Things to do before we move

• Cancel or settle unwanted credit cards.
• Open a bank account accessible over the web. Keep just that one credit card that is fully operational over the internet, in conjunction with the bank account.
• Get a 1040-C from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Collect all the documents required to complete the 1040-C form.
• Take inventory of the stuff in your home and storage. Decide on the items to ship, items to carry with you and items to discard.
• Make lists of memberships, refundable deposits, bank accounts etc.
• Collect information about air tickets and shipping companies.
• Book air tickets for your journey to India.
• Finalize the list of items to discard, start finding any takers. Start discarding unwanted clothes, toys, books etc.
• Start updating friends' addresses and email IDs.
• Decide on shipping company to use. Find out when their ship sails and when you must hand your goods to them. Also check if they deal with the customs in India.
• Instruct insurance company to cancel your car insurance with effect from the day of departure and ask for the refund.
• Decide when you want to sell or leave the car what alternate transportation to use.
• Inform change of address to banks and credit cards.
• Cancel magazine subscriptions or inform them of change of address, either in the US or the Indian address.
• Cancel AAA, Department store, video, library memberships.
• Keep the first and the last utility bills, credit card statements for reference, destroy the rest.
• Submit the 1040-C. It takes them about 15+ days to give you the sailing permit.
• Take printouts of things like customs rules, resumes. etc.
• Finalize money management: in which account(s) and what amount is to be kept here, how much is to be carried with?
• Collect travellers' cheques, international dollar drafts etc.
• Ship things. Make sure you will have all necessary papers like the bill of lading with you before you depart.
• Assemble all important papers, manuals and receipts of appliances etc.
• Arrange for disconnecting the utilities and payments of the last month's bills.