How To: Move to the US

(Based on the book by Klaus Eifert - Aus Deutschland in die USA umziehen (Moving from Germany to the USA))

The things you have to organize before departure depend on what you leave behind in Germany and when you are planning to return.

If you own a house or apartment and your absence will only be temporary, you have to consider whether it really makes sense to sell it. In case you decide on selling it, it will be more difficult to prove to the authorities that despite your move you will still have part of your life in Germany and will still spend more time there than abroad. For example, if you completely give up your residence, you will also lose child benefit and child-raising benefit, and there is no substitute in the US. Also, parental leave will not count towards your pension insurance in case you are spending the time abroad.

If you want to keep your house/apartment, you have to consider whether it makes sense to rent it out. This is an additional income, but it also means there might be nerve-wracking complications, for example if you pick a tenant in a hurry and later find out he doesn't like to pay his rent on time. If you're only looking for a temporary tenant, you should consider showing your offer to international organizations in your area first, e.g. foreign cultural institutes, language schools etc., since they often employ people who are only in Germany for one or two years. That way, you will not only have a guarantee fro your tenant's income, but also a further contact in case of problems.

In case you have had private health insurance for some time already you should consider a contingency clause so you don't have to accept unfavorable conditions after your return to Germany. However, also ask your local AOK office whether insurances still have to take in repatriates after their return irrespective of their income situation.

In case you want to keep your insurance, get a written confirmation that your contract will not be invalidated by your move abroad. Otherwise you may continue to pay your fees but will not be covered in case of illness. You will need this in writing, because there is no guarantee that any information you get over the phone will actually count as an agreement. Keeping your German insurance might be really worth it, especially in the case of temporary life assurances which are available under much more favorable conditions in Germany than in the US.

Since it is next to impossible to still acquire a German insurance policy once you have left Germany, you should think about what you still need before leaving the country. You might especially want to consider a disability insurance. By moving to the US you might lose all your previous social security measures. While you can also get a disability insurance in the US, conditions will be much less favorable. And if you have children or are planning to have children, you should really consider a temporary life assurance. Please keep in mind that in case of an accident, also the surviving, working parent will need additional income in order to pay for child care and education that has been taken care of by the family before.

In the US, even TV commercials tell you about the lawyer industry that makes a living with helping people who have been disappointed by their insurances after an accident. You should better try to stay insured in Germany.

Also, don't forget to terminate all services such as telephone, electricity etc., cancel your subscriptions for magazines and newspapers. For a small fee, you can have your mail forwarded by Deutsche Post. This service is available for a period of either 6 or 12 months. Best apply for this 2-3 weeks prior to departure. It is still a good idea to ask a friend from Germany whether you can use his address for your German correspondence. You will meet individuals or organizations that won't like sending letters abroad, due to ignorance or high mailing expenses.

The free 800-numbers cannot be called from the US. If there is someone with an 800-number you have to reach from the US as well, you should ask for an alternative number in good time. Otherwise, you may not be able to call from the US. The same applies to numbers that are especially highly charged in Germany - if you call such a number from the US, your American phone company might first of all drastically overcharge you - saying that you used a satellite connection - and secondly block your connection, for your "protection."

How much baggage?

In case you don't want to take more baggage than fits into one taxi, you should check whether it isn't cheaper to pay the small fee the airline will charge you for the additional baggage, than paying the shipping fees for the parcel service if you mail your things to your new address.

In case you have more baggage, you will need a freight company. They will not only organize the transportation of your possessions, but also take care of customs. In case money's not a problem (e.g. if your employer pays for the move), the freight company will also handle packing and unpacking.

In order to get a quotation you should seem very determined upon first contact and not leave the impression that you are just comparing prices. Only then they will send a representative to evaluate your possessions. You won't get a quotation via the phone.

You should, of course, have several offers in order to save costs. After you have made a contract with a freight company, they will, depending on how much you need transported, arrive at your house either with a specially made wooden container or an industrial container and start packing. You will have to fill out a lot of forms for American customs.

Please keep in mind that you will always need a valid residence permit for the US in order to have your entire household moved. Our customers repeatedly tell us about having their things turned away at customs, for example because they were only holding a tourist visa (B-1/B-2).

You can also save costs by parting from some things that you won't be able to use in the US anyway or can acquire at a much more favorable price there.

Most mains-operated electronic devices cannot be used in the US since voltage in Germany is 220/230 volts and only 110 in the US. However, there are 230 volts connections for electric kitchen stoves and dryers, so that if you adjust your equipment you may use your devices in the US as well. Due to its complexity, this issue will be addressed in a separate chapter.

Other things you better leave at home when you move to the US are cars and motorbikes. The reason is not so much the organizational effort but rather the American import regulations that mostly require you to pay for some expensive technical modifications. The freight company won't transport the car before the modifications are done. The manufacturer can tell you what kinds of modifications will be necessary for your vehicle; in some cases, however - for example in the case of rare models - even he won't be able to help you. The American authorities won't be of any help to you. In some cases, you might find a car dealer willing to certify that the car meets the American import requirements.

By the way, also your German auto liability insurance will expire the minute you move to the US.

Before you move to the US, you may also part with your large German closet. American houses and apartments have large, often even walk-in closets in all bedrooms.

We wish you all the best for your potential moving plans!