The first week, in order
Some good news to land on: your entire first week is ten errands, and every one of them is below. Get a phone number and cash first, because everything else in the week depends on them. The days come in three blocks: what can’t wait, what unlocks the rest, and settling in. Tick each step off as you go.
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What stalls week one
Only two things reliably stall this week, and you can clear both on day one.
No US phone number. Without one, your bank can’t text you login codes, and Uber and Zelle won’t let you sign up. Switch your eSIM on before you leave the arrivals hall. Every later step assumes you have a working number.
No US address. Your hotel booking or short-term rental counts. Save the address on your phone. You’ll type it more than thirty times in week one: bank forms, deliveries, the SSN application, and every address box in between.