What actually changes
Four things have real deadlines or real money attached, and one of them catches almost everyone.
| Social Security number | On an immigrant visa, tick the Social Security box on your DS-260 and the card is mailed to your U.S. address about 7 to 10 business days after you land. No office visit. On a work visa (H-1B, L-1) you apply in person at a Social Security office after you arrive. |
| Social Security taxes | The U.S. has no totalization agreement with India. You pay U.S. Social Security and Medicare from your first U.S. paycheck, and there is no arrangement that lets you combine those contributions with your Indian record. Budget for it. |
| Moving your money | India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme caps what you can send abroad at USD 250,000 per person, per financial year. Tax is collected at source on remittances above 10 lakh in a year, at a rate that depends on what the money is for. Move money before you leave, not after. |
| Bringing a dog | India is on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, which triggers the full protocol: an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies shot that counts, a titer blood test at a CDC-approved lab, and arrival only at Atlanta, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia or Washington Dulles with a reserved slot at the animal care facility there. Start six months out. |
| Driving | There is no national U.S. licence. Each state sets its own deadline once you become a resident, and an Indian licence with an International Driving Permit only covers you briefly. Your state's clock is in the app. |
| Credit | Your Indian credit history does not travel. Expect to start from zero: a secured card, or a card from a bank that underwrites new arrivals. |
Rules here change often. Confirm current requirements at the official source before you act. (reviewed Aug 2026)
Your India to USA timeline
- 6 months outIf a dog is coming, start now: microchip first, then the rabies shot, then the titer test. In that order, or the vaccination will not count.
- 3 months outGather documents you cannot get once you leave: degree certificates, employment records, driving licence extract, medical and vaccination records, and your PAN details.
- 6 to 8 weeksBook shipping. Sea freight from India runs weeks door to door, so anything you need in month one flies with you.
- 4 weeksMove money while you are still resident in India. Sort your Indian bank accounts, and check whether you will need to file an FBAR in the U.S. once you hold more than $10,000 abroad.
- Landing weekCustoms declaration, Social Security card, U.S. phone number, and a U.S. bank account. Your first address matters: it is where the SSN card gets mailed.
- First 30 daysDriver's licence, health insurance enrolment, school registration if children are coming, and the state deadlines that started counting the day you arrived.
Kids, pets, which visa, which U.S. state, your actual move date: answer a few questions and every task above lands in a week-by-week plan you can check off and share. Free.
Common questions
When do I get my Social Security number?
On an immigrant visa, request it on the DS-260 and it is mailed roughly 7 to 10 business days after you are admitted, with no Social Security office visit. On a work visa you apply in person after arrival. Either way it is worth waiting a few days after landing so the immigration records have caught up.
Do I have to pay social security in both countries?
The U.S. has no totalization agreement with India, so there is no certificate of coverage to exempt you. U.S. Social Security and Medicare come out of your U.S. pay from the start.
How much money can I bring from India?
Up to USD 250,000 per person per financial year under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and tax is collected at source above 10 lakh a year at a rate that depends on the purpose. There is no U.S. limit on how much you may bring in, but anything over $10,000 in cash or equivalents must be declared to U.S. customs on arrival.
What does it cost to move from India to the U.S.?
It depends far more on volume and season than on any published average, and quotes for the same shipment vary widely. Getting three quotes six or more weeks out saves more than chasing an average.