Issuu

English

THE IMMIGRANT GUIDE

Edition 6

intercambio.org

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

Building Cultural Awareness and Respect For Teachers Here are ideas for using the guide in English classes, conversation classes, or separate workshops:

Reading: There are different ways to use the text to practice reading.

Conversation: Introduce 1-2 topics at a time.

Begin by asking students what they know about the topic. For example, if you explore “Knowing Your Rights”, first ask what they know about their rights in the U.S. Ask what they want to learn about the topic. These questions can also spark great conversations: - What is your experience with this in the U.S.? Where and how did you experience it? - How is this similar or different in your native country or where you grew up? - What questions do you have about this topic? Have students come up with questions. They can take turns asking you or other students.

If you use our Confidence and Connections curriculum, the Culture Tip in each lesson often ties to a topic in this guide and can lead to deeper conversation. Vocabulary:

When they see a word in italics, have them look up the definitions on page V. If they don’t understand the definition or there are other words they don’t understand, they can look up the translation in their native language. Try to repeat it in their language and have fun with that! To help them learn the new word, have them write a definition, synonym or draw a picture.

Pronunciation:

When it’s difficult to understand a student because they stress the wrong syllable or they pronounce too many or not enough syllables, have them count out syllables and underline the stressed part of the word (e.g., reliable, not reliable). If your students want more practice with challenging sounds, use Pronunciation Fun (see back cover).

Read a section aloud to your students to provide a model and allow students to process the information. Then have them read aloud to you. Some students like this and some are intimidated. Students can read aloud to themselves. In person you can have people walk around the room reading aloud to themselves. On video chat they can put themselves on mute and read aloud. Have students quietly scan the reading for important content.

Writing:

Dictate several sentences from the guide. In class, they can exchange papers to correct each other’s work. Do a dictocomp. Read a paragraph several times at normal speed. Have your students write down what they can as you read. Each time you read the paragraph, they can add a few more words. The idea of this activity is for them to come up with a logical paragraph of their own. It won’t be exactly what you’ve read.

You can also provide workshops using the guide. Invite people in your community to discuss and expand on sections (i.e., invite a police officer to talk about laws, a nurse to talk about health, a banker to talk about finances). When you first introduce the guide to your students, get them comfortable with the table of contents so they can find information on their own. Introduce the format and then do a brief activity: What topic # is the following

What page # is it?

Discrimination

____ 9

____ 2

Job Benefits

____

Credit Reports

____

Vaccinations

____

Internet Safety

____

Greetings

____

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

Topic #

Table of Contents

The Law and the Role of Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1) Calling 911 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2) Alcohol & Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3) Drinking & Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4) Know Your Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5) Sexual Harassment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6) Sexual Assault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7) Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8) Stealing & Trespassing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9) Discrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10) Getting Legal Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11) Becoming a U.S. Citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19)

Finding Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting Problems Fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fires & Carbon Monoxide (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Being a Good Neighbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Property & Renter’s Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4

Jobs and the Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32)

How to Find Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Résumés . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to be a Good Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting Paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Working Overtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minimum Wage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paychecks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management Styles & Coworker Interactions . . . . . .

5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8

Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 33) Tax Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 34) Filing Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 35) Budgeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 36) Checking & Savings Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 37) Credit Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 38) Credit Ratings & Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 39) Saving & Growing Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 40) Check Writing & Cashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 41) Identity Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 42) Notary Publics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 43) Filing Insurance Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 44) Home Energy Saving & Typical Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Page #

Health and Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57)

The Emergency Room (ER) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Urgent Care Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Healthcare System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Filling Out Medical Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communicating with Doctors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medication & Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vaccinations & Check-ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HIV & AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spreading Illness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using a Thermometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 15

58) 59) 60) 61) 62) 63)

General Safety Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Watch What You Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cigarettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcoholism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15 17 17 18 18 18

Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69) 70) 71) 72)

Driving Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parking Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What To Do if the Police Stops You . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Honking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Car Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staying on the Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buying & Registering a Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carpooling & HOV Lanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20

Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 73) 74) 75) 76) 77)

Parenting in the U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keeping Children Healthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21 21 21 22 22

Education System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83) 84) 85) 86) 87) 88) 89)

