United States of America

Facts:

Capital city: Washington D.C.
Population: 341 million as of March 2024
Government: Federal republic constitutional democracy
Currency: US dollar ($, USD)
Main languages: English, Spanish
Main religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam

https://www.usa.gov/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/

EDUCATION

System structure

Compulsory education in the USA covers elementary school, middle school (sometimes known as junior high) and high school

(or senior high). The ages of students who are required to attend school vary slightly from state to state, but generally children start school between the ages of 5 and 8, and finish between the ages of 16 and 18. State schools are free to attend and many students get free transportation and subsidized meals, while private schools are usually fee paying. After school, students may choose to continue

to college or university.

Academic year

The academic year is determined by individual states so there is quite a lot of variation. However, schools typically work two semesters, the first from August or September to January, and the second from January to May or June. Many universities use the same system, and most allow students to start courses at the beginning of either semester.

Higher education

There are over 4,500 colleges and universities in the USA, ranging from the private Ivy League institutions to the public colleges and smaller liberal arts colleges. College in the USA has a particular character, with sports clubs, fraternities and sororities famously at the center of social life on campus.

Most colleges require students to pass an entrance exam (usually the SAT or ACT) and college applicants are allowed to apply to as many institutions as they want to, although there is usually an application fee.

Funding

As in many countries, financial pressures have led American higher education institutions to increasingly seek commercial or corporate funding.

Colleges in the USA charge tuition fees depending on whether a student normally lives in-state, out-of-state or internationally relative to the institution. Students can apply for various types of funding including both loans and grants through the Federal Student Aid programme.

Some foreign nationals studying in the USA are eligible for funding depending on their visa status.

Courses

American universities offer both undergraduate and graduate degree courses, but undergraduate courses work differently than in many other countries. For most last four years – commonly referred to as freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years – and for the first two students take a broad range of subjects before choosing a ‘major’, their specialist subject for the final two years.

Some students choose a double major or take an additional ‘minor’ in a secondary field. Graduate qualifications usually last between one and three years, and most colleges also offer several non-degree qualifications.

Research

Research in the USA is very prestigious and competition for funding can be competitive. For more information, visit Grants.gov to find out about federal funding, or contact a specialist organization in your research field.

Elementary, middle and high school Education

Schools in America use a system known as K-12, which covers compulsory education from kindergarten through to twelfth grade. Although some schools run slightly different systems, the three levels of schooling are usually divided into:

Elementary school – kindergarten to fifth grade
Middle school – sixth grade to eighth grade
High school – ninth grade to twelfth grade

There is no federal curriculum, but most schools follow a structure outlined by local authorities in their area. At the end of high school, students hope to complete their High School Diploma. Although courses are not standardized, the diploma is a nationally recognized award and very important for employment prospects.

Preschool and childcare options

Preschool and childcare options for people moving to America with their families include:

Day care center or crèches
Pre-kindergartens
Nannies
Au pairs

The cost of childcare can be very high, although some employers do have facilities on site to care for their employees’ children. In 2013, new plans were announced to make preschools more accessible, and these will continue to be phased in over the next few years.

Living Cost

Geographical variation

The cost of living in the USA varies hugely according to several factors. Wages for the same types of job often vary between states, meaning that the cost of living and quality of life is best viewed on a state by state level.

Within states, cities are usually more expensive to live in than smaller towns or rural areas, although the local economy and levels of self-sufficiency also have an impact on the cost of living, with prices of goods also higher in very remote areas.

Accommodation

Living options in the USA include properties to buy or rent as well as options to lodge, share accommodation or stay in hotels at relatively cheap rates. Most universities offer accommodation for foreign nationals taking academic jobs, and other employers should be able to offer advice on good areas to live in.

If you choose to rent a property in the USA, you will need to submit a lease application. At this point, your credit history will be checked too. Usually, you need to pay a deposit and the estate agent’s fees, but the process depends on state law.

If you move to America permanently and decide to buy a property, you’ll find that the process is relatively quick as long as you have proof of funds, with purchases typically completed in between 30 and 60 days.

For more information on property prices and housing issues in the USA, visit the National Association of Realtors website.

Rental deposit

Most property lettings will require a deposit. Some states limit the number of months’ rent that landlords can request as a deposit and set deadlines for them to return it after the lease ends, so check the law in your state before signing a lease.

Property tax

Local services in the USA are funded in part by a property tax, which is calculated based on the value of a property. Although it is the owner who is liable for the tax, some landlords may pass the cost on to their tenants, so always check the rate whether you are renting or buying.

Utilities

Utilities in the USA are regulated by public utility commissions and provided by a combination of publically-owned and private companies.

In some areas, you will have a choice of suppliers and may be able to change to get a better price on your water, electricity, gas, telephone and internet, but in other areas, you may be locked into a particular provider.

Television

There is no cost for owning a television in America, and five major national networks – NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and The CW – show free-to-air channels. However, many people choose to pay for additional channels or regional services.

Healthcare and Medical Costs

Although the quality of healthcare in the USA is of a generally high standard, the costs are equally high. There are few publicly funded services, with the system largely paid for by private insurance.

Be aware that certain kinds of visas require you to arrange medical insurance before entering the country. The new health insurance marketplace is designed to help more people access insurance but is currently only available to US citizens.

There are also Medicare and Medicaid schemes, but again qualification is limited for foreign nationals so it’s best to arrange your insurance or take up an option through your employer.

