Essential Tips for Moving and Living Abroad

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Moving and Living Abroad – Essential tips for making your transition easier.

Embarking on the journey of moving and living abroad can be thrilling but also present many challenges. Whether you’re an experienced globetrotter or a first-time adventurer, it demands thorough research and meticulous preparation. But don’t worry, International Van Lines (IVL) is here to help!

Let’s unpack the process into three digestible sections: research and preparation for the move, the actual moving process, and integrating into your new home after arrival. Stick with us, and you’ll confidently navigate each phase, ensuring your overseas move is well-planned and executed.

Phase One: Research and Preparation for Moving and Living Abroad

1. Select Your Destination Wisely

Unless your destination is already set in stone, consider researching multiple places based on your personal and professional goals. There are many pros and cons of moving abroad. This step is crucial because it’ll help determine which destinations are compatible with your goals and needs.

To help you narrow down your search, ask yourself the following questions:

What’s the cost of living in your destination? Can you afford it?
Does your destination have a stable economy?
Are you seeking a broader job market with abundant opportunities?
Do you prioritize better education and an improved environment for your children?
Is universal healthcare mandatory or optional for you?
How easy is obtaining a visa for the countries you’re considering?
How will the move impact your personal life and support system? Will you be moving alone or with your family?
How different is the culture from yours? How willing are you to adapt to it?

2. Plan Your Finances

Organizing your finances is a key aspect of international moving. It’s not just about the cost of moving; consider the everyday expenses at your new home. IVL’s moving consultants can provide useful insight and tips to help you budget for your move and life abroad.

Depending on your needs and experience, you can hire a financial advisor to help sort out your financial priorities before, during, and after the transition.

3. Get Your Documents in Order

Don’t forget about the paperwork! A valid passport and visa are universally required. But remember, the process of applying for visas can vary greatly depending on many factors. You should give yourself plenty of time (about six months to a year) to start sorting your documents.

Each type has specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and associated fees. Also, some visas may require sponsorship from a local employer, family member, or government agency. A migration lawyer or registered migration agent can help you navigate the process and ensure you meet all the requirements.

In addition, you want to have copies of your medical records, birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorces, college degrees, etc.

Read Here: How to adapt to a new culture when moving abroad

Top Moving Companies to Move Abroad from the US

Here is a table of the top International Movers from the US. Ratings are based on Years in Business, Reputation, and Customer Reviews.

Best Overall	Corporate Relocation	Great Reputation	Ad-on Services	Experience

5/5	4/5	3.5/5	3.5/5	3/5
Free Quote	Free Quote	Free Quote	Free Quote	Free Quote

4. Secure Your Accommodation

Securing a home before you leave ensures a smoother transition. While it can be tricky to find accommodation when you’re miles away from the destination, you can:

Schedule a trip beforehand. Travel to your destination country beforehand and spend time house-hunting until you secure a home.
Opt for short-term rentals. Secure short-term accommodation like Airbnb while you get settled. Once abroad, you can start your house-hunting process without the pressure.
Work with a realtor. Many international realtors can help you manage long-distance housing arrangements.

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Phase Two: The big step before moving and living abroad

1. Pack Smart

Trust us, packing for an international move is an art. IVL’s professional packers can handle this daunting task, helping you decide what to take and leave behind.

One tip we always recommend is to pack smart and divide items as follows:

Practical. Everything you need to function during transit and once you arrive. Converter plugs, clothing, medication, essential electronics, and everything you use daily. These go in a carry-on or your luggage.
Legal. All the legal documents you need to clear all migration checks, including your passport, visa documentation, resident cards, insurance papers, family wills, and more. Keep them in a bag with you at all times during the move.
Sentimental. Everything you take for sentimental reasons, like family photos and a handful of important books. Put them in a carry-on or your luggage.

Read Here: Prohibited Items when moving overseas

For the domestic belongings, you’ll pack and ship with the help of your moving company, repeat the process of downsizing anything non-essential, and have everything else ready in your living room when the packers arrive.

You can even get some materials and pack what you can (clothes, small objects, etc.), leaving only the big and difficult things to your packers. This method saves time and money on your moving bill. However, consider the pros and cons of self-packing for an international move.

2. Ship Your Belongings

Once everything is packed and ready to go, it’s time to start planning the logistics of your move. If you’re working with an international moving company, like IVL, we’ll handle all these logistics.

With door-to-door shipping, our team will pack and load everything into your shipping container. We’ll handle the paperwork and logistics to prepare your container for its overseas trip. Once abroad, our partners will deliver your belongings to your new home overseas.

Phase Three: Living Abroad

1. Embrace the Local Language

Language barriers can make settling into a new culture challenging. We recommend learning the local language as soon as your destination is confirmed.

To make the process more manageable, try applying these language-learning strategies months or over a year before arriving:

Prioritize everyday vocabulary that helps you get around and communicate with locals.
Join online or in-person study groups, or consider getting private lessons with a tutor.
Incorporate the new language into your life as much as possible by watching TV or listening to music in the language.
Download a language learning app like Babbel or Duolingo to help you learn the new language in bite-sized lessons.