Levels of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Curriculum & English as a Second Language (ESL)23 Report Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Grade Point Average (GPA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 SATs, ACTs, & TOEFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Finding a School for Your Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Parent-Teacher Conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Parent Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 How to Help Your Kids Succeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Extracurricular Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Interactive Teaching Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 College, University & Vocational Schools . . . . . . . . 24

iii

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

Topic #

Table of Contents

Page #

FOR STUDENTS Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 90) Learning English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91) Postage & the Post Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92) Internet Speed and Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93) Computers & Internet Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94) Names & Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95) Junk Mail & Phony Phone Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96) Document Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97) Answering Phones & Checking Messages . . . . . . . 98) Cell Phone Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99) The Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100) Daylight Saving & Time Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25 25 25 26 26 26 27 27 27 27 28

The information in this guide is about jobs, laws, health, housing, parenting, schools, finances, cultural norms and more. It will help you succeed and live with confidence in the U.S. We hope that you learn about cultural norms in the U.S. and that you maintain your individual culture. Having people from different countries and different cultures makes communities stronger. Use this guide to start important conversations. Be brave and share your experiences and perspectives. We need to all learn from each other! Thank you!

U.S. Culture and Social Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 101) 102) 103) 104) 105) 106) 107) 108) 109) 110) 111) 112) 113) 114) 115) 116) 117) 118)

Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleanliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Social Taboos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inclusive Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Punctuality & Confirming Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . Personal Space & Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Yes” Means Yes and “No” Means No . . . . . . . . . . Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Humor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dating & Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gender Equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Food Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Punishing Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Life Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31 32 32 32 32

Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 119) 120) 121) 122) 123)

Measurement Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reading Expiration Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G etting Store Cards & Using Coupons . . . . . . . . . Garage Sales & Thrift Stores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Returns & Rebates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33 33 33 33 33

Lee Shainis Author, The Immigrant Guide Executive Director, Intercambio Uniting Communities

We looked at these reliable websites to gather a lot of the information in this guide:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Child Welfare Information Gateway Consumer Product Safety Commission Department of Labor Federal Trade Commission Internal Revenue Service National Domestic Violence Hotline National Highway Traffic Safety Administration National Institutue of Mental Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Your Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 124) 125) 126) 127) 128) 129) 130) 131)

Public Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R ecreation Centers & Outdoor Activities . . . . . . . . C ommunity Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W alking and Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34 34 35 35 35 36 36 36

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

Vocabulary You Need to Know Many of these words have more than one meaning. The definition we use relates to a topic in this guide. Annual — occurring or done once a year or every year Attorney — lawyer. A person qualified by a state or Federal court to provide legal services. Bribe — to illegally give someone money or a gift to persuade them to do something for you Candidate — someone who is applying for school, a job position, or competing in a political election Cautious — being careful to avoid danger or risks Choke — unable to breathe properly because something is in your throat or there is not enough air Chores — small jobs that have to be done regularly Compensation — money paid to someone Confidential — spoken or written in secret and intended to be kept secret Damage — to harm something so that it is broken or destroyed Diagnose — to find out what illness someone has after doing tests, examinations, etc. Efficient — working well without wasting time, money, or energy Estimate — a statement of how much something will probably cost Faint — to suddenly become unconscious for a short time Fine — money that you have to pay as a penalty Fraud — the crime of stealing information in order to gain money or possessions Habit — something that you do regularly Inappropriate — not proper or right for a particular purpose or situation Initiative — to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do Injury — damage to part of your body caused by an accident or an attack Insult — a rude expression intended to offend or hurt Intimidate — to scare or threaten someone Landlord — someone who owns and rents a room, building, etc. to another (tenant) Mood — the way you feel at a particular time Neglect — failure to pay proper attention to someone or something Negligent — not taking enough care for something or someone that you are responsible for Negotiate -to arrange or settle something by mutual agreement Origin — the country or place which someone or something comes from Outlet — a place on a wall where you can connect electrical equipment to supply electricity* Pedestrian — someone who is walking Persistent — refusing to give up or let go Praise — to encourage, congratulate, or say that you admire someone Punctual — arriving on time or finishing a task on time Refund — money that you get back Reliable — can be trusted or depended on Resource — something or someplace that provides information Shred — to cut or tear something into small pieces Sidewalk — a hard surface or path at the side of a street for people to walk on Stare — to look at something or someone for a long time without moving your eyes Strict — firm and expecting people to obey the rules Sudden — happening, coming, or done quickly or when you do not expect it Tenant — someone who lives in a house, room, etc. and pays rent to the person who owns it Theft — involving stealing or robbing Treatment — something that is done to try to cure someone who is injured or ill Valuables — things that you own that are worth a lot of money or are important to you Wages — money you earn that is paid according to the hours, days, or weeks that you work Withdraw — to take money out of a bank account

