Moving abroad includes a lengthy to-do list of preparations, and you want to have everything arranged prior to travelling. If you're interested in moving abroad, or you're in the stages of it, there's a few tasks you'll want to cross off your checklist.
Pinch your pennies
One step in moving abroad is ensuring that you have a financial support in the event that any emergencies take place. The financial cushion that you feel comfortable having is entirely up to you. You'll also need to save for the trip itself and create an outline for the expenses associated with travel. How much your rent costs, the flight, the initial groceries, and transportation, are all things that should be considered prior to moving. Whatever number you come up with, save more than that in case you're met with unexpected expenses in the moving process.
An unlocked phone is a cheaper phone
If you currently have a cell phone that is locked to a certain service, I would recommend having your phone unlocked. Purchasing service from overseas is going to seriously increase your expenses. You'll be better off using a local plan to save on your money, it might involve an upfront cost, but it will eventually pay itself off. If your phone is currently unlocked and you don't want to incur charges during the travel let your phone company know you're travelling. There might be a reason you need to use the device while you're migrating but you don't want to be charged excessively. Once you're set up in your new home simply get established with a local service and SIM card.
Have a service to move possessions set up
Getting all of your possessions to your new home can be cumbersome and expensive. Attempting to purchase new furniture and the like from your new home is also an option that is probably not something you want to consider. The professionals at pssremovals.com can store and ship your belongings to you internationally without any problem. This is a service you'll want to consider cutting down on your overall budget. It will also reduce the pain of having to leave behind items that you’re emotionally attached to, or gifts you don’t want to get rid of just yet.
Make sure you're aware of all the visa requirements
Even if you're moving abroad due to employment you may want to review the national visa requirements of the country you're moving to. Make sure you send all of the documents that you will need and supporting information. Some countries may have an expectation that you've saved a certain amount of funds prior to the move.
Inform your bank that you are moving
An embarrassing moment for many people is having money and not being able to spend it when you need to. Even more embarrassing is this happening in a country you just relocated to. Make sure you inform your bank of where you are moving so it doesn't raise any flags in their automatic system. You don't want to have a hold on your funds and have trouble contacting your bank and not be able to have a cushion for any emergencies. If you're especially worried about this happening, inform your bank more than once. I've heard plenty of horror stories involving banks that were told someone was travelling, that still put a hold on their funds.
Keep your passport updated
There may be a requirement that your passport be valid for at least half a year past when you plan to move to another country. Make sure you renew your passport to keep yourself in this grace area even if it's not a requirement of the destination nation. Generally embassy's will allow you to renew your passport there if you're looking to keep it updated. Plan ahead and find where the nearest embassy is to you compared to where you will be living.
There's so much to get done when you're preparing to move abroad, it's daunting and stressful. Keep a list of everything you have done to keep yourself motivated throughout the process. Save your money, and keep an emergency fund in case anything unexpected happens. Make use of a service that will make shipping your possessions easy and affordable. Let your bank know that you're travelling and consider having your phone unlocked to avoid any international surcharges. You may also want to renew your passport and keep tabs on the nearest embassy. Trust me, once you get there, all of your hard work will pay off.
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