While immigrating to the United States can be an exciting event in your life, it can also present several unique challenges. For example, it’s difficult to leave behind family, friends, and the familiarity that your home country provides. Additionally, it can be intimidating to settle into a new community. Thankfully, the Haywood Chamber of Commerce shares some steps you can take to reduce the challenges you face and make the transition easier.
Engage Your New Community
The quickest way to settle into your new community is to begin building connections. Make an effort to introduce yourself to your neighbors, and consider hosting an event such as a block party or a neighborhood potluck.
You can also connect with the broader community by joining a regional Facebook group, signing up for your neighborhood’s private Nextdoor group, becoming an active member of a local club, or volunteering to assist with an important cause. By interacting with other local residents, you make new friends and learn about restaurants, businesses, and service providers in your area. You can also solicit opinions on a wide range of local issues and gain valuable insight into the inner-workings of the community.
Your Career and Your Connections
Starting a business is another way to make connections and contribute to your new community in a meaningful way. Inc. reports immigrant entrepreneurs currently launch more than 25 percent of all new U.S. businesses. When starting these companies, immigrants contribute by:
- Creating jobs
- Providing new innovation
- Introducing an additional product or service into the local marketplace
- Generating revenue
- Contributing to the U.S. economy
Learn Skills and Earn a Degree
If you want to learn more about business, as well as acquire the skills you need to help build and grow your new venture, consider enrolling in an online business program to earn your bachelor’s degree. Online universities allow you to set your own schedules, so that you can more easily fit your courses into your work and home life. It’s a balancing act, for sure, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn about business and then apply those skills as you go.
Support Your Family Back Home
One of the most effective ways to support your family back home is to stay connected. Thankfully, in today’s digital age, video platforms such as FaceTime and Zoom can help. In addition to connecting one-on-one with loved ones, you can host virtual reunions through which multiple households can come together despite the physical separation.
Things get a little trickier when you’re sending items abroad. From time to time, you might want to mail a package to friends and family in your homeland. You’ll want to ensure you’re getting the best possible prices by examining providers. For example, if you want to send a box to Jaipur, you can compare rates through websites like NEX Worldwide Express.
Similarly, many immigrants help their families by providing financial support. By sending money back to your family on a regular basis, you can ensure they have a consistent flow of income, as well as a greater sense of security. If you’re sending money to India, for example, check into services like Remitly that offer both economy and express transfer options. You can look at different speeds and rates to ensure you meet your needs.
In some ways, sending money to your loved ones offers benefits beyond helping the immediate recipient. The money can be used to pay for essentials such as food, housing, and medical expenses, or, alternatively, can be invested to generate additional income in the future. This flow of funds to your home country can also help the nation as a whole. Because your family will likely spend the money on local goods and services, UN News points out that the money eventually makes its way into the country’s overall economy where it adds to the GDP.
Lastly, there are sure to be times that you would love to visit your friends and family members in person. To make sure you find the most economical and comfortable arrangements, you can use websites such as Skyscanner. You can adjust the search criteria for exactly what you need and make your plans in one convenient place.
Leaving your home and moving to the United States is a complex and exciting journey. If you take the necessary steps to connect within your new community while also maintaining strong ties back home, you’ll feel right at home in no time.
James Hall