How to do things in America
Each guide answers one real question — the sort people type into a search box at 11pm when a bill arrives, a lease ends, a claim is denied or a text message asks for a code. Every fact is cited to the agency, regulator or statute that owns it; every judgment is labeled as our own.
Arriving & settling in
The first ninety days: a visa, a Social Security number, a bank account, a phone, health insurance and somewhere to live.
Government services & ID
Social Security, REAL ID, passports, state IDs, birth certificates and the identity documents everything else depends on.
Money, tax & credit
Federal and state income tax, FICA, W-2s and 1099s, filing deadlines, and the credit score that governs American financial life.
Work & employment
At-will employment, minimum wage, overtime, unpaid leave under FMLA, wrongful termination and what to do when a paycheck is wrong.
Housing & renting
Security deposits, application fees, leases, repairs, eviction, and the state-by-state rules that decide all of it.
Driving & transport
Getting a state driver's license, registration, mandatory insurance, driving on a foreign license and the rules that vary by state.
Health insurance & care
Marketplace plans, employer coverage, Medicaid and Medicare, deductibles and copays, and what to do about a surprise medical bill.
Bills & utilities
Setting up power, gas, water and internet, security deposits without credit history, and help when a bill cannot be paid.
Education & study
Public school enrollment, districts and residency, the FAFSA, community colleges and student visas.
Consumer rights & complaints
What the law actually gives you on refunds, chargebacks and warranties — and the federal agencies that take complaints seriously.
Scams, safety & emergencies
Recognizing and reporting fraud, identity theft and credit freezes, and the numbers that matter in an emergency.
Travel & things to do
National parks, road trips, and the practical side of moving around a country the size of a continent.