Organizing a move can be anxiety-filled enough when you are moving locally or to another state--but planning for an international move from Houston can take your anxiety to another level! Fortunately, if an international move is in your future, a little organizing and forethought will go a long way in ensuring a seamless relocation in your move from Houston. Not sure where to begin? We've got some thoughts to help you get started.
Examine Documentation Requirements
One of the more perplexing and likely time-consuming tasks of planning an international move is examining all of the documentation that will be needed. You will need to discern, for instance, if you will need a passport, a visa, or some other type of documentation to legally relocate. Remember that applying and getting approved for a passport or visa can take some time, so this is not a task you will want to put on the back burner.
Even once you have arrived in your destination, you will want to have previously done your homework on the steps you will need to take to obtain a driver's license, legal identification, or other vital documentation sooner rather than later.
Reduce Your Possessions in Houston
Shipping your possessions from point A to point B is generally the most adept (and economical) option for an international move. At the same time, as you can imagine, international shipping of large items (such as furniture) is not cheap. This is why it's best to pare down your belongings as much as practically possible before you embark on your international move.
One viable option to ponder in the months or weeks ahead of your move is holding a garage sale to unload some of the items you do not plan on moving with you. This can be a wonderful way to earn some extra cash (which can be used to help with those international shipping costs) and scale down the total amount of "stuff" you will need to have shipped.
Of course, if you plan on your international move being temporary, you will also want to ponder putting the bulk of your things into storage until you come back to Houston.
Consult with a Financial Advisor
Taxes may be in the back of your mind when you are planning an international move, but heed our advice. Your tax circumstances will undoubtedly become more complex when you move across borders; there is really no skirting it, so the best thing you can do is to plan ahead by consulting with a tax or financial counselor before you move. He or she should be able to help you figure out important aspects of your new-found tax circumtances, such as where your fiscal residency will be and what special steps you might need to take when it is time to file your taxes for the present year.
Set up Your Moving Services
Last but definitely not least, remember to schedule your international moving services as far in advance as possible. Scheduling an in-home estimate is a great way to get an detailed estimate for your international move while also making sure you discuss the specific services (packing, shipping, delivery, unpacking, etc.) that you need.
Planning an international move from Houston can be fun, but it can also be stressful--so be sure you plan early and locate the best moving company to trust with all your moving needs!
