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Culture & Festivals Dashain and Tihar 2026 US date/time guide AD and BS dates for Ghatasthapana, Vijaya Dashami, Laxmi Puja, and Bhai Tika with US timezone caveats and source notes. For life in the US
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Culture & Festivals Dashain and Tihar 2026 US date/time guide AD and BS dates for Ghatasthapana, Vijaya Dashami, Laxmi Puja, and Bhai Tika with US timezone caveats and source notes. 
Money & Taxes Investing back home — NEPSE and NRN accounts from the US Nepalese living abroad can invest in Nepal — shares on NEPSE, IPOs, fixed deposits, property — mostly through NRN provisions, a Nepali bank account, and a licensed Nepali broker. The rules are real but they move; do it through official channels, never through informal ones. 
Money & Taxes Your first US brokerage account — index funds without the jargon A brokerage account is where you buy investments like index funds. Opening one takes minutes; the habit that actually builds wealth is boring: the same amount, into a broad index fund, every month, left alone for years. 
Money & Taxes Retirement basics — your 401(k) and the Roth IRA A 401(k) is a retirement account through your employer — if they match your contribution, that match is part of your pay, so not taking it is leaving salary behind. A Roth IRA is a retirement account you open yourself, where money you already paid tax on grows tax-free. 
Money & Taxes Getting an SSN (or an ITIN) If you're authorized to work, you get a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration. If you can't get an SSN but still need to file US taxes (e.g. a dependent or spouse), you apply for an ITIN from the IRS instead. They are different things for different purposes. 
Money & Taxes Sending money to Nepal (remittance) The fee you see is not the cost you pay — compare the rupees your family actually receives for the same dollars, on the day you send. 
Money & Taxes Tax questions on gifts & large transfers to/from Nepal Sending ordinary money to family in Nepal is generally not a taxable event for you, and your family in Nepal doesn't owe US tax on it. The wrinkles are at the extremes: very large gifts may need US gift-tax reporting (Form 709 — usually reporting, not actual tax, thanks to a large lifetime exemption), and receiving a large gift/inheritance from abroad may require an information report (Form 3520). It's mostly reporting, but the penalties for skipping required reports are steep. 
Money & Taxes Opening your first US bank account as a newcomer You can usually open a US checking account with your passport and visa — often before your SSN even arrives — so do it early; a bank account and a phone number unlock almost everything else here. 
Money & Taxes Filing US taxes as an F-1 / J-1 student Most F-1/J-1 students are treated as nonresident aliens for tax in their early years and file Form 1040-NR — and almost everyone must file *something*, even with no US income (Form 8843). Mainstream consumer tax software often files you wrongly as a resident — use a nonresident-aware option. 
Money & Taxes Reporting your Nepal bank accounts (FBAR & FATCA) If you're a US person (citizen, green-card holder, or US tax resident) and you keep money in Nepal (or any foreign country), you may legally have to report those accounts to the US government — FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) and possibly FATCA (Form 8938). Reporting an account is not the same as being taxed on it — but failing to report when required carries serious penalties. 
Money & Taxes Building US credit from zero A bank account does not build your credit score — but a secured credit card used responsibly does. Expect it to take months, not days, and ignore anyone who offers to "fix" or "boost" credit for a fee. 
Jobs Your rights at work in the US US workers have basic legal rights — minimum wage + overtime, a safe workplace, freedom from discrimination & harassment, and protection from retaliation for speaking up. Many of these protections apply regardless of your immigration status, so no employer should use your status to underpay or mistreat you. 
Jobs Work authorization & the EAD (do you need one?) An EAD (Employment Authorization Document — Form I-765) is the card that proves you can legally work in the US. Some people need one; others don't — US citizens and green-card holders don't (their status already proves it). If your category requires an EAD, you must have the physical card in hand before you start working. 
Jobs US resume & interview norms (what’s different here) US resumes and interviews follow conventions that differ from Nepal: a 1–2 page resume with NO photo, date of birth, marital status, or religion, quantified achievements, and an interview style that's confident but specific (tell stories with results). Getting the format right gets you past the first screen. 
Documents Getting a driver’s license / state ID as a newcomer In the US, your state's DMV issues your license — so the exact documents, tests, and fees depend on where you live. Almost everywhere you'll pass a written knowledge test and a road test; a state ID (non-driver) is the easier option if you don't plan to drive. 
Jobs Gig & 1099 work — what to know about taxes Gig/contract work (rideshare, delivery, freelancing) usually pays you as an independent contractor (1099), not an employee (W-2) — which means no taxes are withheld, so you must set money aside, pay quarterly estimated taxes, and you can deduct legitimate business expenses. (And gig work still requires work authorization — it isn't a loophole around that.) 
Immigration TPS & humanitarian options — what it is, and where to check the CURRENT status Temporary Protected Status (TPS) lets people from a designated country stay and work in the US temporarily during the designation. Nepal was designated after the 2015 earthquake, but its TPS status has changed and been litigated — so for anything that matters (whether it's active, any re-registration window, work-permit extensions), check the current USCIS TPS-Nepal notice + talk to an attorney. Do not rely on old information (including this page) for the current status. 
