Moving to America from Singapore? Our Complete How to Move to America from Singapore Checklist is a foolproof list of easy-to-follow, chronologically ordered tasks designed to help ensure you and your family enjoy a smooth, stress-free move to America.
Follow our comprehensive step-by-step checklist, which starts from six months prior to your move, right through to once you have arrived in the US, to avoid the logistical and legal pitfalls of moving to the USA from Singapore.
Our moving to the USA checklist includes over 60 detailed steps, from applying for a visa and organising your move, right through to connecting your utilities and opening a bank account. Tick off each item in our moving to America from Singapore checklist for the most efficient, well-planned, and hassle-free international move possible.
As the largest removals company in the world, with over 1,000 service centres across 180 countries, UniGroup Worldwide International Movers will help make your move to America as smooth and stress-free as possible.
With over 85 years' experience, successfully delivering 48,000 international shipments annually, our overseas removals experts can help ensure your safe, seamless stress-free move to America from Singapore.
UniGroup moving Singaporeans to America carefully and hassle-free
For your convenience, you may:
Checking your passport's expiry date
When moving from Singapore to USA, you must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of your intended stay. So, if you intend to stay in the US for 12 months, your passport must be valid for 18 months, considering the time required to process your visa (which could be upwards of six months).
To be on the safe side, ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 12 months (preferably longer) after your intended stay.
If your passport is not valid for a minimum of 12 months beyond the period of your intended stay, you may need to apply for a new passport.
Singapore citizens can apply for passports from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). New passports are valid for five years.
You can apply for a passport or renew your existing passport using the Application for Passport On-line Electronic System (APPLES) e-Service, although a SingPass is required. You will need the following to complete your application:
Applying for your America visa
You must obtain a visa before arriving on American soil. To do so, you must:
For further information, visit How to Apply for a US Visa in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
When moving to the US from Singapore, you can apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) in Singapore when applying for your visa. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration.
You can also apply for your SSN once you’ve arrived in the US, you’ll just need an appointment at your local Social Security office. It will take approximately two weeks to process and costs nothing for the application.
For further information, visit How to Apply for a Social Security Number in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
America is a huge country, with a population of over 320 million people spread across some 10 million km2 (3.8 million square miles). If you’re not moving from Singapore to a specific location in America for work, you’ll need to decide where to live.
For further information on factors to consider when deciding where to live, visit How to Decide Where to Live in America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
When it comes to knowing how to move to the US, an important step is establishing approximately when you need to move, considering:
For further information, visit the When is the Best Time to Move to America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If you’re not moving to the US from Singapore permanently, you’ll need to decide what to do with your current home:
There are several factors that you’ll need to consider when making this decision, particularly if you own your home. Some of the most important factors include:
Choosing a real estate agent is an important decision in selling or renting out your home. If you opt to sell, your real estate agent will handle advertising, inspections, the auction, and negotiating private offers. If you choose to rent out your home, your real estate agent will manage the property on your behalf, handling repairs and liaising with your tenants long-term. So, you need to choose carefully.
To shortlist real estate agents:
If possible, take an exploratory trip to America to better understand what lies ahead. During the trip:
Putting your current home on the market
If you’ve decided to sell or rent out your current home, as soon as your visa is approved, engage the services of your preferred real estate agent. It is at this stage that you’ll sign a contract with your agent. This contract should outline items such as fees, advertising costs, the process if your home is passed in at auction, property management protocols, and much more. It is recommended that you seek legal advice to ensure you are happy with the terms of the contract.
If you’re selling or renting out your current home, you’ll need to put it on the market. Some of the steps involved in this process include:
If you’re selling or renting out your home, you’ll want to do everything you can to secure the best possible price. As such, you’ll need to undertake some preparations to ensure that your property looks the best it possibly can, in both advertising photos and during inspections. Consider:
Decide which of your belongings you’ll be shipping to America, leaving in your current home, storing, selling, donating and disposing of. (And make sure you speak to your UniGroup expert if you require short or long-term secure storage .)
Create a detailed inventory of all the items that you want to move to America to obtain accurate removals quotes, and to determine how much would it cost to move to America. Your UniGroup removals expert can assist you with an easy-to-fill-out form.
