Moving to the UK and waiting for your visa can be an all-consuming process that comes with lots of impatience and frustration.
Unfortunately, you can’t do anything during this time except for wait, so it makes sense to have a checklist of all the stuff you need to do before you leave and try and work your way through that list.
Go through our list and try and get some of it done while you wait:
- Cancel or transfer cellphone contract
- Cancel TV license
- Cancel DSTV
- Cancel Security Company
- Cancel Shopping Cards – Dischem, Clicks, Edgars, Woolworths, Makro, Pick n Pay etc.
- Cancel current household insurances
- Cancel Telephone and broadband account –
- Shred surplus personal records
- Cancel unwanted bank accounts and cards
- Close out any investments (Fica)
- Arrange postal redirection
- Request hand over docs from Dr and dentist
- Request and hand over files from current schools
- Sell cars
- Close out SARS and Tax Clearance if necessary etc.
- Set up Skype to stay in touch with friends and family
- Start packing
- Make back-ups from computer
- Update will and leave with reliable friend
- Get a travel file
- Power of attorney for house/bank accounts
- Open a UK Bank Account
- Cancel medical aid and gap cover
- Organize farewells
- Book flights to the UK
- Check which items are prohibited in UK
- Arrange temporary car hire if need be
- Change CV into UK format
- Start finding employment
- Give official notice to employer
- Do police check
- Get Home Affairs consent form signed and stamped
- Make copies of passports, birth and marriage certificates, and visas
- Renew driver’s license if necessary
- Pay outstanding traffic fines
- Purchase pounds for trip
- Check Visa and travel docs
- Do TOR and get number
- Sell or give to charity
- Copy and scan all photos – decide which ones are going with on container
- Arrange quotations for internal removals companies to move belongings
- Ensure you have at least 3 months bank statements
- Request mortgage statements
- Request any no-claims car insurance docs
- Pay off any remaining debts
- Do TB X Rays
- Secure accommodation for arrival in UK
- Organise health care insurance (NHS) and pay for it
- Request any up-to-date statements on pension and savings
- Research schools in UK
- Qualification papers
- Employment references