Relocation Solutions by TheMIGroup
Guide to your International Relocation
Relocating globally is not a process that happens to most people every day and for many, it can be
challenging and a little scary. From initial planning and counseling, through to selling, buying or renting a
home, obtaining appropriate visas and work permits, moving household goods, learning to live in a new city
and country, the list of “to-do’s” can seem endless. This guidebook is designed to assist you as you
navigate through the relocation process, and to direct you to valuable tools that will support your relocation.
TheMIGroup and the Relocation Process
1. Who We Are and What We Do
2. The Relocation Process
3. Your Relocation Checklist
4. International Relocation Profile
5. TheMIGroup “ReloWeb®” (our online tool to support your relocation)
6. TheMIGroup Worldwide Partner Network®
7. Emergency Time Zone Assistance
8. Customer Survey
In addition, a separate Country /City Information booklet has been included in your Relocation Kit to
provide you with an overview of your new home!
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Global Relocation Solutions by TheMIGroup
Who We Are
TheMIGroup is a global relocation management company. We specialize in working with corporations to
assist in the delivery of their mobility and relocation programs. Since 1978, TheMIGroup has a rich history
of providing successful assistance to relocating employees for over 500 corporate and institutional clients.
We manage approximately 17,000 relocations each year to and from every part of the globe.
We have the capability to manage
every phase of your International
Assignment. Whether providing one
service, a few services or managing
your relocation from assignment
acceptance through repatriation, we
are here to assist you!
We maintain fully staffed delivery centers in North America, in Europe and Asia. Together with our network
of over 2,500 qualified providers in over 175 countries throughout the world, we have the ability to support
you in your host country time zone, day or night.
You can find out more about who we are at www.themigroup.com
What We Do for You
Your employer has retained the services of TheMIGroup to assist you with your relocation in accordance
with your employer’s relocation policy. We will assign a Relocation Manager who will act as your central
point of contact throughout the entire relocation. Your Relocation Manager will guide you through the
process and manage the delivery of all your relocation services, including those provided by additional
service providers, such as your Household Goods Movers. Your Relocation Manager’s job is to ensure
every question you have is answered, quickly and accurately, and to provide you with peace of mind.
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The Relocation Process
Generic Relocation Process Flow
This Relocation Process Flow is presented in a generic format to assist your understanding of the Relocation Process. The specific details of your
service delivery is dependent on a number of factors including your employer’s policy and process, your personal situation and your destination. The
specific details of the delivery of each service will be explained by TheMIGroup’s Relocation Manager.
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Your Relocation Checklist
Detailed below are some of the things you should consider when relocating
internationally. Please contact your Relocation Manager if you have any questions
regarding the following items.
Upon Assignment Acceptance
Collect information about your new location from the internet, books/brochures,
current or former expats and your Relocation Manager. Information will vary on
your personal preferences but may include:
Schools
Health Care
What to bring/leave behind. Order items that have a long delivery time.
Consider visiting your new location.
Find out whether your new home will be furnished or unfurnished. If furnished, obtain list of what will be
included, and what will need to be brought.
If necessary, take a language course or an inter-cultural course.
Inform your children's teachers about your plans to move.
Decide whether to sell or rent your house, make necessary arrangements.
Inform your neighbors of your departure, and decision on the sale or rent of your house.
If you have young children, make a calendar leading up to your move.
Two to three months before the move (note: timeframe may vary based on your specific relocation)
Arrange any necessary visas, residence permits, etc., and check passport expiry dates.
Verify that your driving license is valid in the country of destination.
If necessary, obtain an international driving license.
Check the voltage in the country of destination. Do you need adaptors or transformers?
Have important documents translated by a sworn translator (marriage certificate, birth certificates,
diplomas, school records, etc.).
Terminate your house rental contract, if applicable.
Start forming an inventory of what will be shipped; write down the value of the goods for the moving
company
Discuss with the moving company:
When and how your effects will be moved
How long you will have to wait for them
Who will be doing the packing and unpacking
How things will be taken apart and set back together again
Which documents you will need for the customs authorities etc.
Arrange temporary accommodation (at home and in your destination country).
Coordinate with bank for auto-recurring payments, and electronic statements.
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Your Relocation Checklist
One to two months before the move
Cancel and/or transfer insurances, subscriptions (newspapers), memberships, etc.
Terminate contracts with utilities companies. If you keep your house, forward bills to your new address.
Arrange the forwarding of mail and email.
Obtain (and translate, if necessary) all medical data on each
family member from your GP, dentist and/or medical specialist.
Obtain required vaccinations, medical certificates and if necessary, medication passports.
Arrange for pet transportation, vaccinations and medical papers.
Decide what you will be bringing along and what you will be giving away, selling or storing. Properly and
safety discard of prohibited items (paint, bleach, petroleum, etc.)
When renting out:
Leave the instructions for the use of the washing machine, microwave, etc.
Arrange maintenance contracts with chimney sweep, boiler repair man, gardener etc.
Inform your home insurance company that you will be renting out your home.
Make appointments with painters, handymen, and cleaners, so that your house can be handed over in
good condition.
Book personal/family transportation to your new location.
Two to four weeks before the move
If necessary, arrange for the shipment or disposal of your car.
Request a no-claims statement and a statement of ownership and use of your car from your insurance
company (in many cases you will need one when importing your car or to arrange a no-claims bonus
when taking out new car insurance).
Arrange a rental car, if necessary (at home and in the country of destination).
Open a new bank account in your country of destination.
Sort the contents of your freezer, start using up the food within.
Have the moving boxes delivered.
