Guides for U.S. newcomers: banking, credit and settling in — Page 6

Family, Education & Long-Term Planning Bringing Parents to the US on a B1/B2 Visitor Visa: Medical Insurance and Logistics Plan a parent’s visit from India to the US with clear visa, I-94, extension and visitor medical-insurance checks.

Family, Education & Long-Term Planning 529 College Savings Plans: Saving for Your Child’s Education as an Immigrant Understand 529 eligibility, qualified education expenses, investment risk and the questions to ask if your child may study in India.

Mobility, Lifestyle & Daily Spending Grocery Budgeting in the US: Saving at Costco, Sam’s Club and Local Stores Calculate whether a warehouse membership pays for itself and reduce grocery costs through unit pricing, meal planning and less waste.

Mobility, Lifestyle & Daily Spending Best US Mobile Phone Plans: eSIM, Prepaid, Postpaid and International Calling Choose a US phone plan for arrival-day connectivity, a local number, India calls and reliable verification messages.

Mobility, Lifestyle & Daily Spending Car Insurance for Newcomers: How to Avoid Unnecessarily High Rates Compare equivalent coverage, document your driving experience and avoid common insurance mistakes when arriving in the US.

Saving, Investing & Cross-Border Money Investing in US Stocks and ETFs on a Work Visa: Fidelity, Schwab and Robinhood Understand brokerage applications, tax certification, investment risks and relocation questions as a US visa holder.

Mobility, Lifestyle & Daily Spending Common Scams Targeting Immigrants and International Students—and How to Avoid Them Spot government impersonation, fake jobs and rental fraud, and know what to do quickly if you have shared money or identity information.

Mobility, Lifestyle & Daily Spending Tipping Etiquette and Rules in the US: Restaurants, Services and Taxis Learn common tipping customs, read service charges correctly and budget for the final bill without feeling pressured by every screen.

Taxes, Payroll & Compliance F-1 CPT and OPT Financial Planning: Taxes, Emergency Funds, & Budgeting Maximize your new income. Learn about OPT salary tax exemptions, the FICA tax refund on OPT, emergency funds, and budgeting strategies for international students.

Taxes, Payroll & Compliance Decoding Your US Paycheck Stub: Federal, State, FICA, and Deductions Eliminate paycheck shock. Understand how federal, state, and FICA taxes reduce your gross salary, and learn the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions.

Taxes, Payroll & Compliance Dual-Status Tax Filing in Your First Year in the US Moving to the US mid-year? Learn how to file a dual-status tax return, including how to combine Form 1040 and Form 1040-NR, and why you must print and mail.

Credit, Banking & Financing FBAR and FATCA Explained: Reporting Overseas Accounts Avoid severe IRS penalties. Learn the exact FBAR threshold for US foreign accounts, FATCA reporting for Green Card holders, and how to declare overseas assets.

Guide list