Moving From UK To USA Amidst The Pandemic? Here Are Some Useful Tips
8 tips to make your move pandemic-safe
Moving from the UK to the USA amidst a pandemic is no easy feat. Moving with kids, pets, and all of your belongings in tow isn’t something that you would typically do on a whim. Moving to a new country during such an uncertain time can be downright scary! However, this may be what you need to do for work or family reasons. Below are useful tips to help you move from the UK to the USA amidst the pandemic.
Research Exchange Rates, Insurance, And Other Things Before Moving
Moving can be a difficult process if you’re not as prepared ahead of time. Make sure that you know the money exchange rates for your UK currency to US dollars because large money transfers to USA can be costly. But you have transfer and exchange institutions that can greatly help with this. Check with your employer about transferring benefits and other expenses before shipping out.
Get a Medical Checkup
If you’re only planning on staying for 30 days or less, make an appointment with your doctor before leaving home so that they can give you a medical clearance form filled out and stamped.
You must have an original medical clearance form filled out by your doctor, signed and sealed with the stamp of their office. The form will need to be submitted along with Form DS-2054 “Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment, Change or Extension of Status” before you can enter the country as a visitor for more than 30 days. A medical check-up, especially during the pandemic will be for your own good. It will also help to provide you with insights on how to protect you and your family against any infections.
Find Out About The Local Health System
Find out about hospitals in the area, and ask for recommendations. Learn about local laws: Where can you buy food? What are the regulations on water usage? Read up on any restrictions to travel or business that might have been put in place by your new country’s government as a result of the pandemic. Research any other new country-specific laws or customs. You could also ensure that your pet is tested before moving. This is because of the strict pet laws that exist in the UK.
Make Sure Your Passport Is Up-to-date
You will need a valid passport to enter the USA. This includes ensuring that your passport has an up-to-date photo and correct address on it. Passports issued after 2006 are machine-readable and should not contain handwritten notes. Contact your nearest embassy or consulate for more information about getting a new passport if you have an older one than this.
A visa is also required before entering the country, so make sure you have sufficient funds. Apply for a visa at least six weeks before your flight date if possible, and make sure that you are eligible to apply in the first place.
Keep Your Hands Clean
It’s important to maintain good hygiene so you don’t get COVID-19 when moving. If you were to catch the Corona Virus your international travel plans would be seriously jeopardised.
There, wash your hands often when you are moving around. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty fingers. You should avoid shaking hands and contact with others as much as possible. If it is unavoidable, for example, if there is a handrail in the stairwell, you should wear a surgical mask. You can also use alcohol to clean your hands or carry a hand sanitiser with you when moving to avoid dirt and germs on the streets.
Keep Track Of Your Luggage At All Times
When you know that your journey is going to take a little longer, it becomes much harder to keep track of where all your luggage has gone. This can lead to trouble when your suitcases arrive at the wrong airport or even worse on another continent altogether. It’s always worth checking with your airline before you fly and make sure you pack your ID and passport in the carry-on so you have them with you at all times.
Learn about your new area
You will be traveling for a long time and you want to make sure that the area has lots of stores, restaurants, hospitals, etc so you can still get what you need. Ask your friends or family who live in that city about their experience with things like traffic and public transport. Would they recommend it? If you are traveling to a big city like New York, Boston, or Chicago it would be good to research how easy it is to find parking. Research the weather and what kind of clothes you will need!
Look after your health when travelling
Drink plenty of fluids during your journey to avoid dehydration. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these are diuretics that increase the need for water. If you’re feeling nauseous or vomiting, drink more water or ginger tea (ginger has been shown in studies to help prevent nausea). Also, you could take anti-nausea medication if you’re feeling nauseous. Don’t drink too many fluids at once, as this can cause vomiting. Drink them throughout the day in small amounts to avoid dehydration and loss of minerals like sodium or potassium. Bring a reusable water bottle with you on your journey so that you have access to drinking water. If there are no food vendors nearby, fill up from a tap or from a bottle of water you can find. Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk as this could contain bacteria that will make you more ill.
If you’re planning on moving from the UK to America, you must have all of your ducks in a row. Here are some helpful tips for making this transition as seamless and safe as possible. First things first, make sure your passport is up-to-date! You’ll need it at immigration when traveling abroad. Secondly, keep an eye on your luggage at all times; if someone steals it while you’re out exploring new places or adapting to a new culture, they could use any personal information inside (like credit card numbers) against you back home. Thirdly, research the area before moving there so that everything is not unfamiliar when arriving – know what kind of climate and terrain will be surrounding you.