I love making lists. Love it. Lists and I have had years of romance together and they’ve never let me down. It doesn’t matter the list. Need a To-Do list? I’m on it. Grocery List? Already made. Packing list? Let me know the trip and I’ll give you a custom made packing list for that type of travel. In the Friends-sphere of life, I’m clearly the Monica Gellar of the group. What can I say, I love the accomplished feeling of crossing something off, of looking back on the day and seeing what was mastered.

Now, I’ve had seven months to plan and prepare for this move abroad. That’s an extremely unusual amount of time to get ready. This means that I had the luxury of spending a month purely on researching what I need to do BEFORE I move. I present to you a compilation of every article, every blog, every discussion I’ve had with people on what to get done before an international move.

TRAVEL
✔︎ Double check that your passport will still be valid while you’re abroad. This may seem like common sense, but it can be an easy thing to forget.
✔︎ Get extra passport pictures to take with you. You’ll most likely need them abroad to set up cellphone and bank accounts.
✔︎ Register your move with the US Embassy (STEP Program – https://step.state.gov/step/)
✔︎ Apply for your work visa. If you are in a similar situation as I am, your new company will help you with this.

MEDICAL
✔︎ Schedule any annual exams, if you haven’t had one recently. Don’t forget the following: medical, dental, optometrist, dermatologist, etc. It doesn’t hurt to have one final check and make sure the body is still ticking correctly!
✔︎ Request a copy of immunizations and any pertinent medical records to take with you. That way, if you step on a rusty nail, you’ll know when your last tetanus shot happened.

FINANCIAL
✔︎ Meet with a financial advisor before you leave. I still want to invest money towards my retirement after I move. For the US, there are rules and regulations around what type of account you can use and their subsequent tax requirements. Meeting with a financial advisor before you leave will help you save some money/heartache later.
✔︎ Create and notarize a power of attorney document. In the event that there are any problems at home, I’ve designated my mother with the power to act in my place. (NOTE: this document is only valid if it’s been notarized!) There are different options: for healthcare, for financial issues, etc. Decide which ones would be right for you and make sure you trust the person you choose!
✔︎ Contact banks and credit card companies of the move. With some credit card companies, you no longer need to inform them of travel, but make sure you double check.
✔︎ Cancel/suspend monthly bills you will no longer be using, such as gym memberships, water/electric/gas bills if they are in your name, etc.

TECHNOLOGY
✔︎ Set up a VPN (virtual private network) for access to things like Netflix abroad. If you’re moving to China like I am, this needs to be set up BEFORE you leave, since VPN websites are blocked.
✔︎ If you planning on using a cellphone (and who doesn’t), unlock your cellphone BEFORE you cancel your current plan. No sense in buying a new phone if you have a perfectly good one to use when you arrive! But be warned, cell companies typically won’t/can’t unlock it after you’ve cancelled your plan with them.
✔︎ Back up your computer/laptop to an external drive. This is good practice in general, but definitely make sure you do it before you leave.
✔︎ Add Google Chrome to your laptop. Chrome has been wonderful in translating foreign websites. They may not be great/accurate translations, but it’s been helping me check out Chinese websites like Taobao.

PERSONAL
✔︎ Renew your driver’s license, if it expires while you’re gone. Mine was set to expire just two months after I moved! I wouldn’t have even thought of it, if I hadn’t randomly looked at it one day.
✔︎ Talk to your auto insurance company and set up a basic insurance plan while you’re gone. Fun fact: insurance companies want to see 3-years of “continuous coverage”. This can be tricky for expats moving home, if they didn’t have a car in their foreign country. However, with a bit of forethought and pre-planning, spending a meager amount each year to maintain that coverage will save you hundreds of dollars if/when you do return home.
✔︎ Get your hair cut before you leave. It may seem like a small, inconsequential item, but there will already be enough items to figure out in the beginning, rather than trying to find someone who can cut your hair when you arrive.
✔︎ Make photocopies/scans of important documents. Give one copy to a trusted person (mine are going to my mother) and keep one for yourself. Items to consider: passport, driver’s license, credit cards, visa documentation, job licenses. This way, if there is ever a problem and something gets stolen, they have the necessary information to help.
✔︎ Collect contact information for your friends and family. Make sure to keep in touch with these lovely people!

I tried to make this list as comprehensive as possible. However, your reality may expand this list if you own a home, have a pet, have children, and so on. Let me know if I’ve missed something important! But hopefully, it gets your current self thinking about what you can do to help your future self. Trust me, your future self will thank you!