When Moving to Germany with IntlMOVE, there are many things you will need to do to plan for the move.
Hire the experts when you ship your household goods overseas, so make sure to contact IntlMOVE to ship your household goods to Germany.
However, there is a lot more to an international move than just shipping your household goods.
Things to do Right Away
As soon as you find out you are moving to Germany, have 10 passport photos made.
You will need two for your passport, two for your 30-day German visa, three for your permanent Germany visa and the rest for additional IDs you may need.
If you are moving to Germany for a new job, stay on top of your new company to file all the necessary paperwork to obtain your German visa.
If you are moving to Germany as a student, talk to your university to find out exactly what you need to do to make sure all of your paperwork is in place.
You will be required to do some of the paperwork yourself, so make sure you follow the directions exactly.
Any mistakes can mean long waiting periods and setbacks.
Call your nearest German consulate to make sure all the forms are up-to-date on the website.
The German consulate will also be able to help you with any questions you have.
Before you contact the consulate to get your visa, you need to make sure your employer or your university has done their parts and sent the necessary paperwork to the consulate.
Networking
Before you move to Germany, tell all of your friends and family about your move.
You never know who has contacts in Germany that can help make your move to Germany easier.
Having contacts in Germany can be priceless!
They can help you find a place to live and can provide community support when you arrive in your new country.
You will want to know people when you move overseas so you have people to hang out with and explore your new country.
You can also network with other expats in Germany through online expat networks.
Learning your Way around Germany
When you are moving to Germany, you will want to learn your way around your new city as soon as possible.
You can research all the things to do in your new city online, or you can purchase a travel book.
Read through these websites and books to find out great places to visit, where to go shopping, public transportation and much more valuable information.
Learn the Language
Although a lot of people in Germany speak English, many do not speak English.
You will not truly enjoy all the Germany has to offer until you learn the language.
This will help you meet people, do better at your job and get a real feel for the culture of Germany.
Banks and Mailing Addresses
When you move to Germany, you will want to keep your ties to the United States if you plan on moving back to your home country.
Keep a banking account in the United States that offers online banking.
This will help you pay all of the bills you are maintaining in the United States.
You will also want to keep a U.S. postal address in case you need to receive mail in your home country.
You can ask friends and family to receive mail for you or you can get a P.O. Box.
Shipping Household Goods and Furniture
You will want to ship all of your household good to Germany because most apartments come unfurnished.
Unfurnished apartments in Germany usually mean that appliances, cabinets and lighting fixtures are not included.
Make sure IntlMOVE ships all of your personal effects that you will need overseas.
You need to be aware that appliances and electronics will not work without converters.
Germany has seasons, so IntlMOVE will need to ship your summer and winter clothing.
When you are ready to ship your household goods to Germany, log onto the IntlMOVE website to get your free online international shipping quote.