What Future Ex-Patriots Need to Know Before Moving
Moving out of your home country to start a life somewhere else is one of the most challenging decisions a person can make in their lifetime. There are many things you need to do before you make the commitment to move. For the sake of this article, let’s assume you are moving from the United States. Of course, this advice can apply to pretty much any adult moving out of his or her home country.
Start Saving Money Early
Moving down the block can be expensive, let alone moving to another country. For this reason, it is best to start saving up money for your move as early as possible. How much money you will need to save up will depend entirely on where you are moving to and from and what other expenses you will have along the way. Because of this, there is no magic dollar amount that you need to have saved up before you move. Saving up at least the amount of money you need to move with your expected expenses for six months is a good number to start at.
Sell Your House
Most ex-patriots expect the move out of the country to be permanent. For this reason, there is very little reason to hold onto a property in the United States. Unless you own several properties, it is usually a better option to look into selling a home, rather than renting out your home. This way, you can cut off any responsibilities (both with taxes and other finances) that you may have in the United States. Whenever possible, it is best to move after you sell the house. This will not only give you extra income but also prevent you from having to deal with bank paperwork from overseas.
When moving, it is also best to sell all or most of your furniture. More often than not, it can be more expensive to ship large furniture overseas than it would be to buy new or used furniture once you arrive in your new home. Selling furniture can also help to add to your cash reserves, which is always helpful. If you cannot sell all of your furniture, donate it. There are many resale shops and other businesses and volunteer organizations that would love your furniture or mattress donations.
Apply for a Passport and Visa
It is also important to apply for a passport (or renew your passport) and get a visa ahead of time. Getting a new or renewed United States passport usually takes between 4-6 weeks. If the passport needs to be shipped, or if there is some kind of processing delay, it can take even longer. When in doubt, try to get your new passport at least two months before you actually need it.
There are a lot more variables that contribute to the total time it takes to get a visa. Two of the biggest factors that will contribute to the time it takes to get a visa include which country you are going to and why you are going to the country/how long you plan to stay in the country. United States citizens may qualify for over a dozen different types of visas, so make sure that you do your research before you apply for one.
Remember, applying for a visa and passport will involve paperwork and fees. Passports cost about $150 (as of 2021) and visa costs can vary based on a number of factors. Make sure to include these costs into your budget. Factor in the time it will take to complete all of the necessary paperwork (which will likely require other government documents to complete) to your schedule as well.
Moving to another country can be stressful but it can also be worthwhile. Make sure to get all of your ducks in a row long before you actually have to move to reduce your future stress levels. A move should be for the benefit of your future self, so make sure your present self does all you can to make it as easy as possible.
