Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 where applicable
A US residential address
An SSN or ITIN if you have one; a passport number if not
An opening deposit, which varies by institution

Step-by-step

1
Open a checking account in branch in week one
Bring passport, Texas address and SSN or ITIN if issued. The federal Customer Identification Program rule explicitly permits a passport number and country of issuance instead of a taxpayer number for non-US persons. A refusal on that ground is branch policy, not law.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Mention a pending ITIN if you have no SSN
Banks may open accounts for people who have applied for but not received an ITIN. File IRS Form W-7 and keep the receipt — raising it at the counter can pull your banking forward by weeks.
In personWho: You
3
Set up direct deposit immediately
Give payroll your routing and account numbers. Direct deposit waives the monthly maintenance fee on most US checking accounts.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
4
Open a secured credit card in month one
Post a refundable deposit, typically $500, and receive a card with a matching limit that reports to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Length of history counts as much as behaviour, so start the clock before you need credit.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
5
Get a renter's policy and add flood cover separately
A renter's contents policy is inexpensive and most landlords now require it. It will not cover flood — nothing standard does. A separate NFIP or private flood policy for contents is cheap and there is normally a 30-day waiting period, so buy it when you move in rather than when a storm is named.
OnlineWho: YouMove-in week
6
Plan the car purchase around the credit file
Houston requires a car, and financing one with no credit history means a large down payment or a rate several points above market. Six months of secured-card history, a co-signer, or a manufacturer's captive finance arm that underwrites on visa and employment documents are the three realistic routes. Also check the vehicle history for flood damage before buying used — Gulf Coast salvage is a real market.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport, with country of issuance serving as the identifying number if you have no SSN or ITIN
Visa and I-94, where applicable
SSN card or ITIN letter, if issued
Proof of Texas address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some banks and lenders as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

Flood is excluded from every standard policy, and the waiting period is the trap.

Homeowner and renter policies in the United States exclude flood without exception. Cover comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier, and a new policy normally takes 30 days to become effective. That means buying as a storm enters the Gulf does nothing at all. Renters in particular assume the landlord's building policy covers their possessions; it covers none of them.

Source: FEMA — National Flood Insurance Program

Check any used car for flood-damage history before you buy it.

Storm-damaged vehicles from the Gulf Coast are cleaned, retitled in other states and resold, and Houston is both a source and a destination for that trade. Flood damage causes electrical faults that appear months later and are effectively unfixable. Run the VIN through the NICB VINCheck and a paid history report, and be suspicious of a car that smells strongly of air freshener.

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

No credit history is treated worse than bad credit history.

American underwriting scores a file, and a file that does not exist cannot be scored. A well-paid newcomer can be declined for an apartment, a phone contract and a car loan in the same fortnight while holding a spotless twenty-year record at home. Nothing crosses the border — not the mortgage, not the decade with the same bank.

Source: community-reported

Federal rules let a bank take your passport instead of an SSN.

The Customer Identification Program rule accepts a passport number and country of issuance for non-US persons, and branch staff frequently do not know it. Being refused is common and is not a legal outcome. Print the CFPB guidance, ask for a manager, or try a credit union — waiting weeks for a number you may not be eligible for is the avoidable mistake.

Source: FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual — Customer Identification Program

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a renter's or homeowner's policy covers flood. None of them do.
Buying flood cover as a storm approaches and discovering the 30-day waiting period.
Buying a used car without checking for flood-damage history.
Waiting for an SSN before trying to open an account, when a passport often suffices.
Financing a car in month one with no credit file and accepting a punitive rate.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.