United States
USAUS immigration policy has tightened significantly since the start of the second Trump administration in January 2026, with expanded travel restrictions on nationals of roughly 19 countries, aggressive enforcement priorities, and new fee structures raising the cost of both nonimmigrant and immigrant pathways.
A nonwaivable 'Visa Integrity Fee' (around $250) now applies to most nonimmigrant visa issuances, and a $100,000 supplemental fee applies to new H-1B petitions filed from abroad, reshaping employer sponsorship calculus. Naturalisation applicants face heightened vetting and a reinstated, more rigorous civics test, while an executive order attempting to restrict birthright citizenship for children of undocumented or temporary-visa parents remains tied up in ongoing litigation.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Citizenship Based
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- americas
- Population
- 331,900,000
- Cost-of-living
- 72 /100
Passport Rank
#7
Visa-Free
186
destinations
Visa-free travel
A United States passport has visa-free access to 150 destinations. See the full United States passport breakdown →
Passports that enter United States without a prior visa (46)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Country Details
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Population
- 331,900,000
- Tax System
- Citizenship Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Varied (Tropical to Arctic)
- English Proficiency Rank
- #5
Indices
Cost of Living
72
Safety
54
Healthcare
70
Quality of Life
177
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Citizenship Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $4,300 | $2,700 | $520 | $180 | $132 |
| Los Angeles | $2,700 | $2,100 | $480 | $150 | $100 |
| Miami | $2,600 | $1,900 | $480 | $180 | $112 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
New York
Rainfall range: 76–110 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)
Miami
Rainfall range: 45–220 mm/month · Daylight 10h (winter) to 14h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- B1/B2 visitor
- F-1 student
- H-1B specialty worker
- H-2A agricultural worker
- H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker
- J-1 exchange visitor
- L-1 intracompany transferee
- O-1 extraordinary ability
- EB-1 priority worker (immigrant)
- EB-2/EB-3 professional/skilled worker (immigrant)
- EB-5 investor (immigrant)
- K-1 fiancé(e)
- DV diversity lottery (immigrant)
- Authority
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Official Portal
- www.uscis.gov
- Phone
- +1-800-375-5283
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- Yes (basic English)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $760
- Processing
- ~10 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $5,500
- Transaction taxes
- 2%
Foreign buyers: Foreign buyers may purchase US real estate freely in most states (narrow restrictions on ag/national-security land). FIRPTA withholding 15% on sale by non-resident seller. Manhattan $15k-$25k/sqm; SF $12k-$18k/sqm; US average $3,800/sqm.
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations International School | New York | IB | $40,000–$50,000 |
| British International School of Chicago | Chicago | British | $30,000–$42,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
250 Mbps median
43% fibre coverage
eSIM: AT&T, T-Mobile US, Verizon, Google Fi
Driving
IDP not required
Local licence required after 3 months
Exchange eligible: varies by state — most states permit foreign licence use for up to 90 days then require state licence
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: none
Rabies titre required
EU pet passport: not accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#131
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠rental listing scams on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace
- ⚠IRS impersonation phone calls
- ⚠gift-card phishing
- ⚠sim-swap attacks on accounts with lax 2FA
Examples of areas to avoid: specific high-crime neighborhoods in Baltimore, Memphis, St Louis; Tenderloin in San Francisco late night
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #29
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Widely available
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution
Source: USCIS Naturalization Test
Q2. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Answer: 27
Source: USCIS Naturalization Test
Q3. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: 6
Source: USCIS Naturalization Test
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa Programs
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa
United States USA
Processing
30mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
United States USA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
United States USA
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
US H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa
United States USA
Processing
6mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
11y
Verified 2026-05-05
US L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa
United States USA
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-05-05
US F-1 Student Visa
United States USA
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-05-05
US J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
United States USA
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-05-05
United States EB-1A Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
United States USA
Processing
8mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-07
United States EB-2 National Interest Waiver
United States USA
Processing
10mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-07-07
Puerto Rico Act 60 (Individual Resident Investor & Export Services)
United States USA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-07-22
US TN Visa (Trade NAFTA / USMCA Professional)
United States USA
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Cities in United States
New York City
New York City is the largest US metropolis and a global centre for finance, media, law, technology, and the arts, offering relocators an unmatched density of employers, international schools, and cultural institutions. It ranks among the most expensive US cities for housing, but its subway-based transit and walkable neighbourhoods reduce reliance on a car. The city is English-speaking with deeply established immigrant communities from every region of the world.
Miami
Miami is a warm-climate coastal hub and the principal US gateway to Latin America, drawing relocators with no state income tax, a fast-growing finance and technology scene, and a genuinely bilingual Spanish-English business culture. Housing costs have risen sharply since 2020. The city is largely car-oriented with limited rapid transit, though the Brickell and downtown cores are increasingly walkable and dense.
Austin
Austin is the capital of Texas and a leading US technology and startup hub, attracting relocators with no state income tax, a strong job market, a live-music and outdoor culture, and warmer weather than the coastal tech centres. Housing costs rose steeply in the early 2020s before easing somewhat. Public transit is limited and the city is largely car-dependent, though several central districts are walkable.
San Francisco
San Francisco is the heart of the Bay Area and a global technology and venture-capital centre, offering relocators proximity to Silicon Valley employers, a compact and walkable core, and a temperate coastal climate. It ranks among the most expensive US housing markets. Public transit is comparatively strong for a US city, combining BART regional rail, MUNI Metro, buses, and historic streetcars and cable cars.
Hospitals
Banking Options Based in United States
Interactive Brokers
brokerage · non-residents welcome
Charles Schwab International
brokerage · non-residents welcome
Mercury
digital bank · non-residents welcome
Payoneer
multi currency account · non-residents welcome
Charles Schwab (US Domestic Account)
broker bank
Fidelity International (Brokerage + Cash Management)
broker bank
Company Formation in United States
Sources & last verified
- Last verified