Shopping

America is famed for its shopping, both on the high street and at out of town malls. Outlet malls offer attractive prices on clothing and household goods, but do your research first to spot genuine deals.

Supermarkets offer a comprehensive choice of groceries and are usually the cheapest option, while local produce is available at farmers’ markets and convenience stores.

Sales tax

There is no federal VAT (value-added tax) or GST (goods and services tax) in the USA. Instead, sales tax is levied at various rates in different states and sometimes even in different cities of the same state. Prices are usually quoted without sales tax, so be prepared to see the cost increase when you get to the checkout.

Price guide

Rent on 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre – $2,497.29 (≈£1,974.11) per month
Rent on 1-bedroom apartment outside the city centre – $8,512.91 (≈£6,729.46) per month
Price of apartment in city centre – $8,512.91 (≈£1,116.65) per square metre
Price of apartment outside city centre – $5,451.17 (≈£4,309.15) per square metre
Loaf of bread – $1.10 (≈£0.87)
Milk (1 litre) – $3.65 (≈£2.89)
Bottled water (1.5 litre) – $2.56 (≈£2.02)
Draught beer (0.5 litre) – $2.51 (≈£1.98)
Packet of cigarettes – $11.00 (≈£8.70)
Petrol (1 litre) – $1.00 (≈£0.79
Cinema ticket – $15.00 (≈£11.86)

Source: www.numbeo.com (accessed August 2023)

Working

Working hours

Employees in the USA typically work a 40-hour week. The normal hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm with 30 minutes allowed for lunch, however many organizations allow employees to work earlier or later than this provided they get their scheduled hours in.

Overtime is permitted and may be paid or unpaid at the discretion of your employer.

Holidays

Many foreign nationals who move to the USA to work are surprised to find that there is no provision in federal law for paid holiday (usually referred to as vacation). Larger companies may still offer good benefits packages to attract top quality staff, but this is not universal.

Employers typically offer between 10 and 20 days of vacation at their discretion. Be aware that other types of leave – including sick leave and maternity leave – may also be paid or unpaid at the employer’s discretion.

Public holidays

The USA has 11 officially recognized federal holidays. Ten of these occur annually and one, Inauguration Day, occurs every four years (in the year of a Presidential election).

Apart from Inauguration Day, which is usually observed only in counties affected by the election, federal holidays are observed by the majority of public offices and private businesses may also close.

Individual states sometimes observe additional holidays, so dates are best checked on the state government websites.

Federal holiday dates

New Year’s Day: 1st January
Birthday of Martin Luther King: 15th January
Memorial Day: 27th May
Independence Day: 4th July
Labor Day: 2nd September
Columbus Day: 14th October
Veterans’ Day: 11th November
Thanksgiving Day: 28th November
Christmas Day: 25th December

Visas and eligibility to work

The USA is a very desirable proposition for people seeking work abroad and attracts large numbers of migrants each year.

High levels of illegal immigration in the past have led to the famously strict border control system in operation today, and there are a large number of different visa types available.

Apart from those travelling under the Visa Waiver scheme, people of most nationalities require a visa to visit the country, and almost all foreign nationals will need a visa to work in the USA.

Your visa application is most likely to be successful if you already have a job offer from a company in the USA. The majority of jobs available to foreign nationals are specialist or skilled positions as labour laws require local workers to be given preferential access to jobs if they are available.

Remember that the US has some major restrictions on entry to the country so any criminal convictions, particularly relating to drug use, may lead to an application being rejected.

Tax

The tax system in the USA is complex as residents are taxed at both federal and state levels. To work in America you will need to apply for a Tax Identification Number, usually a Social Security Number.

The rules for international taxpayers vary, but generally speaking, employees can expect to pay federal income tax, state or city tax, social security tax and a Medicare levy.

The rate you are taxed at will depend on your earnings, social situation and residency status, and the majority of people will need to file tax returns annually.

For help with tax issues in the USA, contact your local IRS office.

Pensions

When you work in the USA and pay social security taxes, you accrue Social Security credits. These can later be used to claim retirement benefits.

The amount of credits you need to claim depends on your age, so if you only work in America for a short period before retiring you may not be eligible.

However, government incentives and tax breaks enable many companies to offer staff access to pension plans, so speak to your employer about your options.

Benefits

Depending on your residency, work and social status, you may be able to claim benefits in the USA as a foreign national.

Disability

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability, and disabled people also hold several other rights defined by the law.

Travel

Weather

Because of its size, the USA experiences the whole spectrum of climate conditions from tropical Hawaii to arctic Alaska. The overall climate could be described as temperate, but this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Summer temperatures in certain areas can pass 50°C (122°F), while winters can see -30°C (-22°) or even lower. However, these are the absolute extremes – to find out more about the climate in a particular state

visit the National Weather Service website.

Safety and security

Although the USA has a reputation for high levels of crime, it’s important to understand that this is not true across the board. Rates of gun crime and homicide are slightly higher than in some developed countries, but they remain significantly lower than in many places.

What you tend to find in the USA is that particular neighbourhoods have bad reputations for crime, so always listen to local advice and avoid these areas.

America can be prone to natural disasters, with earthquakes sometimes striking the west coast and hurricanes affecting the southern and eastern states between June and November each year.

Certain areas of the USA are also at risk from wildfires and tornados. If you move to a high risk area, familiarise yourself with safety recommendations and in the event of a natural disaster, follow any instructions given to you by emergency services.