Arrival essentials

The first few weeks are all about getting the basics in place: a phone number, a social security number and the start of a credit score. Almost everything else depends on these 3, so tackle them early.

SIM and phone

• Almost everything here runs off a SIM. You cannot open a bank account without a US phone number, so it is best to have one before you even arrive.
• Save money with your phone number. Safeway, Walgreens and Target give big discounts when you make an account and select the deals in the app. You can sometimes save up to 60%.
• Around Black Friday (October to December), Mint Mobile usually has a good deal on unlimited data. You can use my referral link for a discount: http://fbuy.me/u702a
• Everything works on referrals. Before downloading any app, ask a friend for a referral link.
• Keep your Belgian number. Mobile Vikings has a data only subscription for about $15 (a single payment, not a monthly plan) that gives you 4GB, so when you go back to Belgium for a week you are covered. It is easy to switch to a monthly plan if you stay longer. You can also use a Proximus Pay&Go card.

SSN (social security number)

• You need an SSN to open a credit card.
• Most Belgians go for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. In the Chase app, enable automatic payment of the full balance. There are no costs as long as you keep about $2,000 in your checking account. You can use my referral link for a discount: https://accounts.chase.com/raf/invite/3318481392
• Start early, because this is how you begin building your credit score, which matters a lot for renting an apartment.
• You can only apply for your SSN after you arrive. But you can already book your appointment from Belgium. Best to check several locations, since a slot can be tricky to find.
• You can book your appointment via this link: https://www.ssa.gov/manage-benefits/make-an-appointment
• You need an address for them to mail it to. If you are in a hotel or Airbnb, ask a friend with an apartment in SF.
• Never share your SSN. It is a piece of paper, so keep it somewhere safe. You will need it when renting an apartment or opening a credit card.

Credit score

• Build it as early as possible. It affects your ability to rent and to get approved for cards.
• Turn on autopay for the full statement balance, not the minimum. Payment history matters most and 1 missed payment hurts a new file badly. Paying the full balance automatically means you never miss it and never pay interest. In the Chase app it is under the card's autopay settings, where you choose "full statement balance."
• Open your first card as early as possible. A US credit score only appears after about 6 months of an open account, so starting that clock early is the whole game. Never close your first card, even later, because it anchors your history. Most Belgians apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card as their first credit card. You need at least $4,000 to $6,000 in your Chase account to get accepted without a credit score.
• Keep your balance well under your limit. Try to stay under 30 percent of the limit, ideally under 10. After 6 clean months, ask for a limit increase, which lowers this automatically.
• Do not apply for several cards at once. Get 1 card working well first.