What Should You Consider When Relocating to the USA

International removals is a growing industry, with more and more Brits leaving the country in search of something new and exciting. America is consistently one of the favourite locations for British expats to relocate to, and currently there are over 800,000 of our own expats who’ve made a home out of the vast country.

If you’re looking to start your adventure in a vibrant, exciting, multicultural and multi-landscaped country, America may just be the place for you, but if you are considering relocating to the USA, there are some things you need to consider before you take the plunge.

Britannia Turnbulls of Leeds have helped many families transition to a new country, and along the way have built up an expertise in the planning of a relocation, so we’ve put together some of the most important steps you need to take before you set sail.

Spread the news

While we’d obviously recommend you tell your family and friends your plans, we actually meant someone a bit more official! Firstly, you will need to let the tax office know you are leaving, and if you are claiming a pension, you need to arrange to have your payments made to you in America. If you claim benefits, the benefits office will also need to be informed – this is very important as if you forget to let the relevant bodies know and continue to receive benefits, you will be committing benefit fraud. This is illegal, and can put your visa in jeopardy.

You should also let your water, gas, electric, television and internet suppliers know when your residency will end so that you don’t get over billed.

Duplicate your documents

Your passport, visa, birth certificate, driving licence, and any other important documents you need should be photocopied to ensure you always have the information you need at hand. We’d recommend making two copies and sending one ahead and keeping one with you, that way you’re sure to have what you need on both sides of the pond.

Apply for your visa

Applying for and being granted a visa to live permanently in America is incredibly difficult, and the process is very lengthy. Apply for your visa a good few months before you are due to leave, and prepare for a long wait. America is very stringent with its issuing of visas, so unless you have close family in the country who can speed up your process, the best way to go about applying for a visa is to get an offer of sponsored employment in your chosen region.

Book your removals company

You should book your removals company as far in advance as possible to ensure that you have enough time to get your belongings shipped to your destination. Remember that this can take a few weeks, so if you want your belongings to arrive at the same time as you, you need to be organised!

Get your packing right

America’s customs control is rigid, and some of your belongings may be refused at the border, so check what is and isn’t allowed before you begin to pack your home up. Your belongings have a very long trip ahead of them, so make sure you are packing everything up as organised as possible, and provide the right protection to your items with professional standard packing materials. We’d recommend that you entrust the packing of your possessions to your removals company as they will know the best and safest method of doing so.

Britannia Turnbulls of Leeds offer highly detailed international removals, and our dedicated team of movers will be on hand every step of the way to assist you with all aspects of your move, from planning to packing to shipping. We can even assist you in transporting your pet to your new home. We’re experienced in both European moves, and slightly more exotic relocations, with our services extending to:

• Australia

• New Zealand

• USA

• Canada

• South Africa

• China

Get in contact today for more information on any of our services, we’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can.

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