MOVING MINUS 90 DAYS

Begin consular procedures

• Begin consular procedures, request information on how to obtain your visa, residency and work permits before you leave. These procedures take time, sometimes many weeks - even months. Begin as soon as possible.

• Check the documents required for the exportation of your goods from your country of origin and for their importation into the country of destination. Your status may enable you to benefit from certain advantages, such as the obtaining of an " EXEMPTION ". This will avoid you having to pay duties and taxes upon importing your used personal effects.

• Consider renewing your passport and those of all accompanying family members. These should be valid, at least, until your next return to your country.

• Establish international driving licenses. Depending on the country of destination, you might have to obtain a local driving license by going to a local driving school and eventually passing a practical /theoretical driving test. In all cases, keep your actual driving license with you. It may be requested by the local authorities in order for you to avoid having to pass a test.

Educating yourself about your country of destination

• Start informing yourself about your country of destination by surfing on the net or by obtaining guides, brochures, video tapes and CD ROMs, to be read and watched by all family members. Some expatriate sites will guide you in your host country or in your native land.

• Check the electrical supply available at your country of destination. Ask your local electrician if your electrical appliances will function with the use of adapters and/or transformers. TV systems will need be compatible too, don't forget to check this. point.

• Familiarize yourself with the currency in your destination country, some currency converters are available via Internet.

• Assess your abilities in the host country language. Maybe you require some language tuition.

• A Cross-Cultural program will be useful for you and your family. There are seminars available to prepare for international relocation, these are designed to help expatriates communicate and do business successfully.

• Where possible, it's recommended to shut off water, light and telephone 24 hours after moving date, in case moving day falls behind schedule. Make the same arrangement at your destination, everything must be installed 24 hours before you move in, this will avoid any unpleasant surprises.