For further information, visit How Much Does It Cost to Move to America? and How to Ship Household Goods to America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If you will be shipping most of your belongings by sea freight to America (which may take weeks or months to arrive), you may want to consider a small air freight consignment for essential items that you would like to have immediately on arrival.
Obtaining a quote from an experienced international removalist
Container ships move in six different directions, often travelling over 20m (65ft) with each roll, as often as seven to 10 times per minute. So, with your belongings being tossed about for weeks on end, it’s essential that you entrust your move to an exceptionally experienced international removals company such as UniGroup Worldwide.
If you obtain a quote from another international removalist, ensure they exhibit the same level of experience and capabilities as UniGroup Worldwide, including:
For further information, visit How Much Does It Cost to Move to America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Given the extensive movement of sea freight and potential for damage if belongings are not properly packed, combined with the introduction of strict American anti-terrorism laws and significant tightening of customs clearance processes for all personal effects shipments, UniGroup strongly recommends that you do not ship items to America that have not been packed by a professional moving company. The significantly higher potential for loss and damage of ‘owner packed’ items, as well as attracting stringent inspection by customs officials, often results in additional charges and long delays.
Once you’ve decided on where, when, and what you want to move, book in:
For further information, visit When is the Best Time to Move to America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If you are storing any of your belongings while overseas, make sure you store them properly, safely and securely with a trusted and experienced short and long-term storage provider such as UniGroup Worldwide.
To help ensure your belongings are stored properly and safely, so they remain in their best condition, insist on the following criteria when selecting a storage provider:
Once you’ve decided on a secure storage provider, book in:
Review the contents of your freezer and pantry and create meal plans that will empty them prior to moving.
Making travel arrangements to America
To save money on your travel arrangements:
If you plan on searching for your home once you arrive in the US, book temporary accommodation for when you first arrive. Depending on where you plan to live, you may also want to book a hire car.
Where possible, book temporary accommodation that is within walking distance to your work, or public transport. This way, all members of your family will have access to transportation.
At your child’s current school in Singapore:
For your child’s education in America, you’ll need to:
To assist you in finding the most appropriate school for your children, visit:
For further information, visit What is the Education and Schooling System Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
You can move cars, trucks, caravans, campervans and motorbikes to America, so long as the following are met:
To avoid unnecessary headaches and expenses, speak to a UniGroup Worldwide international moving expert for all your vehicle transportation requirements.
For further information, visit How to Import Vehicles into America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Confirming Pet Transportation To America
You can take most pets to America, so long as they are free from infectious diseases that are transmittable to humans and are not deemed harmful to the environment.
Airlines may have separate and additional requirements for the transportation of pets. Be sure to check with your airline to determine what requirements, if any, they may have.
Some states have strict prohibitions against the introduction of non-native wildlife, as well as additional regulations around examinations on arrival and quarantine requirements. It’s best to confirm these requirements with the relevant local government department of the US state that you are moving to. You can check state-specific requirements via the Department of Agriculture.
To ensure a stress-free relocation to the USA for your pet, speak to a UniGroup Worldwide international removals professional about all your pet transportation requirements.
For more information, visit How to Import Pets into America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Ensure all your pet’s vaccinations and health-checks are up-to-date, and obtain a copy of your pet’s medical records or a signed letter from your veterinarian.
Firearms purchased in the United States and taken out of the country by a resident may be imported back into the country, so long as you can provide a bill of sale or commercial document indicating proof of possession or ownership.
Firearms purchased outside the United States are subject to complicated clearance procedures and are difficult to import. As such, if you intend to take weapons with you, it is best to confirm all importation requirements as early as possible.
For more information, visit How to Import Weapons into America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
H3: 25. Confirm Alcohol Importation Requirements
You may import wines and other alcoholic beverages into the United States as part of your household goods shipment, pursuant to the laws of the US state in which you plan to reside.
However, many states require that a permit or receipt be presented to US Customs officials upon importing alcoholic beverages. If a permit is required, you will need to organise it with your relevant US State Liquor Control Board prior to your departure from Singapore.
For more information, visit How to Import Alcohol into America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Most items of a biological nature including plants, cuttings, seeds, vegetables, and fruits require a permit for importation into the United States. General tips to help expedite the import process of plants are:
For more information, visit How to Import Plants into America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
If you’ve already secured a new role (or are moving to America for a specific employment opportunity), now is the time to investigate employment options for your partner (if needed). Or, if you haven’t secured a role, to investigate employment options for yourself.
