Moving to another country can be one of the most exciting, yet terrifying, experiences a person can go through. There is so much you need to do and know before you even step foot on the plane, train or ferry to your new home.
This article is designed to give you just a little insight into the steps you have to take when you begin your journey to starting afresh with a new life.
Make Sure You Get the Right Visa
The visa that you’ll need will vary from country to country so you must check what sort of visa you’re going to need in order to live and work in the country you choose. Joshua L. Goldstein has been leading the industry in LA for years in cases of immigration, visa and citizenship law. If you mess up your visa application or get the wrong one, you’re going to need a firm like that to help get you out of trouble.
Do thorough research online and if you’re still confused, it’s always worth contacting the local embassy to see what type of visa it is that you’ll need for the purpose of your stay.
Get Yourself Set Up With a Job
No one wants to be the stereotypical view of migrants, sponging off the state to fund your new life in a new country. If you can’t job search until you get out there then at least have enough money saved to sustain your for a few months until you get yourself set up with a job.
But, the best advice would be to get something lined up in advance. This will obviously be easier if you have some sort of skill or qualification, but there is always the power of social media could always be a great help.
Find Somewhere to Live
This should be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people plan to just ‘wing it’ when they move to another country with regards to their living situation. This is a really bad idea, for obvious reasons.
Unless you want to end up living on the street, get in touch with real estate agents before you head out to wherever it is you’re going. There are some services that specialise in finding housing for expats to get them set up, but use these with caution. Rates can be incredibly high for not so great return.
Don’t Sweat the Little Things
There are going to be times when it seems unbearable scary to uproot your whole life and move onto pastures green. There will be times when you wonder why you’re doing it at all, and there may be a little voice in the back of your head that is telling you to give up and go back to where you came from and live the average life you were dealt.
But when things get tough and it seems too difficult to continue being an expat, try to remember what it is that inspired you to move abroad in the first place. Maybe it was the quest for a better life, better opportunities or just the love of adventure.
Hold onto that when you feel like giving up, it could be just what you need to keep going.
