Five apps, including for money transfers, that can help ease the transition for Mexican immigrants arriving in the U.S.
Immigrating to the U.S. from Mexico opens a whole new exciting way of life. But living in any foreign land can be hard to navigate and confusing for newcomers. Between finding housing, opening a bank account, and the obvious language barrier, the transition to America can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there’s an app for that—many actually.
We have rounded up five valuable apps that might make the transition into American life smoother for you. Whether you are interested in improving your finances, improving your English, or sending money back home to your family, these five apps can help ease your move to America and make it much more enjoyable.
App for Local Community Resources: USA Hello
USA Hello has every community resource you would need in one central hub. Whether you’re looking for English classes, legal advice, or career counseling, USA Hello compiles a list of everything available in your area, so you don’t have to go far for help.
Their interactive map, known as FindHello, details every resource in your community by category. The map is organized by location and zip code and is very colorful and easy to use. This app was created to help immigrants and newcomers settle into their American communities with ease. The app is also available in Spanish.
App to Convert Measurements: Unit Converter
Did you know that America uses the imperial system of measurement? It’s quite different from Mexico’s metric system. This means that distance is measured in feet and inches instead of meters and millimeters, and temperature is measured in Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.
The Unit Converter app helps clear up any confusion. Just enter the unit information into the app, and it will quickly convert it into the metric system for you. It also gives you the daily temperature outside in Celsius. Whether you need to convert mileage, speed, or other common measurements, Unit Converter can translate something new and confusing into something familiar.
App for Learning a New Language: HelloTalk
Living in America can be challenging if you don’t speak English. Even though 43 million people speak Spanish in the U.S., you might not encounter a fluent speaker in your community. Learning or improving your English can help soften the transition to America and prepare you for any situation.
HelloTalk is one of the few language apps that connect you directly with native English speakers. You can connect via text, phone, or video to help practice and improve your conversational skills. HelloTalk even has group conversations if you’re a little too shy to talk one-on-one. The app also has fun games and other tools to assist you on your language learning journey.
App for Sending Money to Mexico: Western Union’s App
Many immigrants like to send money back to Mexico to help family members pay medical bills, mortgage payments, or just to offer some extra help. Whatever the reason may be, our easy-to-use app makes it simple and convenient to send money across the border.
Download Western Union’s app and enter your bank account information, including the recipient’s account information. The recipient can either receive the money directly into their bank account or pick it up as cash at one of Western Union’s many agent locations in Mexico. The app makes it easy to track your payment status and get notified when your money has been received. You can also send a payment transfer via our website. Our reliable money transfer process makes it easy to support your loved ones from afar.
App for Saving Money: Finhabits
Moving can be expensive, and it can be hard to save money when you’re paying for travel, a car or transportation, and housing. This is where Finhabits steps in to invest and save your money for you.
Finhabits sets up savings or investment accounts on your behalf, so your money can grow over time. You can start saving as little as $5 a week, and Finhabits will guide you through an investment plan that works for you and your individual goals. The fees are pretty minimal, only costing $1 a month for an account with less than $2,500. As your money grows past $2,500, the fee increases to .05% of your total annual funds.* Users love the app because it’s bilingual, simple to use, and you can access your money at any time.
Even though moving to the U.S. can feel daunting, there are many apps available to help make the transition that much easier. Best of luck!