Learn the Language of Your Destination
It might go without saying, but knowing the local lingo is extremely important, not just in terms of successfully impressing at an interview and getting a job that pays the bills, but also developing personal relationships. And do not assume that just because you are moving to another English-speaking country that language won’t be an issue; local customs, minor variations in language and even subtle mannerisms all play a part in communicating. Do your homework before setting foot on your new soil and ensure that you familiarise yourself with the local etiquette.

Thoroughly Investigate a Property Before Moving In
Just because your prospective new home looks stunning, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will offer you all the security and comfort you desire. Always find out as much information as possible about the building’s past and the surrounding area, requesting references from the agent whenever possible; after all, the seller may have their own agenda when it comes to selling the property, and they may take advantage of your lack of understanding of the native language in order to skip through important matters. It is worth carrying out your own additional research into the property and the local area: what do the latest crime figures suggest? Is the area safe for bringing up a family? Such questions may seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised just how many people move into a new area without realising the local neighbourhood has a crime problem.

Ensure You Have the Necessary Insurance in place

Whilst the UK has its own National Health Service which offers free healthcare to all residents, other countries are not quite so accommodating, and if you suffer an accident whilst abroad without the proper insurance in place you could find yourself faced with a very hefty bill indeed. And don’t just investigate healthcare cover – ensure that all other insurance requirements are arranged as necessary, from building insurance to any other cover you might need in your new residence. The laws will vary from country to country, so ensure that you are adequately covered or, at the very least, completely informed as to what insurance you should investigate before arriving at your new destination.Plan the Actual Move Well in Advance
Moving home is stressful enough without it entailing an overseas trip. Once you’ve packed all of your belongings and decided what to keep and what to leave behind, you should contact an international shipping company and arrange for them to move your possessions abroad to your new premises. If you’re not sure which company to approach, often the UK embassy in the country to which you’re immigrating will have a list of trusted moving companies.

Obtaining A Visa
A Visa, which is required in order to travel to the US, is usually issued by a US embassy. It is worth noting that a visa does not necessarily guarantee you will gain entry to the States; admission is only determined at the port of entry by an immigration inspector.

There are two types of visa for which to apply: non-immigrant and immigrant. The former is required by those who seek only a temporary stay in the US or who otherwise might not be eligible to travel without a visa. The latter is required by anyone who wishes to take up a more permanent residence in the US. At the port of entry, the immigrant will be processed by an inspector for a green card (permanent resident card), as long as they hold a visa. Note that legislation concerning visas changes frequently in the US, so always check with an official government website for the latest rules.

Finding Accommodation
Whilst hotels are an obvious option when it comes to finding somewhere to stay in the States, the reality is that they the expensive and it is advisable to find an alternative place in which to lodge.

The USA has plenty of establishments that offer so-called extended stays, which usually provide long-let, fully equipped rooms for longer periods of time, making them far cheaper than standard hotels. These are an excellent choice for those just entering the United States who have not yet found a more permanent residence, as unfortunately there are very few apartments available that offer a short term lease.

Social Security Number
Certainly far more important in the US than a National Insurance number, a social security number is required in order to work. This 9-digit number also acts as an identity system for all manner of purposes, such as applying for insurance and loans, enrolling in a course, receiving medical aid and all other manner of necessities. To put it frankly, you won’t get far without one, so always make heading to the local Social Security office one of the first things you do when you arrive in the country – an SS number is free of charge to obtain.

Bank Account Types
At some point you will need to set up a bank account and, whilst US accounts work more or less the same as their UK equivalents, the terminologies can often be confusing to new immigrants. Most people will simply require what is known as a Checking Account – an account used primarily for daily transactions and most outgoings (as opposed to savings accounts, which are designed for savings purposes and offer high rates of interests with penalties incurred for hefty withdrawals).

The United States is a welcoming nation – after all, its foundations were built upon immigration – but familiarising yourself with the above tips will make your move to the country a little less confusing.

Visa Types

Australia is very keen on filtering out unskilled immigrants and instead bringing in those who have something to offer the nation, and this is reflected in its visa types, which are as follows:

Independent Visa – one of the most frequently applied for visas, this subclass is ideal for immigrants who wish to emigrate to Australia who can offer their skills and thus contribute to the nation’s economy.

