Free Services Every Newcomer Should Know About

A list of free resources and services available to newcomers in the US — from library cards to legal aid to free tax filing.

The US has more free resources than most newcomers realize. You're paying taxes — these services are for you too. Here's everything you can access for free.

Free Financial Services

Free Credit Score Monitoring

• Credit Karma — Free TransUnion and Equifax scores, updated weekly
• Discover Credit Scorecard — Free FICO score for everyone (no Discover card needed)
• Your bank's app — Chase, BofA, Amex all show free credit scores

Free Tax Filing

• IRS Free File — Free federal tax filing if income is under $84,000
• Sprintax — Some universities provide free access for international students
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) — Free in-person tax prep for income under $67,000

Free Bank Accounts

• Discover Cashback Checking — No fees, no minimum, 1% cash back on debit purchases
• Ally Bank — No monthly fees, no minimum balance
• Chime — No monthly fees, early direct deposit

Free Education

Public Libraries

Your library card gives you free access to:

• Books, e-books, and audiobooks (Libby app)
• Movies and TV shows (Kanopy, Hoopla)
• Free Wi-Fi and computer access
• Online courses (LinkedIn Learning through many libraries)
• Museum passes (many libraries offer free passes)
• ESL classes and citizenship prep courses

How to get a card: Visit your local library with an ID and proof of address. Most accept foreign IDs.

Free Online Learning

• Khan Academy — Free courses in everything
• Coursera — Free to audit most courses
• MIT OpenCourseWare — Free MIT course materials
• YouTube — Obviously

English Language Programs

• Local libraries — Free ESL classes
• Community colleges — Often free or very low-cost ESL
• USAHello — Free online English classes designed for immigrants

Free Legal Services

Immigration Legal Aid

• CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) — Free and low-cost legal help
• Local Legal Aid societies — Search at lawhelp.org
• Law school clinics — Many law schools offer free immigration help

Know Your Rights

• ACLU — Free know-your-rights resources
• National Immigration Law Center — Free legal guides
• Your consulate — Can help with legal emergencies

Free Healthcare

Community Health Centers

Federally funded health centers that charge based on your income. If you earn very little, visits can be free.

• Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

Free Clinics

• Search at freeclinics.com
• No insurance or ID required at many locations

Prescription Savings

• GoodRx — Free app that finds the lowest prescription prices (savings of 50-80%)
• $4 generics — Walmart, Costco, and other pharmacies offer common generics for $4
• Manufacturer coupons — Many drug makers offer free or discounted medication programs

Free Government Services

USCIS Services

• USCIS website — Free case status tracking, forms, and filing guides
• InfoPass — Free in-person appointments at USCIS offices
• Emma chatbot — Free 24/7 immigration question answering

Consumer Protection

• FTC (Federal Trade Commission) — Report scams, get identity theft help
• CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) — File complaints against financial companies
• AnnualCreditReport.com — Free credit report from all 3 bureaus once per year

Free Apps Every Newcomer Needs

Bottom Line

Take advantage of these resources — they exist for exactly this purpose. Start with a library card (the best free resource in America), sign up for Credit Karma, download GoodRx, and file your taxes for free. Being a newcomer is expensive enough; don't pay for things you can get for free.