Simple Steps to Note If You Are Moving Overseas

Moving to an entirely new location is always something that excites the mind and it becomes more pronounced if you are moving to another country entirely. This initial excitement may be reduced when you consider the fact that you may need to move all your belongings to this your new overseas destination so as to make it feel like home as much as you possibly can. This can properly be taken care of by freight liners/freight movers that will swiftly and safely ship all your items and belongings to your overseas destinations.

The shipping process is quite simple and the actual shipping remains the best way to move your items to an overseas destination but there are things you should do before all these.

Things You Should Do Before Processing Your Move Overseas

The first step you need to take is to ascertain the things your need to be shipped and those that will not follow you. This will help to determine the amount of space you will require. A 20' container is generally appropriate for an average two bedroom house contents which may comprise a car and some other household items. 40' container becomes idle for you if your belongings are bigger than explained above but also note that you can ask for much smaller containers if your belongings will not fill up a 20' container.

If on evaluation, you discover that you have too many items to ship and few needs for most of them, you are advised to have a yard sell where you will auction off most of the items. Another consideration is the cost of acquiring certain items when you get to you new overseas home. If you know that you can get a newer item at a lower cost than the amount needed to ship it, it would be fair to dispose it and pick up new ones overseas.

The shipping companies have list of items that shouldn't be packed and will provide you with this list before you start packing. Such items as birth certificates, financial documents, some expensive jewelries e.t.c should also not be packed for the shipment. It is advisable to take these with you while moving without leaving them behind in the packed boxes. Apart from these, ask the shipping company to give you comprehensive list of items that you shouldn't pack. You can then start packing.

Don't forget that you must contact the shipping company you plan to use at least 10 working days before your planned departure date. This will afford all the parties opportunity to conclude all shipping arrangements on time. You will be required to provide your overseas address as well as your USA address to the shipping company. Your social security number, foreign and local phone numbers e.t.c should also be made available.

There are wide varieties of payment options available to you. While some shipping companies will want you to complete the full payment before your items move, some may just need your deposit and signed guarantee of payment before loading your belongings in the container.

Los angeles movers
Los angeles moving company

Moving Overseas - What You Need to Know

When moving overseas there are many things for you to consider. One of the major ones is relocating your possessions. This article will provide a checklist to help you make this major task easier.

Finding an Agent

Finding a reputable overseas shipping agent is very important as they will provide you with the necessary information and paper work for the particular country you are moving your possessions to. It is advisable to get prices from two or three shipping agents to make sure you get value for your dollar as shipping costs and agent's fees can differ from agent to agent.

What to Freight?

You will need to find out whether it is cheaper for you to sell any of your possessions that can be repurchased in your new country or pay to have them shipped.

Air or Sea Freight?

As air freight is too expensive under normal circumstances for non-urgent items the cheaper freight option for shipping your possessions would be by sea. If you have any items that you will need upon your arrival then you should use air freight. Declare the full value and pay any additional insurance to cover the items in case they get damaged.

Total Volume to be Shipped

You will need to have a close estimate of the total cubic feet/meter of what possessions you are relocating so you can calculate and budget for freight expenses from the cost per cubic feet/meter the shipping agent provided. Be aware that your cubic volume calculation may differ considerably from the shipping agents final tally, so budget for more to be on the safe side.

The reason for this is that when your belongings are re-stacked onto pallets or into holding bays in the shipping container they do not stack them as tightly as they could be and so extra space is used up of which you have to pay for.

Planning Ahead

Booking your shipping container well in advance so you can work towards a date to have all your belongings packed and ready to be picked by the freight company is very important.

If you leave the container booking too late you run the risk of missing a rescheduled cut-off date and you will have to wait for the next one to ship causing you to be without your possessions in your new country for longer than you had planned. This can cause all sorts of headaches that you do not need when you have just moved to a different country.

Packing and Insurance

If you plan to have your belongings that are to be shipped insured, then you may have to have them packed by a professional packing company who is approved by your chosen travel insurance company rather than pack them yourself.

If you can find an insurance company that will allow you to pack your own belongings all well and good, otherwise this is another cost that you will have to allow for. If you pack your own belongings you will need to number your boxes on at least two sides with a thick marker pen for clear identification.

Create a detailed list called a manifest of what is in each box or container and then make four copies. One may be required by the freight company driver who will take your packages to the port container, one for your shipping agent and two copies for yourself.

If you are intending to hire a professional packing company check out their background, website, testimonials and third-party recommendations before you engage their services because you do not want anything going wrong with the shipping of your belongings.

Check out a couple of packing companies and compare what they offer as in the way of a guarantee, overseas contact number for any issues, service manner and lastly pricing.

If you do not feel comfortable with a particular company for any reason, though they may be cheaper, go with the company that you do feel comfortable with even if you have to pay a little bit extra. In the long run it will be worth it.

Uplifting Your Possessions

You will need to coincide your arrival in your new country with the arrival of your container within a week or so of one another, as you will want to be ready to uplift your belongings or have them picked up by a freight company as soon as the container arrives and has cleared customs, so you will not incur any additional holding costs at the shipping port.

Once you have arrived in your new country make it your first priority to contact the port authorities or call into see them to check that the paperwork is in order and to sort out any issues well in advance of your containers arrival.

You will also need to find out the grace period that your belongings are allowed to be held at the port without incurring a daily holding fee. This will give you additional time to sort out any anomalies that you had not foreseen that may occur with you belongings.

Q&A

Asking the right questions and doing the necessary research before you move overseas will help prevent delays such as some or all of your belongings not being released from customs or from the shipping company.

This can arise from not having the right paper work completed or having some item in your belongings that customs deem as dangerous or illegal such as a collection of antique pistols or an ornamental samurai sword. Delays of this nature, which can be avoided can cause a great inconvenience and can lead to high holding cost until the matter is resolved.

You may have to ring the port authorities or customs of the country you are moving to prior to your departure and discuss any matters that you cannot find out from your shipping or travel agent or the countries customs website.

Top 5 Reasons to Consider Moving Overseas

It can be a scary thought to leave one's country and set out for new shores. At the same time, many people who have done it describe the process as "exciting", "enjoyable" and "the best thing I ever did".

However, it is certainly not for everyone. It takes a serious evaluation of your current situation, your goals and your preferences.

To help you decide whether this could be something for you, here are the top five reasons to personally internationalize:

Reason #1: Increased Opportunities

Many expats commented on how many additional "serendipitous" opportunities open up simply by heading overseas - without any specific effort. They believe it has to do with the fact that:

- They start seeing the world differently and can spot market needs more easily.

- They relocate to an area where a certain sector of business might be saturated where they come from, but is wide open for some serious profit in the new locale.

- They start associating with people who represent the crème de la crème of the world. Entrepreneurial, successful and sophisticated investors and business people. (see reason #3)

Reason #2: Protection Against The State

It should come as no surprise to most that long-cherished liberties are eroding with increasing speed and efficiency in much of the Western World. (If you don't believe me, take a look at the security process at the airports nowadays.)

We're told that it's for our own protection as a way to protect against terrorists and other threats. And while this is true to a certain degree, there wouldn't likely be such a problem if the government didn't get involved in expensive and immoral wars in the first place. (If you take a look at history, you'll see a direct correlation between one country's declaration of war and the number of new enemies that action makes.)

However, it is important to look at the way the average government tends to see its citizens: as property. We are simply seen as taxpayers whose sole purpose is to ensure the survival of the government bureaucracy - one that, especially now, is becoming larger, most powerful and more dangerous in much of the Western world.

Personal internationalization allows you to break free from this situation and to relocate to a jurisdiction that doesn't see you as a "cow to be milked".

Reason #3: Meet Interesting New People

When people came to North America centuries ago, many were poor, but they also had the gumption and the courage to take on a new land. These were the entrepreneurs in the truest sense of the word. They entered into a new and unknown place and thrived.

There's a reason America's prosperity eclipsed that of Europe, even though the Old World had a head start of more than a few centuries.

Personal internationalization brings you naturally into contact with this "higher" class of people; ones that create the big things in the world. In your home country, you would just be one of the masses. Here, you are seen as someone special as well.

Not only does this create additional opportunities, but it also makes life more interesting.

Reason #4: Learn More, Enjoy More, Broaden Your Horizons

It goes without saying that life becomes a lot more exciting when it's not the same mind-numbing drudgery that most people put up with day after day, month after month, year after year until their bucket is kicked.

And while that may sound harsh, it's the honest-to-goodness truth. We all know people who have been or who are in that situation.

