What recent reporting shows
ADL/J7 reporting shows 8,873 incidents in 2023 and 9,354 in 2024.
North America
United States Immigration Guide
Complete guide to immigrating to the United States — visas, requirements, and official resources.
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RelocationHub Score™
Overall Score
Score Breakdown
Community and safety
Recent antisemitism trend in United States
Sharp riseMulti-year data
Documented incidents rose sharply after October 7, with the US remaining among the highest-volume environments in the dataset.
How to use this in relocation planning
For families and professionals, city choice matters: some metros have strong institutions and large communities, but also higher visibility and tension.
Based on retrieved public reporting from Tel Aviv University, ADL/J7, and other relevant monitoring sources. Where a reliable series is missing, we mark the destination as a data-gap case rather than inferring a false trend.
Source base: ADL, J7, Tel Aviv University
Country checklist
What to line up before moving to United States Immigration Guide
A practical staged checklist with 23 base and country-specific tasks.
Opens a print view to save as PDF.
Documents & Identity
Check passport validity for all family membersMust
Make sure each traveler has a valid passport with enough validity buffer for the destination and visa process.
When to do it: 3-9 months before move
Collect birth/marriage/divorce certificatesMust
Obtain official copies of civil records before translation, notarization, and apostille.
When to do it: 3-6 months before move
Prepare sworn translations, notarization, and apostilles for required documentsMust
Build a destination-specific document list and prepare both physical and digital certified copies.
When to do it: 2-5 months before move
Collect diplomas, transcripts, CV, and employment documentsMust
Especially relevant for work pathways, professional recognition, licensing, and dependent applications.
When to do it: 2-4 months before move
Visas & Legal Status
Confirm visa pathway and status for each family memberMust
Confirm main applicant, dependents, work rights, and entry/stay conditions.
When to do it: 2-8 months before move
Build visa application or port-of-entry document packMust
Gather work approvals, offer letters, proof of funds, insurance, temporary address, and supporting documents.
When to do it: 1-4 months before move
Israeli-side Administration
Review Israeli tax residency position before departureMust
Review center-of-life factors, possible tax residency disconnection, exit tax, Form 1348, and double-tax risk.
When to do it: 2-6 months before move
Plan Bituach Leumi and Israeli health fund statusMust
Understand whether to keep paying, possible waiting periods on return, and how this interacts with time abroad.
When to do it: 1-3 months before move
Arrange Israeli accounts, power of attorney, and mailing addressShould
Decide what stays active, who handles urgent matters in Israel, and how official mail will be received.
When to do it: 1-2 months before move
Health & Insurance
Export medical records, prescriptions, and medication supplyMust
Request doctor summaries, generic medication names, vaccinations, test results, and relevant medical history.
When to do it: 1-3 months before move
Arrange health coverage for the relocation gap periodMust
Ensure coverage from departure from Israel until local or employer insurance becomes active.
When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move
Check employer health insurance start date and gap periodMust
Family & Schools
Collect school/daycare records for childrenMust
Gather report cards, immunization records, transfer letters, evaluations, and special support documentation if needed.
When to do it: 2-6 months before move
Check military-service status implications for Israeli children abroadShould
Especially relevant for families with children who are Israeli citizens or dual nationals.
When to do it: Before move and during long-term stay planning
Housing, Flights & Arrival
Book temporary housing for the first weeksMust
Avoid rushing into a long-term lease before understanding the area, transport, and local document requirements.
When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move
Book flights after a safe visa/approval triggerMust
It is usually safer not to lock non-flexible flights before visa approval, entry clearance, or a firm employer trigger.
When to do it: After key approval milestone
Money & Banking
Build a 3–6 month cash bufferMust
Prepare reserves for temporary housing, deposits, furniture, salary delays, and setup costs.
When to do it: 2-6 months before move
Set up banking, FX transfers, and international cardsMust
Reduce unnecessary fees and make sure you can pay for essentials before opening a local bank account.
When to do it: 2-6 weeks before move
Logistics & Shipping
Decide what to ship, store, or sellShould
Make an inventory based on shipping cost, expected stay length, home size, and destination voltage standards.
When to do it: 1-3 months before move
Pets & Car
Check pet import requirementsConditional
Includes microchip, vaccines, blood tests, health certificate, airline rules, and quarantine where relevant.
When to do it: 3-6 months before move
Check driving licence conversion and car rulesConditional
Check whether you can drive with an Israeli licence, for how long, and whether conversion or testing is required.
When to do it: 1-2 months before move
First 30 Days After Arrival
Plan the first 7 days after landingMust
SIM/eSIM, local tax/ID number, bank, transport, clinic, address registration, and onboarding documents.
When to do it: Before departure + first week after arrival
Plan SSN issuance or alternative financial ID pathMust
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Best when a U.S. employer is ready to sponsor quickly and your role clearly requires specialized education.
Processing6 to 10 months
Profile noteLottery-based
- Strong for software, engineering, analytics, and product roles.
- Needs cap timing discipline if the case is subject to the annual lottery.
