New York is home to 8.38 million people, with over 100,000 people moving to the city every year. If you too are lured to the Big Apple for the excitement of city life, there are a few essential things that you will need to organize when you arrive in your new home. From establishing residency to registering for healthcare, getting the right documents and licenses will make daily life much easier for you. You can then get on and enjoy the fun and excitement of your metropolitan life in New York.
Establishing residency
Establishing residency is important if you want to live in New York. It means that you can get a New York drivers license, register your vehicles, get in-state tuition at the universities and colleges, and also have access to many of the perks for locals, including being able to visit some of the parks that are just for New Yorkers. To establish residency, you will need to rent or buy a home in the city, register to vote, and be able to show that you are employed or have a business in New York. You need to be in the city at least 184 days a year to be considered a resident, and you will also have to register to pay tax in the state of New York.
Arranging healthcare
New York is leading the way in terms of healthcare. Thanks to the New York Health Act, every resident in the city is given access to public-funded health insurance. You can apply for this on the New York State of Health Website. It is still important however, to register with the healthcare professionals you wish to use. Arranging dental care in New York is easy, and you should make sure that you go for a check up every six months. Whether you are paying privately or using dental insurance, you can have access to services including teeth cleaning, tooth filling and dental veneers. When you are looking for a doctor, it is worth knowing that all doctors must hold a valid license from the New York State Department of Education to be able to legally practice medicine in New York.
Apply for a driver license
Anyone over the age of 16 can make an application for a New York driver license if they live in the city. The application can be made on the DMV website. You will first have to decide what class of driver license that you need. Most people have a D operator license for non-commercial vehicles. If you apply for a Real ID license, as opposed to a standard license, it can be used to board domestic flights in the US. An enhanced license can be used to travel to Canada, Mexico and some countries in The Caribbean. When bringing your car to New York, you should also consider where you are going to park it, as street parking is at a premium, particularly in areas like Manhattan. You can use apps like Best Parking and SpotHero to help you, or you may want to reserve a space at a specific garage.
Using the subway
The quickest way to get around New York is by subway, which runs 24 hours a day, all year round. You can pay for the subway using a Metrocard, or using the OMNY app on your phone. A single ride Metrocard is $3, or if you pay in advance for at least 2 rides, it is $2.75. There is also the option of paying for weekly or monthly “unlimited” rides, which will make the price lower. It doesn’t matter if your ride on the metro covers 2 stops or 20 – the price of a ride is still the same. Try and get familiar with the subway map as soon as you move to the city. There are 22 lines and 472 stations, so navigating the subway can sometimes be challenging, especially if you are new to New York.
Enrolling children in school
If you have a child that you want to go to school in New York, you should enroll them online as soon as you can. To do this you will need to register for a MySchools account on the NYC government website. They can apply for 3-K from the age of 3 and Pre-K from the age of 4. Elementary School is for children aged 5 and over, and they will have to have completed 5th grade to apply for Middle School. Many children in New York attend zoned schools – you will have to apply to these schools directly for a place. If you have a child that has completed 8th grade, they can apply for High School. To do this, contact any New York Family Welcome Center, and they will give you guidance on school choices, education programs and how to register. You may find that you have to join a waitlist for certain schools, but don’t be put off by this, as those waitlists can move quickly at the start of a new semester or school year.
Looking after pets
When you are moving to New York, it is important that you consider your pets. All dogs in New York must have a valid license, which needs to be attached to their collar at all times. You can apply for the license online, which costs $8.50 for spayed/neutered dogs and $34 if you cannot provide any proof that your dog has been spayed/neutered. Without this license and a rabies vaccination, your dog cannot be allowed off-leash in any of the New York park dog runs. You don’t need a license for a cat, but you should consider keeping your cat indoors due to the traffic.
Before you move to New York make sure you organize the essential licenses, paperwork and insurance. You will then be able to take advantage of everything New York has to offer.
We hope you found this blog post on Moving To New York – Essential To Do Items useful. Be sure to check out our post on Things Tenants Should Checklist For Moving In for more great tips!
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