5 Things You Must Do Before Moving Overseas from New England
International move management is more than just figuring out what you can bring with you to a foreign country overseas and what needs to stay at home in storage. It is important to hire professional relocation services that can help you with the moving logistics required for international moves from RI, CT and MA to ensure that you don’t have any issues with customs. Beyond planning and packing for your move, it is important to prepare for your move. Even if you are relocating with your company for a promotion or job opportunity, there are things that you will need to research and take care of on your own in order for your international move to be successful.
Conlon Moving & Storage is an agent of United Vanlines, which is partnered with UniGroup Worldwide UTS, a network of over 300 moving agents based in over 200 countries that can help you to achieve your goals and make a move without encountering too many issues along the way. International move management is difficult. The laws, regulations and requirements of many countries change without notice, but if you work with professional relocation services, you may be able to avoid a lot of the common pitfalls that many international movers experience. Moving logistics requires attention to detail, while keeping an eye on the big picture, to ensure that nothing gets overlooked in your international moves from RI, CT and MA.
Task #1 – Go to the Doctor
Visit your local physician and tell him where you are going and when. You will need to get updated on all of the necessary vaccinations in advance because some shots take awhile to get into your system. Depending on where you are going, you will want to make sure that you are fully covered before you ever step off the plane. If you aren’t sure what to prepare yourself for, check out the list of mandatory vaccines on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. Some of the vaccinations on there may surprise you, but it’s better to be surprised with a list than to be caught off guard without proper medical protection. Get a copy of your immunization and medical records to take with you on your journey. Your doctor will need to fill out a booklet known as the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV), which you will need when you apply for your visa.
Task #2 – Get Your Visa
If you haven’t already taken care of this, make sure you check with the visa requirements for the country that you will be moving to as part of your overall moving logistics. In some instances, your professional relocation services can connect you with all of the government entities that you will need to deal with in order to make this happen. The type of visa that you will be getting will depend on how long you will be staying and where you will be going. If you are going with your company, check with the international move management team responsible for the relocation to find out if any of these tasks will be handled for you on your behalf.
Task #3 – Contact the Embassy
It is a good idea to register with the US embassy if you are moving abroad. The STEP program, which stands for the “Smart Traveler Enrollment Program” from the US State Department can help to communicate important information to you and from you in case of an emergency while you are in another country. This can help you if anything happens while you are in a new place without the support of your family and friends. Don’t wait until you get there to register, as some of the forms can take awhile to get processed. If you will be going to another country after your first stop, you can amend the form and add more countries with the dates that you will be there. You will need a local phone number in each country so the State Department can contact you in case of an emergency. Follow the local embassy on social media to receive even more updates related to the country that you are living in, just in case anything goes wrong.
Task #4 – Learn the Culture
It is important to pay a certain respect to the culture of the country that you are going to when making international moves from RI, CT and MA. If you aren’t sure about basic things like attire, food, local laws and other cultural requirements, take time to speak with people online and read websites and social medial pages with advice from travelers and other Americans who have visited that country. Make sure you are getting your advice from a trusted source and remember that a lot of the things that we see as “appropriate” here may be very inappropriate in another country.
Task #5 – Learn the Language
While it is true that you can find an English speaking person in just about every country, as it is used for business and travel the whole world over, it is still a good idea to take time to learn the language of the country that you are moving to as part of your plans for international move management. Basic words, such as please, thank-you, hello and good-bye should be the first things that you learn. Learning how to read street signs and figure out what you are ordering in a restaurant should be another priority. Speak with your professional relocation services team for any advice in this area that may help you be more familiar with the language, the culture and the people.
Contact Conlon Moving & Storage for International Moves
If you are planning on moving to a foreign country overseas, you can count on the professional relocation services available at Conlon Moving & Storage. Our team of friendly, knowledgeable and experienced moving logistics experts can help you with everything from packing to storage, shipping to customs, insurance to delivery, and everything in between with regard to international moves from RI, CT and MA. Give us a call at 508-336-7766 for a FREE no obligation estimate. All employees are background checked and experienced in local, interstate and international moves. No deposit required for booking a move – ask your representative for details.