Heading overseas makes life exciting again. There is so much to see, so much to do, so much to explore. New languages, new cultures and new ways of doing things.

You end up broadening your horizons and seeing the world as it truly is and people as they truly are - not what the biased (and usually wrong) Western media tells you it is.

Reason #5: Be in Control of Your Life

Ultimately, personal internationalization gives you more control over your life. It gives you freedom - something virtually everyone desires and very few people actually get to experience in their lifetime.

In fact, it's this search for freedom that has driven many of our members to actually head out in the first place.

But Where to Begin?

Assuming you think this is for you, where to go (first)?

The first step is to create a short list of locations based on your personal preferences.

For now though, you might enjoy watching this video presentation with best-selling author, speculator, and internationalist Doug Casey, a remarkable individual who has visited more than 175 countries, lived in 10 and done business in dozens.

In it, he discusses why he believes there's a real need for personal diversification right now - especially for those living in the United States. Then, he takes us on a world tour and shares his first hand experiences and insights on the best places to set up shop, including the two countries he favors as places to ride out the storm and be ready to take advantage of the emerging opportunities when the time comes.

Brandon Rowe is the Managing Director of International Man, a service for new and experienced freedom-seekers, investors, adventurers, speculators and expatriates who are looking to live an international lifestyle. International Man regularly releases content-rich reports on the 3 Elements of the IM Triangle, a proprietary model that helps internationalists define their perfect overseas solution, whether assets, personal, income, or any combination of the three. Learn more at http://www.internationalman.com

Club Expat - A Complete Guide For A Teenager Moving Overseas

The thing that can shatter the life of a teenager is moving abroad. Teenagers are in a stage of life in which they start getting settled in their life. It is the time when bonds are formed in their life and also last a lifetime. They start taking their first few steps into the real life outside their friends circle. Hence, a move abroad will surely be given only negative reactions by a teenager. Club Expat is a book which can help teenagers deal with the monumental event of moving abroad.

There are indeed fictions that tell tales of how teenagers deal and settle with the new surroundings, however, fiction can do so much as to only give advice to the teenagers and nothing more and may not even be close to reality in certain cases. There are nonfiction works also which try and advice teenagers on this topic, however, the way of writing in such books are in such a way that the teens do not find them interesting and they find it boring. These books are written by authors, who flaunt their experience over these things, and are thereby shunned away by teenagers.

In the book, the authors have extracted all the good from both types of books, delete all the mistakes, if any in them and combine them to form a really exquisite book which is a gem and will be loved by all teenagers. The book is partly a travel guide and partly a biography too. As if it were not sufficient, the book is topped with bits and pieces of advice from the authors, which the teens take to heart truly.

Another thing that is really delightful is that it can also be considered an allegory which describes life. It acts as a teacher and shows teenagers how life can be dealt with and faces the many challenges it poses. The book tells tales of authors who have gone around the world, by taking you on the tour of the places they made. It describes all the places in great detail and thereby gives you a tour of the world and in doing so, dispenses valuable advice for the teens.

They do not tell the tales of the authors from their perspective alone as it is done in many fictions. Valuable advice is given to all teenagers who plan to move overseas and it will help in changing the perspective with which the teenagers view the task of moving overseas. The opinion that a move abroad will shatter their lives will be replaced by the adventurous thoughts about the new place they are moving to. They will, after reading the book, look forward to moving overseas and meeting new people there. The move will be viewed as an opportunity to go to new places and experience various cultures.

Even if teenagers do not have to move overseas in the near future, reading the book will be a very good thing to do as the authors have written the book in a flawless prose which is filled with wit. The insights provided by the authors in the book about life will be so touching that it will go deep into your soul and touch it by every word, thus making the book immortal and indelible in the minds of the readers.

The best lesson given by this book is that, unmindful of what is thrown at you, you must adapt yourself and live it through. There are indeed things which cannot be changed by you and you can do nothing but accept it. This is the lesson given by Club Expat.

Abhishek is a Relocation expert and he has got some great Relocation Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Page Ebook, "Relocation Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Relocation-Guru.com/761/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Moving Overseas - 2 Ways To Get the Company Moving You To Move Along With You

Is the worry about your belonging's state while transport plaguing you? Do not fear and instead, seek the help of an overseas moving company.

As per the studies, about 40 million people migrate to the US every year, without counting people who move to the other countries and this can help you imagine the number of people migrating every year.

Overseas moving companies about these statistics and to solve the problems, they have branches in all parts of the world that will help people as per their needs. All that people must do is to choose the company that satisfies their needs.

Overseas moving companies employ various methods for transportation of their cargos. Some are by air, autos and boats. Some of them use their own ways of transporting cargo too where in those affiliated with the well known companies stick to effective ways of transportation that are traditional and safe too.

1. Boat and Air transport:

It is the fastest means of transportation used for transfer of cargo from one location to another. They are the fastest means that can be used when the cargo should be reached on strict schedule.

Even though they are costly, assurance is given that the belongings will be returned to them in their doorstep in the best condition that can be provided by them.

They have strict standards that have to be followed according to the rules that are set by individual destinations. Taxes should be paid, which accounts to the costly bills that are demanded by the companies for providing their services.

Moreover, inspections and checkups are conducted at many ports and some countries don't allow shipping of agricultural products and other items that may look hazardous may not be shipped into ports. Owners who wish to have them shipped in must obtain permission from the concerned authorities beforehand and present those papers there to the authorities that are in charge there.

2. Road transport.

It is the most conventional way in which belongings can be shipped. However, it can be done only over small distances. When you move from a country to another which is near yours, then, air transport may not be necessary.

To avoid taking the belongings with you, you avail the services provided by international moving companies. Obtaining the services provided by professionals may reduce the pressure on you and may quell your fears, if any about your items being damaged during the course of transportation.

Transport through roads is very effective because of its careful maneuvers. The drivers know that the things given to them are very important and they are after satisfaction of the customers. Their goal is make sure that the things reach the proper destination properly on time and also in the proper state.

Moving overseas has now been made easy by these companies. How would it be if you were to look after your things and shift them overseas yourself?

The only thing that you ought to be concerned about is the cost. You must be ready to spend a reasonable sum of money if you have many things that are to be transported to your new house. Another thing to be remembered is that you must have prepared for everything and everything must be in order allowing the moving company to do the rest easily.

Abhishek is a Relocation expert and he has got some great Relocation Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Page Ebook, "Relocation Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Relocation-Guru.com/761/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Helpful Advice For People Moving Overseas

Are you planning on moving to another country? You have a lot of planning to do. Any move is stressful, but an international move is especially so. This is because there is much to plan for and remember. If you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone. These tips will help you cope and make a plan as you prepare for your big move.

When moving internationally it is very important that you remember your passports. Everyone will need his or her own passport. Since moving can be stressful and chaotic, it is important to make sure that the passports don't get lost or misplaced. If you are moving with a family, it can work great to keep all your passports together. Find a big envelope and put all your paperwork inside. Before leaving, simply make sure you grab the envelope and you will know that you have everything you need.

If you are moving to an unfamiliar country, do your research before you go. Take time to learn a little about the culture and country of where you will be living. This will help you know what to expect and will make planning easier. It can be a fun family activity to try a few native foods or games before moving. Make sure you have the necessary maps and directions to get to your new home. If you know what to expect, your international move will be less stressful.

When making an international move, you really need to plan and prepare. It is a good idea to carry a little currency from that country. This way you can make necessary purchases without having to find somewhere to exchange your money. Foreign currency can often be purchased from the bank before you go. It may take a few weeks to order foreign money, so plan ahead. Having money will prepare you for little unplanned purchases or unexpected expenses.

Planning really is the key to an international move. You never know how long the journey will take. If you plan on traveling by air, you may get stuck at the airport for many hours. Bring some snacks just in case. You may even want to bring along a few fun travel activities or games. Fruits and vegetables aren't a good idea since they can be difficult to take internationally. Stick to preserved and prepackaged items.

Now Try: International Removals

Moving Overseas or Interstate? Consider These 5 Budget Tips

Planning an interstate or international move can seem like a daunting task. It does require research and it will take time. Preparing yourself well ahead of time is the most important factor. The reality is that moving home is not just about packing and shipping your belongings. For an overseas move, you may have a new culture, one with language barriers. How do you find a new home or new schools for your children? What facilities does your family need to make life comfortable? Many of these issues apply equally to moving interstate.

