Not sure about 1 or 2, leaving it for other people. But for 3, popular options are:pharmer_pk wrote:I'll be relocating from US to Singapore for graduate school. I'm wondering if I can have advise/suggestions from people here, especially those that are also from the US.
1. Moving company. I did a search, but many of the topic are quite old. I'm wondering if there are more recent experiences from people.
2. Tax on my stuff. I will be on a student pass, and I heard I can get exemption. But what about the timing? Can I ship my stuff beforehand?
3. Address forwarding. I don't really have anybody else in the US that can help me with mails and whatnot. Wondering if people have any experience with those mail forwarding services (where they collect your mails in the US, and send it to you in bulk). I want to keep a US address for bank, credit cards, and also if I want to order stuff online from US only stores.
Any other hints and tips are appreciated. Thank you!
The US side you occasionally have to jump through a few hoops if it triggers a warning (which mine seemed to do maybe three or four times a year) requiring a phone call. SG to US was always painless, instant, and simple.AngMoG wrote:
Just a hint for banking: get a Citibank account in the US. If you open another one here (there's a min balance of several thousand SGD, as you're probably not employed), you can transfer money without paying fees and (almost?) instantly between the US and SG accounts.
Thanks on the suggestion for Citibank. Is there any specific account type that has that privilege, or does a plain checking account work?AngMoG wrote: Not sure about 1 or 2, leaving it for other people. But for 3, popular options are:
- VPost (cheaper, using USPS). They have an option of receiving mail in one of the major post offices for self-pickup. It's often better than having the mail man try to deliver it, who will probably come when you're not home.
- Comgateway (using UPS afaik)
- Citibank also has its own address forwarding, though I don't think it's any cheaper than Comgateway.
There are probably others. Search away.
Just a hint for banking: get a Citibank account in the US. If you open another one here (there's a min balance of several thousand SGD, as you're probably not employed), you can transfer money without paying fees and (almost?) instantly between the US and SG accounts.
Plain checking is fine.pharmer_pk wrote:Thanks on the suggestion for Citibank. Is there any specific account type that has that privilege, or does a plain checking account work?AngMoG wrote: Not sure about 1 or 2, leaving it for other people. But for 3, popular options are:
- VPost (cheaper, using USPS). They have an option of receiving mail in one of the major post offices for self-pickup. It's often better than having the mail man try to deliver it, who will probably come when you're not home.
- Comgateway (using UPS afaik)
- Citibank also has its own address forwarding, though I don't think it's any cheaper than Comgateway.
There are probably others. Search away.
Just a hint for banking: get a Citibank account in the US. If you open another one here (there's a min balance of several thousand SGD, as you're probably not employed), you can transfer money without paying fees and (almost?) instantly between the US and SG accounts.
Those seems to be more intended for shopping purposes. I'm looking more for regular mail forwarding. I looked online and there are some that offers scanning the mail, throwing junk mail, etc. But it's hard looking for real user experience.AngMoG wrote:
Not sure about 1 or 2, leaving it for other people. But for 3, popular options are:
- VPost (cheaper, using USPS). They have an option of receiving mail in one of the major post offices for self-pickup. It's often better than having the mail man try to deliver it, who will probably come when you're not home.
- Comgateway (using UPS afaik)
- Citibank also has its own address forwarding, though I don't think it's any cheaper than Comgateway.
AFAIK, the student pass tax relief works when you are leaving at the end of your study. You are allowed to claim refund of GST for goods bought up to 4 months before your pass expiry (as long as you do not plan on returning within the subsequent 12 months).pharmer_pk wrote: 2. Tax on my stuff. I will be on a student pass, and I heard I can get exemption. But what about the timing? Can I ship my stuff beforehand?
Yes, that would be the kind of service I'm looking for.BedokAmerican wrote:For mail forwarding, get a box at a Pack-N-Post, Mail Boxes Etc or similar type place. They'll ship your mail once a month (or however often you request) and charge your credit card.
Fill out a forwarding mail request with USPS to have mail sent to that box. You'll then have something like 6-12 months to notify people/businesses sending mail to you that they need to send mail to that box.
Note: Depending on the place you pick and the employees, you might be able to tell them to toss bulky items, such as catalogues, because those cost lots to ship.
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