Istanbul at night: Galata Tower and the lights along the water
Guide Turkey → the USA · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Turkey to the USA

A plain checklist: the visa routes, what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in the USA.

Photo: Pexels
First: can you move?

You need a visa to live in the USA

Living and working in the USA needs a visa or a green card. Turkish citizens need a visa for short visits too; they can't use ESTA.

Job
Work visaWith an employer who hires you and sponsors your visa.
Uni
StudyA student visa to study in the USA.
Fam
FamilyThrough a family member who is a US citizen or green card holder.

Which route fits you: travel.state.gov, the US State Department's official visa site. We don't give visa advice.

Before you go

Your checklist in Turkey

  1. Your visa or green card approved and a valid passport.
  2. Documents in one folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas; translations where needed.
  3. Money for the start: a deposit, the first rent and a few weeks of living costs; deposit rules depend on the state.
  4. Health insurance: treatment in the USA is expensive, and insurance usually comes through the employer.
  5. Set up your home TV before you go, so it works on day one (how to watch Turkish TV in the USA).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in the USA

Home TV, ready when you land

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Turkish make the new flat feel like home faster.

How to watch Turkish TV in the USA →
Advertisement: Turkish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in the USA

  1. Social Security Number (SSN): needed to work and for taxes.
  2. Bank account: with your passport and address.
  3. Phone: a prepaid or contract SIM.
  4. Driving: rules depend on the state; once you live there you usually need a state licence.
  5. TV fee: the USA has none.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to live in the USA?

Yes. Living and working in the USA needs a visa or a green card. Check your route on travel.state.gov.

Do I need a visa to visit the USA?

Yes. Turkish citizens need a visa for short visits too; they can't use ESTA.

What is an SSN?

Your Social Security Number, needed to work and for taxes. You apply to the Social Security Administration.

Is my Turkish driving licence valid in the USA?

Rules depend on the state. Once you live there you usually need a state licence.

Can I watch Turkish TV in the USA?

Yes. Our Turkish TV in the USA guide shows every option.

More for Turkish people in the USA

Guides for you

Turkish TV in the USAThe Turkish channels live, and how the official options compare.The Turkish community in the USAHow many, where people live, mosques, Turkish lessons and where people meet online.Moving to the USAThe visa routes, before you go and your first weeks.
Sources