Pre and Post Move Checklists - Lend a hand!
So I've got a CSEP visa in process through my Irish employer, and a signed contract. I'm trying to do the research to put together pre-move and post-move checklists. Does anyone have anything similar, or any advice on what to add?
Here's what I have so far:
Pre-Move:
- Obtain passport from your country of origin
- Find employer who will sponsor the appropriate visa (CSEP ideally)
- Obtain signed employment contract from employer
- Either employer or yourself submits CSEP application
- Either you or your employer must pay a fee of €1,000. If your application is refused you will get 90% of your application fee back.
- Ideally, your employer will use a Trusted Partner to expedite the visa
- You will need to provide a copy of page two of your US passport and a digital passport photo to the employer
- You will need to sign and return pages 10 and 11 of the CSEP application to your employer, whose authorized representative will need to sign as well and provide to whoever is handling the visa application
- Checklist if you are submitting
- No way to check status, can only see which permits are under review by date of submission
- For CSEP Trusted Partners have approximately a three week delay
- For CSEP Non-Trusted Partners have approximately one month delay
- For non-CSEP applications, approximately a five week delay
- Check dates here: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/current-application-processing-dates/
- Obtain a visa (if required)
- https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/visa_requirements_for_entering_ireland.html
- Citizens of the USA do not generally need a visa
- Sell most of what you own
- Remember that electricity runs at a different voltage, so most consumer electronics are better off replaced than transported
- Desktop PC power supplies are usually switching to both voltages, you just need a different cable, check for "Input Voltage" on the PS)
- Furniture is usually more expensive to ship than it is to replace (also realize that most flats (apartments) are much smaller than US flats for the money, so you won't have the space you think you will
- Decide where you're going to live in Ireland
- Remember that no landlord will talk to you until you're physically in present
- Which means you'll need to arrange temporary housing (we reserved 30 days in a hotel in Galway for less than our rent here in the States, admittedly our rent here is high), don't forget to ring/email and negotiate a monthly rate as opposed to daily, especially on sites like VRBO
- Use websites to get a feel for cost of living and various areas
- Make arrangements for your family (spouse/children/etc)
- CSEP means your family can join you immediately, no CSEP means your family will need to wait a full year to join you in Ireland
- Work permit holder is considered the "sponsor" for joining family
- CSEP holders can sponsor a Long Stay ‘D’-Join Family visa before earnings are accrued. However, they must be able to provide evidence of projected earnings – a copy of a contract of employment for example
- Work Permit schemes: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/working_in_ireland/employment_permits/spousal_work_permit_scheme.html
- General Info: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/
- Apply Here: https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/AVATS/OnlineHome.aspx
- May apply up to three months prior to immigrating
- A non-visa-required national does not need a visa or preclearance in order to travel to Ireland with their Irish spouse
- https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-a-non-eea-non-swiss-national/join-non-eea-family-member/
- If your family is from a country that does not need a visa (this currently includes the US), then they can travel to Ireland and present documentation to an immigration officer at the airport or port.
- Contact your local consulate if you have any questions:
- Open an account with a service to handle Euros
- We used Wise (formerly TransferWise), which (at this moment) has a much better fee structure
- Revolut is a popular choice in Ireland (I'm told)
- Freeze your credit in the US (it doesn't apply outside the US, and freezing protects you from fraud)
- Obtain necessary documentation to present on arrival in Ireland
- Passport from origin country
- Copy of hotel reservation/VRBO/name and address of friend you'll be staying with
- Certified copy of bank statement?
- https://www.irishimmigration.ie/suggested-documents-to-present-at-border-control/
- Cancel all US-based services
- If you have financed your cellphone (are making payments on it), you'll have to pay it off first!
- Park cell number with forwarding so you can receive SMS verifications for websites with MFA
- Pets
- If you're going to be renting an apartment, I'd advise not bringing them. It's very difficult to find a flat that is pet-friendly, especially for mid- and large- breed dogs. Perhaps a cat is easier, I don't know.
- If you're buying then by all means.
- There are vets who specialize in international travel who can help you with the paperwork and such in most major cities.
- Minimum standards:
- Be microchipped (this must be done before anything else)
- Have a valid rabies vaccination
- Have an EU Health Certificate
- Dogs must be treated for tapeworm
- Enter the Republic of Ireland only through Cork Airport, Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Shannon Airport, the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort and must undergo compliance checks on arrival.
- https://www.ireland.com/en-us/help-and-advice/practical-information/bringing-your-pet-to-ireland/
- Airlines prohibit drugging your dog for the trip (check with your airline), as it may cause breathing problems up to death in the cargo hold
- Most airlines prohibit brachycephalic (or "snub-nosed") breeds for the same reason; think boxers, bulldogs, sharpeis, shih tzu, pugs, etc.
- CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE: e.g. https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.jsp
Post-Move:
- When you arrive in Ireland you must show your passport, permit, visa and all other required documentation to the immigration officer at the airport or other port of entry.
- Obtain an Irish Resident Permit (each adult must obtain one separately!)
- You must pay a fee of €300 for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) - payable by credit or debit!
- If you have recently come to Ireland on a ‘D’ (long stay) visa, or you are a citizen of a country that does not require an entry visa (non-visa required), you can register with ISD without making a written application in advance.
- Current wait time
12 weeks10 Days - Details: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/rights_of_residence_in_ireland/registration_of_non_eea_nationals_in_ireland.html
- Make an appointment
- For those in Dublin City or County: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/information-on-registering-if-living-in-dublin/
- For those NOT in Dublin: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/information-on-registering-if-living-outside-of-dublin/
- If you are on a CSEP and bringing your spouse, they may apply for a Stamp 1G IRP (Irish Residence Permit) - this gives them the right to work without an employment permit
- Documents Required:
- Passport
- Original Employment Permit or permission letter from Minister for Justice
- Including the documents identified in that letter, granting you permission to work in Ireland!
- Apply for a PPS number
- You will be paying Emergency Tax rates until you have a PPS number!
- https://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/
- Requires passport
- Requires proof of address
- Obtain mobile service (cellphone)
- Prepaid SIMs are available, as are more standard plans are available
- https://switcher.ie/ can help compare plans
- Get a driver's license
- Your US license is good for one year in Ireland: https://ie.usembassy.gov/driving-in-ireland/
- On taking up residence you should apply for an Irish driving license but if you cannot exchange your foreign license (only for EEA, basically EU countries), you will need to go through the learning to drive process. You must first pass a driver theory test, apply for a learner permit, complete a course of Essential Driver Training (EDT) and pass your driving test in Ireland.
- You can probably take the reduced EDT course, which is six hours instead of twelve. https://www.rsa.ie/help-support/online-support-centre/details/learner-permits-driving-licences/learner-permits/reduced-edt---who-can-apply-and-how-to-apply
- You'll need insurance, too: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/motor_tax_and_insurance/motor_insurance.html
- Pay taxes
- US citizens must file both their US taxes and their Repulic of Ireland taxes, but may claim the Foreign Earned Income exclusion: https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/resource-center/income/foreign/foreign-earned-income-exclusion/
EDIT LOG:
20220906 1003 GMT-6: Updated IRP wait time
20220902 0301 GMT-6: Added pet section and driver's license section
Posted Aug 30, 2022, 5:59 PM UTC · edited
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