Transportation

Our life in the USA segment is all about

helping you feel prepared for the everyday details of your new life.

Today, we're focusing on transportation. Getting around the US can look different, you know, depending on where you live.

So to walk us through the key things to consider I'd like to welcome Nick from our international employee supervisor team. Hi Nick.

Hi Melissa thanks for having me. Super excited to cover this today.

So let's just dive right into it.

So transportation is a critical part of daily life in the US and it impacts your ability to get to work, run errands, and settle into your new community. Unlike many countries, public transportation is not always reliable and widely available in the US, so planning ahead is key.

Our team is here to provide you with full circle support to give you a guide, for your transportation options and help you as you arrive.

So let's start by looking at a public transportation and what you can expect in different US cities.

Public transportation systems vary widely across the US. Some cities offer reliable options while others have very limited services. Large metro areas like New York, Chicago, and Boston often have subways, buses, trains that and trains that run frequently. Smaller cities and rural areas rural areas may only have a few bus routes with limited hours, which can make commuting more challenging. In the US, taxis are not common outside of the big cities. While apps like Uber and Lyft are available in many places, they can be expensive and unavailable in those rural areas.

A key takeaway for everyone is that public transportation in the US can be very different depending on where you live. Some cities have strong systems, but many have limited options, so planning ahead is essential.

For many international nurses, public transportation may be difficult sorry. Maybe may not be reliable enough for daily commuting, and that's why car ownership often is the most practical choice.

A car allows you to control your commute, work differential shifts, and access grocery stores, schools, and health care. Some factors to consider before buying a car are cost, financing, and loan options, insurance, gas, and maintenance expenses, whether you have a US driver's license or need to apply for one. Having a car is an investment, but in many locations, it is necessary to ensure you can get to work on time.

One key takeaway is that while buying a car is a big financial step, it is often the most dependable way to manage life in the US.

Nick, if I could interject, I definitely do believe like having a car is definitely dependable. I mean, if I could think back to my time like when I first came to the United States, my goal was, you know, not to drive. I was scared of driving so I thought I would be like the perfect passenger princess right?

But then that was pre COVID so fares were fairly reasonable. Then after COVID you know the prices kind of went up so it's a little bit hard and expensive for me to get you know to and fro work. So I was like okay let me get the fare aside and you know get my driver's license and get me a car. And surprisingly what I was paying for like Uber was and and what I paid for, like, my monthly car notes.

My monthly car note was less than what I would pay for Uber. So sometimes it really does depend, like you've mentioned earlier, on the location for where whether you would decide to get a vehicle, whether it's, you know, better to get a vehicle or it is better to go with the public transportation route route. So I would say it's probably better to be safe than sorry. So if you're scared of driving, still go get that license, you may never know.

Back to you, Nick.

Yeah. And, you know, for many of our international nurses, public transportation, you know, with the ownership of the car is definitely the best way to go.

So let's see. So if you decide that owning a car is the best option for you, we should definitely explore these different ways that you can purchase a car in the US.

There are multiple ways to buy cars in the US depending on your budget and preferences.

The first option is International AutoSource. We refer to this as IAS.

We work with this works with international nurses without US credit history.

This offers you a brand new car with no credit check required, provides a free rental for forty five days while you wait for your purchased car, and it delivers to all fifty states. So this is definitely a very good option for convenience, especially getting that car right after you arrive in the form of a rental.

The second option here is our Advance Credit Union.

They provide auto loans for both new and used vehicles, allows you to purchase a car from any dealership and requires some processing time.

You would need to plan ahead for this. And it does not include a free rental car, so temp temporary transportation is needed.

Again, the one really big perk on this one is that you can get a used car, you don't necessarily have to purchase something brand new, and usually those are more affordable.

You can buy a car in cash. That can be done through a dealership or private seller.

This avoids loan interest, but it requires a lot more money up front.

Renting a car temporarily is useful while searching for a car, but it does require a major credit card to book.

And then ride sharing, obviously. So Uber, Lyft, these can be useful for the short term, but may be expensive or unavailable in some areas. So definitely, you know, planning ahead and figuring out your best options in the area is definitely key.

So owning a car means more than just buying it. You'll need a driver's license and must understand the responsibility that come with a car ownership.

