You’ve lived in America for years and you’ve decided that it’s time to see what life is like in another country.
You’re not alone if setting up a home abroad is on your mind. Millions of Americans move out of the States every year and some of these people even renounce their US citizenship.
This surge in Americans seeking life outside of the US may be due to the pandemic and recent lockdowns or it might be an inevitable upward trend in people seeking new opportunities across the world.
Whatever the reason for your move, there are a lot of steps to the complex process of uprooting your life and going abroad. From purchasing Blue Cross Blue Shield international coverage to applying for a visa to arranging safe accommodation, your endless to-do list can easily start to feel overwhelming.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll feel less nervous and less stressed about the process. We’re going to break down everything you need to know for a successful move out of the US.
No matter where you plan to go, whether it’s the UK, Singapore, or Australia, you’ll be good to go as long as you cover the basics and don’t forget any important documentation.
Let’s get into it. Here are some top tips to help your move out of the US be as smooth and simple as possible.
Research Locations
The world is literally your oyster when you’re moving out of the States. Statistics show that Spain is a hugely popular choice, especially in recent years, but take some time to consider several different countries.
Figuring out which country you want to move to isn’t as simple as choosing somewhere that looks nice in the photos online. That might be adequate when you’re choosing a vacation location but when you’re relocating, you need to consider the legal side of things.
You will need to get a visa to live and work in the new country so part of your research should be determining how easy to is to apply for visas in each country of interest.
Part of your research should also involve finding out about:
The available accommodation in the area
The crime rates and safety of the location
The cost of living, including rent, utilities, food, and amenities
How busy the area is
Take all of these factors into account when finalizing your choice. You want to make sure that the area you choose is exactly what you’re looking for. The last thing you want is to regret your decision the moment you land!
Explore the Visa Options
Unfortunately, having a US passport doesn’t grant you access to reside in other countries permanently. You’ll need to get a visa to legally live and work abroad.
The exact visa you need depends on where you’re moving to and what you plan on doing while you’re away. Whether you plan on working, studying, or retiring in your new home, you’ll need to apply for a specific type of visa.
It may not be the most enjoyable thing to do but applications for visas can take months to process and approve, so make sure to apply in good time. If not, you may have to delay your move until you receive a valid visa.
Take a look at the government website of the country you plan on moving to and check their specific requirements. Most countries will offer multiple different visas and you need to apply for the right one, otherwise, you might end up having to move back to the US until you re-apply for the correct visa.
Have a Good Clear Out
When you have a whole house to pack up and take to another country, you’re going to spend a lot of time, energy, and money packing and shipping it all. Having a good clear-out before you start the packing process will make things much easier and quicker for you.
Spend a few weeks going through your whole property, searching all of your cupboards, drawers, and cabinets. Find items that you no longer want or need, and gather together a bag for the charity shop and another bag for the bin.
Everything that is reusable goes into the charity bag and anything that is old and worn can be thrown away or put in the recycling bin.
Decluttering will (hopefully) decrease the number of things that you need to pack up before you move. It’s going to save you a lot of time and effort, and it will also be much cheaper when you book with an international courier company.
Consider the necessities that you need to take with you and make a list of things that you can easily pick up once you’ve moved. You can purchase new cutlery, bedsheets, and cupboard foods when you have settled in your new home, so avoid cluttering up your moving boxes with unnecessary items.
