The logistics of emigrating!!!!!

[H1robot]

We are hopefully emigrating to Canada probably in 8months-ish and have found out loads of info from this site and others but can anybody who has been there and done it please explain to me the finer points, ie, i assume all "big" stuff will just get packed and sent by choice of firm (move being funded by dh new company) but what happens to things like car seats,for example, or selection of toys and necessities that will be needed up until leaving and again as soon as we arrive there? . Also any comments on the Trunki case? I want to get one (or 2) but do they hold much or just look good?? We have 2 dd's ages 1 and 3.

Car seats can be taken on the plane with you so you can use them as soon as you arrive. I've never heard of airlines charging for that but even if they do it will probably be minimal compared with replacing them.

Favourite toys can be maybe posted just before you leave (as if you will have time for that!!) or maybe a kind relative can be in charge of posting around that time. We left a selection of favourite toys/books with relatives that were planning to visit us in the first year. Whenever DS gets his old toys back it is like they are new presents all over again - very happy boy!

There's plenty of people around on MN that have emigrated so I'm sure you'll soon have plenty of advice.

When we moved to Spain, we took car seat with us and kept a supply of best toys. we ended up paying excess luggage. I think when you are moving further you have to think and plan more carefully as shipping takes longer etc. I am sure someone with some more useful advice will be along soon.

Whichever airline you travel with, call them direct & fnd out what excess you can take.

Coming to Australia, Singapore Airlines gave us 40kg each, but that had to include the car seat, but not buggy/pram.

Malaysian, however wanted 17gbp per excess kg....so please find out before hand.

Take minimal stuff on the flight up to the luggage allowance and ship as much as you can/need. It'll help the kids settle if there are toys waiting for them on the other side of it can be done. Far cheaper in the longterm. Car seats can be taken as luggage on most airlines.

Keep copies of all paperwork of note on you and lodge a copy with trusted parent/sibling in case of need. Worth getting 6 months worth of bank statements etc lined up in case you need them for opening accounts/residents permits etc. Have your medical check ups 2 months before you go, last trip to dentist, optician etc. Get copies of any health records and details of prescriptions.

If you're leaving property in the UK then give someone power of attorney so they can deal with any calamities. Also helps with the tax people.

Speak to the tax office at least 3 months ahead of leaving and get all the correct paperwork filed, including any self assessments.

Sort out redirect of mail. Its nigh impossible to do from overseas!

When you get there register with the local British embassy.

Expatwoman.com is a good site for useful info on this.

OH! Use a proper removal firm. Don't waste time trying to arrange shipping and packing yourself. Pickfords etc do this all the time and its far less hassle ( I really wish I'd known this a year ago!). When packing the container bear in mind the time of year it'll be at sea and if its going to be in direct sun in hot places don't pack candles on your favourite clothes....

also worth one parent going ahead to make sure you have beds etc unless you are staying in a hotel at first. Also means that they can get things ready for the small ones so it doesn't feel too wierd. Its really tough on both sides (I did a month here before DH and DS arrived) but made it easier on DS for sure.

How long between your house being packed up, you getting on the plane and your stuff being delivered?
When we left the UK for NZ we had 9 weeks between saying goodbye to stuff and getting it ...
3 weeks at my parents ... easy. 6 weeks at FIL's - hell.
All we had was two suitcases, a buggy and a car seat.
We made do. We bought DS (aged 2 at the time) a trike on arrival, and we bought stuff like play dough, and small toys in NZ ... nothing much, just stuff to get by. There really is not much point in lugging stuff with you ... if you only have a couple of months to wait ... children can be very resourceful.
We moved from NZ to Australia 6 weeks ago and are living in a rented house with hired furniture (company paying for the furniture this time) ... All we brought with us was the children (7 and 3) and suitcases and 2 carseats.
So far I have bought them a few bits (lego, tea set for DD, books, puzzles) but honestly, they don't care that much. DS is suffering the most. DD just plays with boxes and kitchen utensils (hired ones )
Make life easy for yourself ... only take the minimum of toys with you ... chances are it won't be for that long really.

Incidentally, our stuff will arrive in 3 weeks from NZ ... so in the end it will have been 9 weeks again.

Thanks, this is really helpful stuff. Dont know at moment length of time between moving out and moving in. Is possible Dh may have to go first and me and kids will go to grandparents for while which i think would work out the best as long as i dont have to fly on my own for 12 hrs with 2 young children . Def will be using a removal firm to do the dirty work!!!!

12 hours flight with 2 kids on your own? Try 2 back to back 12 hour flights alone with 2 children mate ...

Honestly, it isn't that bad ... just one flight from A to B, if you are with a good airline, you'll be fine ....

I'd make sure your uk carseats meet Canadian safety regulations, they don't always match up - might be better off leaving them here and buying new ones