By choosing the right removalists either international or interstate removalists you can take advantage of a broad range of services that will ease the worry and stress of your relocation. These services should include experienced relocation consultants that have an in-depth knowledge of your new location and can advise on homes, schools, amenities, things to do and places to go in the early stages of your move. Not only do they have the breadth of knowledge that you probably don't, but they have the contacts to help you find the right home, school or location for your family to live in. At the same time, they have the experience of helping many other people that you can take advantage of.

A good relocation consultant does not necessarily have to have been an expatriate, but they do need to have a level of maturity and life experience. Relocating can be frustrating and tiresome without professional help. Remember, most times you are building a new life for the entire family. All of their needs are paramount and to keep everyone as happy as possible will certainly make the move easier.

The range of information that you need know is extensive if you are to cover all your bases and not have any surprises. One of the first areas that you should develop is a budget if you are to have a lifestyle similar to what you currently enjoy? Here are just a few examples that you might consider:

In finding a home you will need to have a good understanding of the costs in your future location. Combine this with how far you want to travel to work or for the children to go to school and you can determine the location that is both suitable and you can afford. There will always be a good chance that you may have to compromise. It might be difficult for your family to have a smaller home to meet your location and budget constraints. At the same time, you will have to deal with house availability at the time of your move - not all timing is perfect.
Schooling can be very expensive if you want to ensure that your children continue with an education curriculum similar to what they have. Will their education be recognised back home and do they have to sit specific exam conditions or achieve specific grade levels to go onto higher education?
Health costs are another key component that you need to understand. Often if moving internationally, you will need to have a comprehensive health insurance cover before a Visa is issued. However, the options available to you can be confusing unless you have assistance to make the right choices for your family.
If you are a sporting family, what is the cost of joining clubs, ongoing fees and purchasing equipment if needed? This applies particularly to higher priced facilities such as golf clubs, tennis clubs and gyms. Even dance studios can add up with the price of costumes and participation in eisteddfods.
Do you intend to bring your electronic items with you or would it be best to purchase new items with warranties in your new location? Depending on where you are going to live purchasing new items might be considerably more expensive and so you might buy before you leave.

The key message is that having professional help at the very start can set the foundation for a successful relocation. Be aware of all the facts about what is possible and what is not and how your budget can be maximised. This will make your move much easier. International removalists that have offices throughout the world understand the issues that you will need to deal with. They have people on the ground that often have been through an individual or corporate relocation themselves and are sympathetic to the enormity of the task that you are undertaking. Even if you are moving interstate there will always be key areas that a professional interstate removalist company can help you with.

Craig Page has over 25 years experience with Crown Relocations. As specialist removalists and an interstate removals company, Crown helps customers that need an interstate removalist, local removalists or international removalists.

Moving Overseas? My Hints and Tips

Where should I get a Removals Quote from?

As soon as you know where you are moving to and an idea on timescales you should contact 2 - 3 reputable removal companies that have experience of overseas removals. They will ask to visit you and property to do a detailed quote, make sure you are prepared in advance and ensure you know exactly what you are taking with you, what is going into storage, what is being dumped etc. Due to moving and shipping costs they will need to know exactly what needs to be moved, try and create an inventory which you can keep up to date. And don't forget to tell your removals firm of any updates!

Things a removals firm may ask;

Where are you moving and what is the completion date?
What is the access like at your current and new home?
Will people be moving in / out on the same dates as you and in what timeframe?
What additional services will you require? Packing service, Packing materials, storage?

When you do ask for quotes, make sure you ask them all the same questions and give them all the same information. If you fail to do so then it will be hard to compare the quotes like for like.

Ask as many questions as you can, no matter how small or silly. You need to know everything! Standard questions you may want to ask include;

Insurance
What insurance does the company offer, what does that include and is there any excess?
Experience
Ask about previous overseas removals and references
Are they a member of any trade associations?
What qualifications / criteria do they meet?
Logistics
When will the removals team arrive and how many people will it include?
How long will it take to pack all of the belongings
Where will the goods be stored while waiting for shipping / transport?
Customs
Does the firm provide customs forms and information?
Will they help you fill out the forms?
What restrictions are in place for said country?
Costs
What does the quote include? Taxes, port charges, customs etc.

Can I pack myself?

Of course you can pack yourself, but you will need to check a few things with your removal team, such as;

Will this invalidate your insurance?
What effects should be packaged in what materials?
Would they like to check all boxes for contents and packing against the inventory
Will this cause possible problems at customs in my destination country

Never pack your personal documents such as; passport, visas, embassy letters, chequebook, driver's licenses, birth certificates, airline tickets or foreign currency.

Can I take my pets?

Entirely dependent on your destination, wherever you are moving you can probably expect some quarantine and regulations. You can find specialized pet carriers who can advise you on health checks, certificates and veterinary documentation.

Can I take my car?

Talk to a specialist car exporter, each country will have different regulations and it will also be dependent on which car, how many etc. Rules tend to be more relaxed for classic cars, other wise you may be better selling and buying again once you arrive. If you do take your own car you must notify the DVLA and they can take you through the various procedures.

Are there restrictions to what I can take?

Again this will depend on where you are traveling, but as a general rule of thumb the following may not be accepted;

Narcotics and drugs (including forms of medication)
Hazardous items i.e. fireworks, toxic or poisonous substances (including garden products)
Plants, vegetables and many living organisms
Alcohol (subject to duties)
Meat products
Firearms, ammunition and explosives
Weapons i.e. swords, knives etc.
Pornographic material

How will my items be transported?

There are 3 main methods of transporting your belongings abroad, they are;

Road / Ferry Transport

The most popular for the European mainland destinations such as France and Spain. A removals team will arrive and pack your belongings and then drive over to your destination. This ensures the handling of your goods are kept to a minimum.

Sea Freight

This is the most common and cheapest form of transportation of overseas removals. A container come is sizes of 20ft or 40ft and should be completely water resistant. Assuming you hire your own container, this is generally delivered door to door for loading and unloading. Cost is normally charged on volume not weight.

Air Freight

Although the most expensive the main advantage for air freight is speed. Rather than your items being packing into containers, they securely packed into enclosed airline pallets which are then placed into the cargo hold of the plane.

How long will it take to transport my goods?

Depending on your destination and removals transport this can be a few days via road and ferry but up to eight to twelve weeks via container to Australia / New Zealand. Approximately;

Air freight, door to door - 14 days
Container, Europe and America - 4 to 6 weeks
Container, Asia - 8 to 10 weeks
Container, Australia and New Zealand - 10 to 12 weeks

This is entirely dependent on your freight company.

I hope all these tips help you. I will be passing on other hints as time passes. The above is all from my previous experience, and as with all my other house moves, in the end I chose Sheppards Removals and Storage for there professional range of services and previous experience.

Peter Pritchard

Expatriate Living - Have You Thought About Moving Overseas For Work Or Retirement?

Over the last two generations or so, the population of the United States has become more and more mobile. Corporate transfers from state to state or even from one side of the country to the other have become quite common. Some individuals have even been transferred overseas. More than in the past, career advancement today frequently involves geographically relocating or at least considering the possibility of relocation.

When I was teaching in the university during my academic career, I found that in order to get a promotion or even an increase in pay, I most frequently had to change locations. It was much easier to progress in my career by relocating than it was to simply wait on a promotion within the university in which I was teaching at the time. I was able to progress in my career faster by making these moves. The working environment and the need to have more mobility today includes a larger geographical area.

Today the world has gotten smaller, largely due to advanced means of communication like the internet. Where I would have moved from state to state within the United States; others are now moving from country to country. Some have even become perpetual expatriate travelers, constantly moving from country to country.

The two major reasons for moving abroad are: (1) to work abroad, or (2) to retire abroad.

Working Abroad. With the expanding interdependence of world economics, it has become easier and easier to find international business opportunities. Developing nations are looking for skills that either are not yet available among their own population, or due to cultural reasons, are not considered desirable positions. For example, right now in 2010, the country of Panama needs contractors who are willing to build housing for lower socio-economic citizens. Even though the government is pushing programs to build this type of housing, few local contractors are taking advantage of this market. Those who are building for the expatriate population in the upper price ranges consider it beneath their dignity to build the less expensive houses. It might effect their image. So, the housing shortage continues.

Retiring Abroad. Retirees from the U.S. and many European nations are now looking at retiring to a location less expensive than their home country. Couple this motivation with those individuals who move for a new lifestyle, adventure, better weather, and a perpetual vacation (good goal; harder to accomplish), and you have a large developing number of prospective expatriates. Countries like Belize and Panama have recognized this opportunity and have designed specific retiree programs with a multitude of benefits for expatriates. If you are interested in retiring abroad, such programs can not be beaten. Check them out.
If you have a personality that craves change, living abroad is definitely for you. If you want a shorter change of environment, living abroad is also a good choice. Whether it is a new job, job transfer, long term vacation, or permanent residency you desire, living abroad has much to offer you.