Sponsored Visa – similar to the Independent Visa, the Sponsored Visa caters to skilled workers who have something to offer the Australian economy, but who have the benefit of having family already residing in the country or who have been sponsored by an Australian Territory or State.

Regional Sponsored Visa – a regional sponsored visa is tailored to immigrants who have been sponsored by a relative who lives in Australia or by a state government.

Regional Visa – this visa allows a skilled immigrant who has been living temporarily in Australia and who already holds a Regional Sponsored Visa to apply for a permanent stay in the country.

The type of visa for which you apply will vary greatly depending on what you can offer the country in terms of skills and whether you can receive sponsorship from an Australian State or a family member. All skilled visa applicants must be under 50 at the age of applying, must be able to speak English, and must sufficiently pass skills, health and character assessments.

Finding Work

Australia always has a very high demand for skilled labour, particularly builders, engineers, carpenters, medical personnel and IT experts. In fact, look in any Australian jobs paper and you will see plenty of available vacancies that fulfil these categories. Those looking to enter the country and find a job in a manual labour role will likely find Melbourne to be their best bet, whilst jobs that cater more to the financial side will be best found in Sidney. As with the UK, recruitment agencies offer a good choice of work and can offer you advice as well as help you in finding a job.

Of note is the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS) – an Australian scheme in which areas that find difficulty finding skilled employees can turn to the international market to locate suitable candidates. The scheme takes place in many areas of Australia, with the exception of Gold Coast, Newcastle, Brisbane, Wollongong, Perth Sydney and Melbourne. Many job vacancies in Australia fall within the RSMS scheme though the applicant will need to pass a visa assessment.

Taking the Plunge

Emigrating to another country is no small feat, nor is it a decision to be taken lightly. Thankfully there are a number of internet forums set up that cater to UK expats, both those who have already moved to Australia and those who have yet to make the decision whether to leave their homeland behind.  These websites are full of experiences of other UK expatriates who have moved to Australia and you will find plenty of personal, yet useful advice that is unlikely to be published on the UK’s foreign office website.

Here’s a handy run down of dos and don’ts for your moving day:
● Your chosen removal firm will give you a short time window for their arrival (often 9 am to 9.30 am),  so make sure you are there to let them in.  Don’t swan off down the shops or pop out anywhere else.  They have a busy and time critical schedule, so be there.

● If you have a genuine reason to be absent or off site, make sure someone is there.  You could ask a friend or relative to supervise for you.  Be sure to give them authority to act on your behalf – and don’t forget to let the removal firm know they will standing in for you.

● Check all contracts, paperwork, documentation, etc, and ensure you agree with any notes made by the removal team.  If a dispute arises over the condition of an item then try to resolve them straight away.

● Ensure the removal team know your mobile phone number, so they can content you during the journey to the new place if they necessary.  If you are not reachable, give them the number of a friend or relative.

● Ensure the removal driver knows the directions to your  new home before they set off.

● Before you leave your old home, do a final quick check of the place to ensure nothing has been left behind.
After the move:

● Provide a list of alarm codes and related information (e.g. alarm company phone number) for the new owner of your old property or the estate agent.

● Clean the old house out thoroughly when it is empty.

● Ensure utilities have been disconnected in your old home and connected up the new place.

● Give all keys, entrance key cards, etc to the new owner or estate agent.

Further reading:

Buying a house at an auction
House buying tips
How not to sell your house
Packing tips – China in their hands

You will also have additional issues to consider, but on the plus side, there are some you might not have to worry about at all.

If you spend enough time researching and planning  in advance front, you might even find the process less intimidating than first feared.

Begin by finding the right removal company for the task ,i.e. one with a good track record of handling international moves.  A good and reputable firm will be able and willing to help with any documentation you need for your chosen country.

The move itself might take several weeks or even months to finish, so you take the time to find a firm with good options and procedures for packing, loading, storage, transit, unloading and unpacking. If your move is not to be permanent then you could put some property into UK storage until you return.

