Moving Abroad: Things To Be Considered

Are you thinking of moving abroad? Many people migrate to foreign countries for various reasons. Every year, millions of people migrate to another country for better career prospects, to join family members or relatives who are living abroad or other reasons. But irrespective of the reason why a person may decide to move abroad, he or she must plan and organize everything thoroughly so that it becomes possible to move abroad without experiencing too many difficulties. Since the decision to move abroad from one's home country is a major decision a person takes in life, and adjusting to new surroundings takes time, there are several factors to be taken into consideration when a person decides to move abroad. These factors have been explained in this article.


Reasons For Moving Abroad

This is the most basic factor that a person who intends to move abroad should take into consideration. Before actually moving abroad, a person should be clear as to whether he or she wants to move abroad at all, and after thinking over everything, he or she should consider if it is necessary to move abroad. Most of the people feel more comfortable about living in their home country, because they are used to the culture and surroundings of that country and as long as they are doing a job and have other facilities, they prefer to live in their home country. However, there are people who may decide to move abroad and live outside of their home country for various reasons. Some people move abroad for better career opportunities and to enjoy higher standards of living. For example, if a person is living in Bangladesh, he or she may decide to move to Australia if he or she gets a good job offer from an Australian company or organization, because he she will be able to enjoy a better standard of living in Australia. Then, there are people who move to a foreign country in order to join family members or relatives who are living abroad. For example, if a foreign national man marries a British woman, he may decide to move to the United Kingdom so that he can live with her in the country and work there. He may also decide to live and work in the United Kingdom permanently as a result of his marriage to a British citizen. Then, there are people who may decide to move abroad because they like a particular country and they want to work and live there to experience the culture of that country. For example, an alien, who likes France may move to the country to work and live there and experience the French culture. Finally, there are "trailing spouses". "Trailing spouse" is a term used to refer to the life partner of an individual who follows him or her to a new city or place due to a work assignment. Thus, a person should be clear as to why he or she wants to move abroad and then plan and organize everything accordingly, so that he or she is able to make the transition to the host country as smoothly as possible. Even the immigration authorities require all aliens to clearly state the reason why or the basis on which they intend to migrate to the host country.


Immigration Laws and Policies

This is another major factor a person must take into consideration before moving to a foreign country of his or her choice. Every country has established a different system and different procedures and created different laws to regulate the immigration of aliens to that country. Some countries have created strict laws and policies to regulate immigration from foreign countries, while other countries follow liberal policies regarding the entry of aliens in their countries. Hence a person who is planning to go to a foreign country to settle down should gather information on the immigration laws, rules and policies of the country which he or she intends to move to, such as visa requirements, work permit requirements, laws, rules and regulations regarding temporary residence, permanent residence and laws regarding the acquisition of citizenship of the host country, which can be useful if an expat decides to take the citizenship of the host country after fulfilling the legal requirements and any other conditions set by the law of the host country. For example, a person who intends to live permanently in the United States of America is required to apply for permanent resident status which can be obtained by various methods such as family connections and employment. But an expat has to go through different procedures depending on the method used to gain the permanent resident status. In countries located in the Middle East, expats are required to have visas not only for entering the country, but also need exit visas in order to leave the country. An expat should keep all these points in mind while deciding where to move.


Law and Order and General Safety

This is the most important factor which a person must consider before deciding to move to a foreign country. In every country, the governments of each country have established different types of legal, judicial and police systems to settle disputes, and maintain law and order in their respective jurisdictions by enforcing the laws. But there are significant differences in the law and order situation of each country. In some countries, laws are enforced strictly and the police and courts are able to maintain law and order and settle disputes efficiently, while in other countries, the laws are not enforced very effectively and the courts take time to decide issues. The result is that people feel safer living in a jurisdiction where law and order is maintained efficiently since the crime rates and corruption rates are lower in these countries. On the other hand, in some countries, laws are not enforced effectively and so the individual is responsible for his or her own safety. Similarly, in some countries, roads are safe, while in other countries a person has to be careful while traveling on the roads. In general, the law and order situation is better in Western countries, while some countries in other areas have serious law and order problems. But even amongst Western countries, there are differences. So an expat must seriously consider the law and order situation of the country he or she intends to move to. It is better for a person to move to a country where law and order is maintained efficiently.


