United States (US)
The United States is a federation of 50 states and the District of Columbia spanning six time zones from the Atlantic to the Pacific, plus Alaska and Hawaii.
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: USD ($)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 75)
Emergency: 911
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Professional Services
Finding lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals in United States.
Vet credentials: licensing boards (state.gov/professional-licensing), BBB rating, Yelp/Google reviews, state attorney complaints search. Free consultation common.
Language options: Major cities: Spanish widely available; Mandarin/Cantonese/Vietnamese/Korean/Russian/Arabic professionals in respective community areas. Smaller cities English-only. Use 'Professionals with X language' in ZocDoc, NAPFA, AILA searches.
Tax Accountant (CPA/EA)
$300-1500 individual return How to find: AICPA find-a-CPA directory, state CPA society directories, NAEA find-an-EA directory, referrals from other expats.
AICPANAEANATP
💡 Get Enrolled Agent (EA) or CPA. Ask about international tax experience if you have foreign income/FBAR/FATCA needs. Avoid chain tax-prep shops for complex returns.
Immigration Attorney
$150-500/hour or $2000-10000 flat fee per case How to find: AILA find-a-lawyer, state bar referral service.
AILAABA Immigration Section
💡 USCIS is unforgiving of errors. Use AILA attorney for anything beyond simple family petitions. Free/low-cost for asylum/DACA via Catholic Charities, Legal Aid.
Realtor/Buyer's Agent
Free to buyer — seller pays 5-6% split How to find: NAR find-a-realtor, Zillow Premier Agent, referrals.
NAR
💡 Buyer's agent represents you in negotiation. Interview 2-3. Check sales volume and local expertise.
Financial Advisor
$150-300/hour, $2000-5000 flat plan, 0.25-1% AUM How to find: NAPFA fee-only directory, XY Planning Network, CFP Board find-a-planner.
CFP BoardNAPFAXY Planning
💡 Fiduciary fee-only advisors (NAPFA) avoid commissions. CFP designation is gold standard.
Lawyer (general)
$200-600/hour How to find: State bar referral, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell.
ABAstate bar
💡 Free consultation common. Flat fees for standard work (will, LLC formation). Legal aid for low income. Pro bono via bar.
Notary Public
$10-25/signature How to find: UPS Store, banks, title companies, Notary.net.
💡 Not lawyers in US. For simple signature notarization only. Check state rules for apostille.
Health insurance broker / benefits adviser
Commission-based — no direct fee to the buyer in most cases. Fee-based adviser: $100–300/hour for complex situations. How to find: National Association of Health Underwriters (nahu.org) for licensed health insurance brokers. ACA marketplace navigator programme at healthcare.gov. For international expat health plans: Cigna Global, Aetna International, GeoBlue, IMG (International Medical Group). Employer HR can advise on group plan options.
NAHU (National Association of Health Underwriters — nahu.org)AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans — ahip.org)
💡 Health insurance is the most critical professional service choice for all expats in the US — uninsured medical events can result in catastrophic bills. Use a licensed broker to compare ACA marketplace plans, employer-sponsored plans, and international health plans. Verify broker holds a valid state insurance licence. Always confirm in-network status before any medical appointment — out-of-network costs can be dramatically higher.
Relocation/Moving
$1500-10000+ depending on distance and volume How to find: ATA Moving and Storage, MoversUSA, SIRVA.
💡 Get 3 binding quotes. Avoid brokers — use actual movers. Check FMCSA DOT number.
Professional Services
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