Wednesday, June 6, 2012

International Moves: How to Prepare for the Overseas Transition


Millions of Americans have decided to take the leap and begin life anew in a completely different country. Whether they chose to remain in the North American region and relocate to neighboring Canada or move to a completely different atmosphere in Europe, every one of those Americans living abroad had to prepare for the change that an international move brings. So how can you better prepare for this major transition in your life?

The first things to consider are whether or not you are relocating with your family. Naturally, moving abroad won't be as stressful if you don't have a family in tow. But if you have a significant other, spouse, children, and a pet, the stress of an international relocation can become overwhelming.

The best source to help you and your family cope with the change is to speak to other people that have lived abroad. If you don't know anyone that has relocated overseas, start doing your homework on what organizations to visit soon after your arrival that are targeted towards new arrivals in the community.

The next thing you need to work on is securing all the right paperwork. Aside from making sure that your visa is squared away, you have to start making the rounds of every record you and your family has. This means calling all of your doctors and pediatricians for copies of everyone's medical records, contacting the dentist for dental records, and the veterinarian for your pet's history. Once you've got the medical records covered, move on to your financial, tax, and legal records.

Do you have a home already provided by the company you're moving for or do you have to do your own house hunting? Ask yourself whether you are going to buy or rent. Find out what the best resource is for house hunting internationally. Remember, you can always use Google maps and the satellite view to check out a potential neighborhood from thousands of miles away.

You've got the family covered, the paperwork covered, and the house covered. Now all that's left is finding the right international movers. Just like any other move with professionals, you need to check and see if the moving company you want to hire is the real deal. Visit the Better Business Bureau to make sure the movers you want to hire are well-rated and double check their license through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

With the right amount of preparation, and solid professional movers backing you up, you should be well on your way to enjoying a smooth transition to your new home overseas. Keep in mind that you need at least three months to adequately prepare for your relocation, so avoid procrastinating at all costs.




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