Before you move
- 1Documents
Passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019, and offer letters
- 2Money plan
Arrange a card, transfer method, or cash before travel
- 3First stay
Secure short-term housing before signing a lease
- 4U.S. address
Use a temporary address for phone, bank, and sign-ups
Verify official requirements before acting.
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.