Over the past couple of years, rates of Americans moving overseas have increased in what’s thought to be correlated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that borders have opened up again, those with cabin fever or who became unhappy with their living situations over the past couple of years have looked for a fresh start abroad.
Even outside of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Americans than ever are taking advantage of opportunities to move overseas, whether through school or work.
Additionally, many who graduated college during the pandemic and were unable to study abroad during that time have sought out jobs or corporations that will provide them with the opportunity to live abroad while working, or those who will give them international assignments for the long term.
Outside of work and school, people are taking advantage of the opportunity to work and travel abroad thanks to a combination of an existing interest in travel and the newfound opportunities provided to them thanks to remote work setups. Since so many offices and businesses went 100% remote throughout the past couple of years, many have cleared out their things to become a full-time ‘digital nomad’ and to travel as they work from various locations.
No matter the reason why people might find themselves moving abroad, we can all agree that international moving is no easy task and that it can’t be done effectively at the last minute – especially if you’re bringing your entire household, and not just throwing things in a suitcase and heading overseas.
The best way to handle an international move of any scale, especially with a large number of items in your possession, is by using the right international moving company for your needs. Allied International will provide you with the best possible international move at the right prices and with a timeline catered to you and your schedule.
Outside of having the right international moving company, however, it’s important to be as prepared as possible for your move overseas. Looking for a complete guide on how to move abroad? We’ve got the steps you need to take for a successful international moving process.
With high amounts of people moving abroad from the United States, it’s a good idea to consider what you can bring with you on your move, and what you might want to either leave behind or have a loved one send later on. Everyone is different, so make sure to use your discretion if there’s something in particular or specific items that you need to prioritize to bring with you. However, for a general rule of thumb and packing strategy tips for moving overseas, we’ve got you covered for everything you need to prioritize and consider.
As you might know, when it comes to tackling any move, you should always consider downsizing or decluttering your items to make your move as easy as possible while also lowering the cost of transporting your items. This is only more important when it comes to international moving.
Moving and moving everything you own overseas can be a huge hassle, so you might want to declutter or leave behind things like furniture or large/bulky items that will be extremely costly or inconvenient to move. If you have any furniture with sentimental value, rehome it with a friend or family who will appreciate it.
If you’re moving on your own, you’ll of course be able to get away with packing and moving less than an entire family, or someone looking to move their entire household. The rule of thumb for everyone moving overseas, however, is to eliminate as much as possible and give yourself a fresh start.
Bring essentials, sentimental items, and things to tide you over during the first week in your new country while you try and look for replacements for furniture, kitchen tools, and more. Don’t eliminate everything you own, but try to pack as light as possible.
Once you’ve decided where you’re going, you should always immediately start doing your research specifically as to where you’ll be living, what the weather is like, and how these factors will impact what you need to bring. After all, there’s no use bringing a ton of winter clothes to go live on an island that does not experience cold temperatures.
You should also look into what sort of essentials or comforts you’ll have access to where you’re headed, including medications and toiletries. Pack up or bring extra (in accordance with TSA and customs guidelines, that is), so that you’ll be set up with what you need and will buy yourself time to find suitable replacements for these products if you need them.
If you’re staying in the country you’re moving to for a long-term period, this will greatly impact your budget and how much you’ll be bringing with you after all. If you’re just headed overseas for a few months or less than a year, you can always put most of your things in storage that you don’t need while abroad. However, if you’re moving long-term or permanently, you’ll need to budget accordingly.
If you’re moving for work, make sure your job provides you with a relocation budget that will relieve you of any financial strains that can come with pulling off such a big move – especially if you’re headed overseas with family.
If you’re headed abroad by yourself, you’ll be much more limited budget-wise as far as what you can ship and what you can bring with you since you’re shouldering the costs of everything by yourself. This will make you want to pack a little lighter, and set a bit of a tighter budget so you’re not as strained or burdened once you arrive in a different country.
One of the biggest ways to keep your budget realistic and not too painful to shoulder is by working with the right international moving company for your relocation. See what Allied International can do to make your move a little easier today!
If you decide to both bring things with you upon your move abroad as well as ship them, you should make a plan for what to bring over and when. For the items you’ll want to bring with you first thing, plan out what you think you’ll realistically need for the first six weeks you’re abroad. Most international flights will have bag restrictions that will only allow you to bring bags under 50 lbs without additional fees. They also might have more limitations as to how many bags you’re allowed to bring with you in total.
See what your airline allows and pack what you’ll need around that. After all, you don’t want to be stuck in the airport with a bunch of things you can’t bring with you. Pack your essentials and what you think you’ll need first thing, and plan to ship the rest if you can afford to do so.
Keep in mind, this is a great opportunity to declutter your items and start over fresh. Don’t try to bring everything with you! This is the time to clear out what you don’t really need or want and make room for not only new things but your new life!
If you’re looking to move to a new country for the long-term, it’s important to have the right international moving company on your side to ensure that you’re not only getting the right services that you need for a successful relocation but that you receive the right pricing as well.
When choosing the right mover for your relocation, you’ll want to look for someone who has a lot of experience with international moving, and who knows how to navigate customers and international moving.
Looking for international movers can become quite the task, but it’ll be worth it to avoid scams and make such a large move easy and less stressful. Always look at your prospective company’s reviews, accreditations, and licenses to ensure that you’re working with a company that has your best interests in mind.
You’re going to want an international moving company that knows how to handle your needs and your items will make a huge difference in not only your whole experience but in how you find yourself welcomed into your new country. They’ll also be a trusted provider of advice so that you can navigate your relocation easily and with as little stress as possible.
If you’re tackling international moving soon, make sure you prepare as much as possible to keep your spirits high and your stress levels low. Having the right international movers on your side can make your entire process better at a cost that doesn’t break the bank, so make sure you choose wisely. Check out Allied International’s wide range of experience so that you can have only the best movers on your side for your move.
We carefully and methodically pack and crate your items, ensuring their safe and secure arrival. We take pride in the expert packing, crating, and handling of your possessions.
Our aim is to have your belongings safely and quickly transported to your new location, with a focus on customer service and your utmost satisfaction.
We provide you with a personal moving coordinator. You can check in any time you wish, connecting to the same person who will be very familiar with your particular custom moving plan.
