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Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

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Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#21

Post by notadev »

Barrin92 wrote: post #15
zxcvbn4038 wrote: post #13

People can be the biggest challenge. You’ll discover that the further you get from the immigrant friendly areas of the east and west coasts. My advice to newcomers has always been to stick to the interstates while traveling within the US, and general feedback has been they thought I was a loon until they drove down a state highway and got pulled over by the cops six times wanting to know if they were lost, or got sta…

this sounds almost like parody. Most immigrants I know had remarkably good experiences in more rural and less cosmopolitan places. Yes, the sort of 'redneck racism' for a lack of a better term exists, but on the other hand people are actually generally curious, kind and if you manage to work your way into a community you'll actually not only accepted but have people to rely on. I suspect the take comes from a very wh…

Anecdotally I’ve observed in rural areas, from which I was born and raised, fast food jobs, paper delivery, some janitorial work, etc., are all done by teenagers who do it for summer cash or just building their initial work experience. In the metro areas, where I live and/or travel, these jobs are exclusively staffed by older immigrants.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#22

Post by refurb »

angott wrote: post #10

In addition to dealing with the absurd amount of immigration paperwork mentioned in the other comments: the fact that the US doesn’t recognize foreign records for most matters, even when it would be very easy to do so. Foreign driver’s license? In most states there is no way to exchange it directly for a local one like most other countries do, you’ll have to sit the driving test again. This even applies to licenses i…

This is highly state dependent. Plenty of US states will swap out a foreign license (Canada or Europe) for a US license.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#23

Post by refurb »

renewiltord wrote: post #5

It’s all the paperwork that’s a nightmare. Drivers licenses, USCIS and it’s fucking endless nonsense, infinite paperwork. Just paperwork paperwork paperwork. Massive taxes without any benefit. And most Americans haven’t a clue how much trouble it is. It’s a constant thundercloud in your life. Anyway, Americans are super friendly and very nice. A few among them are very motivated and the country is unbelievably wealth…

Ever lived in Asia? You talked paperwork and damn the US looks like an ultra-efficient system compared to some Asia countries. A form requires multiple signatures, all different departments in different parts of a city. A the "official" stamps mean none of it can be electronic.

Makes the DMV look like a well oiled machine.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#24

Post by bruceb »

renewiltord wrote: post #5

It’s all the paperwork that’s a nightmare. Drivers licenses, USCIS and it’s fucking endless nonsense, infinite paperwork. Just paperwork paperwork paperwork. Massive taxes without any benefit. And most Americans haven’t a clue how much trouble it is. It’s a constant thundercloud in your life. Anyway, Americans are super friendly and very nice. A few among them are very motivated and the country is unbelievably wealth…

ignore this and go where you want.

Go all the weird place you want. Some people need to feel that the country is some hell hole outside of a few cities, it isn't. Also you will pay less, gas will probably be cheaper. Enjoy.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#25

Post by arp242 »

gregjor wrote: post #19
angott wrote: post #10

In addition to dealing with the absurd amount of immigration paperwork mentioned in the other comments: the fact that the US doesn’t recognize foreign records for most matters, even when it would be very easy to do so. Foreign driver’s license? In most states there is no way to exchange it directly for a local one like most other countries do, you’ll have to sit the driving test again. This even applies to licenses i…

This works the same in other directions. Try getting a visa, work permit, job, bank account, credit as a foreigner immigrating to anywhere in Europe, or Japan, or almost anywhere else.

A lot of countries don't have the high dependence on credit scores as in the US AFAIK, indeed, in quite a few (most, if not all?) European countries "credit cards" are rather uncommon.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#26

Post by arp242 »

jstx1 wrote: post #6
cable2600 wrote: post #2

Most people don't care. I have a friend and business partner from India who was an undocumented immigrant, his father was a doctor and brought his family with him. When my friend was 18 he was supposed to take a test to become a citizen and he did not. Eventually they found out and he served 4 years in the US Army to become a citizen. Just work on your English and try to avoid an accent. Some people are picky about p…

Your accent isn’t something you can just avoid.

