This is a handbook indispensible for any immigrant, especially thosewho wish to have a fresh start in life in the United States.

Table of Contents

1.            INTRODUCTION     

PART I.  What Needs toBe Done Right After You Get Your Green Card

2.            YOUR ROADMAPFOR LIFE WITH A GREEN CARD               

2.1.         If YouWorked in the U.S. on a Temporary Visa in the Past
2.2.         If YouHave Worked Without Papers      
2.3.         If YouHave Been Using Someone Else’s Identity              
2.4.         If YourHelp to a Fellow Immigrant Got You in Trouble    
2.5.         If YourIdentity Got Stolen
2.6.         If You Werein Trouble in the Past
2.7.         If YouNever Lived in the United States Before

3.            MOREPROBLEMS WITH THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE AFTER GETTING YOUR GREEN CARD

3.1.         Now thatYou Are a Permanent Resident
3.2.         PotentialProblems with Your Green Card
3.3.         RemoveConditions on Your Two-Year Conditional Permanent Resident Card
3.4.         Don’t LoseYour Permanent Resident Status
3.5.         ReportChange of Address to the USCIS
3.6.         Don’tStumble on the Road to Naturalization
3.7.         Forms,Appointments, and Office Locations

4.            FORMALITIESAFTER GETTING YOUR GREEN CARD

4.1.         Paperworkat the Social Security Office with New and Old Cards
4.2.         Switchfrom ITIN to SSN
4.3.         What Needsto Be Done at Work
4.4.         How Not toGet Fired for Having Used a Fake SSN in the Past
4.5.         When YouCan Leave Your Sponsor
4.6.         What Needsto Be Done at the Bank
4.7.         Registerwith the Selective Service
4.8.         ConvertYour Temporary Driver’s License into a Permanent One
4.9.         Where andHow to Report Your Name Change
4.10.      AddressChange              

5.            ESTABLISHINGYOURSELF IN AMERICA

5.1.         Your FirstPlace to Live
5.2.         ProtectYourself and Your Family
5.3.         Educationfor Your Children
5.4.         Evaluationof Your Foreign Diploma and Continued Education
5.5.         Pay Taxesthat Are Due
5.6.         Build YourGood Reputation
5.7.         Go Aheadto Achieve Your Dreams

6.            FIND GOODLEGAL EMPLOYMENT

6.1.         Your LegalStatus Is Just the Beginning
6.2.         EmploymentBackground Check
6.3.         GetAmerican Job Experience
6.4.         How toIncrease Your Chances for Employment
6.5.         JobSearching in America
6.6.         Places toLook for a Job
6.7.         Benefitsof Legal Employment

 

PART II. How to Clean up Your Past

7.            SETTLEYOUR SCORE WITH THE IRS

7.1.         The Taxand Social Security Mess
7.2.         How to GetYour Tax Information from the IRS
7.3.         Consequencesof Failure to Pay Taxes
7.4.         Pay YourBack Income Taxes
7.5.         MissingW-2 and 1099 Forms
7.6.         How toMitigate the Consequences of Nonpayment of Taxes

8.            CLEAN UPYOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT

8.1.         HowEarnings Are Posted
8.2.         CheckWages Reported Using Your SSN
8.3.         How to PayBack Your FICA Tax
8.4.         EarningsErrors
8.5.         How toCorrect Your Earnings Record
8.6.         Problemsthat Can Be Resolved
8.7.         ChangingYour Social Security Number

9.            GET TOKNOW COMPANIES WHICH GATHER INFORMATION ON PEOPLE

9.1.         What AreConsumer Reporting Agencies?
9.2.         Credit, Consumer,and Investigative Reports
9.3.         YourRights Under the FCRA
9.4.         YourRights to Fix Inaccuracies
9.5.         How YouAre Scored

10.          STRAIGHTENOUT YOUR CREDIT HISTORY

10.1.      Credit,Credit History, and Credit Score
10.2.      Consequencesof Unpaid Bills
10.3.      How to Dealwith Collection Agencies
10.4.      FinancialObligations of an Immigrant Sponsor
10.5.      Find outwhat Credit Bureaus Know About You
10.6.      Clean upYour Credit Report
10.7.      How toImprove Your Credit

11.          CHECK THE“OTHER” CONSUMER REPORTS

11.1.      How NegativeBanking History Can Hurt You
11.2.      CheckWriting History: Consequences of Bouncing Checks
11.3.      InsuranceClaims Report: How Insurers Size You Up
11.4.      EmploymentBackground Check: How Employers Look into Your Past
11.5.      Improve YourTenant History Report to Qualify for a Good Apartment
11.6.      MedicalHistory: What Others Know About Your Health

12.          FIGHT ANDPREVENT IDENTITY THEFT

12.1.      How anIdentity Thief Can Harm You
12.2.      How toProtect Yourself               
12.3.      How a CreditFreeze Protects You
12.4.      How LawsProtect Your Rights as a Consumer
12.5.      What to DoFirst if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
12.6.      Report Fraudto Credit Bureaus
12.7.      Report theIncident to Law Enforcement Agencies
12.8.      Proving ThatYou Have Been Victimized

13.          RECOVERFROM UNAUTHORIZED FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

13.1.      What to DoAbout Stolen Checks
13.2.      FraudulentCredit Accounts Opened in Your Name
13.3.      UnauthorizedCharges on Your Credit Card
13.4.      How toRecover Stolen Money from Your Debit Account
13.5.      How toCorrect Fraudulent Information in Your Credit Report
13.6.      When SomeoneUses Your Social Security Number
13.7.      When SomeoneObtains Phone Service in Your Name

14.          FIX YOURDRIVING RECORD

14.1.      Types ofTraffic Violations
14.2.      TrafficTickets
14.3.      How You CanLose Your License and How to Prevent It
14.4.      Your DrivingRecord
14.5.      How toObtain and Clean up Your Driving Record
14.6.      When SomeoneSteals Your Identity

15.          CLEAN UPYOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY

15.1.      What Is aRap Sheet?
15.2.      How to CheckYour Rap Sheet
15.3.      How toCorrect Your Rap Sheet
15.4.      How to Cleanup Your Criminal Record
15.5.      What YouShould Know About the Immigration Background Check

 

APPENDIX: ABOUT THE NEW AMERICAN GUIDES              262