Political and Economic Stability

Another important factor which a person should take into consideration is the political and economic stability of the country where he or she plans to move. When a person decides to move abroad, he or she should find out and gather information about the political and economic conditions of that country. It is useful to know about the political conditions of the country where a person plans to move and an expat should find out whether the country has a stable political system and whether the governments are stable, how a government is changed in that country. In countries such as the United Kingdom, the government is quite stable but in Italy, governments change quite often and it may be said that the British have established a stable political system, while in Italy, the political system works differently. The United Kingdom has a two party system, while Italy has a multi party system. Similarly, there are countries where political changes are brought about through violent means, such as protests, marches and demonstrations and these countries have experienced violence on a large scale. Examples of such countries are Iraq, Iran, Egypt and several others. An expat should avoid moving to such countries and should instead move to countries where the political conditions are stable.

It is also necessary to gather information about the economy and economic conditions of the country the expat plans to move to. As far as possible, it is better to immigrate to a country which has a strong economy and where the economic conditions are good. These days, many countries such as Greece, France, Italy and Spain are facing economic problems such as high unemployment rates, decline in economic growth, inflation. Even local people in these countries are having a tough time in getting jobs, so it will be even more difficult for an expat to get a job. The governments of most countries try to give preference to citizens of those countries while recruiting people for a job. Networking plays a significant role in helping a person to get a job. However, expats may be able to find employment in fields where the country is experiencing a shortage of labor, or where there are not enough locals who are qualified for the job, or in a field where the nature of the job is such that only an expat can do the job well. For example, an expat can take up a job as a TEFL teacher if he or she is qualified for the job. However, to avoid uncertainty, an expat should try to arrange a job in the host country before actually moving there. In many countries, high inflation is also a major problem. Thus, it is necessary for an expat to find out about the political and economic conditions of the country where he or she plans to move to.


Food and Drink, Shopping, Sports and Entertainment Facilities

This is another point a person should consider when moving abroad. Generally, most countries have reasonable provisions for all types of expats, but it is still a good idea for an expat to find out whether the country he or she plans to move to has adequate provisions for all types of food and drinks. For example, if a person is a vegetarian, he or she may not feel comfortable eating non vegetarian food items. Similarly, if a person likes Snickers chocolates, he or she should take some packs of these chocolates with him or her when moving to the host country. Hence he should find whether the country he or she plans to move to has restaurants which offer vegetarian food. Similarly, an expat should gather information on the type of shopping, sports and entertainment facilities the host country offers so that he or she can enjoy himself or herself when he or she has free time. He or she can find out about the stores, theatres, cinema halls, music halls located in the city he or she is planning to move to in the host country. By doing this, an expat will know whether or not that country offers what he or she likes, and will be able to plan the move abroad accordingly.


Social Life, Cultural Differences and Customs and Traditions

This is a major factor an expat must consider. An expat will find that there are considerable differences between the culture of his or her home country and that of the host country. In every country, people have a different lifestyle and follow a different culture. It is common for expats to get a sense of culture shock when they move to a foreign country. This makes many expats feel uncomfortable in the host country and it takes some time for them to get used to their new surroundings. Expats may have difficulties such as speaking the language of the host country, if it is a language the expat doesn't understand. They also may find it hard to make friends in the host country. They may feel lonely and homesick and may want to return to their home country. But an expat can easily deal with some of these problems. For example, if a person is planning to move to France, he or she can join French language classes and learn some French in the home country before actually moving to France. He or she can also try to learn about French culture, customs and traditions, social customs, the history of France and should also find out about some of the famous buildings of France. This will enable an expat to adjust to the cultural differences more easily and make it easier for him or her to settle down in the host country. It may also help the expat to make friends with the locals more easily. Another way to make friends with the locals is by taking up some hobby such as joining cooking classes. Or a person can take up some volunteering assignment. A person can also join expat groups to meet other expats from his or her home country in the host country . After some time, an expat will get used to the culture of the host country and will enjoy living there as much as in the home country.


