ADVICE!Moving Permanently to UK

Hi all,

I found this forum so helpful during my process of getting my spouse visa so I figured I'd try getting some advice on my move. I'm from California and have lived in the UK before (that's how I met my husband) when I studied there for a year. Because I've actually lived in the UK before I'm not worried about what things to pack or keeping my cell number or bank acct (I already have a UK number and bank acct) or finding a home (and I don't own a home here). However, now that I'm moving permanently I'm thinking about the other little details... I have tried looking at previous posts but haven't found that any of them answered my question- Any other things that people found they needed to do before leaving? For example, I've finished my dental work, will be requesting a copy of my medical records, am doing my taxes this weekend, cancelling gym membership (and other monthly bills that I wouldn't take care of anymore). Oh and we don't have kids to worry about I have to leave in 2 weeks so I'm worried I'm forgetting to do things and will have a hard time taking care of them once I'm gone. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! 

Adding someone you trust to your US bank account can prove invaluable.  Same with appointing someone as Power of Attorney.

I also would encourage you to budget for an annual trip home each year that grows if you have kids.  The number of people I know in real life who haven't been home in x number of years or who's kids haven't met most of their family is very sad.

That's a good point! Thanks for the advice

If you can set a forwarding address for your mail to either a family member (if there's someone you can trust)or to the UK, I would strongly suggest doing that because if you *do* forget to cancel something, the spam you get will help remind you! hah 

Also, I would suggest maybe not cancelling your US bank account if you think you'll be travelling back a fair amount and making sure you enable online banking if you haven't already because I find it cheaper and easier now to just transfer money from my UK account to my US account when I'm preparing to visit back home (and sometimes, if I'm ordering something from the US to my deliver to my mom's back there - which is what i do with my family's Christmas and bday presents - I need a US bank card so it's handy for that as well). Also, it's useful for student loans or any other type of payments you may need to make in the US while you're abroad.

I'm sure you've got all your bases covered as this isn't your first rodeo! Best of luck with your moving!