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Moving to America – What You Need to Know

So, you are moving to America!

Whether you are emigrating, taking a short term assignment or joining family in America we have put together the information you will need to make your move to the USA a smooth one.

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8 Essential Tips For A Stress-Free Family Move Overseas

You may have landed a job abroad, and you just want to settle in a different place. Regardless, moving overseas is a significant decision. That said, you should keep these tips in mind to ensure a stress-free family move overseas: 1. Check for Repairs When settling into a new home, especially overseas,…

Parenting Styles From Around The World

Parenting styles often come under scrutiny in modern cultures. There are many different resources and methods for every element of parenting, from toilet training to schooling, making it difficult to know the best way to bring up your little one. Plus, with plenty of well-meaning (and some more critical) people waiting to give their opinion…

Expat Guide To Living In New York City

Many people dream of moving to NYC. Unfortunately, for most of them, this dream never becomes a reality. However, if you’re one of the lucky few that will get to call the Big Apple their home, you have a lot to look forward to. But, you should also prepare well for what’s coming. Living in…

How To Get Citizenship Of The United States

. Immigrants from countries across the world have visions of becoming a citizen of The United States of America, the land of opportunity. Arriving there is the first step of a long journey to getting citizenship. We all have a general idea of U.S. Immigration Law. There are three other options for obtaining U.S. citizenship…

10 Unforgettable Things To Do In Phoenix

Phoenix also known as ‘Valley of the Sun’ is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona. To live in Phoenix is such a great feeling, at least this is what all people there are claiming. It’s a bustling city in the middle of the desert and it does get hot sometimes up to…

Mortgages In The US For Expats And Non-Residents

Owning a home is a dream come true for any United States citizen. However, not everyone gets to fulfill this fantasy. Wishing to purchase a home in the US as an expat and a non-resident is a whole other ballpark. Even once you’ve solved the issue of money, there are many things you’ll need to familiarize yourself…

8 Best Places In America To Live And Retire For Outdoor Lovers

When you’ve lived in the city almost your entire life, there’s a high percentage that you would crave for someplace to retire. Probably someplace that has many trees and birds. There should be no judgment involved when you want to escape the concrete jungle and be one with nature. Outdoor lovers, most significantly, have a…

Expat Mental Health Challenges (And How to Deal with Them)

Every expat knows that living abroad can be challenging at times. There are many instances when expats are asking themselves if they’ve made the right decision when moving to a different country far from friends and family. You can always make new friends but there’s only one family. The COVID-19 pandemic made life even…

Life after a Foreign Divorce

Where there has been a divorce in another country, there are many reasons why spouses may need to apply to the courts in England and Wales. Jenny Arnold, senior associate solicitor at JMW Solicitors, sets out the approach of the courts to a foreign divorce. The doors of the English and…

Best Cities In The US For Expats

America and its lifestyle is one of the most attractive places for people wanting to experience a new lifestyle outside their home country. It is an enormous and diverse country and so which are the best cities in the US for expats and what do they offer? If you are a…

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.