Addressing family issues

Stress

•People relocate for many reasons: health, retirement, work, family, financial, etc. The moving process is can be difficult. It often means leaving family and friends, making difficult decisions, and handling a multitude of details.
The best way to combat stress during a move is to share as much of the burden as possible and have a good plan in place. Prepare a checklist so you don’t have to try to remember everything. Divide the tasks to be completed fairly.

Other family members

•Many times a relocation occurs due to a corporate transfer or job change. In that case, other family members, while supportive and understanding of the need to relocate, might not be terribly pleased about it. A spouse often needs to find a new job. Ask your new employer if they have a spousal support program. Subscribe to the newspaper in your new city prior to moving. Contact the Chamber of Commerce and employment companies for information.

•Family members are leaving the friends and support groups they have formed in their old home. Take steps to keep in touch with old friends and make new ones. Before moving, ascertain what associations (churches, sports clubs, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, etc.) are available that will speed the process of forming new relationships. Your realtor can often be a good source for such information.

Health issues

•When relocating to a new community, it is necessary to find a new dentist, doctor, pharmacy, hospital and, sometimes, veterinarian. It reduces the stress to have these in place before you move. The last thing you need is to arrive with a sick family member and have no idea of whom to turn to. (Make sure you have at least a 30-day supply of any maintenance prescriptions prior to moving.)

•To find new providers, obtain a copy of the phone books for your new city before you move. You’ll often find a listing for physician referrals. The company that provides your insurance is also a good place to start. They may even have restrictions on your choices. Ask them for lists and recommendations.

•Your current providers are also good sources for recommendations. Once you select new health providers, have your records sent to them.

Schools

•If you have children, you know that relocating within a quality school system is critical. Again, take the time to do some research in advance. Once you know which school(s) children will be attending, transfer school records so there is no delay in registering at the new school.

•Good sources for school information include: colleagues where you’ll be working, your current school management, your realtor, the Teachers Association, etc. When reviewing schools, consider their scholastic rating, security, location, arts and sports programs, etc

Safeguarding Your Passport

•Your passport is a valuable document which should be carefully safeguarded. When living overseas, the Department of State recommends that you keep your passport at home in a safe, secure place. Although a passport kept at an available storage facility outside the home might offer maximum security, keep in mind that an emergency requiring immediate travel may make it difficult or impossible to obtain your passport before departure. In such a case, it may not be possible to obtain a replacement or temporary passport in time to make the intended travel.

Loss or Theft of a U.S. Passport

•If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, report the loss immediately to the nearest foreign service post and to local police authorities. If you can provide the consular officer with the information in the old passport, it will facilitate issuance of a new passport. Therefore, you should photocopy the data page of your passport and keep it in a separate place for easy retrieval.

Passport Fraud

•Multiple and fraudulent U.S. passports are used in many types of criminal activity, including illegal entry into the United States. In processing lost passport cases, the Department of State must take special precautions that may delay the issuance of a new passport. If you suspect a U.S. passport is being used fraudulently, do not hesitate to contact the nearest passport agency in the United States or American embassy or consulate overseas.