7 Easy Steps to Help You Prepare to Move Abroad
7 Easy Steps to Help You Prepare to Move Abroad |
With the rate at which people are migrating to the UK these days, you’d think the UK was made with streets of gold. No matter, it’s no tall tale that moving abroad does pose better opportunities for many people in different professional fields.
If you’re looking to migrate abroad to start a new phase in your life, but don’t know how to go about it. Relax.
In this article, you will learn all you need to know before you move abroad, and various tips to help you migrate successfully. Below are seven easy steps to help you prepare to move abroad. Do enjoy!
1. Start Saving Up and Add an Extra 10% to Your Savings
The first out of all the important steps to help you prepare to move abroad is getting your savings right.
I want you to picture how much it will cost you to move intrastate (within your state), then imagine how much it will cost you to move interstate (from one state to another). When you get that number, try multiplying it by 10. You’ll have an idea of how much you need to move abroad. Crazy right?
Living abroad involves sorting out bills like visa documents, international insurance, movers, housing deposits, and even transportation. Not to mention that you might need to hire legal services to walk you through the entire process. All money!
Now, have you ever heard the old saying that you need to have at least six months’ worth of savings to move abroad? They weren’t joking, and they weren’t talking about your minimum wage salary kinda savings.
You have to first research the exchange rates of the country you want to migrate to, and the cost of living there, and then work towards how you can raise enough money that will suffice for your move. After all that, you can now add your six months’ worth of savings as “miscellaneous”.
2. Get Your Passport Ready!
One of the steps to follow before you move abroad is to get your passport ready.
Whether you need to renew your passport or get a new one, getting your passport ready is the next step you need to take after finalizing your savings.
You can’t apply for a visa without a valid passport. Some countries demand that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your final travel date. Even if you’re not sure of your return date yet and your passport expires while you’re abroad. It’s fine.
All you have to do is fill out an application form online, then go to the Nigerian Embassy or consulate (if you’re Nigerian. If you’re not, go to your country’s embassy) in the USA that is closest to you to finish the procedure.
Just like that, your passport is ready!
3. Apply for a Visa
One of the most popular, yet frustrating steps you need to take to move abroad will always be getting a visa. This is because even with everything you’ve put in place, you could still get denied for any reason whatsoever.
If you want to reduce the chances of that happening, check the official government website of the country you want to migrate to for the type of supporting documents you will need for your visa application. After that, make sure they are all set and in order.
Here’s an example:
If you are applying for a student visa so you can continue your studies in the UK, it will be beneficial to you to provide a copy of the university’s offer that you received. You might also want to present proof that you will not be a nuisance to them in their society by having enough funds to support yourself throughout your course of study.
You might also want to set up an appointment to submit your biometrics at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security application support centre. Make sure you get all these documents in place before the time of your visa appointment so you won’t have to deal with any stress.
4. Make Preparations for Your Health Care
One of the steps you need to take to move abroad is to make preparations for your health care.
Your health is your everything. Health care varies tremendously in different parts of the world and the kind of visa you hold might determine the type of access you’ll get to the local system health care facilities.
Before you migrate, get your medical records together and conduct all the important immunizations. Especially the ones you’ll need to protect yourself from specific illnesses that are peculiar to the place you’re moving to.
If you have any health challenges that require you to take specific prescriptions, ensure that they are easily accessible in that region before you move. If they aren’t, you might want to carry an extra supply along with you or find alternatives to getting it there.
It is also very important that you ensure that your meds are permitted in the country you’re migrating to. It will be a big problem if you can’t use them.
Once you’ve settled in after migrating, it is very important to check out your local healthcare system as soon as possible so you will know if you can gain access to their services with your current visa status.
Let’s take Portugal as an example.
Over there, a residency card is required of you if you’ll get a healthy number. This number permits you to be a beneficiary of the nation’s health care system. However, you need to pass through all the right channels to get to that point first.
Making preparations for your health care is definitely one of the very important steps to follow before you move abroad.
5. Plan & Research Everything!
You can never over-plan or over-prepare. Carrying out extensive research on everything is one of the tips to help you migrate successfully.
Even if you’ve visited the country you’re hoping to migrate to a few times, you should still do extensive research on everything! Some of the questions you need to ask and answer before your big move are:
a. Selling vs. Storage vs. Shipping
Will you sell your current belongings or would you rather keep them intact for whenever you return? You might also want to consider shipping your stuff.
Take note of all your belongings and label each of them with sticky notes that identify what category they belong to (whether selling, storage, or shipping).
Just so you know, shipping your belongings will cost you more because of logistics reasons. Moving them might amount to thousands of dollars. Not to mention that your shipped items might take a very long while before getting to you.
b. Culture
Get to know the culture and history of the place you plan to move to before the time.
Read about the laws and policies that govern that region too so you can be on the right side of the law and not get into trouble when you’ve barely settled in. Also, check out its rules of etiquette and social norms so you can blend in smoothly.
If the official language used in the country is foreign to you, you might want to learn a few key phrases or words in that language so you don’t feel completely alien when you first move in. Read books and watch movies that take place or involve said country.
You can also try downloading an app that helps you learn foreign languages or take basic classes that teach said language. This way you’ll be able to settle into your new environment and build relationships.
c. Transportation
After migrating, will you want to drive, or is your new residence viable by public transit? All these questions need answers before your big move.
If you do decide to drive, you need to create a Pros and cons outline about whether you should ship your car from your home country, or buy/rent one in your new residence.
Meanwhile, some countries require you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you move. Even though you’ll still need to get a new driver’s license after you move.
6. Have Backups For All Your Important Documents
I think this step is pretty obvious. Before you relocate from one country to another, you need to make copies of all your important documents.
Some of these essential documents include your passport, birth certificate, driver’s license, immunization records, and any other visa information you feel will be required of you.
You’ll need these documents whenever you have any residency appointments.
There is also the option of backing them up on the cloud. If you do choose to back up your documents online, make sure you use a two-factor authentication feature for security reasons. You don’t want your identity getting stolen.
7. Throw a Farewell Party
I know many Africans will skip this final step for reasons best known to us. However, if you do decide to, it’s a lovely gesture to let all your friends and loved ones know that you will be moving abroad.
It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or extravagant. A small gathering where laughter and goodwill are shared among people that love and care about you is a good kinda energy you’ll want to carry along with you when you’re going to a foreign nation.
Final Thoughts
After all, has been said and done, don’t forget to get to the Airport at least 30 minutes to one hour before your flight so you don’t forget important stuff in a hurry.
Now that you’ve learnt all you need to know before you move abroad, I hope these tips help you to migrate successfully and I wish you the best of luck as you set out to explore your new world filled with countless possibilities!
All images are sourced from Istockphoto.com
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