For more information, visit How to Find Employment in America and What is Working in America Like? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If you’re an American moving to America, you should investigate local US customs and common cultural differences to help you assimilate more easily into American culture on arrival.
For more information on some of the common cultural differences, visit our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide
A cluttered house will make moving to America unnecessarily stressful; packing will take longer, and the cost of your removal and storage will be more expensive (as fees are based on the volume of items). If you’re not selling or renting out your home (in which case you will have already completed this step), now is the time to declutter your home, determining which items you will:
How can I move to America with minimal stress? Engage experienced, professional international packers, like the team at UniGroup Worldwide. Not only will it reduce, if not eliminate, the most stressful part of moving, it will help ensure your belongings are packed safely for their long journey to America.
If you’re not using a professional packing service, make sure you start packing as early as possible:
For more information, visit our Ultimate How to Pack for Moving Tips & Guide.
Complete your customs declaration forms as you pack. This will help ensure the forms are completed as accurately as possible. The information you’ll need includes:
The forms you’ll need to complete include:
For more information, visit our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
For more information, visit What is a Credit Rating? our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Investigating housing in America
If you’re not moving to USA from Singapore for work, or your employer hasn’t organised housing for you, investigate potential properties to buy or rent in America.
For more information, visit What is Housing Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
When cancelling your insurance, or other services where you may have prepaid for the year, check whether you’re entitled to a refund for the period after the cancellation. Plus, if you have one, obtain a copy of your ‘good driving record’ or ‘no claims status’ from your vehicle insurer as it may be beneficial for a new policy in America.
If your current home lease or contract of sale includes any repair work prior to you vacating the premises, book in a handyman now. (UniGroup Worldwide can assist you with this if needed.)
If you’re ending a lease, now is the time to notify your landlord. Make sure you understand any requirements, including:
If you’ve decided to rent out your current home, touch base with your property manager to confirm:
If you’ve decided to sell your current home, touch base with your real estate agent to confirm:
For more information, visit What is the Healthcare System Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Attending to your medical needs prior to moving to America
There are three potential compatibility issues when it comes to using American appliances and electronics in America: the plug, the voltage and the frequency. You should therefore thoroughly check the power labels or manuals of all your appliances and electronics to ensure they are compatible with US standards before incurring the cost of shipping over what might be useless upon arrival. Buying new or secondhand appliances and electronics once you arrive may not only be more cost-effective, but your only solution.
For more information, visit Will American Appliances and Electronics Work in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
As a rule, your standard house and contents insurance won’t cover your personal possessions while in transit. An experienced international removalist like UniGroup will offer a comprehensive range of cost-effective removals insurance options. Speak to your UniGroup expert to arrange transit and storage insurance that suits your needs and budget.
If you’ve decided to rent out your current home, you’ll need to inform the company responsible for your home and contents insurance that you are no longer living there. You may also want to arrange landlord’s insurance. This protects against financial losses that may be suffered because of owning a rental property. You can opt for insurance that covers the building only, as well as specific items that you may have left on the premises.
When moving to the States from Singapore, some US states require that you hold an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to a valid American drivers’ license. If you intend on obtaining an IDP, you must do so in advance. IDPs are issued by Singapore's motor vehicle departments, not the United States Government.
For more information, visit Can You Drive in the US with a Foreign License? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If you plan to drive once you arrive in the United States, there are many different road rules of which you should be aware.
For more information about driving in America, and road rules, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles, or What are the Road Rules when Driving in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Safely dispose of any dangerous or prohibited goods that cannot be shipped to America or stored. People attempting to import prohibited items into America may be subject to a penalty, and the items may be seized by customs officials.
For more information, visit What Items are Prohibited When Shipping Goods to America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Shipping some items to the United States (such as biological materials, money, trademarked items, and food) are subject to restrictions, and will require additional precautions, special customs clearance, or permits. Be sure you’re aware of these requirements, and apply for any permits as early as possible.
