Moving to New York: what is different for newcomers

Most first steps in the U.S. work the same way in every state. A few things in New York State have their own rules, and newcomers tend to meet them in the first weeks.

Your license has a deadline. Once you become a New York State resident, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says you must get a New York driver license within 30 days (NY DMV). If your license was issued outside the U.S. or Canada, you apply for a new, original New York license (NY DMV). New York’s Enhanced license, which also works at land and sea border crossings, is for U.S. citizens only (NY DMV; NY DMV). Our New York driver license guide covers the documents and the tests.

New York City has its own income tax. If you move to New York during the year, the state Tax Department splits your income for that year: part follows resident rules, the rest nonresident rules (NY Tax Department). If you live in New York City (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island) or in Yonkers, you also report a city resident income tax on your state return (NY Tax Department). Our guide to state income taxes explains residency and the state paycheck form.

Renters have state-specific protections. The Attorney General’s office says tenant laws depend on the county or town where you live (NY Attorney General). The office explains that a security deposit is limited to one month’s rent, and that rent counts as late only if it arrives more than five days after it is due (NY Attorney General). In New York City and several other cities, the Good Cause Eviction Law may stop most landlords from evicting you just because your lease ended (NY Attorney General). The office takes complaints about landlords, businesses and immigration services fraud, and runs a help line at 1-800-771-7755 (NY Attorney General). See our guides to tenant rights and discrimination and consumer complaints.

Get ready for winter. If snow and freezing weather are new to you, prepare before your first winter. Ready.gov says winter storms raise the risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning (Ready.gov). It advises a winter kit in your car and warns never to heat your home with a gas stove or oven (Ready.gov). Our emergency preparedness guide helps you build a plan.

Free help in your language. The New York State Office for New Americans runs a hotline at 1-800-566-7636 in more than 200 languages, with answers to immigration questions and referrals to free legal help (NY Department of State).