Three Things You Need to Do Before Moving Abroad

When moving abroad, you’ll need to take care of several things first.

Before moving abroad, there are a variety of tasks you’ll need to plan for and complete. Some of these are pretty obvious, like packing personal belongings. But some others may be less so. The following section discusses a few of those less obvious things.

Save Up Plenty of Cash

Moving isn’t cheap, even for a simple move across town. One overseas can be far more expensive. Then there’s the adjustment of living in a new country and getting situated. Depending on your situation, you may have difficulty finding a job, figuring out how to complete otherwise simple chores (like mailing a letter) or learning a new language. Therefore, it’s best to save up enough cash to cover your expenses at your new overseas location for at least several months. This will provide time and a buffer to get situated before you have to start worrying about getting into debt or living on the street.

Make 100% Sure the Immigration Papers Are Correct

There is no better example of bureaucratic red tape than getting a government agency to process and approve paperwork and documents necessary to move to another country. To avoid unnecessary delays, make sure all documentation is correct. This includes getting a visa or applying for a passport. If that means asking a different customer service or government representative to answer the same question, do it.

Calculate the Cost of Buying New Items

Because of the high expense of packing and transporting items overseas, sometimes it will make more financial sense to simply leave something behind. Is it cost effective to spend the time packing your basic silverware, pay for a company to ship it, then spend more time unpacking it? If it’s a family heirloom passed down over four generations, the answer is yes. But if it’s something you got for $20 on sale at Wal-Mart, it’s probably best to not take it with you. You might be able to make few bucks either selling the items or donating it to a charity-run thrift store and taking a tax deduction.

Moving abroad is time-consuming and expensive, so using a professional moving company, such as Nilson Van and Storage, can make things go a lot smoother. Get in touch with us today and let us answer any questions you might have.