Definitions were taken primarily from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

1–4

The Law and the Role of Police Laws and police exist to make our communities safe. Police are strict and follow the law as it is written. Never bribe a police officer. It is your responsibility to understand and follow the laws. Always talk to police officers with respect.

1) Calling 911

911 responds fast to emergency calls. Dial 911 to: - Report a fire. - Report a crime while it is happening. - Report a car accident. - Get an ambulance for an emergency. Be prepared to give your address and information about the emergency. You can ask for an interpreter. Do not call 911 for something that is not an emergency.

2) Alcohol & Drugs

Drinking alcohol is only legal for adults over 21 years old. When you buy alcohol or enter a bar, they will ask for proof of your age. There are penalties for providing alcohol to people under the age of 21. It is usually illegal to drink alcohol or smoke marijuana in public places away from your home. You can get arrested or deported for selling or having illegal drugs. Using drugs around children can be considered child abuse. If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol, you can contact rehabilitation programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

If you do not have an attorney, the government will give you an attorney. If an immigration or police officer knocks on the door and asks to enter your home, do not open the door. You only have to let law enforcement officers into your house if they have a search warrant signed by a judge.

5) Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment usually involves repeated behavior that is inappropriate and makes a person uncomfortable. Examples include requests for a date, unwelcome behavior that is physical (a shoulder or back rub), or comments about a person’s appearance.

6) Sexual Assault

Forcing any person to perform any sexual act is a federal crime. This includes people who had sex before. If he or she says “no” and the act continues, it is sexual assault. It is illegal for adults to influence anyone under a certain age to do sexual acts. This minimum age is usually 18.

3) Drinking and Driving

Driving after drinking alcohol can cause serious accidents and problems. Driving after having one or two drinks can get you arrested. Legal drinking limits for driving are different in different states.

4) Know Your Rights

If a police or immigration officer asks you questions: - Stay calm. - Do not run away. - You do not answer where you were born or how you entered the US. - You can ask to speak with an attorney before you answer any questions or sign any documents. You have the right to remain silent. - If you speak, do not lie. © 2021 © 2021 Intercambio Intercambio Uniting Uniting Communities. Communities.AllAllRights RightsReserved. Reserved.No Noreproduction reproduction isis permissible permissible without withoutprior priorconsent consentfrom fromIntercambio IntercambioUniting Uniting Communities. Communities.

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

5–11

The Law and the Role of Police 7) Domestic Violence

Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other person. Examples of abuse include: - Name-calling or insults. - Preventing a partner from contacting family or friends. - Preventing a partner from getting or keeping a job. - Keeping money from him or her. - Actual or threatened physical harm. Violence is criminal and includes: - Physical assault – hitting, pushing, etc. - Sexual abuse – unwanted or forced sexual activity. - Stalking – repeated unwanted attention. If you are a victim, call 911 for emergencies or the national domestic hotline 1-800-799-7233

8) Stealing and Trespassing

Many stores have security, and they can arrest you if you steal anything. This includes small and cheap items. They can also arrest you if you steal anything from other people. You can get arrested for trespassing, or being on the private property of a person without their permission.

9) Discrimination

Discrimination is when people are treated unfairly because they are part of a particular group. It is illegal to discriminate according to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, and others. This applies to housing applications and to places of employment. If you experience discrimination at work, talk to the human resources manager or a supervisor. If your children experience discrimination at school, talk to the counselor, principal or another school leader.