Know More Here: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Work Abroad

2. Make Local Connections

Creating a social network in your new home can be a lifesaver. Online expatriate communities can be a great starting point. Once settled, joining local groups and clubs can help you make friends and feel part of the community. For the shy, social media and online expatriate communities can be a good place to start.

3. Stay Connected With Home

Whether you move alone or with your immediate family, staying in touch with family is crucial. Fortunately, technology makes staying connected easy, even thousands of miles away. Use video calls, instant messaging, and social media to communicate regularly.

As time passes, keep in touch by sharing photos, videos, updates via email or messaging apps, and care packages by mail or shipping to make contact more personal.

Read Here: Tips for raising a family abroad

Navigating Your International Move with IVL

While initially daunting, planning for an international move becomes manageable when broken down into steps. With IVL’s expertise and personalized services, your transition to a new country can be as smooth as possible.

Looking for more resources on international relocation? Check out these articles:

With careful planning, thorough research, and the support of International Van Lines, your dream of moving and living abroad can become a reality! Remember, it’s not just about the destination but the journey.

Ready to take the leap and start your international journey? Contact the team at International Van Lines today, and let’s start planning your successful move!

More about International Van Lines

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General Information about International Van Lines

Thank you for visiting International Van Lines moving review page. IVL was established in the year 2000, primarily as an international moving & logistics company. In 2004 IVL purchased its first truck to focus on local moving. After rapidly growing IVL tried its hand at long-distance moving, and today they’re one of the largest private companies in the moving industry. They maintain one of the best reputations in moving and are quickly becoming a household name. Below you will find more information about International Van Lines moving reviews.

Rating & Reviews/Complaints

It’s easy for anyone to claim that they’re one of the best, but here at IVL, we can prove it. We’ve been featured in the INC500 as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. IVL has also been mentioned in the Sun-Sentinel, USA Today and has been ranked number one by moving.co, Consumer Advocate and Consumer Affairs. Their review is based on customer feedback, online surveys, years in business and fleet size.

Complaints:

International Van Lines moving reviews are excellent; however, we still get complaints from time to time. Our complaints are less than a fraction of one percent of the moves we transport. The main complaints we deal with are delays and damages which are realistic possibilities when moving. Although they’re not a common occurrence it can happen. IVL will do everything in its power to find a solution to any problem which is why International Van Lines moving reviews are stellar.

Long-Distance Moving

International Moving

Local Moving

Nicole – October 29, 2024

I would definitely recommend IVL to anyone moving in the country or out of the country because they are reliable, courteous and very professional!! They arrived at my home 20 mins. early and helped me get my belongings packed and ready to move. They also helped move my vehicles with no hesitation!! At first I was a little nervous being I had such a horrible experience with a different moving company!! IVL employees are amazing and I will definitely recommend them to any friends or family members who are relocating in the future!! THANKS GUYS FOR Everything!!

Ben Meredith – October 23, 2024

International Van Lines was very accommodating for my recent move. After googling Moving companies, International Van Lines came up in the search, and I thought I would give them a try.

I had a 3 bedroom home to move from Staten Island, New York to Marietta, Georgia, including Living Room set, Refrigerator and stove. The guys were very professional in their move of the 3 Bedroom, Living Room, and Kitchen sets! They had all of the moving equipment, Dollies, hand trucks, boxes, tape, etc.

My items arrived in Marietta, Georgia without any damage!

Thanks for the Very Successful Move International Van Lines! Five Stars! God Bless!

Ben Meredith, Jr – October 23, 2024

International Van Lines was very accommodating for my recent move. After googling Moving companies, International Van Lines came up in the search, and I thought I would give them a try.

I had a 3 bedroom home to move from Staten Island, New York to Marrieta, Georgia, including living room, Refrigerator, and stove. The guys were very Professional in their Total Move with the 3 Bedroom sets, Living room set, and Kitchen items. They definitely had all the equipment, shrink wrap, dollies, hand trucks, and boxes for the move.

My items arrived in Marietta, Georgia, without any damage.

Thanks International Van Lines for the Very Successful Move! Five Stars! God Bless!

Diana T – July 15, 2024

I used International Van Line to move from Brooklyn to Staten Island and had the best experience from start to finish. The day of the move the movers were efficient, kind and very responsible. I’m very happy with my move nothing got damaged. Thank you!

Rebecca Riederer – July 15, 2024

What a surprisingly great experience, I recently used International Van Lines for my move and I cant say enough about how happy we are with the whole thing.

Everyone, all the staff were incredibly courteous and kind. They gave some of the best customer service I have ever had, they went above and beyond.

Not only were they professional and friendly, but when the movers got to my place they worked tirelessly and maintained a positive attitude throughout the entire process.
It meant so much to me because just the process of Moving is always stressful and difficult, but they made everything so easy and hassle-free for us.

Such a pleasant surprise to find a moving company that genuinely cares about its customers.
They are the real deal.
They made us feel relaxed and reassured, letting us know that we were in great hands. I highly recommend International Van Lines for anyone looking for an stress-free move.
I for one will definitely be using them in the future, telling all my friends about them, and recommend you give them a try as well.

Essential Tips for Moving and Living Abroad