moving overseas
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Moving to a new country is a thrilling and exciting event. Soon you will explore a whole new world with many new opportunities. Despite all the enthusiasm, moving to a foreign country and upending your life can be stressful. We’re going to outline the main issues for you to be on the lookout for in order to ensure a seamless transition to your new country.

Decide On the Country

Before rushing to book overseas movers, make sure that you have decided on the right country. Many of the moves are due to job opportunities for example, but along with a fancy new job, you should also embrace the new country. See, you may love the job, but what if you lose interest in the country and the local culture? Wouldn’t that be frustrating? How will you bear it?

Gather a lot of information about the country you are about to move – history, culture, cost of living, job and real estate market, health care, educational opportunities and last but not least – entertainment.

Preparing for the Move

A critical stage in the preparation process is assessing your motivation for going abroad. Before you decide to change your life and relocate to another nation, you need to figure out why you are considering such a huge change. Take some time to consider your reasons and goals. Are you looking for new job prospects, want to experience a different culture, or want to change your way of life?

Evaluating your reasons will assist you in setting realistic goals and making educated decisions during the relocating process. It will also allow you to convey your aims and desires to others more effectively, such as possible employers, immigration authorities, or even family members.

Determining the Timeline For the Move

Another crucial component of planning for an overseas move is determining your moving timeline. Setting a defined timeframe could help you in successfully planning and organizing your responsibilities, resulting in a smoother transition. Consider work commitments, leasing agreements, visa processing times, and family obligations as elements that may influence your timeline. Starting early is recommended because moving can be time-consuming, especially when foreign logistics are involved.

Allow enough time to accomplish duties such as obtaining lodging, arranging for your items’ transportation, and closing up loose ends in your current area. By creating a realistic timeline, you will be able to better allocate your resources, manage your time, and avoid the stress associated with last-minute preparations.

Before considering relocation to a particular country, check the visa options

That is quite an important matter to deal with once you choose the country. Research the requirements for foreigners to live and work legally in a particular country. The US, for example, has strict requirements regarding visa permits. Requirements vary depending on the country you are coming from. Many countries have a point-based system for the evaluation of your skills and education level like Canada.

Thereby, look through the country’s immigration department website to find out all the requirements you have to comply with, so you live and work in the country.

What do you know about the culture? Do you know the language?

If you are planning to move to a country with a completely different culture and language from yours, then you will have to take some time to prepare yourself. Determine how much of an issue it will be to deal with the language and the culture. You should consider a language course.

Your Finances

One of the most frequent issues with moving to another country is the financial side. If you haven’t found a place to live in your new overseas location, exploring the property market in a new city could feel overwhelming. To get inspiration, don’t hesitate to ask your coworkers. It’s advisable to rent a place first because you can assess if you like or despise the neighborhood. You will have the chance to relocate several times before settling in the ideal location.

Children and Family Members

The emotional impact of leaving behind a network of friends and family will be felt by your children. Not to add that not just your kids need to say such tender goodbyes. This farewell celebration will be as much for you and your entire family as it is for the friends and family members who will miss you when you depart. If you have young children, your friends and relatives won’t get a chance to see that child again until they are older. Prior to moving abroad with kids, they can extend that memory with the help of this party.

Moving With Pets

While traveling with a pet is somewhat of a hassle, it is worth it for our beloved friends. To begin with, there are many details to work out before transporting your pet abroad.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian to determine which vaccinations your pet needs to get things started. Additionally, it’s crucial to confirm that you are able to bring your pet with you since some breeds are restricted in particular nations. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation, including proof of your pet, to prevent being turned away at the border:

Obtaining a microchip
Being vaccinated against rabies
Getting dogs treated for tapeworms

What about your occupation?

As important as it is to know the country which you are moving to, it is even more important to find a job in advance. Many people relocate due to a job opportunity or because their current company offers them a new position abroad. However, if you are about to look for a job abroad, you should start as soon as you decide on the country you are moving to.

Research the job opportunities. Be prepared that you might not get the job of your dreams at first, but moving overseas without securing some income is quite an adventure, and it may turn out to be a bad-ending one.

You’d better save a few bucks prior to the big move.

Whether you have secured a job, or not, you should have more than enough money for the first month, at least.

Find overseas movers

In order to experience a safe and smooth move, you have to find reliable overseas movers. Under Federal Law, overseas movers must be licensed or registered with the Federal Maritime Commission. They have to either be registered as freight forwarders or as non-vessel-operating common carriers. If you’re uncertain about the status of your chosen overseas movers, check their license number at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Take your time to research your international mover well.

You could also read some reviews and testimonials about the chosen movers before booking. Do not rush to schedule some randomly picked company, do your homework. Mind that many rogue movers give low estimates only to get your job and finally double, even triple your moving cost.

Overseas movers cost

Your international moving costs will be based on the weight and volume of your items. Mind that most overseas movers have a minimum charge of about 200 c.f. For a two-bedroom apartment – approximately 950 – 1000 c.f., you may expect an estimate of $4800-5500 if moving from the UK to the USA for example. Packing labor and packing materials are charged separately. Full-service packing of a two-bedroom home would cost you around $1000 – $1200.

Plan your moving budget well in advance, and try to downsize. Leave all the items you are not using anymore – still-usable items are good for selling or donating, and everything else you can do without going to the garbage.

Usually, moving insurance price rates vary between 2-3.5% of the value of your items. When obtaining insurance, look through the insurance policy, and if there is something you do not understand fully, just ask. Mind that most insurance providers will require that you opt for professional packing services in order to obtain insurance for your stuff.

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Written by Margarita Hakobyan
Margarita Hakobyan is the founder and CEO of MoversCorp.com. She has published more than 300 articles about moving, storage, and home organizing, making her a moving specialist since she began writing about the moving industry in 2005. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.