for students or offer low-cost newcomer accounts, so it's worth asking directly.
• For a phone, prepaid plans need no credit check and start the same day — bring an unlocked phone and you can use a U.S. SIM right away. Postpaid (monthly) plans may require a credit history or a refundable deposit.
• Start building U.S. credit early: a secured credit card — one you back with a refundable deposit — is the usual first step. Use it for small purchases, pay the balance in full and on time each month, and a credit history builds over several months. You'll need that history for renting, loans, and better rates on phones and insurance.

6Healthcare & insurance

U.S. healthcare runs on insurance, and care can be very expensive without it, so arrange coverage as early as you can — but know there are free and low-cost options if you're not covered yet.

• Free and low-cost care. Salam Clinic provides free medical care to uninsured and under-insured people in the St. Louis area, staffed by volunteer physicians through an interfaith partnership, with locations in North County, Ferguson, and Benton Park (and mental-health services in Ferguson). It's open to everyone regardless of background — see salamclinicstl.com for current locations, hours, and what to bring. Federally funded community health centers also offer care on a sliding scale based on income.
• Coverage through work or school. Many employers include health insurance as a job benefit. Universities almost always require students to carry coverage and enroll them in a student health insurance plan (you can sometimes waive it if you already have comparable insurance). Most campuses also have a student health center offering routine care — and often counseling or mental-health services — on site at little or no extra cost, and your international student office can walk you through enrollment, waivers, and how the plan works.
• If you don't have coverage through work or school, you may be able to buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov — eligibility and any income-based help depend on your immigration status and income, so check the current rules there.
• Learn the key terms before choosing a plan: premium (the monthly cost), deductible (what you pay before insurance starts covering costs), copay, coinsurance, the out-of-pocket maximum, and whether a doctor is "in network" — in-network care is far cheaper.
• Find a primary care doctor for routine needs, checkups, and prescriptions; it's worth establishing one for ongoing care.
• Urgent care vs. the emergency room — this affects both your health and your bill. Urgent care clinics are walk-in centers for problems that need same-day attention but aren't life-threatening: fevers, minor infections, sprains, or a cut needing stitches. They're far cheaper than the ER, have shorter waits, and many are open evenings and weekends. The emergency room (ER) is for serious or life-threatening situations — chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke, or major injuries. ERs are open 24/7 and must treat emergencies regardless of insurance, but they're by far the most expensive option. Rule of thumb: a true emergency means the ER or calling 911; for anything less, urgent care is faster and far cheaper.
• Farsi-speaking care. Check the directory for Iranian or Farsi-speaking doctors and dentists, which can make those first appointments much easier.

7Schools & universities

The St. Louis region has a strong set of universities and many different school districts, so where you live shapes your children's schools — worth researching before you choose a neighborhood.

• Public school is free and open to every child, regardless of the family's immigration status. Children are usually assigned to a school based on your home address, so research the district before settling on a neighborhood — and look into magnet, charter, or private options if you want alternatives.
• To enroll a child, schools typically ask for proof of residency, the child's immunization records, prior school transcripts or report cards, and a birth certificate or passport. Gather these early; translated copies help.
• Ask each school about English-language-learner (ELL/ESL) support for children still learning English — most districts provide it.
• For higher education, the area's main universities include Washington University in St. Louis (private research), Saint Louis University (private, Jesuit), and the University of Missouri–St. Louis (public) on the Missouri side, and — across the river in Illinois — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), which has a notable Iranian student community. St. Louis Community College is a more affordable option for general courses and transfer pathways.
• If you're an international student, your university's international student office is your first stop — it helps with F-1/J-1 visa matters, orientation, and housing. Look for an Iranian or Persian student association in the directory.
• Free adult English (ESL) classes are available if you or family members want to build your English. No-cost options include St. Louis Community College's Adult Education & Literacy program (stlcc.edu), the Parkway-Rockwood Adult Education & Literacy program (prcommunityed.org, call or text 314-415-4940 — classes run across many St. Louis County districts and you don't need to live in them to enroll), and the International Institute of St. Louis (iistl.org, 314-773-9090); the county and city public libraries (slcl.org, slpl.org) also host free English conversation groups. Schedules, levels, and eligibility vary, so contact them for current sessions.

8Getting around

St. Louis is a fairly car-oriented metro, but the city and university areas have decent public transit, rideshare, and walkable pockets — how you get around depends a lot on where you live.

• The regional Metro Transit system runs MetroLink light rail and MetroBus. MetroLink connects Lambert International Airport, downtown, and the central corridor, and crosses the river into Illinois — handy for airport trips and getting around the middle of the metro without a car.
• For regular travel, get a transit pass; some universities give students a discounted or free pass, so ask your school.
• Rideshare apps and taxis cover trips transit doesn't, and central neighborhoods like the Central West End and the Delmar Loop are walkable — but much of the county is spread out.
• If you'll live in the suburbs — where many homes, jobs, and the Persian and Middle Eastern markets are — a car is usually the most practical option day to day. (See the driver's license & car section above for licensing and insurance.)
• Winters bring snow and ice. Keep an ice scraper and warm layers in the car, allow extra time, and check road conditions before driving in bad weather.

9Persian groceries & community

You don't have to leave home behind. The St. Louis area has Persian and Middle Eastern markets and restaurants, plus a welcoming Iranian community to connect with.

• For groceries and food, browse the directory — it lists Persian and Middle Eastern markets (saffron, herbs, rice, dried limes, sangak and barbari bread, feta, sweets) and Iranian restaurants.
• The Iranian American Cultural Society of the Midwest (IACSMW) is the main local community organization — it hosts the big seasonal celebrations like Nowruz and Shab-e Yalda and welcomes newcomers (iacsmw.com).
• Watch the events page for Nowruz, Chaharshanbe Suri, Sizdah Bedar, Mehregan, and Yalda gatherings.
• Students: look for an Iranian or Persian student association at the universities (WashU, SLU, UMSL, and SIUE) — an easy way to meet people.
• Local Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp groups are often where everyday questions get answered and events get shared — ask the community which ones are active.
• New here with a question? Reach out through the contact page — the community is glad to help.

10Resources & links

A quick reference to the official and community resources mentioned throughout this guide. Rules, fees, and processes change, so confirm current details with each source before acting — and tell us what to add.

• Emergencies: call 911 for police, fire, or medical emergencies. For a mental-health or emotional crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free support by call or text, any time.
• Driver's license & vehicles: Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov). In the St. Louis area, emissions testing is through the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program (gatewayvip.mo.gov).
• Public transit: Metro Transit runs MetroLink and MetroBus (metrostlouis.org; info line 314-231-2345).
• Health insurance & care: the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) for coverage, and Salam Clinic (salamclinicstl.com) for free care if you're uninsured.
• Free English (ESL) classes: St. Louis Community College (stlcc.edu), Parkway-Rockwood Adult Education & Literacy (prcommunityed.org), and the International Institute of St. Louis (iistl.org).
• Immigration & legal: for case-specific questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney — the directory's legal listings can help you find Farsi-speaking ones, and the International Institute of St. Louis (iistl.org) offers immigrant and refugee services.
• Community: the Iranian American Cultural Society of the Midwest (iacsmw.com), plus the Persia Gateway directory and events.