Take just what you need is the best advice, especially for clothing. If you’re travelling to a place untroubled by dark clouds of rain and chill winds then the fleeces and  cardigans might not be needed.  You could save yourself further time and cost by buying what need when you arrive in the new country.

Electrical appliances need special considered as different nations have different mains voltages, usually 240V or 110V.  Conversion plugs can be used for some items, and some will run on either voltage, but in an age of security fears and more stringent airport or port regulations, transporting electrical or electronic devices in your luggage or storage boxes might cause you more problems.

A move overseas is also a a great opportunity to haves good clear out at your old home and bid farewell old junk.  Don’t forget old paperwork and bills.  Fire up the shredder!

When you pack think about how your belongings will be handled and transported, which depending on where your heading, could be either be sea or air.  The lengthier
 the trip, the more chance there is of your property being mishandled or worse.  Pack in haste, regret at leisure.

Some  removal firms provide packing services, which  can cost extra, but will, on balance, be worth paying out for.  There are also insurance options to think about.  Be warned if you do choose to to do your own packing, some removal firms will only provide cover for the overseas shipping part of the move, and not the transport of your property to and from ports or airports, and some firms will not handle jewellery and other valuables.

Customs officers might choose to open and inspect your packaging, which further increases the risk loss or damage to your property.

It best not to pack away anything you might need quickly after arriving, so keep anything you might need ina hurry with you.

Your chosen moving company will need to be informed of what they will be shipping in order to calculate a quote. An important factor will be weight and volume, so let them, with their experience and expertise, do the required weighing and measuring.

The moving firm will also compile an inventory of your property, listing any additional costs, i.e. custom charges, taxes, and airport or port charges.

Further reading:

Moving to New Zealand
Relocating to Spain
Relocating to the USA

Plastic storage boxes, come in various sizes, and some have lids or hinged flap tops.  Whatever type is chosen, it will be perfect to hold spare thing until needed, or pack them away ready to be moved.  They are ideal for books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs, CDs, etc.

All you have to do then, is close up the lid (and tape it up if needed) and clearly label it with a permanent marker for easy identification.

Plastic storage boxes are perfect for those with a large collection of DVDs or CDs, who have limited shelf space.  Keeping some DVDs and CDs in plastic boxes also offers a way to circulate or rearrange the those on display on the main shelves.  If you want to change them around, just open up a box and swap them around.

Plastic boxes are strong, can be easily stacked and stored away.  They keep items free from dust or moisture or other accidents in waiting.  They can put tidily in closets, cupboards, under the stairs, behind settees or in sheds and garages.

They are long lasting, won’t cave in under weight of boxes, and can be reached or rearranged without trouble.
When not in use, plastic boxes can fit inside each other for even easier storage.

On the downside, some lids are prone to crack, be careful not to stack too many boxes on top of each other.  Keep them balanced with no more than four average sized boxes in height.

Other than that, go on, box clever with plastic – it’s fantastic!

Forget the stereotypical image of the solid box with the twisty dial on the front, lurking in a dark basement  and targeted by those who think stripe wear is the in thing this season.  The modern safe is a sophisticated storage item and can come in a variety of different forms.

Information and data gathered over many years, at great cost in terms of finance and hard work, can be lost within mere seconds without adequate protection.  An up to date, secure and reliable safe is vital for ensuring the secure protection of files, memory storage, hard drives, tapes, disks.

There several main types of safe:

● Fireproof: The cost of losses from fire damage can run to a frightening figure of millions each day, and in some cases the true cost can be the final closure of the business or organisation affected.  With this danger in mind, many will take strong measures to ensure their vital information and data can survive a blaze.  Magnetic storage media, rather than paper (which is actually an insulator) is most at risk when a fire breaks out.  The effects of heat from a blaze can render them useless within seconds.  Humidity is another data damager with levels of 85% resulting in irrecoverable loss.

● Data safes: Theft or copying of confidential data or information is a constant risk.  It can happen at any time and valuable data could be in the hands of a rival with damaging results.  Data safes save loss and stress.

● Burglary: related to the above, burglary protection safes, complete with time delays and money collection facilities provide high levels of security and are available in both electronic and mechanically locking types.

Further Reading:

Office Storage
Office Clearance
Home Storage