Immigration Becoming a US citizen (naturalization / N-400) Naturalization is how a green-card holder becomes a US citizen — you file Form N-400, do biometrics, pass an English + civics test at an interview, and take the Oath of Allegiance. Confirm your eligibility first; the rest is very doable with preparation. 
Immigration Keeping your immigration status valid (and what to do if it lapses) Keeping your status valid is one of the most important things you do here — falling "out of status" can end your stay and create future problems re-entering the US. Know your status's conditions, never work without authorization, don't overstay, and if something goes wrong, get help immediately — acting fast matters. 
Immigration The F-1 → OPT → STEM OPT → H-1B path (overview) The most common work path for Nepalese students is: study on F-1 → optional CPT during the program → OPT after graduation → a STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies → an employer-sponsored H-1B. Each stage has its own application and rules — and your DSO is your first call at every step. 
Immigration The DV (green-card) lottery — real, free, and how to avoid the scams The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery is a real US government program, and Nepal is usually eligible — but entering is FREE and only on the official U.S. government site during the announced window. Anyone charging a fee "to enter," guaranteeing a win, or emailing "you won — pay now" is running a scam. 
Immigration Bringing a spouse or fiancé(e) from Nepal (CR-1/IR-1 vs K-1) Already married? A US citizen or green-card holder files Form I-130, and the spouse immigrates via consular processing (CR-1/IR-1). Not married yet, and the petitioner is a US citizen? The K-1 fiancé(e) visa brings them to the US to marry within 90 days. Which path you use depends on marital status + whether you're a citizen or a green-card holder. 
Immigration Bringing your parents to the US (IR-5) If you're a US citizen aged 21 or older, you can petition for your parents to become permanent residents (green-card holders) — the IR-5 category. You file Form I-130 for each parent; after approval it moves to consular processing at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. (Green-card holders cannot petition parents — only citizens can.) 
Immigration Adjustment of Status vs Consular Processing (+ advance parole) When you're getting a green card, there are two routes depending on where you are: Adjustment of Status (AOS, Form I-485) if you're already lawfully inside the US, or Consular Processing (an immigrant-visa interview at a US embassy abroad, e.g. Kathmandu) if you're outside. If you adjust from inside the US, don't travel internationally without "advance parole" or you can abandon your application. 
Housing Setting up utilities + renter’s insurance (new place checklist) After you sign the lease, set up electricity + gas, water/trash (often via the landlord or city), internet, and renter's insurance — put the accounts in your name (it starts a payment history), and ask the landlord first what's already included so you don't double-pay. 
Housing Renting your first US apartment (with no credit history) Most US landlords check a credit score you won't have yet — but newcomers get approved every day with a larger deposit, a co-signer, or proof of steady income. And the #1 rule: never send money before you've seen the place and signed a real lease. 
Health Vaccinations & immunization records (school, work, green-card) Keep your (and your kids') immunization records — K-12 schools, some colleges/jobs, and the green-card medical exam all require them. Bring your Nepal records (translated), and a US provider can review them and give any missing shots — often free or low-cost for eligible children. 
Health Having a baby in the US (coverage, costs, prenatal care) Having a baby in the US can be very expensive without insurance, so sort out coverage early. On HealthCare.gov, birth is a Marketplace qualifying life event; pregnancy itself usually is not on the federal Marketplace, though Medicaid/CHIP cover many pregnant people and some state exchanges have different rules. 
Health Mental health support (you’re not alone) Mental health is real healthcare — and it's confidential. If you're struggling with isolation, stress, anxiety, or depression (very common in the immigrant experience), help exists, including culturally-aware and Nepali-speaking options. In a crisis, call or text 988 (the US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, 24/7). 
Health Do you qualify? Medicaid & ACA-marketplace eligibility for immigrants Whether you qualify for Medicaid (free/low-cost public coverage) or ACA-marketplace subsidies depends on your income, your immigration status, and your state. The rules are nuanced — the reliable way to find out is the HealthCare.gov screener (it routes you to Medicaid or the marketplace) plus your state Medicaid office; a free navigator can walk you through it. 
Health Health insurance for new arrivals & students In the US, an unexpected illness or injury can cost a fortune without insurance — so getting covered is one of the first things to sort out. Your route depends on your situation: student plan, job-based plan, the ACA marketplace, or (if eligible) Medicaid. 
Health How US healthcare actually works (where to go, how costs work) Knowing where to go — primary care vs urgent care vs the ER — can save you thousands of dollars and hours of waiting. The ER is for true emergencies only; for most other things there's a cheaper, faster option. 
Education Funding US study — scholarships & assistantships for Nepalese students International students can't get US federal aid (FAFSA) — but there are real funding paths: university merit scholarships, graduate assistantships (TA/RA — often a tuition waiver + stipend), some external/private scholarships open to internationals, and on-campus work within F-1 rules. Assistantships are the big one for grad school. 