Dr. Lamar Ross, a cultural anthropologist by training, has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living and providing information on unique travel destinations. He is an author, educator, photographer, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has lived in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and India and has traveled extensively in 29 different countries. He speaks both English and Spanish fluently and has a basic ability in several other languages. For more information on expatriate living, check out the blog Expatriate Traveler Notes

Moving Overseas - Returning Home After An Executive Assignment

There was mixed emotions when my company asked me to take up another position in Australia and leave our Thailand operation. It was my first international corporate relocation and the business assignment had been very successful. As a family we had made numerous friends from all over the world and it would be sad to say goodbye. At least the process of moving overseas would be different this time as we were moving back into our home in Sydney.

Having already had a positive experience with our international removalists when we originally packed our house and came to Thailand, it was natural that we would use the same company. We were much more fortunate than others because the removalists had office all over the world and would look after everything from start to finish. Other friends were not so fortunate in moving to Thailand as they had not been given the advice of choosing a single company to pack, transport and unpack their belongings in the first place.

From the moment we called them, they took control of the entire process. A removalist consultant was assigned and ensured that we developed a comprehensive plan of action. Nothing was left to chance including closing bank accounts, retrieving all medical and dental records from local practitioners as well as informing all insurance companies - medical, home and contents. Whilst we thought that we had everything under control, having had experience in moving internationally in the first place there were quite a number of specific areas to consider in returning home.

Moving to Thailand had few if any quarantine issues to deal with, but in returning to Australia we had to consider all our belongings, particularly those purchased in Bangkok. For example, we had bought a rattan lounge suite and a rosewood dining room setting among other things. We needed to assure Australian quarantine officials that the wood products were free of any bugs likely to harm the Australian environment. We also had to be certain that all clothing and shoes that were being packed into boxes and then the container were clean and free of any dirt. Frankly we were quickly made aware of how seriously quarantine issues were taken and that there would be an inspection of our belongings prior to being released to us in Australia.

On packing day, we found it comforting that the same processes that were used when we left Australia were used to pack our belongings in Bangkok. What we learnt was that because the removalist company had a global presence that they had a worldwide quality assurance program. This meant that the boxes and materials were the same and the care and diligence in packing our belongings was of the highest standard.

Although we were experienced expatriates to a point this move was made so much easier because of the quality of our removalist company.

Geoff Cooper has undertaken a number of corporate assignments in Asia. He has found that moving overseas has had its surprises on each occasion. The stress of the move is made much easier by selecting international removalists that specialise in corporate relocations for families moving overseas moving overseas.

Thoughts of Moving Overseas

Before you make a decision to move overseas, there are a few more voices you should listen to:

1) Your initial thoughts; this, of course, is the reaction that you get before you take the time to truly consider the dilemma. Your initial reaction shows your instinctive decision. Many people have been saved by making decisions based on instinct. However, before you decide based on this, you should also consider other voices.

2) The opinion of others ; after you have an instinctive thought, take the time to listen to what others think. This can be very helpful in assessing the situation as there may be some things which you fail to see from your perspective. This is especially important if other people close to you will be affected by your move.

3) What needs to be done; your initial instinct represents what you want to do. After you have analyzed the situation, ask yourself what needs to be done. Consider the opinion of others and weigh the demands of the situation and understand what needs to be done.

Some people might say that these things are contradict each other. There is really nothing that you can do about that. What you need to do is to find the core of the contradiction. The decision regarding moving overseas is hard enough without having multiple voices inside your head. If you find the core of the contradiction, you will learn that there is one voice which contains all of these opinions. And you should be able to make the right decision.

It will no doubt be a whole new adventure moving overseas and living abroad. You should always remember that life is just one big adventure and there are times when you have to take risks to enjoy it. You should also remember that no one can make you do anything that you truly do not want to do. In the end, the decision to move overseas will still be yours to make.

Frank Collins is an traveler and an editor for Exploring Abroad.com

Making It Easy for Children When Moving Overseas

Moving abroad with children requires a lot of planning in advance to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone. There's no doubt that you'll be faced with hitches along the way, but everything that you can do to prepare in advance for your children's new school needs will help you move your whole family overseas successfully.

Specialist agencies have helped hundreds of teachers and their families move to new teaching jobs abroad. This is the advice they have to offer for anyone moving overseas with school-age children, whatever the reason for your move:

Find out what schools are available in the area that you are moving to. Your company may well offer one, or a limited number of schools that you as a family can send your children to. This may include full payment or a contribution towards school fees. Make sure you know exactly what your company is paying for and the additional costs that you will incur. Tuition fees can just be the start of the expenses with costs for such things as uniform, resources and school trips ending up being very extensive.
Investigate the curriculum your children will be learning in their potential new schools. It may well be a school delivering the English National Curriculum or a curriculum that your children have learnt in their home country, but the approach to learning and the standards may be very different. Your child may well have done some of the work before or may have missed out on parts of the curriculum.
Be prepared for your children to be learning alongside many children where English is their second language. Some parents see this as a very positive experience, others feel that their children are being disadvantaged. Your child may be one of just a few children in the school speaking English. This may be an issue when it comes to making friends. Children can feel very isolated in situations like this or may end up in a very tight group of 'friends' they may otherwise not have chosen, just because of language similarities. Help your child to prepare for this, suggesting ways to make friends through non-verbal actions.
Check out the pastoral care provided within the school. Some schools have an onsite counsellor or assign a pastoral head of year, some schools have a buddy system for new children. Some schools are much better than others at helping new children settle.
Organise an interview with the Headteacher of your children's school upon arrival in your new country. Disclose all information about your children at that point in time; the more the school knows about your children the better they can support them. At this meeting schedule follow-up meetings with the Headteacher so that you can be sure of regular updates on your child's progress as they settle into their new school.
If your child is joining an international school where many expatriate children attend, then expect the school to be the social as well as the learning centre for the community. Parents are often far more involved with school activities, there may be regular family-oriented events and usually plenty of opportunities for parents to volunteer support. This all helps everyone to settle in quickly and easily.
Learn some simple phrases in the host country's language before moving out. Once you're there, use them when you can. This will not only help you to settle in with the local community but will also show your children what a difference making an effort with your local language can make.
Research sport and social clubs in the local community that your children may want to get involved with. It's a great way to get to know local people.

Go in open-minded. Moving to a new country opens up huge possibilities to become immersed in a different culture and this can be a very enriching experience for the entire family. Don't limit your new life entirely to the social community created from the school; be prepared to look further afield. But in your first few weeks, your children's school can be a common ground to help make friends, share experiences and feel a little bit of home away from home.

http://www.findteachingjobsoverseas.co.uk provides services to teachers trained in countries with English as a first language. Particularly the UK and USA but also Australia, and New Zealand amongst others. Our website provides information to help find teaching jobs abroad, teaching jobs overseas, and teaching jobs Europe.

Moving Overseas - Challenges to Expect

While at the gym today, I had a little epiphany about moving to a new culture and adjusting to cultural differences.

I went to one of those Total Body Conditioning classes where they have you lift weights so that, at the end, your muscles are so depleted you can barely exit the room. However, I tried a different instructor than usual.  He made us do a lot more cardio work than I had been doing in my other class.  My heart rate skyrocketed to the point of discomfort.  But, it made me realize I was feeling my heart work, something none of the previous classes had done for me.

We had to do poses and weight-lifts I had never seen before.  I was utterly confused, but realized my body was getting the benefit of an entirely new set of moves.

Finally, when stretching, the instructor made us stretch our legs in a method I can only describe as contorting ourselves into an upright pretzel. I had no idea my body could even enter into the position he made us hold!

Then it hit me - this class was a bit like transitioning to a new culture. 

Feeling Lost. I started the new class feeling completely lost.  I didn't know anyone, nor could I quite keep up with all the exercises.  I was also very uncomfortable with how fast my heart was beating.  I wondered what I got myself into. When you move someplace new, that "out of place" feeling hits hard at the beginning, and it can be very uncomfortable as you settle in.

New Approaches to Regular Activities. I tried movements I had never done before, and approached the workout completely differently.  I was so used to doing the same set of movements over and over, that it broke me out of a routine.  Similarly, in other cultures, you'll find that people approach every-day tasks in different ways than you're accustomed to.  At first, new approaches may feel weird and uncomfortable, but after some time goes by, you will hopefully perceive that their approach is a new way to handle a situation, rather than thinking it's "better" or "worse.  Furthermore, if you do feel stuck in a routine, trying one new thing dramatically shifts your insights!

