Search rentals for foreigners is probably one of the first things we do as soon as we land at United States.
Emigrate is an act of courage. It doesn't matter if we came looking for better opportunities, reuniting with family or simply pursuing a dream: leaving our homeland is never easy.
Suddenly we are surrounded by a different language, new customs and the enormous task of starting from scratch. And in the midst of all this, one of the most pressing questions arises: where am I going to live?
Find a place where sleep peacefully, cooking our own food and feeling that we belong is essential to stabilize us. That's why today we want to talk to you with honesty and a lot of respect about something that touches all of us migrants: the rentals.
This article is neither a cold guide nor an academic manual, but rather a letter written between brothers on the road.
Here we will tell you what we have learned, what many have shared and what will surely serve us in this new stage.
The challenge of finding a home in another country
When we arrived at United StatesWe, most of the time with no credit history, few contacts and sometimes even no steady job, are facing a wall: the rentals for foreigners are not so easy to obtain.
The owners of apartments or houses often ask for guarantees that seem impossible for a newcomer: payment history, credit reports, proof of stable income. And that is when the feeling of helplessness arises.
Millions of people have gone through the same thing and, although it is a road with obstacles, there are solutions. A dignified, safe and legal place can be found. And most importantly, it can be done without losing your cool or falling into the wrong hands.
Basic documents usually required for renting
One of the first clashes we faced when searching for rents as foreigners are the documents we are asked to provide. The truth is that each state and each landlord has its own rules, but in most cases, these are the most common ones:
Valid identification: It can be our passport, visa or even the matricula consular. The important thing is to prove who we are legally.
Proof of income: If already employed, we must show pay stubs or a letter from the employer. If we are self-employed, bank statements may be useful. And if we are not yet employed, here comes into play the figure of a sponsor or guarantor.
Security deposit: Generally, they will ask for one month's rent (sometimes more) as a guarantee. This money is returned at the end of the contract, as long as we deliver the property in good condition.
Social Security Number: It is not always mandatory, but many landlords ask for it to make verifications. If we still do not have it, we should look for rental options that accept passports.
Personal references: contacts in USA. that can attest to our responsibility, although this requirement is not always met.
We should not panic if we do not have everything. Thousands of migrants start with no credit history or perfect paperwork, and still manage to find a roof over their heads.
How to avoid scams in the process
Unfortunately, when we talk about rentals for foreignerswe also talk about vulnerability. Many newcomers are unfamiliar with the market and can be easy targets for scammers.
Some tips to help us protect ourselves:
- Never give money without a signed contract. If someone asks for deposits "to reserve" without showing legal documentswe should be suspicious.
- Let's visit the property before paying. Even if we live far away, let us make the effort or ask someone we trust to go in our place.
- Be wary of prices that are too low. If we see an incredible apartment for half of what other similar apartments in the area are worth, there is probably something fishy going on.
- Let us demand receipt of each payment. Whether by cash, wire transfer or check, everything must be in writing.
- Verify the identity of the lesseer. We may ask you for documents or check in public records who actually owns the property.
The rentals for foreigners are a legitimate and regulated business, but also a fertile field for those who want to take advantage of ignorance. Our safety must come first.
Basic tenant rights
Even if we have just arrived, we have rights. No matter our nationality, immigration status or credit history. As tenants, the law protects us. Some key points:
- Habitable housing: the place must have minimum sanitary conditions: water, electricity, heat or air depending on the weather. They cannot rent us a ruined site.
- Privacy: the lessor may not enter without prior notice and without authorization, except for emergencies.
- Clear contract: we have the right to read, understand and keep a copy of the contract. If it is in English and we are not fluent in it, we should ask for help in order to translate it.
- Protection against discrimination: the federal law prohibits the denial of rent on the grounds of race, religion, gender, origin national or family situation.
- Return of deposit: at the end of the lease, the security deposit must be returned to us if the property is in good condition.
It is essential to know these points because, in the emotion to get a roof over our heads, we sometimes accept any conditions. But looking for rentals for foreigners does not mean losing dignity or rights.
How to negotiate without credit history
One of the biggest challenges in getting to USA is that we do not have credit history. That scares many owners because they do not know if we will be responsible tenants.
Some practical strategies we can use:
- Offer a larger deposit: paying two or three months in advance can give us an advantage.
- Submit letter from our employer: if you are already working, a letter confirming your employment stability can replace your employment history.
- Find a co-signer or guarantor: a friend or relative with good credit can sign the contract with us.
- Show references of our countryAlthough they do not always accept them, it is sometimes helpful to submit letters from former landlords or employers.
- Opt for flexible leases: some private owners (not large companies) are more sympathetic to foreigners.
Negotiating is not begging. It is to show that we are serious, responsible and committed. Every migrant who came before opened doors, and we will do the same for those who come after.
The emotional importance of the home
Beyond contracts, deposits y papersFor those of us who have left everything behind, there is the essential: a home is much more than four walls. For those of us who have left everything behind, rent is not just a question of a roof, it is a matter of beginning to weaving roots on new ground.
The first apartment, even if it is small, becomes the place where we cry the first nostalgia, where we cook the coconut majarete grandmother's house to feel that the distance hurts a little less, where we hang family photos that awaits us on the other side.
Although the road may be bumpy, let us remember that each step towards this contract is also a step towards our emotional stability.
Practical advice for newly arrived migrants
- Let's start by looking in Latino communitieswhere landlords are accustomed to dealing with foreigners.
- Let's ask in Facebook or WhatsApp groups, where many opportunities move among migrants.
- Let's make sure we read the entire contract. Do not sign without understanding the clauses.
- Let's do the math realistically: rent should not exceed 30-35% of our income.
- Let us always keep copies of receipts and documentsThe information will be used for future procedures.
- Let's be patient: sometimes the first place will not be the definitive one, but it will be the beginning.
A message from the heart
We want to finish by reminding ourselves of something, migrate is not to fail or lose, it is to reinvent ourselves. Migrate is to sustain, is to love from afar, is pride and is a shared future.
Search for a rental in the United States may seem like an impossible challenge, but in reality it is a bridge to the stability and hope. That apartment we are looking for today will be the place where we confirm that we are not lost, that we can also build here.
Every contract we sign is a declaration of trust in who we are. Each key we receive symbolizes that life goes on, that even if we are far away from the land of our birth, we have the right to call "the land of our birth".home"to a new space.
Let us take a deep breath, tread carefully, negotiate firmly, avoid scams, demand our rights and, above all, celebrate every advance.
Because in this journey we are not vulnerability: we are resilience. We are not lacking: we are a global community. We are everyday heroes that we sustain, care for and project for the future.
From Curiara we invite you to open the door of your new home with pride, to hang that first family photo on the wall, to cook that recipe that brings back memories, and to share it with friends, neighbors or co-workers.
Nothing connects more than a shared history in a space that, little by little, we are also beginning to call home.