How are you preparing for your move?

[lurdino 9]

Hello VJers,

I'm curious as to how everyone is preparing/prepared for moving across the pond!

I've been updating my LinkedIn and my CVs in preparation for looking for a new job; slowly selling and donating the stuff that I don't want to take with me; and I'm going to book an appointment with a guy at HSBC to ask them about opening one of their international bank accounts - I don't want to get charged for transferring all my savings etc overseas. And mentally correcting myself into thinking in US English - resumes, not CVs! Checking accounts, not current!

I'm also trying to resist the crazy temptation to try packing everything I want to bring to see whether it fits in my suitcases or not. I don't even have my embassy interview date yet...!

[JFH 12,189]

I have about a year to go so no rush just yet but I have started sorting though things and asking myself if I can live without it and how much it would cost to replace there. I inherited a beautifully crafter rocking chair from my grandmother when she died. It reminds me of her so much and I absolutely have to take it with me. I'm trying to find out how. It's so old I don't know if it will even survive the journey.

I have sent my CV to a few companies to be put on file for when I arrive.

Charity shops must do so well out of us VJers with all our donations.

Edited February 13, 2016 by JFH

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

There are several a consites that ship furniture to US from UK

my daughter in law used a container company for her furniture

Even Fed Ex will ship small pieces of furniture saying they box and quarantee it

All this will depend on how much you want to spend

Forget the US English. We love the British style

just know when you order a hamburger and chips you get potato chips not french fries

but your accent is beautiful and your English is soft take the way you say derby and the way we say is

Don't change

Best to you

[NovaSprings 89]

Here is a few things I have done for my planning (looking to POE on Feb 22nd) Not sure if all of these would make sense in the UK,

• If you are planning to purchase a car or be insured on your spouses car, when your date gets closer you should get a copy of your Drivers license abstract and current car insurance abstract (if you have insurance today). If both reports are clean, it will be easier for you to lower the cost of your insurance in the US.
• You may also want to get copies of your dental and medical records (although it appears from another post you have your medical well in hand).
• Not sure, but if appropriate, have a quick chat with a tax accountant who specializes in US/UK taxes as soon as possible to discuss your situation and if there are things that you can be doing now which may lead to lessen your tax burden in the future.
• Finally, start a file with copies of everything you have sent for your visa journey and any items that will come in handy for relationship evidence down the road, cards, printed emails, pic of flowers...etc. My spouse and I periodically scan items and keep them on a separate drive for easy access in the future.

Hope this helps, good luck on your journey

[JFH 12,189]

There are several a consites that ship furniture to US from UK

my daughter in law used a container company for her furniture

Even Fed Ex will ship small pieces of furniture saying they box and quarantee it

All this will depend on how much you want to spend

Forget the US English. We love the British style

just know when you order a hamburger and chips you get potato chips not french fries

but your accent is beautiful and your English is soft take the way you say derby and the way we say is

Don't change

Best to you

Thanks for the tip about shipping furniture.

I'm definitely not losing my accent, vocabulary and spelling. I can understand Americans just fine and they can understand me. So there's no need to change anything. My husband loves the way I say words that end in g like "morning" and "King".

[AMZJ 60]

I've got my shipping boxes. I know all my books can fit in one but I'm going to separate them into a few to even out the weight. I won't be packing properly until April.