(5) Sexual Harassment

10) Getting Legal Help

To find an attorney who is reliable, talk to friends or look for a legal center. Some places provide low-cost or free assistance. Attorneys charge in different ways such as: - Per hour, where you pay for the number of hours they work on your case. - A flat rate that you agree on at the beginning, where it does not matter how many hours the attorney works. - Contingency, where the attorneys collect a certain amount of money if they win the case. Have your attorney’s phone number with you in case of emergencies. If you use an attorney, get a written contract. The contract should be in both English and in your native language. Do not pay cash for services. Get a receipt for your payment. Keep your original documents. Never sign a blank form or application. Always understand what you are signing. No attorney has a special connection with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

11) Becoming a U.S. Citizen

USCIS has information about how to become a U.S. citizen. (https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship) There are resources for immigrants and organizations, including a welcome guide, learning materials and forms. Applicants need to pass a test about rights, rules and U.S. history. They also need to demonstrate ability to read, write, speak, and understand basic English at the interview.

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

12-15

Housing 12) Finding Housing

You can find housing through: - The Internet. - Talking with friends. - Classified ads in the newspaper. - Housing agencies. - Looking for “For Rent” or “For Lease” signs. Houses, apartments and mobile homes can come with or without furniture. It is possible to rent a single room in a house or an apartment. When you apply to rent, they might ask you for your social security number and references from employers and past landlords. These references can prove that you are responsible and will be able to pay rent. It is important to establish good relationships with your landlords. In the classifieds there are many abbreviations such as: FURN – furnished BR – bedroom BA – bathroom DEP – deposit

13) Renting

When you rent, you often need to pay a security deposit. The deposit is usually equal to one month of rent. If you damage the property, the landlord may keep part or all of your deposit and possibly charge you extra. Take photos of any problems before you move in. Renters are not responsible for normal wear and tear. For example, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to replace the dishwasher if it is old and does not function.

15) The Lease

14) Getting Problems Fixed

Landlords have to keep their properties safe and in good condition. If your apartment needs repairs: 1. Contract the landlord and explain the problem. 2. If they do not respond, send a letter and keep a copy of the letter. 3. If you get no response, call a local housing office.

A lease is the legal contract signed between the landlord and tenant. A lease has information including: - How much rent you pay each month. - Extra fees for late payment. - Who is responsible for paying water, electricity, gas, and trash service. - When the landlord can increase the rent and by how much. - The number of people who will live on the property. - How many months you can live on the property. If you want to continue living on the property when your lease ends, talk to the landlord about renewing the contract. A month-to-month lease states that the renter or landlord may end the contract with one month’s notice. If there are no changes from the renter or landlord, the lease automatically renews at the end of every month.

What Every Immigrant Needs to Know

16–19

Housing 16) Moving

When you move, fill out a Change of Address form at the post office or at www.usps.com. Change the locks at your new home. Contact friends, family and the following when you move: - Electric, gas, water, phone, cable, internet, and trash companies. - Banks, credit unions and credit card companies. - Doctor, dentist, and insurance agencies. - Department of motor vehicles (DMV).

17) Fires & Carbon Monoxide (CO)

19) Property & Renter’s Insurance

If you buy property and renter’s insurance, you can receive money if damage happens to your property. Fire, theft or weather damage are types of damage that are covered by insurance.

(17) Smoke Alarm example

A smoke alarm is a device that will make a loud noise when it senses smoke. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home. You often need to change the batteries in smoke alarms every year. Many will beep if they need a new battery. Common causes of house fires include cigarettes, children playing with fire, candles, and things that are hot such as stoves and toasters. Do not put candles or portable heaters near flammable items like books and tissue boxes. Always blow a candle out before leaving a room. Never leave the kitchen while you are cooking or boiling water. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that has no smell or color. High levels of CO can kill you. Every home should have at least one CO detector.

18) Being a Good Neighbor

Say hello to your neighbors, smile, and introduce yourself. You can welcome new neighbors with a small gift. Only leave trash and recycling outside when they are going to be picked up that day or the next day. Do not use your car horn or play loud music early in the morning or late at night. Your neighbors might call the police if you are very noisy. The police can give you a large fine. Make sure your kids and pets are not playing in the streets or on other people’s property. Park cars only in legal spaces. © 2021 © 2021 Intercambio Intercambio Uniting Uniting Communities. Communities.AllAllRights RightsReserved. Reserved.No Noreproduction reproduction isis permissible permissible without withoutprior priorconsent consentfrom fromIntercambio IntercambioUniting Uniting Communities. Communities.