Preparing for an international move The following list provides some general guidelines for planning an international relocation. You will want to research the customs, conditions and rules of the country you are entering and take your individual circumstances into account when preparing a comprehensive relocation plan. The checklists available on our RESIDENTIAL MOVES page will also be of assistance. Official Documents Apply for passport and any necessary visas. It is advisable to have separate passports for each family member. If the children are on the mother's passport, neither mother nor children can travel outside the country independently. Obtain certified copies of important documents such as birth certificates and naturalization papers as the originals may be irreplaceable. Obtain an international driver's license through the American Automobile Association (AAA). Plan to carry on your person: • Passport • Immunization Records • Internationally recognized credit cards • US and international driver's licenses • Local currency of countries you will travel through for tips, taxi fares, phone calls, etc. • Traveler's checks (small denominations are preferable) Carry in your briefcase, purse or carry-on luggage: • Copies of insurance policies • School records • Medical and dental records • Power of attorney • Copy of Will • Inventories of personal luggage, air freight, and household shipments • Extra passport photos • Record of your vehicle's serial number Doctors Make appointments for medical examinations for each family member at least three months in advance, in order to complete any needed immunizations a month before your departure date. Inquire about gamma globulin shots as prevention against hepatitis. Request copies of important records, x-rays, and prescriptions, including eyeglasses, to take with you. Request prescriptions written in generic terms rather than with brand names. Obtain a record of each person's blood type. Dentists Make dental appointments well in advance so that any necessary work can be completed. Request instructions on fluoride treatment abroad for children. Ask for copies of records, x-rays, and a statement describing any recommended or ongoing orthodontic treatments. Veterinarians Check with your veterinarian regarding required shots and certificates if you are taking a pet with you. Write ahead to the United States embassy for current information on pet entry regulations and quarantine requirements. Consult with your vet about travel accommodations, and arrange for someone to receive your pet if transportation is separate from the family's travel arrangements. Legal Each adult should have a properly executed up to date will, and a copy on file with your attorney. Have your lawyer draw up a power of attorney for himself or a responsible relative so that you have someone who can act legally on your behalf in this country while you are abroad. Arrange for someone to have access to your safe deposit box and any important documents such as insurance policies. Insurance Arrange for adequate personal liability coverage to cover injuries to people on your property or in your vehicle while you are gone. Obtain coverage for your household effects and luggage. Marine insurance is needed for automobiles you are transporting overseas. Check with your auto insurance carrier about extending coverage to a foreign country. Verify that your health insurance is adequate and appropriate for the destination country. Determine how to contact your insurance carrier's local representative in your destination country. Post Office Complete a change of address card at your local post office. Notify the IRS, Motor Vehicle Department, banks, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, credit card companies, utilities, etc. Obtain specific information for friends and family on how to mail letters and packages abroad and the duty charges that apply on packages you receive. Determine if registration is required for absentee voting. When You Arrive • Register at your hotel • Register with the nearest Consulate • Contact your Nationwide representative so we'll know how to reach you Customs Clearance Customs can be confusing, and the requirements vary greatly from one country to another. That's why we stay up-to-date on all the regulations. We're the moving experts serving your needs. While we will keep you informed of all the changes in Customs requirements, there are some basic elements for you to keep in mind. A simple oversight could result in delays, fines, or even seizure of your entire shipment by foreign Customs authorities. To be safe, don't take any of the following: • Firearms • Alcohol • Narcotics • Agricultural products, including houseplants and seeds • Pornographic materials and magazines • Politically sensitive materials If you have any doubts, leave it behind or check with your Nationwide representative. In most countries, your household goods and personal effects can often enter duty-free. Some items may be subject to specific provisions. It's important to remember that any duties or taxes levied against your shipment are in addition to the transportation charges. In most cases you can settle your customs account with your overseas agent. However, there are times when you will be required to deal directly with the Customs office. If that is the case, be sure to obtain and keep an official receipt, as some duties are fefundable when you leave the country. Embassy Information The chief of mission with the title of ambassador, minister, or charge d'affaires, and the deputy chief of mission are the heads of diplomatic missions. They are responsible for all parts of the mission within a country, including the consular post or posts. The economic/commercial officers represent all the commercial interests in the country to which they are assigned. Their responsibilities include the promotion of trade and exports, arranging appointments for their citizens with local business people and government officials, and providing the maximum possible assistance to their country's business within the host country. Political officers study and report on local political developments and their possible effect on their country's interests. Labor officers are well informed on labor in their particular countries and can supply information on wages, non-wage costs, local security regulations, etc. The consular officers are the ones with whom you, as an expatriate, will have the most contact. Their function is to give you and your property the protection of your government. They maintain lists of their citizens living in the area, have lists of local attorneys, and act as liaison with the police and other officials. The administrative officer is in charge of the normal business operations of the post, including all purchasing for the embassy or consulate. When you first arrive in your host country, register with the embassy or consulate nearest you. If there is an emergency, your relatives and friends will be able to locate you easily. Miscellaneous Inquiries It will be useful for you to inquire in advance about the following: Weather / Climate / Clothing What fabrics wear longest, what types of clothing are appropriate to the climate in general and to the season in which you will be arriving, what special care personal and household items require? What will have to be carried with you? What clothing and shoe sizes translate into American sizes? What is the advisability of having clothes tailored? Are there any restrictions or local customs affecting dress? Electricity What voltage is used in the host country? Can your appliances (including hair dryers) be used? What type of plug adapters or transformers will you need? Which appliances are best left at home? Housing Can arrangements be made prior to arrival? If not, where will you stay temporarily? How do you search for and acquire housing? What agreements with landlords are customary? Furnishings and Appliances What "travels" well, how much shipping weight will you be allowed, when can shipped household items be expected to arrive, what is supplied with your new home? Servants Are servants available, how many will you need, how are they engaged, what are the customary wages, benefits, and obligations of employers, what bonuses or special gifts are given, how are unsatisfactory servants dismissed? Food Restrictions What foods are unavailable, what are appropriate substitutes, and what items will you want to import? Health and Hospitals Where do you get emergency and other health care in the host country? Schools Can your children attend public schools, what alternative schools are available, what are the registration procedures, will uniforms be needed, is it necessary to place children in boarding schools at home or in a nearby country? Shopping Who does the shopping, how often does one shop for food, what kinds of stores for food and other necessities are available? How is credit or an account established? Babysitting Arrangements Who provides child care, how is a sitter hired, what are the customary rates, are sitters picked up and returned home? Laws and Legal Systems What are the traffic laws, driving customs and conditions, obligations in case of an accident? Are there any unfamiliar laws that you might break unintentionally? Employment for Spouses or Children In most countries it is illegal to work without official permission. In many cases those who accompany a spouse employed by a foreign firm are not permitted to work. Does your employer have any programs to address this issue?

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