Form of Government, Constitution and Rights Given to the People

A person who is planning to move to a foreign country should be aware of the form of government, the type of Constitution the country has established and the type of rights people enjoy in the host country. Most of the countries have established a democratic form of government but in some countries, other forms of government exist, such as dictatorship, military rule and absolute monarchy. People enjoy rights in democratic countries, but they enjoy very limited rights or no rights in countries which have dictatorships, military rule or absolute monarchy. In countries located in the Middle East, absolute monarchy is the form of government used, so people have very few rights and the monarch has all the powers and performs all the functions of the government. Dictatorships also function in a similar way. Hence it is better to move to a country like the United Kingdom which has a democratic form of government even if an expat is earning less money over there because he or she will also enjoy many rights and freedoms, than moving to a country like Saudi Arabia where a person may earn more money but will have to put up with many restrictions of various types. Future expats should keep this in mind while deciding where to move.


Cost of Living, Currency and the Banking System

This is a major factor which all expats take into consideration when moving abroad. Many expats move to countries which use a currency that is stronger than the currency of the home country of the expat. As a result, such expats benefit from the lower cost of living in the host country. Inflation is also less in such countries. However, the initial start up costs tend to be high when a person moves to a foreign country, so a person should make sure that he or she has enough money to cover these costs. It is also important to find a job in the host country which pays a good salary so that the expat can easily meet the expenses of living in the host country. For example, London is considered to be a very expensive city to live in, so a person who plans to move to London should find a job which pays well so that he or she can meet the cost of living there. Inflation is another major issue in many countries. It reduces the purchasing power of an expat since goods and services become expensive due to inflation. In many countries, the tax rates are high. However, the cost of living differs from city to city. An expat should consider all these issues when moving abroad.

Banking is another issue which should be taken into consideration. All countries have a different banking system. In many countries, aliens are not allowed to open an account before they actually enter the country and begin to live there. An expat will need an account to put his or her earnings safely. In countries which allow non residents to open accounts, the individual may be required to fulfill certain conditions before the account is opened. It is also important to find if the banks have staff who speak the language of the expat and whether they offer banking services in that language. Future expats should find out about the banking system of the country they are planning to move to so that they can deal with banking issues in the host country easily. In every country, an expat will have a considerable choice regarding banks and financial institutions, and since all banks and financial institutions offer similar services, an expat will have to choose where he or she wants to open a bank account.


Housing and Accommodation Issues

It is important for future expats to arrange suitable accommodation for themselves in the host country. However, everything depends on various factors such as budget, location, size, neighborhood and condition of the accommodation. For example, the rents are higher if the accommodation is located in a good neighborhood. The rent also varies depending on how far or how close a flat is from the center of the city. If a person's budget is limited, then he or she will have to live in a less comfortable accommodation in the host country. Similarly, accommodation located near the centre of the city or workplace will cost an expat more rent than accommodation which is located further from the centre or workplace. Most people live in areas which are located at considerable distance from their workplace. Bigger sized accommodation will cost more rent than smaller sized accommodation, but an expat may get more spacious accommodation for less rent if he or she stays far from the centre. Newly constructed flats and apartment buildings will have higher rent than older buildings. In some countries, apartments which are not furnished cost less rent than furnished apartments. An expat should also gather information about the laws, rules, regulations of renting an apartment and the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and the tenants. If an expat is planning to buy a flat or house in the host country, he or she should find out the laws and procedure to be followed to purcase and sell a flat or house. It is also easier to find accommodation in the host country if the expat has family members and relatives who are living in the host country since it gives an expat a second home. For example, if an expat is planning to move to USA, he or she may find it easier to get a place to stay if his or her siblings are living in the country or if her or she is married to a US citizen, since it creates a second home for the expat, in the foreign country. In some countries, such as Germany, a person is required to register his or her residence with the local authorities of the city where he or she is living. Other housing related issues which expats should find out about the agencies and authorities who are responsible for the supply of utilities such as gas, electricity and water and what is required to get a gas connection, electricity connection and water connection and how the billing for various utilities is done. Thus, housing and accommodation is a complex issue since an expat has to consider many points and issues when searching for a suitable accommodation in the host country.


