The DC/Maryland research corridor is spread across several campuses and three jurisdictions (DC, Maryland, Virginia). Where you live shapes your whole stay, so it is worth a little planning before you arrive.
Before you arrive
- Confirm your start date and badging process with your host institution.
- Line up short-term housing for your first few weeks so you are not committing to a lease sight-unseen.
- Bring or arrange a US-usable phone plan and a way to receive mail.
Your first week
- Pick up your institutional ID/badge and email — your email domain often unlocks community access here.
- Open a bank account and a transit card (SmarTrip for Metro).
- Walk or ride your commute once before you rely on it.
Settling in
- Furnish cheaply from moving sales and the marketplace — researchers leaving the area sell good furniture every season.
- Join a newcomer meetup or happy hour in your first month; the community is the fastest way to learn the unwritten rules.
See the hub pages for neighborhood-specific notes.
A quick note
This guide is practical information only — not legal, immigration, or tax advice. Confirm details with official sources and your host institution.
Related guides
Getting around without a car near NIH/NIST
Transit, biking, and car-share options so you can skip buying a car.
Read guide →Opening a bank account and phone plan basics
The two setup tasks that unlock everything else — what to bring and what to expect.
Read guide →Renting without U.S. credit history
How international researchers can secure a lease without a U.S. credit score.
Read guide →