- Works best when degree and role alignment is easy to explain.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
Useful for founders, researchers, and senior professionals who can show impact beyond one employer.
Processing12 to 24 months
Profile noteEvidence-heavy
- No employer sponsor is required.
- The case strength comes from the quality and coherence of the evidence pack.
- Best for applicants with strong track record, publications, leadership, or market impact.
E-2 Treaty Investor
A practical route for treaty-country founders who can place substantial capital at risk in an active U.S. business.
Processing2 to 5 months
Profile noteCapital and structure
- Needs a real operating business, not a passive investment shell.
- Works best when source of funds and operating plan are clean and well documented.
- Often paired with spouse work authorization planning.
F-1 Student Visa
Best for full-time study with a clear academic plan and realistic funding strategy.
Processing1 to 3 months
Profile noteInstitution-led
- Institution paperwork drives the file quality.
- Funding and nonimmigrant intent remain core review points.
- Longer-term plans often include OPT or a later work route.
The United States is one of the world's primary immigration destinations, with legal pathways for workers, investors, students, and families. U.S. immigration is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Visa Categories
U.S. visas fall into two broad groups:
Nonimmigrant visas grant temporary authorization to enter the United States for a specific purpose and duration (work, study, investment, or tourism). Most require proof of intent to return to your home country, except dual-intent visas like H-1B and L-1.
Immigrant visas (green cards) grant permanent resident status, allowing you to live and work in the United States indefinitely. Paths include family sponsorship, employment sponsorship, and self-petition categories.
Pathways Covered on This Site
Work & Investment
- H-1B: Specialty occupation workers sponsored by a U.S. employer, subject to an annual cap lottery.
- E-2 Treaty Investor: Nationals of qualifying treaty countries (including Israel since May 1, 2019) who invest a substantial amount in a bona fide U.S. enterprise.
- EB-2 National Interest Waiver: Professionals of exceptional ability whose work serves the U.S. national interest; no employer sponsor required.
Study
- F-1 Student: Full-time students at SEVP-approved U.S. colleges, universities, or academic institutions.
Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa Program)
The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program — commonly called the Green Card Lottery — is run annually by the U.S. Department of State and offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners become U.S. permanent residents (green card holders). Selection does not guarantee a visa — it gives you the right to apply.
Who Is Eligible?
You must meet two conditions on the date you submit your entry:
Country of birth — You must be born in an eligible country. High-immigration countries are excluded each year. For DV-2026, ineligible countries included Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
- Spouse exception: If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you may charge eligibility to their country of birth (both must immigrate together).
- Parents exception: If neither of your parents was born in or legally resided in your country of birth at the time of your birth, you may charge to one of their countries of birth.
Education or work experience — At least a high school diploma (12 years of schooling) or two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.
How to Apply
All entries are submitted free of charge during a limited window each year (typically October–November) at dvprogram.state.gov. No paper applications are accepted.
What you need before starting:
- Full name, date of birth, gender, city and country of birth
- Mailing address and current country of residence
- Marital status and details for your spouse and all unmarried children under 21
- A recent digital photo meeting strict U.S. DV photo requirements for each family member
After submitting, you receive a confirmation number — save it. It is the only way to check your status. The U.S. government does not notify winners by email or post.
Checking Results
Results are published in May each year at dvprogram.state.gov (Entrant Status Check). Enter your confirmation number, last name, and year of birth to see if you were selected.
If Selected — Next Steps
Selection opens the door; it does not guarantee a visa. You must:
- Complete Form DS-260 (online immigrant visa application)
- Gather supporting documents (passport, birth certificate, police certificates, education records)
- Attend a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate
All steps must be completed before September 30 of the relevant fiscal year. Once all 55,000 visas are issued or the year ends, no more DV visas can be granted for that program year.
Important Rules
- One entry per person per year — multiple entries result in disqualification
- Free to enter — fees apply later only if selected and applying for a visa
- Selection is random — a computerized drawing; no service can improve your odds
- Beware scams — the only official site is dvprogram.state.gov; the U.S. government never sends emails announcing lottery wins or asks for payment
Official Resources
- DV Program instructions and FAQs: travel.state.gov (search "Diversity Visa Program Instructions")
- Application and status check: dvprogram.state.gov
- U.S. Government overview: usa.gov/green-card-lottery
Key Facts About the United States
- Capital: Washington, D.C.
- Official language: English (no federal official language; many states recognize additional languages)
- Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD)
- Government: Federal constitutional republic with 50 states
- Population: approximately 335 million (U.S. Census Bureau)
Living and Working in the United States
The United States has the world's largest national economy. The job market varies widely by sector and geography. Healthcare is primarily private; coverage options include employer-provided plans and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Taxes are filed annually with the IRS. The U.S. education system runs from public K–12 schools through a large network of accredited universities and community colleges.
Official Resources
All authoritative U.S. immigration information is published by federal government agencies:
- USCIS case processing and petitions: uscis.gov
- Visa applications and consular processing: travel.state.gov
- U.S. facts and government services: usa.gov
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Consult a licensed immigration attorney before making decisions.