Big picture: your move has 3 tracks

• Status/work authorization: what lets you live/work in the U.S. legally.
• Money + admin setup: SSN/ITIN, banking, credit, insurance, taxes.
• Logistics: housing, school, moving truck, vehicle, utilities.

Real timeline questions

• “How early should I start?” Many people start 3–6 months out for planning, and 6–12+ months if complex (schooling, job transfer, business).
• “What can overlap?” City research, document prep, provider calls, budgeting, school research.
• “What shouldn’t overlap?” Signing long leases, shipping everything, and committing job start dates before work authorization is clear.
• “What’s the goal?” Reduce irreversible decisions until your status, housing plan, and budget are stable.

6–12 months out: de-risk the move

• Pick 1–2 likely status options and confirm eligibility with your employer/lawyer.
• Build a “document binder” (digital + printed): passports, degrees, job letters, pay stubs, marriage/birth certificates.
• Model a starter budget (rent, car insurance, health insurance, utilities, phone, groceries).
• If kids: shortlist school districts and verify enrollment requirements.

If you own a home in Canada, decide early whether you’ll sell, rent, or hold—this impacts timing and taxes.

2–4 months out: lock in dates + vendors

• Choose your target arrival week and build backwards.
• Get moving company quotes (or DIY truck + storage).
• Decide what crosses the border vs what you sell/donate.
• Start U.S. housing search (rent first is common for newcomers).

2–6 weeks out: border + first-week readiness

• Prepare household goods inventory (even if it’s approximate).
• Confirm your entry documents + employer letter package.
• Line up temporary health coverage if there’s a gap.
• Plan your “first 10 days” list: SIM/phone, bank visit, DMV appointment, school enrollment.

Arrival week: focus on 5 essentials

1. Address: lease/temporary housing + proof of address docs.
2. Phone: U.S. number helps with everything.
3. Banking: account + debit card.
4. SSN/ITIN plan: know your path and expected timeline.
5. Insurance: auto + health coverage plan.

Your “paper trail” (lease, bills, letters) becomes important for DMV and many applications.

First 30–90 days: stabilize

• Start building U.S. credit (secured card / starter card if needed).
• Set up utilities, internet, and recurring payments.
• Choose primary care + understand in-network vs out-of-network.
• Tax planning: track moving-related records, residency start, and pay stubs.

If you feel stuck

• Make a list of your unknowns (status, insurance, school, etc.).
• Rank them by “could break the move.”
• Resolve the top 2 first—everything else gets easier.