Monday, May 14, 2012

Starting a New Life Overseas


For many people, the idea of picking up and starting over in another country is appealing. Here are some things you should consider regarding doing so.

Starting over in another country can be a grand adventure. But the key to making it work is doing enough research and giving yourself the time to get everything in order. It should not be done as an impulsive move. There are certain steps to be taken meticulously. Do your homework, take care of your visa, get your other paperwork in line, and complete the actual move.

When considering a move overseas, the place and culture of where you want to move to should be researched. In addition, you should spend some extended time there on vacation, with your family, if possible. Other things to consider during your research are cost of living, job availability in your field (if moving on your own rather than as a corporate transfer), areas to live, schools (if applicable), medical insurance and health options, and availability of amenities.

Each country has different legal requirements for moving into their country. The first step in figuring out these requirements is to figure out what kind of visa is needed - a tourist visa, a working visa, or a residency visa. If the country allows and the relocation is happening on a fast track, many people choose to get a tourist visa and work on the more complicated residency visas once in the new country. This makes the process easier because you can work with an immigration lawyer who knows your new country's laws. For some countries, this is expressly not allowed, however. In this case you will need to start the process of getting a residency visa via the consulate of your new home. If you are relocating as part of a job, then it is usually the company's responsibility to obtain your residency visa.

Because you are relocating overseas, it is important to gather all other significant documents before you leave your country of origin because it may be difficult to obtain them from your new overseas home. These include but are not limited to the following: passport, birth certificate, original college diploma and transcripts, school records for your children, health records for the entire family (especially shot records), and driving records and insurance.

Moving your possessions will be a hassle and subject to the tax and duty laws of your new country. It is recommended that you use a major moving company and to get recommendations from people who have already moved overseas from your country of origin. Some things that will make the move easier are clearly labeling your belongings, researching the process ahead of time, and having your paperwork in order.




Learn more about relocating overseas at MovingCompaniesforyou.com.




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