Find the transit packing and bolts for transporting the washing machine.
Make a separate list of all valuables (preferably including date of purchase and value).
If there are items that are not covered by the general transport insurance, arrange their insurance.
When renting out:
Have curtains cleaned
Have an extra sets of keys made (for estate agents, the leasee,
and anyone else managing your affairs)
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Your Relocation Checklist
The last two weeks before your move
Clean your garden furniture, toys, bicycles, etc.
Pay all unpaid bills.
Check whether all your lockers at work, the sports club, etc. are empty.
Return all borrowed goods (i.e. library books).
Pick up anything that has been taken in for repair.
Remove all fuel, for instance, from the lawn mower.
The day before the move
Record the readings on the utility meters (gas, water, electricity).
Thaw out the refrigerator and/or freezer.
Prepare the washing machine/dryer and other electrical equipment for the move.
Disconnect the TV (a TV that is too hot can be damaged during the move).
Clearly indicate (i.e. with stickers) what will not have to be packed.
Ensure there is enough parking space for the moving van/container.
Ensure there are no breakables or fluids in any drawers.
Remove the batteries from electronics that will be going into the container.
On the day of the move
Put everything that will not be going into the container (travel luggage, travel documents, money, lap-
tops, stroller etc.) in a separate room and lock it, to ensure they are not packed into the container.
Keep hold of any chargers for equipment you will be taking along in your (hand) luggage.
Indicate what you would like to unpack first in the country of destination; request that this be loaded into
the container last.
Notes:
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International Relocation Profile
During your relocation, you will
need to provide several pieces of
key information required by
TheMIGroup and our providers to
deliver your services. Examples
include: passport details for our
immigration specialist, and your
contact information for the movers.
To help simplify the process and
alleviate administration on your
end, your Relocation Manager will
forward to you our “International
Relocation Profile” document which
will contain all required information.
Your Relocation Manager will
complete as much information as
they can, based on the information
we already have, prior to
forwarding the form.
To complete this document, you
can open the document and
complete online or you can print
and complete. Once returned to
your Relocation Manager, this
information will be shared with the
providers who will be delivering
your authorized relocation services.
The information that we obtain from
you will be used solely for the
purpose of providing relocation
services and is subject to our strict
privacy policy. Details of our
privacy policy are available on
TheMIGroup’s public website.
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Introduction to ReloWeb®
We have a secure website, called
“ReloWeb®”, specifically designed to
support your international relocation. Your
Relocation Manager will send your log on
instructions; upon receipt, go to
www.themigroup.com click on “ReloWeb®
Login“, then enter the user name and
password provided by your Relocation
Manager. The Relocation Manager can
also answer any questions you may have
about the tools in ReloWeb®.
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Country and City Information
We will provide you with access to information on your new city and country. This is designed to give
you a broad understanding of your new location, and is available through your online ReloWeb® tool
under the My Guides, Resources & Forms section.
Comprehensive guides include chapters on accommodation, healthcare and cost of living and can be
directly accessed at http://themigroup.expatarrivals.com. We also provide live, up-to-the-minute,
country data including visa and immigration information, through the World Trade Resource (WTR).
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TheMIGroup Worldwide Partner Network®
A truly global relocation program requires local service resources everywhere. To fulfill that need, we
have assembled TheMIGroup Worldwide Partner Network®, made up of our Preferred Providers.
These Preferred Providers are specialists in their business sector and are selected because they deliver
consistent, high-quality service locally.
With coverage in over 175 countries, TheMIGroup Worldwide Partner Network® functions as an
extension of our global mobility services.
Your Relocation Manager will organize and monitor all aspects of our Preferred Providers interaction
with you to ensure a seamless service delivery. The Relocation Manager will select providers from our
network who will best meet your specific relocation requirements and will mange the service provider
throughout. Your Relocation Manager will remain your central point of contact, maintaining regular
communication with the provider and you, to ensure service delivery is exceeding your expectations and
to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during the process.
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Emergency Assistance
Your Relocation Manager will act as your primary point of contact throughout the relocation. In the rare
event that an emergency arises and you are unable to reach your Relocation Manager, or anyone in the
office responsible for your relocation, please contact any of TheMIGroup’s offices in the time zone that
works best for you. Our staff will access your relocation details on their desktop computer and will be
happy to assist.
In situations that you are unable to contact any of our offices during regular business hours, we have also
provided emergency after hours telephone numbers for each of our offices. A representative of
TheMIGroup will be there to help.
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Locations Telephone No. Emergency
After Hours
London, UK 44 (0) 1892 522319 44 (0) 7506
324266
Asia Pacific
Locations Telephone No. Emergency
After Hours
Hong Kong 852 2810 1812 852 9151 2649
North, Central and Latin America
Locations Telephone No. Emergency
After Hours
Toronto 905.813.0510 416.627.5852
Calgary 403.730.1616 403.651.4425
Vancouver 604.273.2012 604.861.1560
New York 973.463.0712 973.406.1993
Chicago 847.541.1051 847.541.1051
Houston 713.460.0192 973-652-0084
Los Angeles 949.475.0088 949.637.5859
Philadelphia 302.778.1100 302 545 2491
San 510.887.8200 650.284.8461
Francisco
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Customer Feedback Survey
At the completion of your relocation, we will provide a link to our customer services feedback site – we call
this feedback form “Your experience matters”. Your feedback is vitally important to us, and is used to
recognize our staff, evaluate our providers and review and improve our processes.
Your personalized questionnaire will appear on the screen. Please fill in the responses with any comments
you would like to share and click on “Submit” to return the form to our Quality Assurance Department.
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