United States
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
USD
Region
North America
Local time
UTC-4
America/New York
Economy
Population
340.11M
GDP (current US$)
$28.75T
GDP per capita
$84,534
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
21%
+0–11.5% state
Consumption tax
No VAT or GST
Top individual income tax
37%
+0–13.3% state
Capital-gains tax
23.8%
- Long-term capital gains top 23.8% = 20% + the 3.8% net investment income tax (above $200k single); state tax comes on top. Corporate: federal 21%, plus state CIT of 0–11.5% (some states levy none). Federal 37% + state 0-13.3%; LTCG 0/15/20% + NIIT 3.8%; state tax separate.
- The United States has no federal VAT or GST. Consumption tax is levied by states and localities, with rates and coverage differing between them — the US-XX rows in this table are those state sales taxes.
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
The world's largest economy and a magnet for skilled workers, founders and students — but immigration is employer- and lottery-driven, with no single “move here” visa.
Best for
Specialty professionals with a sponsoring employer, international students (F-1/OPT), and investors or intracompany transferees.
Who this may not suit
People who need a predictable timeline, or who want to move without an employer or school behind them — nearly every long-term route is sponsored, capped or lottery-allocated.
Main routes in
H-1B specialty occupation Employer-sponsored work visa allocated by an annual lottery. F-1 student → OPT Study, then work up to 12–36 months on Optional Practical Training. Green Card (EB categories) Employment-based permanent residence, often after years on a work visa.
Key trade-offs
- Most work routes need an employer sponsor; the H-1B is a lottery, not a guarantee.
- Healthcare is private and expensive without employer coverage.
- Green-card backlogs can run years for some nationalities.
First steps
- 1 Line up a sponsoring employer or a university admission (I-20) first.
- 2 Complete the DS-160 and consular interview for your visa category.
- 3 On arrival, get an SSN and set up health insurance.
- 4 Track your status expiry and work-authorization (OPT/EAD) deadlines.
What changes often
- · H-1B cap-registration rules and fees
- · Green-card priority dates by country of birth
- · Consular interview waits and USCIS processing times
Categories, caps and processing times change often — confirm on USCIS and travel.state.gov. USCIS ↗
Major cities
All cities (30) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in United States — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the United States healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in United States — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in United States — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in United States, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in United States — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in United States — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in United States, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to United States — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in United States — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in United States as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.