Relocation for Expatriate Families

When your company asks you to make a move of any type it is both an exciting and perilous point in your career and employment.  Failure to plan and execute the move can have serious and negative effects on both your job and your family relations. The information in this hubpage will provide you with steps, determined by seasoned expatriates, necessary to make a successful job relocation. While these steps, and the information in this article are meant for expatriates moving to and from overseas, many of the steps apply to a move of any distance for yourself, job wise, and your family.

An important word of advice; do not forget the impact that relocation has on children of any age. Moving away from where they have been happy and comfortable is stressful for children. Especially upsetting is the loss of the only friends they may have known. Be aware and get prepared to meet the needs of these, also important, members of your family.

Here is a list of steps you can take to ensure a successful move to any location the company assigns you. The company will expect you to "hit the ground running" as soon as possible after arrival in the host country. Minimizing problems with the move to the new host country must be a first priority. Success in this matter will show the company they picked the correct employee for the assignment. Often utilizing the services from one of the international moving companies when moving to an overseas location can be very helpful.

Here is a list of steps you can take to ensure a successful move to any location the company assigns you. The company will expect you to "hit the ground running" as soon as possible after arrival in the host country. Minimizing problems with the move to the new host country must be a first priority. Success in this matter will show the company they picked the correct employee for the assignment. Often utilizing the services from one of the international moving companies when moving to an overseas location can be very helpful.

1. Familiarization Visit

Ask if your company provides a familiarization trip to the host country for you and your spouse prior to the final moving. Exploring alternatives for real estate, housing, international schooling, recreation and availability of goods, as well as beginning to learn the layout of the area where you will live in will greatly assist in preparations for departure on your international adventure.

2. Pre-shipment Inventory

Requirements for listing every item in a shipment can be a bother. If all paperwork is complete and in order, it will greatly speed up clearing goods through customs in the host country. Every country has a list of specific requirements for entry and clearance of personal property of foreign workers. A complete list of every item in your shipment is usually a requirement.

3. Pre-departure To Do List

Hopefully if will have been possible to do a good amount of research before accepting the new assignment. Now make sure all the important areas you gained knowledge of are taken care of. Suggestions for a 'To Do' list are as follows:

• Make sure passports and visas are in order.
• Prepare to rent or sell some of your property before you move. Decide well in advance what should be stored, sold or given away. As the day of departure gets closer it is for sure there will be little time for these matters.
• Visit an accountant or tax adviser. If you do not have one, discuss financial aspects of the move with the finance department in your company.
• Organize your banking and insurance matters. Ask the company about expatriate health insurance and for information on other types of expatriate insurance coverage available.
• Prepare to carry important papers and documents that will be required in the host country.Have more than one list of these documents.
• Notify correspondents, friends and family of your address and get temporary change of address data from the sponsoring company.
• Visit the doctor to discuss medical care in the host country before departure. Make sure immunizations records are up to date. If immunizations are needed, it is best to do this as far in advance of the departure date as possible.
• Be sure to allocate a sufficient amount of Quality Time with friends and family before departure.