So in the US, I'm gonna you do will be required to get a local driver's license, and I'm gonna cover how to get your driver's license. Both states require you to get a driver's license within a certain time frame of after arrival, and that does vary by state. So once you do arrive, you know, you can reach out to your IES and figure out, you know, what that time frame would look like.

If your state allows international driver's permit, you can you you can use it temporarily, but you will eventually need a local license.

So the steps to getting your US driver's license, you know, first is obtaining your social security number, which is needed for most applications, but not all of them. Again, they do vary by state.

Pass a written exam and on the on road laws for the US, take a vision test and then pass a behind the wheel driving test.

Typically, there are associated costs with this and these do vary by state and you'll need to check with your local DMV for the exact prices. But, typically, a written road test costs anywhere from twenty to fifty dollars.

The license application fee is thirty to ninety dollars, and driving lessons if needed are usually forty to eighty per session.

And then here, I do I do wanna cover some, car ownership responsibilities.

If you are driving a car in the US, you're responsible for keeping up with regular maintenance such as oil changes, tire checks, and then also understanding US driving laws and road signs, and ensuring that you have proper insurance covered required by your state.

There are also different child safety laws in car seats. US law requires children under the eight years old, to be in a car seat or a booster seat. Car seats must meet US safety standards, which may be which may differ for those in other countries.

Even if you are using Uber, Lyft, or a taxi, you must bring a car seat for young children as these services do not provide them.

We can assist in purchasing a car seat before you arrive, and your arrival coordinator will help us install that properly.

Some key takeaways here is that both driving and owning a car in the US come with legal responsibilities, and knowing the rules ahead of the time ahead of time helps keep you and your family safe.

Before driving in the US, it is essential to have a transportation plan, in place so you can get to work on time and adjusting your new life smoothly.

So before you arrive, you'll need to complete a transportation declaration form. This tells you how to plan to get to work once you're in the US. Your options include owning a car, and as we mentioned before, that can be through IAS, or a cash purchase, renting a car, or relying on Uber and Lyft or public transportation if available in your city.

If you are unsure which option is best for you, our team can help you guide based on where you'll be living and working.

Key questions to ask yourself include, is my assigned location walkable? Is public transportation reliable? Can I afford a car, or will I need financing? What's my backup plan if my first option doesn't work well? Because, obviously, when you do drive a car here in the US, there are the unexpected things such as breakdowns, flat tires, anything like that. So you'll definitely wanna make sure you do have those backup plan.

And just overall, it is important to have a plan in place before arriving in the US to ensure that you can get to work on time.

Here, you know, we wanna make sure that when you walk away from this, that you have a plan, in place for your transportation before you arrive here, and being prepared ensures that you get to work reliably from day one.

Awesome. Nick, I do wanna interject a little bit. So I recently learned this that Uber and Lyft and Taxis, you know, they don't always provide the car seats, but in some cases, especially in larger cities, they might. So that's definitely something for health care professionals to know as well and just kind of jot down. Like it's possible in larger cities that they might provide the car seat, but, you know, you can always be, you know, like I said, safe than sorry. So you could potentially bring your own if needs be.

Yeah. Definitely. And like you said, just to echo that, it's better to be safe than sorry. So if you are using Uber or Lyft, bringing that car seat or booster seat is definitely a must before you take those rides.

And then one last thing, you know, just a couple of things here before we wrap up. There are a few key takeaways from today's life in the US segment on transportation.

So one being transportation in the US varies depending on where you live, so it's important to plan ahead. In many cases, owning a car is the most reliable option for getting to work and managing your daily life.

There are several ways to secure a vehicle, and each option comes with different considerations.

Driving comes with responsibilities, so understanding the rules and preparing early is essential.

And most importantly, having a transportation plan before you arrive sets you up for success.

And as the as a part of our full circle support, our team will guide you through every transportation step, helping you choose the best option for your location, prepare for your commute, and feel confident getting to work from day one.

Thanks, everyone. That's all I had.

Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much, Nick, for kinda running through what transportation looks like and what to expect, you know when a healthcare professional gets here. You know there are different options like Nick said you know there are car rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, Taxes or you could choose to go you know, buying a car. We do have means to help you to do that, whether it's new or used. So there are plenty of options for you.

So I definitely would suggest, you know, making sure that you're reaching out to your assignee or recruiter so they can talk to you more about what these options look like. So thank you so much.

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