Health, Health Care and Medical Assistance

Health Care and Medical Assistance is an important thing which people who are planning to move abroad should think about. It is gather knowledge on various aspects of health care in the foreign country such as the quality of health care, how efficiently does the health care system work, what type of health care system does the host country have, whether health insurance is necessary or not, how is the system run- is it run by the state? Or is it privatized? Or is it run by both the state and the private sector? Does the host country have good medical facilities such as latest medical equipment, hospitals and clinics? Does the country have hospitals which specialize in treating terminal illnesses such as cancer? Do people have to wait for a medical appointment? What provisions has the state made for maternity leave and paternity leave? In some countries, such as Sweden, both the parents are entitled to maternity leave and paternity leave respectively when a child is born to a couple. It is also important to consider the health risks which the country has for expats. These are some of the points a person must keep in mind while planning to move abroad. If the country where a person is planning to move to doesn't have an efficient health care system, then he or she should consider moving to a country which has a good health care system.


Transport System and Getting Around In the New City

It is important for a future expat to know about the transport system of the country he or she is moving to. How efficient the transport system is in the host country depends on a number of factors such as the type of place a person plans to move to, the type of country a person intends to move to. For example, in urban areas such as cities, the public transport system is efficient and most people can get around the city well by using public transport even if they don't have a car. On the other hand, in rural areas and small towns in some countries, it may be a good idea to have a car since the public transport may not be so efficient in such areas. Similarly, in developed countries, the public transport system is very developed and highly efficient, so if a person is moving to a city like London, he or she will be able to get around the city efficiently by using the London Underground, also known as The Tube, or by traveling in buses or taxis. Similarly, if a person is moving to Paris, he or she can use the Paris Metro or taxis and buses to get around in Paris. In such places, it isn't necessary to have a car. On the other hand, if a person is moving to a country like Kenya, it may be a good idea to have a car.


Costs of Moving, Shipping and Taxes and Duties On Importing Goods Into the Host Country

This is another issue that anyone, who intends to move abroad should consider. Different countries have created their own rules and regulations regarding what goods an expat can bring into the host country. In some countries, expats are allowed to bring all their goods into the host country, and they are not required to pay any taxes and duties. In other countries, expats are allowed to bring only limited goods and are required to pay import and customs duties. In such countries, the law places restrictions on the types of goods expats are allowed to bring. Another factor expats should consider is the location of the host country and the location of the expat's goods. An expat should find out where the goods will arrive and how they will be sent to his or her home in the host country. Most expats utilize the service of moving companies to get their goods transported to the host country. Therefore, expats should find out the tax rates and duty rates. They will also be required to pay the moving company a transportation fee. They should also take a bill from the company whose services they use.


Communication System

An expat should gather information about the Communication system of the country where he or she plans to move. Since a person needs to remain connected to the world, it is important to have knowledge about the authorities or agencies who are responsible for setting up internet and landline telephone connections. It is also important to know what is required to set up a telephone or Internet connection and what the billing system is. Internet speed is improving as a result of the development of high speed internet facilities in the world. An expat should also find out the system of getting a cell phone connection because in most countries, the authorities or agencies have a many different types of deals in Internet, telephone and cell phone connections. Internet itself has many types of connections such as, high speed, dial up, Wi-Fi, wireless etc. It is possible now to make telephone calls on the internet by using Skype. As regards watching television, there is a difference in the television formats and so it may not be possible to view programs on a television set manufactured in the expat's home country in the host country. There are three television formats : NTSC, PAL and SECAM. They all use different systems of color encoding and hence it is best for a person to buy a television set manufactured in the host country after moving there. The same differences in format apply to DVD players. Most countries use digital television systems now. Another point to remember is that in many countries, a TV license is required by anyone who wants to watch television. Most countries have a good postal system but it is useful to know about the postal system of the country that a person intends to move to, how it is run, and the facilities and services it offers the people.


Education System and Facilities For Children

It is important for expats to know about the type of education system prevalent in the host country. Most countries have international schools for children of expats. But it is beneficial for children to attend the regular schools since it may help them remain in the mainstream in the host country in terms of education. They may also learn a new language and get used to the education system of the host country. It is also useful to find out about the type of day care facilities that are available in the host country which can be useful if both parents are working.


Conclusion

To conclude, it may be said that there are opportunities for people in foreign countries provided that they know how to use them. It is important for people who intend to move abroad to gather information about various issues. A person should consider all the factors before deciding where to move so that he or she feels happy and is able to enjoy his or her life in the host country. People move abroad due to various reasons such as career, family or cultural reasons. But irrespective of why a person decides to move to a foreign country, it is necessary to do thorough research about the destination a person wants to move to. The factors or things a person must take into consideration while moving abroad have been discussed and explained in detail in this article.