Relocation Guide

Landing in Bergen County — Expat & Newcomer Guide

Everything a Korean family needs before landing, in the first 30 days, and beyond.

Before You Arrive

Documents to bring

Passports for every family member with 6+ months validity, visa documents (E, L, F, H, green card), international driver's permit, Korean driver's license original, marriage/birth certificates with apostille, kids' school transcripts (Korean + English), immunization records, employer offer/assignment letter, 3 months Korean bank statements, tax records.

Money — before you land

Open a US-linked Korean account (Hana Global, Shinhan SOL USA, KB) so first-week wires post quickly. Bring 2 credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. Cash: $2,000–$5,000 in small bills for first-week deposits and cash-only landlords.

Renting Without US Credit

The three landlord solutions

Extra security deposit (typically 2–3 months instead of 1.5), employer letter or company guarantee (E/L visa expats), or a US-based co-signer with 700+ FICO. In Bergen, extra deposit is by far the most common path.

Documents landlords will ask for

Passport + visa. Employer offer letter with salary. Recent Korean bank statement showing 6–12 months of rent in reserve. Reference letters (previous landlord, HR).

SSN & Bank Account — the correct order

Order matters

① Arrive on your visa. ② Apply for SSN in person at an SSA office (bring passport + I-94 + visa docs; card arrives in 2–4 weeks). ③ Open a US checking + savings account (Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo have Korean-speaking bankers in Palisades Park and Fort Lee). ④ Do NOT open before SSN if you can wait 2 weeks — you will get better products with SSN on file.

Building US Credit from Zero

Start with a secured card

Discover it Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured, or Bank of America Customized Cash. Deposit $500–$1,000; it becomes your credit limit. Charge <30% and pay in full monthly. Score appears in 3–6 months, usually 680–720.

Add authorized-user tricks + credit-builder loan

Being added as an authorized user on a US-citizen family member's long-standing card can add 5–10 years of history overnight. Self / SeedFi / Credit Strong offer credit-builder installment loans that report to all 3 bureaus.

School Registration

Documents required (Bergen public schools)

Proof of residence (2 items — lease + utility bill), child's birth certificate, immunization records translated to English, prior school transcripts, custody papers if applicable. ELL/ESL placement is automatic and free.

Utilities & Car

Utility setup

PSE&G (electric/gas) — usually the same day or next day. Suez/Veolia water — 3–5 business days. Optimum or Verizon FiOS — schedule 1 week ahead. Most require SSN or a deposit ($100–$300).

Car — lease vs buy

Assignments under 3 years → lease (lower cash out, no resale headache). Assignments 3+ years or planning to stay → buy used (best value), or new if you need warranty coverage. Korean driver's license → NJ MVC 6-point ID verification → written test → road test. NJ accepts Korean license for direct exchange under a reciprocity program in most cases.

First 30 Days