Moving to the United States of America means moving for opportunity, but that doesn’t mean opportunity will simply fall into your lap. You need to work hard, both in terms of your career and for your social life. This means adapting to some aspects of American culture and finding new ways to celebrate your own.

To help you get the most out of your move to the USA, follow this guide:

Things to Do Before You Move

There are many things that you can do before you move to improve the integration process and make adapting to American culture easier.

Get Your Visa

Before you move, you will always want to have your visa finalized. Otherwise you will have a lot of difficulty at the border and might not succeed in your visa process later on. This applies even if you are intending to invest in the country and start a business. You will want to use EB-5 Visa to make your application perfect.

The EB-5 is a great program for those who want to start a business in the USA, but getting it is not guaranteed. Having professionals on your side means you don’t need to worry about the visa process and can instead focus on learning and integrating into the culture.

Improve Your English Speaking Skills (If Necessary)

Unless you already have a great grasp on the English language or are moving from a predominately English-speaking country, you will want to brush up on your skills. Though you can get by with just a little bit of English, practicing beforehand can make it far easier to make friends.

Follow Local Accounts for Your Area

While you are waiting for your visa, you should also follow local social media accounts in the area you want to move. This way you can keep track of what you can do there, events that are going on, and get a general sense of what it is like to live there before you move.

Things to Do After You Move

After you move, you will want to create a community for yourself.

Join Groups

From sports teams to cooking classes, to even something strange like circus school, there are plenty of opportunities to do something that you love and meet new people while you are at it.

Meet Your Neighbors

You should make a point to meet your neighbors. They can be your first potential friends, but even if that isn’t the case, it is good to know that you have established a relationship in case you get each other’s mail or if there is some issue when you are away.

Befriend Your Co-Workers

Ask your coworkers to hang out after work within a week of starting your new job. This way you can establish an out-of-work relationship right away.

Stay Up to Date with Local Events

To really feel like you are a local, go to local events. From live music nights to county fairs, take part in the events taking place around you. By not doing so, you are isolating yourself.

Moving to the USA can feel daunting. Everything is big, far away, and the people might be different than you are used to. Thankfully Americans, especially those in cities, are great at meeting new people, so just put yourself out there and make a new home for yourself.