Challenges Lead to Triumph. I folded my body up in ways I didn't know possible, in order to get a good stretch.  In fact, I really didn't think it was possible to fold my legs as I did, and contemplated giving up.  So, when I succeeded, I felt uplifted!  When you have to learn a new language, try a new food, or try new approaches to meeting people, you may feel it's impossible to succeed.  However, if you're willing to at least try, you may be pleasantly surprised by your accomplishments.

For more information on what challenges to prepare for, I invite you to download a free report full of the moving tips you haven't thought of! Visit http://www.expatriatesmovingoverseas.com

You can discover the Learn to Feel at Home Anywhere in the World program, designed to help you create a foundation for personal, social, and professional success, at http://www.relocationsuccessguide.com

From Heather Markel, The Culture Transition Gal. Helping you learn to feel at home anywhere in the world.

Moving Overseas With Your Family - How to Make It a Success

Moving overseas with a family can be an enormously successful experience - especially if you prepare thoroughly in advance. Well before making the move, many questions need to be asked and issues addressed to ensure the move for everyone is as trouble-free as possible.

Recruitment agencies help teachers find teaching jobs abroad. The company works, day-in, day-out with teachers who are moving overseas with their families and so can offer advice to all families moving abroad to work. Here is some of the advice offered to families who are preparing to move to an international job:

Make absolutely sure you know what your contract provides. Are all school fees covered for your children? Does the whole family, including your children, have medical coverage written into the contract? Is there anyone within the family who has an existing medical condition and will this be covered in the new health insurance?
Is accommodation provided and if so, is it appropriate for your family? How close is it to the children's school as well as to and from your place of work, and how easy is it to make these journeys? Are there any facilities in or near your accommodation suitable for children and families e.g. a swimming pool, play area, gym, park, garden, bike paths, etc.
Parents often underestimate the impact that an international move has on a child - of any age. Your children may need more support that you think; that will mean ongoing support too. The first few weeks are new and different which means they can be very exciting for children. It can be a few weeks later, when the reality of the move kicks in, that children can find most difficult and that's when they may need more of your help and understanding.
When you move, you may want to plan some things for the near future to help your whole family make the transition easily. This may include a visit from grandparents, another family member or close friends. Or a trip back home. This can end up being very important for children. Usually, after they've been back home once, that helps them to settle easier into their new surroundings. Or it could be an exciting holiday to explore more of your new country.
If you have teenage children, investigate the exam qualifications that will be available to them in their international school. Some international schools follow the British National Curriculum or do IGCSEs or follow the International Baccalaureate. The curriculum your teenager will be expected to follow and the qualifications they will be able to achieve may impact on the further and higher education opportunities available to them.
Don't forget teenagers can experience more problems with making a long-distance move than younger children as they will be losing contact with well-established friends and moving from environments that they are very familiar and secure with. Help them to keep the communication lines accessible between friends. Make phone, social networking and email communication a priority once you arrive in your new home.

Janice Ireland moved from the United Kingdom to work as a teacher in Kuwait when her daughter was a teenager. "She absolutely loved it!" says Janice. "Initially she didn't want to go because of leaving her friends so we agreed we would do a three month trial. It all helped to make the move much easier. She is much more internationally-minded because of this experience and has travelled more extensively as a result and experienced different countries, not just from the perspective of a holiday-maker but from actually living there."

http://www.findteachingjobsoverseas.co.uk provides services to teachers trained in countries with English as a first language. Particularly the UK and USA but also Australia, and New Zealand amongst others. Our website provides information to help find teaching jobs abroad or teaching jobs Europe.

Five Documents You Will Need Before You Move Overseas

So, you've found your ideal international teaching job and you are ready to make the leap...good for you! Now it's time to get everything in order and properly prepared for your big move. Here are five important documents that you will need to obtain before you leave.

First, you should check to make sure that your passport is up-to-date. Passports expire every 5 years, so you will need to make sure that yours, and your family members', are still valid. And, if you don't have a passport, you will need to get one. You will need to leave plenty of time for the application process as well, as it can take many weeks to process. You should also look into ensuring that your passport will be valid throughout the length of your contract, as you don't want to be stuck in a foreign country with an invalid passport.

You will also need to apply for a working visa so that you can teach legally in your host country. You will not be able to work legally on a tourist visa, so you will need a working visa of some kind. Your new employer should advise you about visa requirements. Make sure that you follow their directions exactly because there could be serious consequences for you if you mix it up. There are many different types of work visas, so it is imperative that you get the right one. For most countries, it is also necessary that you have it in your hands when you enter the country or you may be refused entry which could jeopardize your teaching contract.

Obtaining a police clearance certificate is as important to international teachers as their passports. This is because without a police clearance certificate many countries will not allow you to teach children. The certificate records any convictions found on your criminal record and you will be required to show that your record is clear. When you are ready to return home again, you will need to acquire another police clearance from your host country. If you don't, you could risk your ability to teach once again in your home country.

You should also update your will before you leave. As dreadful as it sounds, it's necessary. You should carry copies of it with you when you travel as well. If something were to happen to you in a foreign country, you will need to have all your final wishes in order so that there will be no confusion between the two countries. You don't want your loved ones to have to deal with horrible international red tape in order to carry out your wishes.

Lastly, you should look into getting an international driver's license so that you will be able to drive in your host country. Most countries will not allow you to drive a car without one. This is an additional document that you must obtain that acts like a translation for what your national driver's license permits. It is especially important if you plan on working in a rural area where car transport will be necessary.

Having these five documents in order and on hand for your travels to your new host country will make your introduction to a new culture, as well as your entire experience, more enjoyable. Proper planning and being prepared will help to ensure you start off on the right foot and have a great international teaching experience.

Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews.
Please visit her at http://resumes-for-teachers.com or send an email to candoco@telus.net

Moving Overseas For the First Time

So you have excepted your first overseas job and want to know what you need to do before you make the move . First off I would like to say congratulations and I wish you well on your new adventure. Now lets get into some of the things that you have to get into order before you make your move.  Banking can be a very hard and frustrating thing to deal with if you do not bring the right information with you. You will want to make sure your passport is up to date. Contact your company and find out what kind of mail service you will be using.  A drivers license will be needed whether or not you need to drive to work you may at some point decide to buy yourself a vehicle. Making sure you have a copy of your medical records is a very important thing to do. You will want to make sure you can call back home to friends, family, and for any personal business you may need to have handled when you are gone. There are many different things you will probably find yourself needing when you get there but there are only a few that you may want to get ahead of time.

Get your Finances in order

One of the hardest things to deal with is a bank if you do not have the correct contact numbers or understand how you will be limited when it comes to their services when you are located overseas. You will need to know if they have a special contact number to call if you are overseas. If they do not have sufficient online banking for you to handle most of what you need over the internet you will want to find another bank. You will want to find out the procedures to wire money somewhere when you are unable to go to one of their branch offices. Make sure you have the routing number and SWIFT code of your bank so if you need to wire money there you will be able too. This is also needed for setting up your direct deposit with the company you will be working for.

Check Your Passport

Most places require you to have at least six months left on your passport before it expires. You will want to make sure you renew your passport before you go if it is getting close to that point. Ensure that you have enough pages free for visas and stamps from customs. If you do not have may pages left you will want to have pages added to your passport.

Mail service

Find out what kind of mail service you will be using when you are there. You may use the countries own mailing service or your company may have a PO or APO Box for you to mail too. You may want to look into a mail forwarding service if you plan on getting mail while you are there. If you plan on placing orders through Amazon or other online shopping sites there will be many things you cannot get shipped without a street address from your home country.

Drivers License

Your company may say you will not have to have a driver's license because you will be bused from your accommodations to work and back each day. This is all great but you may want to buy a vehicle at some point so you can get around when you are not at work.

Medical Record

Go to your doctor and make sure you get copies of your medical records. While you are doing this make sure you find out if you need any shots. You may need to show your records again when you get there to avoid getting the same shots twice.

Calling Home

You will find that calling home can get expensive and is not always that easy. You should look into a VOIP line. A voice over internet protocol line lets you use your home phone number overseas and can save you a lot of money because each call is like making a local call home. 8X8.com.com and Vonage.com are two popular VOIP services. To be able to use your VOIP line you will need to get an internet connection that meets the bandwidth requirements of the VOIP service. I have a bandwidth of 250K and have not had a problem with my 8x8 VOIP service.

