| When moving to a foreign country, making adequate pre-departure
preparations is essential. Here are some tips to make your
international move easier.
1) Be sure to undergo a complete medical check-up before
leaving to avoid dealing with a major health issue overseas.
2) Take one or more advance trips to your destination to
familiarize yourself. It's worth the investment.
3) Take the appropriate documents on the advance trip to
start the immigration paperwork. Consulate personnel in the
country can secure the visa and residency permit more efficiently
than those working thousands of miles away.
4) If you have dependent children, in your pre-departure
research, be thorough in seeking the availability of education
in your host country.
5) Make sure you and your family understand the country's
culture so that they know what will be accepted in terms of
volunteer and leisure activities at your new home.
6) In case of health emergencies, make sure you know good
healthcare providers and how to contact them.
7) Use a travel agency for booking en-route travel so you
may search for low-cost fares.
8) Check into purchasing round-trip tickets for en-route
travel. They may be less expensive than one-way. And the return
ticket may be used for other travel.
9) Remember the sale of your Stateside home increases year-end
tax costs due to lost interest deduction.
10) Cancel regular services and utilities. Pay the closing
bill for garbage collecting, telephone, electricity, water,
gas, cable TV, newspapers, magazines (or send them a change
of address), memberships such as library and clubs, store
accounts (or notify them that your account is inactive), and
credit or check - cashing cards that will not be used.
11) Leave forwarding address with the Post Office or arrange
for a mail forwarding service to handle all your U.S. mail.
12) Give notice to your landlord or make applicable arrangements
for the sale of your home.
13) Have jewelry, art, or valuables properly appraised, especially
if they will be taken abroad. Register cameras, jewelry and
other similar items with customs so that there will be no
problem when reentering the U.S.
14) Make sure a detailed shipping inventory of household
and personal effects (including serial numbers) is in the
carry-on luggage and a copy is at home with a designated representative.
15) Obtain extra prescriptions in generic terms and include
a sufficient supply of essential medicine with the luggage.
16) Obtain an international driver's license for all family
members who drive. Some countries do not recognize an international
driver's license but they issue one of their own, provided
you have a valid home country license. Bring a supply of photographs
as they may be required in the overseas location for driver's
licenses and other identification cards.
17) Bring a notarized copy of your marriage certificate.
18) Arrange for someone to have power of attorney in case
of an emergency.
19) Close your safety deposit box or leave your key with
someone authorized to open it if necessary.
20) Notify Social Security Administration or corporate accounting
department (for pensions) where to deposit any U.S. income.
Make sure the bank account a d routing numbers are correct.
21) Bring copies of the children's school transcripts. If
they are to take correspondence courses, make arrangements
prior to departure and hand-carry the course material.
22) At least learn the Language basics prior to going to
a foreign country. Trying to integrate with the new culture
without the ability to communicate can be frustrating if not
impossible.
23) Learn about the country's people and way of life before
moving there. Go to your library, call your intended destination's
tourism board and read all of the travel publications (magazines
and travel guidebooks) you can to educate yourself.
Though this short article only provides a brief overview
of the essentials, use it as a guide to prepare yourself for
a smooth transition abroad.
Useful Resources:
Transitions Abroad Magazine 800 293-9373 A Guide to Living
Abroad 609-924-9302
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