newcomers · United States
Newcomers in United States
First steps, trusted services and people who have done it before you.
USA×Newcomers
Newcomers · United States · 38 public bodies
United States · newcomers
Newcomers in United States
First steps, trusted services and people who have done it before you.
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United States
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First steps
This guide for United States is being prepared and will be reviewed by a qualified professional. It gives information and referrals, never legal advice.
First steps
6 topics- 01Status and documents
Residence, asylum and family reunification: where to find official information and qualified help.
- 02Work and qualifications
Recognition of qualifications, licensing paths and first jobs.
- 03Language
Host-language courses and heritage-language schools.
- 04Health and wellbeing
Registering with health services and finding culturally competent care.
- 05Housing and money
Housing, banking and avoiding scams that target newcomers.
- 06Community
Meeting people safely: the local cell, events and mentors.
Public bodies for newcomers in United States
38 public bodies, by what each one deals with. Each one is checked against its official page (last on 23 October 2026).
Settlement and integration
6 bodies- Office of Refugee Resettlementverified
Federal resettlement and support programmes for refugees and other eligible newcomers.
- Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairsverified
City services and information for immigrant New Yorkers.
- Office of New Americansverified
City support for immigrants and refugees in Chicago.
- Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairsverified
City support for immigrants and refugees in Dallas.
- Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairsverified
City programmes for immigrants and refugees in Seattle.
- City of San Diegoverified
The city's official portal for local services.
Study and research centres
5 bodies- Pourdavoud Institute for the Study of the Iranian Worldverified
A research institute on the history and cultures of the Iranian world.
- Iranian Studies Programverified
Teaching and public events on Iran and its cultures.
- Roshan Institute for Persian Studiesverified
Teaching and research on Persian language, literature and culture.
- Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Cultureverified
A centre for Persian studies with public programmes.
- Association for Iranian Studiesverified
An international academic society for Iranian studies.
Asylum and refugee protection
3 bodies- Asylumverified
How asylum works in the US and how to apply.
- List of pro bono legal service providersverified
Free legal service providers for people in immigration court.
- UNHCR in the United Statessecondary
The UN Refugee Agency office in the US.
Health and mental health
3 bodies- Health coverage for immigrantsverified
Which immigrants can get health coverage and how.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifelineverified
Call or text 988 for free support, day and night.
- Center for Victims of Tortureverified
Healing services for survivors of torture and war trauma.
Legal help and discrimination
3 bodies- LawHelp.orgverified
Find free legal aid programmes by state.
- Civil Rights Division: report a violationverified
Report discrimination and civil rights violations.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionverified
Complaints about discrimination at work.
Arrival and status
2 bodies- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servicesto verify
The federal agency for immigration benefits, status and citizenship.
- Welcome to the United States: a guide for new immigrantsverified
Official guides for settling in the US.
Culture and festivals
2 bodies- Iranian Film Festivalto verify
A national museum with collections of Persian art and an annual Iranian film series.
- Persian and Iranian collectionsto verify
The African and Middle Eastern Reading Room holds Persian collections.
Older people
2 bodies- Eldercare Locatorverified
Find local services for older adults and caregivers.
- Social Securityto verify
Retirement, disability and survivor benefits.
Work and business
2 bodies- CareerOneStopverified
Job search, training and local American Job Centers.
- U.S. Small Business Administrationverified
Help to plan, fund and run a small business.
Language learning
2 bodies- USA Learnsverified
Free online courses to learn English.
- Adult basic education and English classesverified
Free adult classes in English, reading and maths, and how to find one.
Citizenship
1 body- Citizenship and naturalizationverified
How to become a citizen, with free study materials for the test.
Money and digital help
1 body- Consumer Financial Protection Bureauverified
Help with banking, credit and money, and a route to complain.
Disability
1 body- ADA.govverified
Rights of people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Schools and education
1 body- English learners and schoolsto verify
Rights and support for children learning English in public schools.
Emergency numbers
1 body- 911to verify
Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance. Call or text 988 for a mental health crisis.
Family and women
1 body- National Domestic Violence Hotlineverified
Free, confidential support for people affected by abuse, day and night.
Housing
1 body- Housing helpverified
Rental help, public housing and housing counselling.
Recognition of qualifications
1 body- Recognition of foreign qualificationssecondary
There is no single national authority. Schools, employers and state licensing boards decide on recognition of qualifications from abroad.
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