SSN or ITIN? Which number you need, and how to get it
Who gets a Social Security number, who needs an ITIN instead, how to apply, and when an ITIN expires.
Blog
Plain-language guides on tax and immigration paperwork.
Selective Service for immigrants: who must register and why it matters for citizenship
Most immigrant men aged 18 to 25 must register, including green card holders. Who is exempt and how it can affect citizenship.
Green card holder rights and responsibilities: what you can do and what you must do
What permanent residents can do, what they must do, and the most common ways people put their status at risk.
What is Form I-94? How to find yours and fix mistakes
What the I-94 is, how to download it, what "admit until" and D/S mean, and how to fix errors.
Got a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS? What it means and how to respond
What an RFE is, the deadline, how to send one complete response, and what happens if you miss it.
How to check your USCIS case status, and what to do if it is taking too long
Find your receipt number, check your status online, read processing times, and ask about a delayed case.
Your USCIS biometrics appointment: what to bring and what happens
What to bring, what happens at the Application Support Center, how to reschedule, and why you should never just skip it.
Taxes for F-1 students: Form 8843, 1040-NR and FICA explained
Form 8843 for everyone, 1040-NR if you had U.S. income, the FICA exemption, and the mistakes to avoid.
Bringing your parents to the U.S.: visits and green cards explained
Who can sponsor parents, why there is no visa wait, what the sponsor must show, and the visitor-visa alternative.
Your first 30 days in the U.S.: a newcomer checklist
Number, bank, phone, address, documents, health insurance, ID and the legal to-dos for your first month.
How to prepare for your citizenship interview: tests, documents and what happens
What happens at the N-400 interview: the English and civics tests, who is exempt, what to bring, and what comes after.
Moved? Report your new address to USCIS within 10 days
Most noncitizens must report a new address within 10 days, case or no case. How to do it online, and the special cases.
Certified translations for USCIS: what they are and how to do one
What the translation rule says, what the translator must certify, who can translate, and mistakes that lead to requests for evidence.
Packing for your move to the U.S.: the newcomer basics
Documents, medicines, plugs, the rules on liquids, batteries, food and cash, and what to buy after you arrive. Links to 7 regional guides.
Packing for F-1 students and F-2 families: documents, timing and what to bring
The documents F-1 students and F-2 spouses and children hand-carry, the 30-day arrival rule, and what students and families should pack.
Packing guide for the Northeast: New York, New Jersey, New England and nearby
Cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers: layers, waterproof boots, and why to buy your winter coat after you arrive.
Packing guide for the Southeast: Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and nearby
Long, hot and humid summers, mild winters and hurricane season: breathable clothes, rain gear, sun and insect protection.
Packing guide for the Midwest: Chicago, Minnesota, Ohio and nearby
Very cold, windy winters, hot summers and spring storms: real winter gear, layers, and tornado safety basics.
Packing guide for Texas and the South Central states
Very hot summers, mostly mild winters with rare hard freezes, Gulf hurricanes and spring storms: heat, rain and storm basics.
Packing guide for the Mountain West: Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
High altitude, dry air and strong sun, cold snowy winters and big day-to-night swings: layers, sun and skin care.
Packing guide for the Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada
Extreme summer heat, monsoon storms, dry air and cool desert nights: sun protection, water and layers.
Packing guide for the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii
From sunny Southern California to rainy Seattle: layers, rain gear, wildfire and earthquake basics, plus Alaska and Hawaii.
Your EAD renewal no longer gets an automatic extension: what to do now
Most work permit renewals filed since October 30, 2025 get no automatic extension. When to file, what a gap means for your job, and who is not affected.
Lost your H-1B job? Your 60-day grace period, step by step
When the 60-day grace period starts and ends, the four options USCIS lists, and the September 2026 proposal to end it (comments close November 10).
Mailing a USCIS form in 2026: 7 mistakes that get it rejected
Old editions, missing signatures, paper checks, your own photos and wrong fees: what changed in 2025 and 2026, and how to avoid a rejection.
Green card expired? How to renew it, and how to prove your status while you wait
Your status does not expire with the card. How to renew with Form I-90, the 36-month receipt extension, and why a 2-year card needs Form I-751 instead.
Can I travel while my immigration case is pending?
Leaving the U.S. can cancel a pending application. The rules for green card, change of status, asylum and citizenship cases, and the August 2026 advance parole ruling.
What is USCIS premium processing? Cost, timeline, rules and benefits
What premium processing costs, how many business days USCIS has (15, 30 or 45), the rules on refunds and RFEs, and what it does not get you.
What is the SEVIS fee? Why do you have to pay it?
What the I-901 SEVIS fee is, what it pays for, who pays $350, $220 or $35, when to pay, and what happens if you do not.
What is Visa Bulletin movement? What it means for your case
What it means when a cutoff date moves forward, holds or retrogresses, and what movement does not tell you about your wait.
What is the Visa Bulletin? A plain-language guide
What the monthly Visa Bulletin is, how to read its charts, and what the dates and the letters C and U mean.
What is a priority date? Meaning and why it matters
What a priority date is, how it is set, and how it connects to the Visa Bulletin and your place in line.
How to find your priority date: where to look
Where to look for your priority date on USCIS notices and other documents, and what to do if you cannot find it.
How to calculate CSPA age yourself: a step-by-step guide
A plain-language walkthrough of the Child Status Protection Act age formula, with a worked example and official sources.