Returning to the USA: My Ultimate Checklist for Moving Back Home

Exactly one month ago, I confirmed my date to return to my home country. The preparations for moving have been intense, comparable to the time I spent cramming to finish my Ph.D. dissertation in just 10 days! 😅 Today, I’m excited to share my extensive checklist that helped me stay organized during this whirlwind phase.

Financial Preparations

• 💰 Empty FSA: Use or cash out before leaving the company.
• 💵 Plan for Currency Transfer: Research options for transferring dollars back home, like bank wire transfers.
• 📊 Manage your 401(k): I took my funds out; refer to my previous notes for details.
• 💳 Cancel Unused Credit Cards: To avoid any future complications.
• 📝 Confirm Tax Document Reception: Make sure you receive next year’s tax forms from your banks and employer; some accounts need to remain open for a year.

Documentation

• 📜 Marriage Certificate Notarization: Essential for legal confirmations.
• 🎓 Overseas Degree Validation: Got it sorted within a week through official channels.

Job Transition

• 💼 Scout for Better Job Opportunities: Keep applying and interviewing!
• 📄 Follow Up on Offers: Coordinating backchecks with HR can be a hassle; one week for an employment verification is too long!
• 😅 Resignation Strategy: Consider how to present your resignation; many of my American colleagues have misconceptions about China, so I had to tread carefully.
• 🖥️ Organize Digital Data: Especially crucial academic materials, as customs might check them when leaving the US.

Personal Items

• 👕 Donate Old Clothes: We engaged with many homeless individuals—like a previously stable young woman now struggling—it’s genuinely heartbreaking. 😔
• 📦 Shipping Logistics: I spent sleepless nights packing and sourcing quotes from shipping companies—a reminder of how much stuff I actually own! 😩
• 💵 Sell Unwanted Items: Joyfully sold my knick-knacks on Facebook Marketplace; it’s rewarding to see things go to good homes! 😄
• 🚗 Sell My Car: Managed to sell it at a price significantly above KBB just days before leaving.
• 🏢 Lease Termination: Ensured all apartment-related tasks were completed.

Farewells and Connections

• 🫂 Bid Goodbye to Friends and Family: Dinner gatherings with friends from both the local area and California warmed my heart—being missed by so many is a true blessing! 🥺
• ☎️ Confirm Contacts: Keeping in touch with US friends and colleagues has been a priority.
• 📱 Retain My American Number: Activated an eSIM with Tello for smooth transition.
• 💳 Handle Reward Points: Properly plan or use airline miles, Chase, Marriott, and Hyatt points, which are still useful back home! 👍
• 🌐 Set Up a VPN: If anyone has VPN recommendations, please let me know! ☕
• 📬 Update USPS Address: Set up mail forwarding to a reliable friend’s address.

Returning home brought a whirlwind of stress—concerns about selling my furniture and car, anxiety about my resignation being well-received, and fears of potential last-minute hiccups. I even created a Gantt chart to ease my anxiety! 😅 Thankfully, everything turned out well in the end! Wishing everyone a smooth journey in their own transitions! 🌟

#LifeInLosAngeles #MovingBackHome