New York City International Moving Guide

New York City is renowned for its bright lights and impossibly tall skyscrapers. Delectable foods, a diverse culture and nonstop action await in these city streets. However, as wonderful as New York is, there’s an entire world out there to explore. Exciting new sights and sounds fill cities all over the world. 

In the city that never sleeps, people come and go on a daily basis. Whether you’re moving to New York City or you’ve decided to leave the Big Apple to go on global adventures, you’ll need a helping hand.

Atlas International specializes in assisting people seeking to move internationally. Our global network of professional residential movers means we can come to you to get your belongings and take them wherever you choose to go. With a supportive team by your side, the process of moving internationally becomes much more streamlined.

Embarking on an International Move: Why New York?

New York holds a lot of appeal for immigrants. The state features a booming economy, numerous job opportunities and an even greater nightlife. Entertainment and delicious food can be found throughout the state. New York City, in particular, is highly walkable, and around 30% of the population is foreign-born. 

As attractive as New York is for those seeking to achieve their American dream, many use it as a springboard for their international move. Some people return to their country of origin after attending school or completing a job. Others simply want a change of pace and scenery. 

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport handles the most global air traffic out of all US airports, making it the busiest for international air passenger traffic and a convenient place to spread your wings and try a new country and culture.

Simplifying Your Move From New York to the World

The world is your oyster and New York is the perfect springing board for your international adventure. Before you embark, it’s time to simplify your move. The right moving services and strategy can help you achieve your cross-border dream.

Choosing the Right International Moving Services 

An international move requires extensive coordination and planning. Partnering with the right international moving company helps streamline the process. At Atlas International, we understand the intricacies of international moves, from the laws to customs regulations. We also understand how to handle logistics so your international adventure goes off without a hitch.

Planning Your Overseas Move: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your overseas move will require months of planning, filing paperwork, and organizing logistics. We’ve compiled an international moving checklist to assist with this process.

The exact process will depend on the nation you’ve chosen to move to. However, you'll generally need to follow these steps:

1. Apply for a visa or residence to the nation you’ve chosen. Not all people will be accepted, and the process can vary based on why you want to move. Most visas are for work, education or to reunite with a family member.
2. Ensure you meet all qualifications for your move. Some countries require you to have a certain number of assets, a job offer or acceptance into an educational program.
3. During the visa application process period, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with, at the bare minimum, the basics of the language spoken in your destination country. While many countries speak English, if you’ve chosen to move to one with a different official language, you'll need to learn how to communicate. You should also familiarize yourself with the culture.
4. Once your application is accepted, you can begin the logistics of moving. You’ll need to locate housing and begin organizing for your move. Ideally, you should start working with a company 2 to 3 months before your moving date to ensure plenty of time for packing and shipping.
5. Figure out which belongings you plan to take and which items you'll leave behind. This may depend on customs regulations and the cost of shipping versus simply replacing the items once you move.
6. Begin organizing or packing your items so they’re ready for moving day. We offer packing services to help you with this process. You’ll also need to keep a detailed inventory of everything you're taking with you.
7. Do a final check before your moving date to ensure all paperwork and packing are completed well in advance. You don’t want any sudden surprises. 

Returning Home to the Big Apple

Sometimes, the desire to return home is too strong to ignore. If you eventually decide you want to return to New York, you’ll still have your work cut out for you. After all, long-distance moves, especially those crossing borders or seas, require attention to detail and a lot of help.

Navigating Customs and Reentry Into the US

If you have US citizenship or residency, returning home is somewhat simple. You’ll still need to go through the organization process to transport your belongings overseas or across borders. However, you’ll avoid the lengthy visa process. 

We can pack your belongings and send them back to New York with door-to-door international moving services. You’ll still have to clear customs with your belongings to ensure you didn't bring anything prohibited back with you.

Settling Back Into New York Life

Settling back into life in New York can be a major culture shock, especially if you’ve been away for several years. Health care costs and reintegrating into the community can be a particularly big adjustment. The following tips can help with the readjustment process:

• Update your resume and start looking for jobs ahead of time. A secure job offer can help with finding accommodations. 
• Once you have accommodations, contact utility companies to ensure you’ll have electricity, water and garbage services immediately. You may also want to consider hooking up internet or cable services. Plan on having a new, US-based phone number after returning.
• Join local community events and social media pages to get to know the people in your new neighborhood. Find clubs, churches and other social events to attend soon after returning.

Why Choose Atlas International for Your Move Between New York & Abroad

Atlas International offers a range of New York moving services to support you on your international voyage. We start every move with a thorough consultation to learn how we can best support you, and then we take that information and create a personalized moving plan that suits your needs. 

For more comprehensive support, we offer door-to-door service. Trust us to move and pack your belongings, then ship and unpack them in your new home. If your new home isn’t quite ready when your items arrive in their new country, we can securely store them until you’re prepared to receive them. 

Along the way, our international relocation experts offer support. They explain processes and field questions that arise while organizing the logistics of your move. 

Your Journey Begins Here: Contact Atlas International 

Whether you’re moving to New York or another country, the first step of your international journey begins today. For a stress-free start to your process, partner with a company that has the know-how and resources to help make your dream come true. We have decades of experience helping expats venture across the globe. 

Request a free quote online or contact us today to begin discussing the logistics of your move.