You can of course put some conscious effort in to having less of an accent.

I've sometimes had difficulty making myself understood with my Dutch accent, which isn't always very practical. Especially in noisier environments and over the phone it can be annoying.

On the other hand, I also see it as just who I am. Would you ask an Irish person to change their accent? Of course not; it's part of their identity. On the other hand, if someone with a strong Irish accent would move to the US, NZ, or even the UK it might be wise to tone things down a bit so folk actually understand what you're saying. And asking where the craic is at would likely be received similarly to Checkov asking where the nuclear wessels are.

It's all a bit of a fine balance.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#27

Post by gregjor »

arp242 wrote: post #25
gregjor wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This works the same in other directions. Try getting a visa, work permit, job, bank account, credit as a foreigner immigrating to anywhere in Europe, or Japan, or almost anywhere else.

A lot of countries don't have the high dependence on credit scores as in the US AFAIK, indeed, in quite a few (most, if not all?) European countries "credit cards" are rather uncommon.

Small sample of my own immigrant wife and some immigrant friends. Establishing credit in the US is ridiculously easy. Immigrants with jobs are targeted with credit offers (presumably based on data showing they pay their debts at least as reliably as native-born citizens.) Less than a year after arriving in America my wife had credit cards and a good FICO score, good enough to buy a car at a competitive rate. I didn’t have to co-sign.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#28

Post by arp242 »

gregjor wrote: post #27
arp242 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of countries don't have the high dependence on credit scores as in the US AFAIK, indeed, in quite a few (most, if not all?) European countries "credit cards" are rather uncommon.

Small sample of my own immigrant wife and some immigrant friends. Establishing credit in the US is ridiculously easy. Immigrants with jobs are targeted with credit offers (presumably based on data showing they pay their debts at least as reliably as native-born citizens.) Less than a year after arriving in America my wife had credit cards and a good FICO score, good enough to buy a car at a competitive rate. I didn’t…

Alrighty!

Personally I think getting credit for the sake of it is rather silly though. It offends all sorts of sensibilities I have about credit and financial responsibility.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#29

Post by gregjor »

arp242 wrote: post #28
gregjor wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Small sample of my own immigrant wife and some immigrant friends. Establishing credit in the US is ridiculously easy. Immigrants with jobs are targeted with credit offers (presumably based on data showing they pay their debts at least as reliably as native-born citizens.) Less than a year after arriving in America my wife had credit cards and a good FICO score, good enough to buy a car at a competitive rate. I didn’t…

Alrighty! Personally I think getting credit for the sake of it is rather silly though. It offends all sorts of sensibilities I have about credit and financial responsibility.

That’s a personal decision. I was addressing the claim that getting credit, or not having credit history, is a challenge for immigrants to the US. It’s a challenge for young American citizens too. I’m sure it’s a challenge but I think it’s a small one. The biggest challenge for immigrants I’ve seen first-hand is getting fluent in English.

Re: Ask HN: What are the challenges of being an immigrant in the US?

#30

Post by cr1895 »

gregjor wrote: post #19
angott wrote: post #10

In addition to dealing with the absurd amount of immigration paperwork mentioned in the other comments: the fact that the US doesn’t recognize foreign records for most matters, even when it would be very easy to do so. Foreign driver’s license? In most states there is no way to exchange it directly for a local one like most other countries do, you’ll have to sit the driving test again. This even applies to licenses i…

This works the same in other directions. Try getting a visa, work permit, job, bank account, credit as a foreigner immigrating to anywhere in Europe, or Japan, or almost anywhere else.

I don’t think it’s helpful to paint with as broad a brush as you are.

The processes of immigrating to the Netherlands for example are vastly less Kafkaesque and not subject to luck or some bureaucrat’s mood at the time. Everywhere else is not necessarily as difficult as America.

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