I am an average student. I get decent grades but not wonderful grades. In high school, I was on some medication that made me tired a lot, and I slept in class quite a bit... But I don't believe ANY of my classes EVER had a "How to move to another country" segment.
That would have been really useful!
Here is what I know. We as Americans enjoy a lot of freedoms... most of us feel like we are not just deserving of a good life, but entitled to one. We don't like it when people tell us we can't do something, and because immigration into the US is such a huge problem, most people are too busy complaining about the amount of people entering our country illegally it never crosses out minds that someone might want to live in a different country someday... after all... We are the land of opportunity, we have free speech, and the right to remain silent. We have Wal-mart, where you can go, get your oil changed, tires rotated, get your groceries, have your pictures developed in an hour and buy paint to redo the kitchen all in one trip, on one bill, we have 24 hour restaurants where you can get breakfast any time of day, and unlimited refills on drinks, and we have the best toilet paper in the world... who would want to leave this place?
Well... I guess I do... so how do I do that?
Something about a visa? Where do I get one of those? What I don't qualify for a working visa? But, I am an educated, upper middle class AMERICAN, you can't tell me no!
Actually they can, and they will...
1st things first, it is embarrassing to be denied entrance into a country because you don't have the right visa... or a visa at all... Do not trust google to give you the information you need on this one... we are talking about international laws here. Most countries have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder when it comes to America, and a lot of them for good reasons, but we wont go into that... they want us to come visit and spend our money there, but they don't want us to live there. Usually this arrangement works fine.
I got some bad information off a UK government website...and now they have a file on me ( complete with my finger prints) that gets pulled every time I travel to the UK...
So you're moving abroad... contact this place: http://www.globalvisas.com/
Contact them before you do anything else. They will gather your information, and get a price quote for you. It is expensive, but it is worth it. The visa application cost is over $1,000, you will pay the company over $1,000 but they will make sure you get everything right the first time, so you don't have to repeatedly apply, coming up with $1300 every time. The government is poor and they have to make their money somehow... they would love nothing better than to deny your application and make you try again... and pay again. Do not try to do it yourself!
Once you have your visa back, are you going to move all your things? Are you going to sell everything and purchase them again once you get over there?? I am not going to do that... It has taken me years to collect all the things I own, I want to keep them... after spending the summer in Scotland, I also discovered that everything there is twice the price. You want to buy a value meal at burger king here? Sure! Here are your fries and a drink with a hamburger. That will be $5.00. You want a value meal there? Sure! Here are your fries and a drink with a hamburger, that will be 6 pounds... 6 pounds = about $10.00. Do you really want to pay $10 for burger king???
Everything is twice the price... here is the other thing... twice the price but... is it as good of quality? Is it better quality? I bought a french press here and sent in to my future in laws. It's a nice french press... works well every time. While in Scotland, I saw they sold french presses there, I purchased one since Paul doesn't have a coffee pot. (They used instant coffee... I know I know... what is that? I'll save that for a later blog) The french press was so cheaply made the mesh started to rust, and the pressing part kept coming apart. I was not impressed with my expensive item. I wanted to buy a blender, but I didn't want to spend 50 pounds on a blender, I purchased a hand held blender instead for 14 pounds (around $25) depends on what you're blending... and it has one setting - baby food consistency. don't try to mash potatoes or make a fruit smoothie, or really most things you want a blender for when using a hand blender... not until you've had a lot of practice as they can be tricky.
George Foreman grill... um I couldn't go a whole summer without one, it was worth the purchase price of a billion dollars... just kidding. 58 pounds, so over $100 dollars for the smallest George Foreman made without removable plates. My family George Foreman with removable plates was $40. I am purchasing a transformer (our voltage is 120, theres is 220... enough to stop the heart of any American appliance... don't plug it in with just a converter, you need a transformer) and then I am taking my kitchen appliances and everything else with me!
But how do you move your things over seas? does U-Haul have boats?? Um... I don't think so... this was tricky for me to, but I finally found a place and it's not as expensive as you would think! (I hope, I don't think I will have to pay any tariffs or taxes when it gets to the UK) http://www.intlmovers.com/ this place will find companies who do moves in your area. I'm using a company called Echo Transworld Inc. To move my entire 2 bedroom apartment (I know my ENTIRE apartment [note sarcasm]) I am paying $3,004. It takes 5 weeks and they pick up your stuff, packing all your furniture in cardboard, and then deliver it to your door unpacking and setting up furniture that needs assembly.
Moving pets.
This part... I'm still searching. I have an East Asian Box turtle. I have had him for so long that he is now considered an endangered species. He wasn't when a friend purchased him at a pet store don't worry) I cannot simply release him into the wild, and I don't trust anyone I know to take good care of him. How in the world do I move an endangered reptile to Scotland? Well....I will let you know... the one company I have talked to gave me a quote of $3500, if it's even possible, so we'll see about that... let me know if you know how. I would love to keep my money, and my turtle!
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