Ways to live in the United States
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
H-1B specialty occupation visa
For graduates hired by a US employer for a job that needs at least a bachelor's degree. Places are limited and allocated through an annual registration.
- What you need
- The employer registers you in March; since 2026 selection favours higher wage levels. Only selected registrations can file a petition, from 1 April.
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- US$215 registration fee per person, plus petition fees
- How to apply
- Employer registers and files with USCIS (US immigration services); you then get the visa at a US consulate
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- The employer can sponsor you for a green card while you hold H-1B.
O-1 visa for extraordinary ability
For people with sustained national or international acclaim in science, business, education, sport or the arts. No annual cap or lottery.
- What you need
- Evidence of acclaim in your field and a US employer or agent who files the petition.
- How long
- Up to 3 years initially, then 1-year extensions with no overall limit
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Employer or agent files with USCIS; you then get the visa at a US consulate
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Student visa Student visas →
F-1 student visa
For full-time students at US schools and universities approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
- What you need
- Admission to an approved school, which issues Form I-20; pay the SEVIS fee (US$350), then attend a visa interview. Graduates can work in their field under Optional Practical Training.
- How long
- For the length of studies; entry up to 30 days before the programme start
- Cost
- US$350 SEVIS fee plus the visa application fee
- How to apply
- At a US embassy or consulate
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →
EB-5 Immigrant Investor green card
Green card for investors who put capital into a US business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
- What you need
- Investment of $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a rural or high-unemployment area or an infrastructure project. The amounts rise automatically on 1 January 2027.
- Savings
- about $800,000
- How long
- Conditional green card for 2 years, then permanent
- Renewable
- No
- Cost
- US immigration (USCIS) filing fees
- Processing time
- Often years, depending on visa backlog by country
- How to apply
- Petition to US immigration services (USCIS), Form I-526 or I-526E
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Yes — leads to permanent residence and later citizenship.
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $500 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $1,340 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $2,200 |
| Bills | $180 |
| Typical local salary | $4,950 |
Cities to consider
- New York CityFive boroughs, endless energy
- Los AngelesStudios, canyons and coastline
- ChicagoLakefront, blues and skyline
- HoustonDiverse energy capital
- PhoenixDesert metro of the Sun Belt
- PhiladelphiaHistory, murals and cheesesteaks
- San DiegoBeaches, tacos and sunshine
- AustinLive music and tech
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
From New York's density to California's coast, Texas sprawl and Colorado's mountains, there is a fit for almost any lifestyle. National parks are spectacular, food spans every cuisine, and big cities have huge international communities.
Day to day
Outside a few cities, a car is essential; flying is the norm between regions. Healthcare is high quality but tied to insurance. Cards and mobile payments work everywhere. English is the main language, with Spanish common in many areas.
Trade-offs
Healthcare without good insurance is very expensive. Public transport is weak in most places, and building credit history from scratch takes time.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United KingdomETA · 90 d
Australia90 days
Canada180 days
New Zealand90 days
Switzerland90 days
Norway90 days
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa
Hong KongVisa
South AfricaVisa
MexicoVisa
BrazilVisa
Questions
Does United States have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How can I move to United States?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Investment and golden visa.
When was this information checked?
The residence routes for the United States were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
Sources and last check
Residence routes for the United States were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
- CBP — Official ESTA website
- CBP — ESTA fee change
- USCIS — About the EB-5 visa classification
- Federal Register — HR-1 fees (Visa Integrity Fee deferred)
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.