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$14 one-time · 22 min read · Lifetime access

Pre-Move Checklist Package

60 days before your overseas move — the master task list. Banking, healthcare, US property, mailing services, insurance, healthcare records, prescription stockpiling, and the 50 small things that ruin a move if you forget them.

Best for: Anyone within 60 days of an overseas move. The 'I'll figure it out when I get there' approach reliably costs $5K-$20K in avoidable problems and weeks of stress. This checklist is the difference.

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Who this is for

  • Within 60 days of moving abroad permanently
  • Long-term expats who weren't well-prepared first time
  • Caregivers helping aging parents move abroad
  • Couples coordinating a complex multi-country move

What's inside

  • 60-day timeline — week-by-week task list
  • Banking setup: Wise, Schwab/Fidelity, local bank
  • US mailing service comparison (Anytime Mailbox, Earth Class Mail, USA2Me)
  • Healthcare records portable + prescription stockpile strategy
  • US property decision matrix: sell, rent, keep, AirBnB
  • Mail forwarding, USPS hold, address changes (full list)
  • Pet relocation (USDA, EU pet passport, country-specific)
  • Tech: VPN, unlocked phone, communication apps, US streaming access
  • Cheat sheet: 60-day timeline + final-week checklist + day-of-departure

Preview — Why 60 days isn't actually a lot of time

International moves seem manageable in concept and exhausting in execution. The week-of-departure feels like a sprint. The week-after-arrival feels like decompression and discovery — usually both wonderful and overwhelming. The smooth transitions come from the 60 days BEFORE the move, when you systematically address all the small things.

What goes wrong without preparation: arriving with prescriptions running out, no working bank access, no internet at the new place, can't reach US tax accountant, lost track of which bills auto-pay, forgot to update beneficiaries, mail piling up at empty house, US property uninsured, etc.

Each of these is fixable. None of them is fun to fix from another country with time-zone constraints and unfamiliar phone systems.

5 more sections in the full version

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Full table of contents

  1. Why 60 days isn't actually a lot of time
  2. 60 days out — major decisions
  3. 30 days out — paperwork sprint
  4. 14 days out — final logistics
  5. Final week — pack, fly, exit
  6. First 30 days abroad — settling in
Key takeaways
  • 60 days is just barely enough — start as soon as you have a date.
  • Banking: Wise + Schwab/Fidelity = fee-free international access.
  • US mailing service (real street address) is non-negotiable for US institutions.
  • Stockpile prescriptions; get medical records before leaving.
  • Pet relocation requires 60-90 days of paperwork.
  • First 30 days abroad: register address, open local bank, get supplemental insurance.
  • Discomfort weeks 1-8 is normal — settle in, don't reverse course.
Action steps
  1. Decide US property strategy 60+ days out.
  2. Open Wise + Schwab/Fidelity accounts (mail-based, takes 1-2 weeks).
  3. Set up US mailing service in tax-friendly state.
  4. Get medical records from all providers (30+ day request).
  5. Stockpile 90 days of prescriptions.
  6. Notify CPA, IRS, SSA of move.
  7. Plan pet relocation paperwork (USDA, country-specific).
  8. Test unlocked phone + VPN + communication apps before leaving.
Cheat sheet — 60-day pre-move countdown
  • · 60 days: US property decision, banking setup, mailing service
  • · 30 days: medical records, prescription stockpile, tax CPA
  • · 30 days: address changes (SSA, IRS, banks, DMV)
  • · 14 days: final medical, unlocked phone, VPN, communication apps
  • · 7 days: cancel utilities, cancel subscriptions, document home
  • · Final 24 hr: pet USDA, household walk-through, final photos
  • · Day of: 3-hour buffer for international, passport/visa/Rx essentials in carry-on
  • · Day 1-30 abroad: local immigration, local bank, healthcare, IDP→local DL

FAQ

Should I sell my house before moving abroad?+

Depends on your scenario. If you're certain about the move (5+ year horizon), selling simplifies. If uncertain, renting gives you a fallback to return. Capital gains exclusion ($500K married) applies if sold within 3 years of vacating as primary residence — so timing matters. AirBnB may have permit/tax implications.

What if I forget something and need to come back to handle it?+

Many things can be handled remotely with VPN + US phone number (Google Voice, etc.). Documents that absolutely require US presence: notarization (US embassy abroad can usually handle), some banking, court appearances. Most other things are remote-fixable.

How do I keep my US phone number?+

Google Voice (free, US-only) preserves a number for forwarding/voicemail. Or keep your existing carrier on a low-cost prepaid plan. Some carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon) have international roaming options. Many expats just transition to a local number + Google Voice.

Pairs well with

Expat Blueprint ($29)
Expat Tax Toolkit ($29)

Pre-Move Checklist Package for $14.

One-time payment. Lifetime access. 30-day refund.

$14
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