ReloACE, ACE Relocation Portal
As the competitive edge for the best and the brightest work force is on the rise, more companies and organizations are relocating talent from out of state and out of country. Imagine begin able to support your employees relocation from before they arrive and ongoing into the first year of their settling in. ReloACE is a web portal for individuals and employees to Arrive, Connect and Excel
For more information and to join the RACE
Relocating Information
Social Security
Banking
Credit Cards
Home Buying
Car Buying and Leasing
Driver Licenses
Health Insurance
Sending Money Abroad
Medical Care
Schools
Careers
Social Security
A social security number is required to work in the US and to accumulate credit. SSN can be applied for 10 days after arriving in the US. To apply visit
www.gov.com to find a local SSN office or call 800.772.1213. You will need to complete form SS-5 available online and include all appropriate documents. Once a SSN is obtained that will be your identifying number regardless of if you move our of country again. SSN includes paying and trackin taxes to the government, if you are a temp employee status in the US you will still have to pay social security taxes unless your company has an agreement with the US. Social security is a way to earn and obtain retirement benefits, you will qualify after working in the US legally for a total of 4 years. You will earn your social security benefits for retirement as long as you paid taxes and met any qualifications. If for any reason your application is denied, you do have the right to appeal and request reconsideration.
Banking
There are many choices in the US for banking, banks, credit unions, and savings and loan centers. It is important to set up a bank account to keep money in a safe location, be sure to pick an institution that is convenient to home and work. All deposits at a financial institution are insured up to $100,000 (a symbol will be displayed to confirm this FDIC-Insured). Several account types are offered, checking, savings, money markets, certificate of deposits, member share accounts and online accounts. Be aware when picking an institution and account type to look at all fees included, ATM accessibility, and rates. Most often a credit union will provide the best support as they are not-for-profit and have low fee structure,
www.creditunion.net. You will be able to open a checking/savings account without having a SSN. However you are required to have a SSN to apply for any loan products.
| Accounts | Will I earn interest? | Checks? | Are there withdrawal limitations? | Are there fees? |
Regular Checking | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Interest Checking | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Savings | Yes | No | Yes, 6 per month | Yes |
Money Market | Yes | Yes, 3 per month | Yes, 6 per month | Yes |
Certificate of Deposit CD | Yes, higher than mm or savings | No | Yes, penalties prior to maturity | Yes, if withdrawal early |
Credit Cards
It is important to apply for a credit card after receiving your SSN in the US. A credit card is a secured or unsecured loan product that gives you accessibility in the form or a card for living purposes. This credit will also help you to grow credit in the US. Be aware that being new to the country and having limited credit history in the US will reflect as a high risk to financial institutions and it will be difficult to be approved. It is recommended to apply at a company that is familiar with foreign national programs suchy as Citibank, Bank of America, Amex, and many local credit unions. Be prepared to have an offer letter from your company, income verification, proof of id, SSN, and possibly 2 personal references such as family or friends. This will help create a seamless application. It is important to be aware of account agreements and terms. Inquire about APY, Annual Percentae Yield, rate, intro rates, annual fees, and any penalties. It is important to read any fine print prior to accepting and agreeing upon a card. Tip: To build credit quickly, get one household credit card and use this monthly for all bills, gas, groceries, and purchases, than pay in full every month. This will show regular activity, positive repayment, and rate positively on your growing credit score. Also, most shopping stores in the US offer a store credit card and you will receive a variety of offers. Avoid opening any shopping store cards and stick to one household credit card initially. Store cards have a an extremely high interest rate and are not in the best interest of the consumer overall.
Home Buying
Many foreign nationals immediately rent apartment units when arriving to the US. It is common to assume that with little US credit history it would be impossible to purchase and own a home. There dream of home ownership in the US is possible and there are many resources available to achieve this. Many financial institutions offer a Foreign National Program or a Limited Credit History Program for home buyers, these are designed to assist new relocations in purchasing a home within the first year they are here. In addition to these programs, check with your company as they may have a package available to offer discount rates and approval in mortgage applications. It is recommended to attend a home buying workshop prior to applying for any loans to fully understand the closing costs, fees, rates, and requirements involved.
Car Buying and Leasing
LEASING: You do not own the vehicle. You get to use it but you must return it at the end of the lease unless you choose to buy it.
BUYING: You own the vehicle and get to keep it at the end of the financing term.
LEASING: Monthly lease payments are usually lower than monthly loan payments because you are paying only for the vehicle's depreciation during the lease term, plus rent charges (like interest), taxes, and fees.
BUYING: Monthly loan payments are usually higher than monthly lease payments because you are paying for the entire purchase price of the vehicle, plus interest and other finance charges, taxes, and fees.
LEASING: Up-front costs may include the first month's payment, a refundable security deposit, a capitalized cost reduction (like a down payment), taxes, registration, and other fees and charges.
BUYING: Up-front costs include the cash price or a down payment, taxes, registration, and other fees and charges.
LEASING: You are responsible for any early termination charges if you end the lease early.
BUYING: You are responsible for any pay-off amount if you end the loan early.
LEASING: You may return the vehicle at lease end, pay any end-of-lease costs, and "walk away."
BUYING: You may have to sell or trade the vehicle when you decide you want a different vehicle.
LEASING: The lessor (not you) has the risk of the future market value of the vehicle.