For more information, visit What Items are Restricted When Shipping Goods to America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide, and our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Packing your suitcases for your move to America
Start packing your suitcases now, while making a detailed inventory list as you go. Your suitcase should contain all the essential items that you, and your family members, will need as soon as you arrive in America, including:
When packing, keep in mind US customs clearance requirements:
For more information on how to expedite your entry to the United States, watch this video from US Customs and Border Protection, and visit our American Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Confirm any of your removalists’ access requirements at your existing home, such as parking and building access and restrictions, traffic management and lift protocols. Remember to check street signage and the requirements of your local council, building manager or body corporate.
Reconfirm all your USA move details with your international removalists, including:
H3: 51. Book in Cleaning Services
If you’re renting, or your contract of sale requires it, book in a ‘vacate clean’ at your current home for the day after your belongings are picked up. (UniGroup Worldwide can assist you with this if needed.)
Now is the time to back-up all your computers, tablets, mobile phones and other storage devices that are being shipped to America, placed into storage, and/or will accompany you on the plane. Be sure to safely store the back-ups separately to the original devices.
Covering off any incidentals before departing for America
There will always be last-minute odd jobs when moving overseas, including:
Completing odd jobs before your move to the US
With just one week before your move to the US, you should be just about ready to go, bar a few odd jobs:
Completing last-minute jobs relocating to America
If you’ve followed this checklist, the day before moving day should just include a few last-minute jobs:
To help ensure mould doesn’t grow on your belongings while in transit or storage, it is essential that all water is removed from your belongings, and all items are completely dry before pickup.
Managing a stress-free moving day to the States
On moving day, you need to make sure you separate and carry with you:
Before you leave your existing property ensure:
If you’re in America to take delivery of your shipment:
To open a bank account, visit the local branch of your chosen bank with:
Some of the biggest banks in America include:
When choosing which bank to use, shop around for the fee structure that suits you best. In America, banks often charge customers for the use of their services or have a minimum monthly deposit requirement. Several banks offer introductory deals or rates, so be sure to confirm exactly how long these deals last and what sort of charges apply long-term. You don’t want to be surprised by a huge increase in fees.
While medical care and services in America are among the most advanced in the world, they are also among the most expensive.
As such, it is vital that you take out health insurance, particularly as all medical treatment (even a trip to your local doctor for the flu) must be paid for.
For more information, visit What is the Healthcare System Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Depending on your provider, your American health insurance company may offer international cover when moving to the USA. This will help ease the pressure when you first arrive—you can shop around for the best health insurance provider once you’re settled in the US, while still having the peace of mind that you’re covered in the interim.
Once you’ve found a property to rent or buy, you’ll need to organise the connection of your electricity, water and gas utilities.
For more information, visit How Do Electricity, Water and Gas Utilities Work in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Organising a mobile phone and internet once you arrive in the US
There are many mobile phone and internet providers in the US, all of which offer a range of different packages at various price points. Be sure to do your research into which package best suits your needs before signing a contract.
For more information, visit How Do Mobile Phones and the Internet Work in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
In America, you pay for incoming calls as well as outgoing calls on a mobile phone. Keep this in mind, or your first phone bill might come as a shock.
Enrolling your children in an American school
When residing in America, you’ll need to enrol your children at your preferred school. To do so, you’ll need:
For more information, visit What is the Education and Schooling System Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
If your children will attend university in the Unites States, they’ll need to sit a SAT (Standardized Admissions Test). This test is focused primarily on English and maths skills. Universities will also consider your child’s grades and what sort of subjects they’ve chosen to study. For specific entry requirements for international students, it’s best to consult individual universities.
For more information, visit What is the Education and Schooling System Like in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
As with any developed nation, there are several taxes that you’ll be required to pay when living in the United States. These may include:
For more information, visit What Tax Do I Pay in America? in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
Once all the logistics of moving to America from Singapore are finalised, it’s time to enjoy your new home! Get out, discover your new neighbourhood, see the local sights, make some new friends and enjoy your next big adventure.
For more information, visit What to See and Do in America in our Ultimate How to Move to America from Singapore Guide.
We have been furnished with the above information, however, UniGroup Worldwide Moving gives no guarantees or undertakings concerning the accuracy, completeness, or up-to-date nature of the information provided. It is essential that users verify all information contained here before taking any action, or relying upon it. UniGroup Worldwide cannot be held liable for any actions taken based on the information contained within this Checklist.
