A Step-by-Step Guide to a Smooth Relocation to St. Louis
A success story from the Afghan Journal, Issue 38 (June 2026)
We at the Afghan Support Program have created a stable pathway to help you move smoothly to St. Louis. You will complete a form that contains basic personal information, including family size, date of relocation, and a variety of related details.
Once you submit the form, we will contact you through email, phone, or WhatsApp to make sure all provided details are correct. At this stage, we remind you of our offers, which include, but are not limited to, three months’ rent and one month’s security deposit, three months of utility bills (excluding internet), and other services offered by various departments within the International Institute, including, but not limited to, submitting applications for benefits (SNAP and Medicaid) and services by other partner organizations.
Once you confirm your decision to move, we request you to provide valid documentations. In the next step, we discuss housing. If you have any contacts in St. Louis who can assist you with housing, this makes the process more convenient for all of us. Otherwise, we will inform you in detail about the housing services provided by the International Institute. Then you will declare your moving date, and we will order furniture and all necessary items for your housing, and everything will be set up before you arrive.
Our housing officer is responsible for facilitating the resettlement process in St. Louis. He communicates with relevant stakeholders to make sure the house or apartment is ready in terms of electricity, gas, water, and all other necessary utilities.
In the next step, you and your family will come to the International Institute of St. Louis to complete the intake process. You will bring all your original documents, including travel documents and those that demonstrate each individual’s legal status. Once the intake process is completed, we will request your monthly rent and refer you to the Workforce department for employment purposes. Based on your work experience, professional background, and abilities, that department will assist you in your employment efforts. Once you receive your first rental check, we will request the next month’s rent in advance to avoid any inconvenience, and the same will apply for the final check too.
One of the lessons learned from this entire process is the importance of declaring your arrival date in St. Louis. This helps the entire team prepare all necessary arrangements in advance. Another important point is that when you receive any utility bill, you should share it with us as soon as possible. This will prevent any extra charges, as we will be able to pay it quickly on your behalf. The housing officer will prepare the lease, and once you arrive, you will sign it. Then you will have the opportunity to transfer the gas, electricity, and water accounts into your name. Our partners are responsible for providing basic and necessary furniture, including, but not limited to bed, mattress, chairs, and table. Once you arrive in St. Louis, you will go directly to your home and sign the apartment lease.