BUYING: You have the risk of the vehicle's market value when you trade or sell it.
LEASING: Most leases limit the number of miles you may drive (often 12,000-15,000 per year). You can negotiate a higher mileage limit and pay a higher monthly payment. You will most likely have to pay charges for exceeding those limits if you return the vehicle.
BUYING: You may drive as many miles as you want, but higher mileage will lower the vehicle's trade-in or resale value.
LEASING: Most leases limit wear to the vehicle during the lease term. You will most likely have to pay extra charges for exceeding those limits if you return the vehicle.
BUYING: There are no limits or charges for excessive wear to the vehicle, but excessive wear will lower the vehicle's trade-in or resale value.
LEASING: At the end of the lease (typically 2-4 years), you may have a new payment either to finance the purchase of the existing vehicle or to lease another vehicle.
BUYING: At the end of the loan term (typically 4-6 years), you have no further loan payments.
Driver Licenses
Driver licenses are issued by the individual states for their residents. Required for operating motor vehicles, driver licenses are also used as a primary form of photo identification in the U.S., particularly in many non-driving situations where proof of identity or age is required, such as for boarding airline flights, for cashing checks, and for purchasing alcoholic beverages. Many states issue identification cards to assist people who do not drive but would still like a state issued identification (ID) card. The requirements for these ID cards are different from driver licenses, but they may be issued from the same department and locations. VIsit your state website and the Department of Motor Vehicles site for specific information.
Be prepared to provide two forms of identification (known as primary and secondary forms) to prove identity and birth date. In addition to documentation and testing, applicants can expect the following during driver license application:
A picture to be taken
Submission of license from another jurisdiction, or completion of appropriate courses
Completion of application form
Completion of parental consent form (for drivers under age 18)
Payment of application fee
You will be asked to provide personal information such as: name, address, date of birth, eye color, height, weight, and organ donor preference.
Health Insurance
In the US health care coverage is not a socialized program and you will pay out of pocket for this benefit. Premium costs to have coverage are typically paid monthly or quarterly. Many people in the United States are enrolled in some sort of managed care health insurance plan through an employer. This is an organized way of both providing services and paying for them. Different types of managed care plans work differently and include preferred provider organizations (PPOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), point-of-service (POS) plans and fee-for-service plans. It is important to work with your Human Resource and Benefits support at work and ask any questions and thoroughly review the benefits package that you receive. Most companies offer insurance support in the form of an online web portal that is easily accessible. Here is the common coverage included in Health Insurance:
Physical examinations and health screenings.
Care by specialists.
Hospitalization and emergency care.
Prescription drugs.
Vision care.
Dental services.
Care and counseling for mental health.
Services for drug and alcohol abuse.
Obstetrical-gynecological care and family planning services.
Ongoing care for chronic (long-term) diseases, conditions, or disabilities.
Physical therapy and other rehabilitative care.
Home health, nursing home, and hospice care.
Chiropractic or alternative health care, such as acupuncture.
Experimental treatments.
What preventive care is offered, such as shots for children?
What health screenings are given, such as breast exams and Pap smears for women?
Sending Money Abroad
When you first arrive in the US it will take time to set-up bank accounts and loans. It will be important to have easily accessible methods to send money home. The top 3 methods are:
Cash Transfers: Western Union & Money Gram
Money Orders: US Postal Departments and Financial Institutions
Banking Transfers: FInancial Institutions
| | Typical Cost | Length of time for recipient use |
| Western Union | $29 | Recipient can pick up cash within 30 minutes |
| Money Gram | $25 | Recipient can pick up cash in less than 60 minutes |
| Money Order | $3-$10 | 5 day minimum mailing time, recipient will have to cash money order at their bank on in foreign country upon receipt |
| Cashier Check | Varies | 5 day minimum mailing time, recipient will need to deposit check into their bank and it may take a 2-14 day clearing of funds period |
| Foreign Draft | $25 | One week draft processing period plus mailing and bank clearing, total time up to 3 weeks |
| Wire Transfers | $40-$65 | Typically available in 24-48 hours |
Medical Care
In the US there are a variety of medical care centers to meet the needs of you and your family. Most family doctors and dentists operate during the business week of M-F within the hours of 8-5. For medical attention outside of these hours there are hospitals and care centers. If you or your family are experiencing a medical concern that is a non-emergency after hours there are Urgent Care centers that will treat patients late in the evening and weekends. For emergency situations that are urgent an Emergency Room at the local hospital will be the best resource. The US has a nationwide phone number that is 3 digits, 9-1-1. In any urgent emergency situation dial 911 and you will be connected with a live operator that will work to assist you and send help. Ensure that your entire family is familiar with this phone number and knows when and how to dial.
When new to your area make sure your family locates the following:
Emergency Care Center
Dental Office
Vision Care Center
Pharmacy
Doctor's Office
Urgent Care Center
Schools
There are more than 123,000 schools in the U.S. (94,000 public schools and 29,000 private schools). When researching new schools for your family visit the city website where you live for information on schoold districts and options. Here are some additional resources available for your school search:
www.greatschools.net, www.access.wa.gov/education, www.privateschool.about.com
Career
If you are in need of a career and are performing a job search, please Contact Us for assistance with resume, communication, introduction and references and visit www.monster.com, www.careerbuilder.com, www.jobster.com