What you should bring

When you are going overseas you will run into problems with your electronics compatibility with local power. Find out if you are going to live in a place that has a different voltage standard then your home country. You may need to convert 240V to 120V or 120V to 240V. A simple voltage converter is all you need to solve this problem. You will also want to get a power adapter with a variety of different styles of plugs. A power adapter does not convert voltage though it is only used to allow you to change the style of plug you use to plug into a wall socket. You may want to get a money belt to try to avoid getting pick pocketed. A laptop is always good so you can access your bank online and check your email. Before you pack a lot of things though ask someone at your company what you will be able to buy there and how much more it will cost compared to if you bought it at home.

These tips can really help you out when you are going to a new country to work. The more you plan ahead the less time it will take you to adapt to your new environment. By preparing ahead of time you can help make your first time overseas a very good experience.  Keep an eye out for more articles that will go into more detail on each of these topics at the Expat Water Cooler.

Joseph M. Jones has worked in the aerospace and defense industry for about ten years now. He started out as a Microwave Technician in the United States Marines. He then started his overseas career with Raytheon on the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Range as a communications technician and later moved to their Telemetry department. He later transferred to the Eastern Test range where he worked under the 45th Space Wing as a Telemetry Technician with Raytheon. He is currently working for ITT in Asia as a Global Broadcast System technician.

Joseph started the website http://www.expatwatercooler.com were other expats and himself give advice on various topics. You will find a list of overseas jobs and articles on budgeting, planning your career, living & working overseas, travel, and information about clearance jobs.

Moving Oversea - Learn a Language by Yourself

Many people study foreign languages for years without ever becoming fluent, yet they have all possible resources to hand. Others learn a foreign language with almost no resources at all. The difference lies in the approach and the strategies employed. Here are some simplified steps to teaching yourself Spanish, Japanese, or any other foreign language.

1. Buy a Good Foreign Language Program: A good program has lots of listening components which are based on real language use, and include sentence level passages such as conversations.

2. Listen Listen Listen Listen to passages multiple times, without reading. When you read and listen, you are mainly focused on reading as we are accustomed to learning by reading. But you must listen, and only listen, to improve listening comprehension. Listen many times. Then repeat. Then check the script and listen again. Also try and listen to TV programs, music, movies, and whatever else is available.

3. Listen and Repeat Listen and repeat, increasing the size of the "chunk" that you can handle, again without reading. Pay attention to pronunciation and intonation.

4. Talk a Lot If you have nobody to talk to, talk to yourself. Out loud. Make up conversations and practice them out loud. Or, find a native speaker to talk to. Better yet, join a language learning club or group where only he target language is used, and practice. Or get a partner who wants to learn English and do a language exchange.

5. Make Mistakes We learn through our mistakes. Get someone to correct you and pay attention. Don't be afraid to speak for fear of making mistakes - it's inevitable, natural and useful.

6. Learn Grammar by Using It: Don't study 6 verb tenses and expect to be able to use any of them. Study one structure, and use it until it's second nature.

7. Read and Write: Even if you only want to learn to speak the language, reading and writing can help. Reading is the best way to increase vocabulary and internalize linguistic structures. Read something that you are interested in and can enjoy for the content; for example, if you're a sports lover, read about sports. And write about something you are interested in as well. Writing will help you express yourself in the language at a higher grammatical level.

As a foreign language teacher and lover of languages, I've found the above strategies to be very useful when studying alone. Of course it's best to be in-country and do total immersion programs, but not everyone can do these, and that shouldn't stop you from learning.

For more information about living abroad, language learning, and retiring overseas, Click Here

Moving Overseas? Expats Mind the Culture of New Country!

Do you ever think of doing anything in the right way? Suppose you eat with fork and knife and while lifting some food item with your hands, do you think about which hand to use? While kissing or giving a warm hug to your female colleague, do you think whether it would be right or not to do so? I am hundred percent sure, you do not think this way. And why should you? After all you have grown up doing all these things in the way you do it now. But if you are planning for moving overseas then apart from knowing whats and hows of international relocation,  you must also study about the right ways of doing things according to the new country's culture and traditions!

Here are certain cultural do's and dont's. However, the right way to know about any culture is to observe what locals do and follow suit.

If you are relocating to countries like China, Korea, or Thailand, refrain from touching someone while talking unless the person is a close friend of yours. They become uncomfortable with this gesture. In the Middle East, men and women cannot interact among themselves in public and if you try to touch them, just imagine what a mess you'll be in!
If you are moving to India, Africa, or the Middle East, remember using your right hand while picking up and eating anything served communally. If you are left-handed, explain it properly to your fellow diners before beginning to eat.
In Turkey and some Scandinavian countries, the sauna or hammam are considered pure spaces and even clothes are not allowed inside. However, if you are desperate enough to go there and can't even shed all of your clothes, wrap yourself in a towel- that is somewhat accepted there but do inquire about any such provisions first.
When visiting sacred places after moving to Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, Thailand etc. always keep your shoes outside any temple, mosque or other religious places. Taking shoes inside the sacred places is considered sin over there and even you wouldn't like hurting religious feelings of any community.
If you have expatriated to the Asian countries like Korea and Japan, don't get offended if anyone doesn't look straight into your eyes while talking. It may be rude in your country but not in theirs. However, in countries like America and Germany, you must make direct eye contacts if you don't want yourself to be considered rude and indifferent. If you are confused, just follow the golden rule- observe the locals of your host nation and know how you should look at them!
If you are about to relocate to Africa, Japan, Thailand, China, or Finland, start developing the habit of remaining silent while eating your meals.
The best idea will be to attend a cultural orientation program and learn all about behaving in public in your destination country after your international relocation. At home, of course, you can be yourself even if you are an expatriate! Someone has rightly said, home sweet home!

Deepa RC recommends reading more about international relocation at http://www.moversandpackers.net/international-relocation.html, the comprehensive directory of movers and packers companies and also a great resource for those moving into their new homes. It contains useful tips and information about the whole relocation process making it easier for everyone to relocate and settle down comfortably at their new destination.

Moving Overseas: International Guide

As more corporations worldwide expand their operations to overseas locations, more employees and families relocate to foreign locations.. International moves are common and nowadays are very easy to plan.

Planning is a key to a successful international door-to-door relocation, and here are some helpful tips to assist you in planning your international move.

The Moving Date

One of the first things to consider is your moving date. Keep this in mind when choosing the Moving Date:

The first or last few days of the month tend to be the busiest moving times - avoid them.

Your destination country's holiday schedule might result in unnecessary delays so check the calendar before scheduling your moving Date.

Transport

Motor freight carrier, railroad, steamship line, or airline will be used to ship your household goods. Your packed and loaded shipment will be transported to the port of exit by truck or rail. There the container(s) will be loaded into a vessel or into an aircraft.

Packing and Shipping

Your international movers can professionally wrap and pack your personal belonginings in cartons and shipping crates to protect them from damage. Whether your household or office is shipped in a lift-van, a steamship container or an air container will be determined by the size of the shipment and its destination.

A lift-van ranges in size from 185 to 210 cubic feet. This wooden or plywood container with skids is normally loaded using a forklift. A lift-van is lined with water-resistant paper and caulked to prevent leakage. Steamship companies supply containers. Air containers range in size from five- to 100-cubic feet. Small shipments are packed in containers of triple-layer corrugated cardboard; larger shipments by air are normally crated instead of boxed.

International Moving Cost

After making a thorough survey of your entire home, your moving estimator will determine shipping costs. It is important that the estimator see everything that you plan to move--including any items in the garage, basement or attic. The moving quote estimate you receive will detail the charges for packing and transporting your household goods.

For more guides, visit: BananaMoving.Com. Find and compare moving companies, get free moving quotes. BananaMoving.com provides a one stop shop for all your moving and storage needs.

Moving Overseas - Tips For Shipping

If you are considering an overseas move, or retiring to a foreign country, chances are you will want to ship all or part of your belongings. Full timers who obtain residency visas in their adopted countries often receive tax breaks on items shipped. Here are some guidelines to help you in the process.