Education Bringing family on F-2 (what dependents can & can’t do) An F-1 student can bring a spouse and children on F-2 visas — but F-2 has firm limits: the F-2 spouse generally CANNOT work and cannot do full-time degree study (only part-time/recreational); F-2 children CAN attend K-12 school. For a spouse who wants to work or study full-time, they'd need their own status (e.g. their own F-1). 
Education Starting at a community college, then transferring (saving on tuition) Starting at a community college (much cheaper) and then transferring to a 4-year university for your bachelor's is a legit, common way to save money — if you plan which credits transfer before you take them, and (for F-1 students) maintain status + move your SEVIS record correctly. 
Education Applying to US universities from Nepal (F-1) The path from Nepal is: apply to a school → get admitted → the school issues your I-20 → you pay the SEVIS fee → you apply for the F-1 student visa at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. Start early — a year or more ahead — and use EducationUSA Nepal (free, official advising). 
Documents Getting a US police clearance / background check (for use in Nepal & abroad) For a visa, residency, job, marriage, or adoption abroad, you may need a US police clearance — most often the FBI Identity History Summary (the fingerprint-based "FBI background check") and/or a state/local police record. After you get it, you usually have to authenticate/legalize it for use abroad — and since Nepal isn't in the Apostille Convention, that typically means full legalization. 
Documents Renewing your Nepali passport from the US Nepal issues e-passports now, and you renew yours from the US through the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, DC (or an authorized consulate) — start before your current passport gets close to expiring. 
Documents Power of attorney (अधिकारपत्र) to handle matters in Nepal from the US To let someone in Nepal act for you — sell/manage property, handle banking, or a legal matter — you grant a power of attorney (अधिकारपत्र): drafted to Nepal's requirements, signed before a US notary, then legalized through the chain ending at the Embassy of Nepal, and sent to your agent in Nepal. 
Documents The NRN (Non-Resident Nepali) card The NRN card recognizes Nepali-diaspora status. Entry, stay, and property rules are policy-dependent; check current eligibility and benefits with the Embassy of Nepal or NRNA before acting. 
Documents Going to Nepal as a Nepalese-origin US citizen (the “no-visa” facility / NRN) Nepal generally does not allow dual citizenship, so when you naturalize as a US citizen you're expected to give up Nepali citizenship — but people of Nepali origin can use a "no-visa" (visa-not-required) facility / NRN arrangement to enter and stay in Nepal freely. Sort this out at the Embassy of Nepal before you travel. 
Documents Your child born in the US — citizenship & documents (US + Nepali sides) A child born in the United States has, under the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, been a US citizen at birth — get their US birth certificate, SSN, and US passport. On the Nepali side, register the birth with the Embassy and ask about the child's options, keeping in mind Nepal's limits on dual citizenship. 
Culture & Festivals Tihar (Deepawali) in the diaspora Tihar — also called Deepawali, the festival of lights — is a five-day Nepali festival honoring animals, the goddess Lakshmi, the bond between brothers and sisters, and the self. Here's what each day means and how diaspora families keep it alive far from home. 
Culture & Festivals Teej in the diaspora Teej (Haritalika Teej) is Nepal's beloved women's festival — a day of fasting, red attire, songs, and dancing, traditionally for the well-being and long life of husbands (and, for unmarried women, a good future partner). In the diaspora it's one of the biggest community women's gatherings of the year. 
Culture & Festivals Maghe Sankranti (& Tharu Maghi) Maghe Sankranti marks the sun's turn toward longer days and the end of the coldest stretch of winter — the first day of Magh (around mid-January). Families gather for warming, energy-rich foods like til (sesame) laddu, chaku, ghee, and yam/sweet potato (tarul). For the Tharu community it's Maghi, their biggest festival and New Year. 
Culture & Festivals Losar — the Himalayan New Year (Tamu, Sonam, Gyalpo) Losar is the New Year for Nepal's Himalayan Buddhist communities. There isn't one Losar but three — Tamu Losar (Gurung), Sonam Losar (Tamang), and Gyalpo Losar (Sherpa & Tibetan) — each on its own date, celebrated with prayers, family feasts, traditional dress, and dance. 
Culture & Festivals Holi (Fagu Purnima) in the diaspora Holi (Fagu Purnima) is the joyful festival of colors — celebrating spring and the triumph of good over evil. People smear bright colors, splash water, share sweets, and dance. In Nepal it's celebrated in the hills (Pahad) and the Terai on slightly different days. 
Culture & Festivals New to a US city? Find your Nepalese community Set your city in UnitedSewa to see nearby temples, Nepali groceries, events, and community questions. 
Culture & Festivals The Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar & Nepali New Year Nepal's official calendar is Bikram Sambat (BS) — it runs roughly 56–57 years ahead of the Gregorian (AD) calendar, and the Nepali New Year falls in mid-April (Baishakh 1). To convert any exact date, use UnitedSewa's BS↔AD converter. 
Culture & Festivals Dashain: what it is and how the diaspora celebrates Dashain 2026 runs October 11-25, with tika day on Wednesday, October 21 - the verified dates, how tika works, and how to plan the day in the US. More across UnitedSewa
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