Moving overseas is a milestone in anyone’s life and can be quite exciting. It allows you be completely immersed in a new culture, language, cuisine and custom. The most common reason for a move abroad is work. But some either go to support their families or for a change in their lives. Moving internationally takes more preparation than a domestic one. You will need to complete legal documents that are dependent on your stay and the country you are moving to.
Visas and Other Immigration Requirements – Before making a move, it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the country you are moving to. Most countries will require foreigners to obtain a visa for living in their country. Depending on your circumstances, they may also require additional paperwork. If you are moving because of a job opportunity, the company you are working for can help you fulfill the immigration obligations of that country by providing letters of support and sponsoring your visa. If you are working remotely or need to find a job first, you may have to enter through a tourist visa then apply for a permanent one later on.
Packing for an International Move – That manner in which you pack will be dependent on your situation and the length of your planned stay. Obviously, if you are planning to stay there for an extended period of time, you should invest in moving most of your valued items. If you are staying for only a short time, you can get away with packing only your essentials. Necessities such as toiletries, clothes and most kitchen items can be purchased overseas. Having less items will also make travelling less loaded and stressful. When you are packing your items, you should also consider the amount of new belongings that you would have acquired for your return trip.
Handling Financial Concerns – It will be necessary to open a local bank account especially if you will be receiving a salary during your stay. It would be best to find banks that have branches in both your home country and the country you are moving to. Prior to moving, you need to have enough money saved to support at least two months of your stay in the new country. Check with your bank to make sure that your debit cards and credit cards can be accessed in the country you are moving to. If you have a debit card PIN that has more than four digits, it is most likely inaccessible. You should also inform your bank and credit company of your move to prevent your accounts from being frozen due to suspicious activity.
Other Things to Remember – To prevent any problems, you may have to change your address with your local bank and other financial institutions. If you need to keep a U.S. address, you can use a service called Earth Mail which receives your mail for you and alerts you through e-mail. You can also have this service scan your mail, shred the mail, hold it or ship it to your new address.