All shipping companies will require a detailed inventory, including value, of anything shipped. Best to do this before, not after, everything is in boxes. Remember that anything used should be marked as such, and valued low for customs receipt in the country. Furniture should be tagged with age and value, and also estimated on the low side. Boxes should be numbered and marked both inside and out, and a separate written list, the inventory, reflects all the information about this box. For example, let's say you have a box of used kitchen pots and pans, and this is Box Number 4. On both the outside of the box and inside the box as well, you will write with a dark magic marker:

BOX #4:

Kitchen:

Used pots and pans, 10-15 years old, 13 pieces

Your inventory list might include more details about which pots and pans, and will also include the value:

BOX # - ITEMS - VALUE

4 - Used, large Revere ware pans 13 pieces - $30

Always underestimate the value because something used really has almost no commercial value. If you are shipping and expecting to get a tax break on your residency visa, there is usually a limit, for example $10,000, for what you are allowed to bring in duty-free. So always include the fact that something is used and old, and for most people that describes most of their belongings and furniture. Used books should be valued at around 25 cents apiece, for example.

If you are serious about leaving the country for any extended period of time, I highly recommend you take an inventory of your personal belongings and do the labeling and inventory list. Even if you end up not shipping your belongings, your re-entry will be so much easier if your belongings are inventoried and tagged.

Don't arrange any shipping until you already have a residency visa. One friend arranged to have all her things shipped before arriving in her new country. She applied for a residency visa, but her things arrived well before she could claim the customs duty exemption and she ended up paying expensive duty fees on everything.

You may have to arrange for a friend or relative to ship your things to you, so have everything pre-arranged and planned, including the shipping company you intend to use. Contact the shipping company for all their forms and ensure these are filled out. That way your friend only has to make the phone call and meet the shippers at the storage facility to give them your things and sign off. Let the shippers know, in writing, that the friend is authorized to sign for you.

Make sure that the shipper has in-country contacts and custom brokers, and that you are getting guaranteed door-to-door service. Also ensure that any insurance represents the replacement value of your belongings, not the value you are using for customs. Use specific country discussion boards on Yahoo Groups or other sites such as Escape Artist to get recommendations for shippers that other residents have successfully used. The more organized your list, and the more professional the company you use, the less likely your chance of getting held up in customs and having to pay daily storage fees.

If you are driving your car down, or shipping it, again you will have to have a residency visa in hand in most countries to claim any customs tax exemption. Make sure you know the age limit for imported cars. You will not be able to import a car that is considered too old. These laws are also subject to change, and vary greatly from country to country, so be careful. In some countries, such as Mexico, importing an older American car is the best way to go, and in others, such as Nicaragua, it's advisable to buy a car in-country.

For all the information you need to relocate or retire abroad, Click Here: Click Here

Contemplating a Move Overseas As an Expatriate?

I made the move nearly 30 years ago, I am still overseas, and if I was about to take the decision again, I would not have any hesitation in taking exactly the same decision.

That is said in the full knowledge that expatriate packages today are very different, and often less financially attractive than they were back in 1979 when I took up my first expatriate post in Hong Kong.

In those days many of us received a tax paid salary, were provided with free accommodation, often with at least one live-in maid and driver included, with all utility bills paid by our company, school fees for children fully or partly paid (locally or back home), full medical benefits for self and family, free membership at a sports or businessman's club, and up to six weeks fully expensed annual home leave. I shudder to think what that lot must have cost.

Today, fewer get a tax paid salary (although it is by no means rare), accommodation is mostly on an allowance basis, utility bills are rarely paid, maids and drivers are still available in many locations, but at your cost for most, full medical benefits are still provided for most, school fees are mostly partly paid these days, and often only at a local international school if available, clubs might be available on a discounted or still free basis, and leave allowances are now rarely fully expensed.

So why would I still take the same decision? Good question.

Let me list some of the benefits as I see them (in no particular order):

- For most there are big tax advantages residing offshore to your home country (does not apply to all)

- In many locations your cost of living will be less than at home therefore increasing your disposable income, maybe quite considerably

- You and your family are likely to live in an accommodation that is better, maybe much better than you could afford back home, and if in an apartment block or condo, is likely to have leisure facilities that you would have to travel miles for back home (eg swimming pool, squash and/or tennis courts, gym, mini-market, restaurant, etc)

- You and your family are likely to go on holidays to locations that would remain a dream if you stayed back home

- It is a wonderful adventure in a totally new culture

- Opportunities to visit places that might otherwise remain a mystery

- A chance to get immersed in a foreign language, practicing it daily

- If you're single or married, the opportunities to meet and mix with other young expatriates and locals is unmatched back home

- You might even be as fortunate as I was, and meet your future wife in your new location

- For most school-age children, they really are on the adventure of a lifetime - actually that is also true for many adults (me included)

- Their international school (if available in your new location) will often introduce them to a veritable United Nations. At my own children's first school in Hong Kong, my son had fourteen different nationalities in his class and daughter had one more! If you are a native English speaker and fear a lower standard of English, I should comment that the entry standards for English are usually far higher than they would be for an immigrant child in the UK.

- Son and daughter both easily got places at excellent UK universities (Durham and Swansea), following first class performances in their A level (pre-uni) exams in Hong Kong.

- They are both now exceptionally well travelled, learned to be independent very early on, are comfortable in just about any culture, and each speaks three foreign languages fluently. They are by no means unusual for expatriate children.

I'm sure there are other benefits that I have not covered, but I think you will get the picture.

Are there drawbacks and pitfalls? Of course, and I'll cover a few now, and let you judge for yourself if they outweigh the benefits:

- If you have come from a more insular background, you (or your spouse) may be in for a bit of a shock

- You may not hear your native tongue too often in some locations, even if it is English

- The climate may not be that to which you are used, be that much hotter or much colder, and you may need to compensate in terms of clothing and activities

- In some locations the standard of medical care may not be up to the standard of your home country, but that is becoming less of an issue around the world, where in some typical expat locations, the standards of facilities and care now exceed those back home

- Not all countries will allow your spouse or SO to work. You need to factor this very seriously into your considerations. That is true here (Malaysia) and I know a growing number of spouses who have compensated by undertaking work online or setting up online businesses. In both cases income is legitimately earned and generated outside your country of residence where the spouse is defined as a dependent of the partner on the employment pass. You may remain, of course, liable for income tax in your home country. If you or your stay at home spouse do start and online business, do ensure that your website's server is also outside your country of residence, or that may make you in violation of your working partner's employment pass.

- If you are in a non-traditional relationship, you may need to check on laws and attitudes in the country in which you are planning to work. For example, same sex couples are likely to have severe difficulties or even will not be accepted in most Muslim majority countries.

- The standard of driving in your new country may not be as high as that back home. You may even have to learn to drive on the other side of the road to that back home.

- You or your spouse/partner may be politically quite active at home. In many overseas locations it is unwise to get at all involved in local politics.

- In some locations the standards and efficiency of the local banks leave a bit to be desired and there is not a lot you can do. However, if there are local branches of foreign banks (maybe from UK, Europe or US), I would suggest you to open accounts with one of these, as long as they provide a full service. With both local and foreign banks, make sure you check out the cost of their services before using them. It may be best to use their online banking, if available and fully secure.

- If you enjoy the occasional TV, you may be disappointed with local TV standards in some locations, especially if satellite or cable TV with US/UK/NZ/Australian/Canadian or European programming is unavailable. This is now pretty rare and even here in Malaysia, I have unrestricted access to about 50 overseas programming channels.

To sum up, for me and thousands of very satisfied expatriates like me, coming to work overseas was the best decision of our lives. In many cases we are much better off financially than we would be if we had stayed back home.

Whether we realise it or not, we are also much richer as individuals, having been blessed with the opportunity to meet, enjoy the company of many, many people in their country, with us as their guests, and to become their friends. Or even, like me, to become their lifetime partner.

It does not get any better than that.

Michael is a British citizen, but long term resident of Asia (Hong Kong and Malaysia). After 25 years with a global banking leader, he headed up his own HR and Management consulting company, which welcomes enquiries for assistance from expats to Malaysia and any other country in S E Asia. This successful business has branched out to include database/direct marketing aswell as Internet and Affiliate Marketing. For the former, contact is at http://www.skillnet-resources.com and for online marketing businesses at http://www.makingdollars4u.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

Moving Overseas - What Is "Culture"?

Most folks have a very vague idea of what culture means. The term has become a buzzword, heard and spoken everywhere, repeated ad nauseum in every medium, with little understanding. In vague, general terms it's what makes "them" different from "us." It's language, customs, food, art, music architecture, and lifestyle. And that is all true; these are certainly part and parcel of what we call culture. But there's more to it than that

There are a number of social sciences that actually define and study culture: anthropology and sociology are the two most commonly known. There are also the very specialized fields of Intercultural Communication, Cultural Psychology, Sociolinguistics and Cultural Anthropology which each deal profoundly with various aspects of culture. Among these sciences and studies there are over 500 definitions of culture. One that is simple and often used is:

Culture is all learned behavior.

