An international move into Reno has three layers: your right to live and work in the United States, the customs treatment of your belongings, and the local tasks that begin on arrival. Each layer has an official source, and this guide points to them.
Immigration status comes first
Your visa, green card or other status decides what you can do and how you enter. USCIS is the authority for immigration benefits, and the State Department handles visas. Confirm your status before you ship anything, since customs treatment can depend on it.
Keep original documents such as passports, birth certificates and visa papers in your carry-on, never in the shipment.
Customs and your household goods
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sets the rules for bringing belongings into the United States, including what is duty free and what is restricted. Read the CBP guidance before you pack, and check the rules for items such as vehicles, food, plants and firearms, which have separate requirements.
O'Brien's arranges international moves through partner carriers. Call the office at 775-359-6683, and we will explain how your move is booked. See international moving.
What happens when the goods arrive in Nevada
After your shipment clears the border, delivery to the Reno area is the local part of the job. O'Brien's crews deliver and set up in Reno, Sparks, Carson City and across the service area, and the warehouse in Sparks can hold goods if your home is not ready. Vault storage starts from $40 per month, with about 2 to 3 weeks notice to ship. See full-service storage.
Your first 30 days in Nevada
NRS 483.245 requires a new resident to get a Nevada driver's license within 30 days, and NRS 482.385 sets a similar window to register a vehicle. Bring your identity and residency documents, and check the DMV for a foreign license policy. The driver's license page and vehicle registration page go through the steps.
- Apply for a Social Security number if you are eligible to work.
- Open a U.S. bank account and start building a credit history.
- Set up utilities, internet and health insurance.
- Register children for school; see the schools page.
Learn the city
Reno sits at about 4,500 feet in the high desert, with four seasons and a dry climate. The weather and climate and cost of living pages help you plan, and the neighborhoods page helps with where to live.