Learned behavior consists of everything that would not be considered instinct. For example, all human beings have the natural instinct to find food and eat. However, the way a specific group chooses to do that, what they choose to eat, is culture, not instinct. Animals operate solely on instinct and supposedly have no culture, though that assumption has come into question.

The concept of culture is often initially taught in beginning anthropology and sociology courses using the "cultural iceberg:"

Think of an iceberg in the water. There's a part of the iceberg you can see above the water line. The part that is above the water, represents all the visible components of culture: art forms, music, foods, food customs, funerary customs, tools and technology, dress, religious customs, objects and artifacts, and a host of others. Under the water is the part you can't see, which is basically composed of beliefs, values, philosophy, worldview, perceptions and ways of thinking. This part of the iceberg obviously supports the part above the water. Which part of the iceberg is the largest? Obviously, it's the invisible part and this is exactly what you run up against when you experience so called culture shock, culture bumps, and cultural conflict. A culture bumpis any specific experience in which someone experiences dissonance, discomfort, or a problem due to a cultural difference. The person involved may think that the problem is due to a visual component of culture, but most often it's what you don't see or understand that causes the problem, i.e. the invisible part of the iceberg. What's more, most of our own culture is unconscious and we are not totally aware of our culture's core beliefs and philosophies because we have internalized these so deeply, and accepted them as reality and truth.

Culture is transmitted from day one of babyhood by parents and families, and the transmission is continued through other social institutions such as school, church, peer groups, and other social groups, media, usually through the course of a lifetime.

All cultures believe that their culture is right and good. This is the definition of ethnocentrism, and it is characteristic of all human beings from every culture (whether they believe it or not!). The reason we are ethnocentric is that the core beliefs, worldviews and philosophies of our own culture make up much of what we call reality, and are largely unconscious, and highly internalized. Until we've spent years trying to unearth these and examine them for what they are, your cultural norms will dictate your definitions of good, bad, rude, polite, right and wrong.

Here is an example of a cultural bump in which the two parties involved had no idea of why they had a negative reaction. In a cultural experiment in which people were observed in various social situations, two business people, one North American and the other South American, had a meeting. After the meeting, the North American had the impression that the South American was "pushy," but when asked the specific behavior which provoked this response, could not really answer adequately. The South American thought the North American was "cold", and also could not really say why. At the time the study was carried out it was ascertained that the acceptable body distance between two people was to blame.

North Americans stand and sit a little further apart, in a fairly defined comfort zone. The comfort zone of South Americans is a little different, a bit closer. You can see that this whole aspect of culture was certainly not at the conscious awareness level of the two people involved. Other problems that arose include different ways and interpretations of compliments, and a different level of intimacy expected between the two parties. This study is old and may not hold true today, as another characteristic of culture is that it is always changing. Especially with the advent of the internet, and global mass media, very interesting changes are taking place in individual cultures, and the world obviously is becoming more homogeneous. And, there are all sorts of good/bad opinions about that fact as well!

For more information on culture, moving abroad, living and retiring overseas, see

Retirement Worldwide

Tips For Moving Overseas With Less Stress

The excitement that comes with moving to a new place is matched by the stress it can cause for your family. Moving overseas to a different country can be especially difficult because the change in culture is a huge adjustment. Furthermore, the logistics of overseas moves are more complicated than those for moves within your own country, and that does not help matters at all.

As many people who have done so successfully will attest, moving overseas is indeed manageable as long as you keep yourself organized and pay attention to the smallest details. The first thing you will want to do is to come up with a comprehensive plan for the move. Make a list of all the things that will have to be accomplished such as scheduling the movers, getting the power and water turned on in the new place, having the utilities turned off in the old home, applying for a visa and more. Take this list and rank it in order from what can be done months in advance to those things that must wait until the last day. You cannot just pack everything the day before moving overseas, for example, so you should schedule this to-do item to begin several weeks before the movers arrive.

Speaking of packing up your home, the whole process will go a lot easier and faster if you have are determined to get rid of as many of your current possessions as is possible. Streamlining your wardrobe, bookcases, and collections are both easy ways to end up with fewer things to pack and therefore, fewer things to unpack once you get there. Consider getting rid of a few pieces of furniture and then buying what you need after you are moved into the new home and country and have lived there long enough to know what chairs, tables, and so on are absolutely essential. Give away and throw away as much as you can, and you will be better off later on after moving overseas.

Adjusting to the new setting will be difficult enough without adding to it by making the process of unpacking long and unorganized. You do not want your child to go without that favorite toy for six months, so make sure that all your boxes are well-labeled so that they can be unpacked quickly. When boxes are not marked well the move can also be more expensive because you may think you have lost something, go out and buy it, and then later discover that you had it all along.

Keep in mind that there are many things that can go wrong when your possessions are in transit. Movers can drop boxes and break fragile items, or you can end up never receiving what they are supposed to be transporting for you. Check out your movers thoroughly before you hire them, and go with only those moving companies that have a long, proven track record.

These tips should help you make moving overseas both easy and enjoyable. A little forethought now will make your life a whole lot easier later on.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in logistics. If you are looking for a cheap overseas removals company please visit http://www.pickfords.co.uk/.

A Simple Guide For Moving Overseas

Moving from one country to another can be quite scary and nerve-wracking. But, just like moving across town or across the country, this can be handled easily with proper preparation and an expert international mover.

Think about your choice of movers. If you're relocating due to business, your company may have an international mover they would prefer you to use. Your company may even pay for most or all of the costs. If this is not the case, look for a mover as soon as possible. This part can be more complicated than a local move so don't wait until the last minute to begin preparations. An unlicensed international mover can spell disaster.

A local or long distance mover is just that, a local or long distance mover and they can be very good at what they do, but they cannot legally transport your belongings overseas. For this, you must use a licensed international mover.

International moves require careful consideration regarding packing. Your possessions will be traveling on land, on sea and then on land again. There are a lot of steps to get your prized possessions from your home in the US to your home in your new destination country. For this reason you will want to take extra care in packing your items with many layers of protection. Everyone has a budget when moving, so discuss packing with your international moving company. They can pack your belongings for an additional cost or provide tips for you to pack yourself.

Before you move, think about what you're going to take, what you are going to need and how long you are going to be in your destination country. Is this a permanent or temporary move? If you take your household appliances, will you be able to use them in your destination country? Will you need an adapter to run your electrical appliances? Depending on the length of time you plan to live in your destination country, you may want to consider storing items that you cannot use, or do not need, and only take personal effects and items that will give you pleasure and keep you from being homesick. If this is a temporary move, research what it would cost to rent versus purchase items in your destination country or maybe rent a furnished residence. If your move is permanent, then you may want to take everything with you.

Check with customs to see what you can and cannot bring into your destination country. This will also help you to determine what you will bring. Normal customs clearance is generally included in your quote. This means there is a customs clearance agent that will facilitate your paperwork. It does not mean that duties and taxes are paid by the international moving company. Check to see what documents, duties or taxes you may be required to produce and or pay, if any. You may be exempt from duties and taxes depending on your status for entering the country. Each situation is individual and unique. It is your responsibility to have the proper documentation available. You should contact the consulate or embassy for the latest updates in regulations and requirements.

Once you know what you are taking, it is important to make a list. The international moving company will ask you to complete an item list. It is important to know what you are taking so the total volume can be estimated in order to provide you with a quote. The internet is a great tool and the item lists can generally be found on an international moving company website. They are usually very easy to use and once you enter the quantity of the items you are taking, the volume can be calculated automatically with the click of your mouse. International movers quote their moves in volume. Local and Long Distance movers quote in weight.

Once you have determined the volume, decided if you will pack or have the international moving company pack, the next item to consider is insurance. Insurance in optional but it is always recommended. Discuss the coverage types that are available. Loss and damage coverage is only issued if the packing is done by the carrier. You can still insure your shipment if you pack yourself but the coverage will be for loss only.

There is not one company anywhere in the world that owns or has offices in every city in the US, owns the ships and has offices in every city in every country in the world outside of the US. An international moving company networks and works regularly with agents who are trusted, licensed and insured in every location. Once your shipment is ready to ship overseas, your international moving company will advise you the shipping details for your shipment and the agent that will be handling your shipment in your destination country.

Enjoy, prepare, research, have fun in your new adventure and good luck with your international move.

Certified International Movers
Over the years, IntlMOVE has built up relationships and partnered with a network of reputable Origin Agents, On-Land Transportation Professionals, other NVOCC, Ship Lines, Customs Brokers, Overseas Destination Agents and other Relocation Professionals