How to Cope with a PCS Move and Expatriation at the Same Time

A Military Spouse's Guide

A PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move is part and parcel of the military way of life and so is expatriation for some family members who have never lived in another country. To find out more about how to cope with a PCS move and expatriation from a military spouse's perspective, read on.

Passports, Visas

Military personnel who PCS to a foreign country do not require a visa to enter the country. They are entitled to live and work there legally. All they will need is a valid passport, their military ID card and their orders. Their military orders will usually be presented at the port of entry which shows that they have been granted the right to enter the country to carry out work for the US government.

But military spouses and their children may need a visa to enter the country and should make sure they have all the necessary paperwork in place before their PCS move, otherwise they could be denied entry into the country. This is not something that should be left to the last minute. Immigration can take the best part of a year. That is why it is so important to start the process early.

Research

PCS moves are very stressful for military families. It does not matter if they have moved once or a dozen times. Issues will always come up that make each successive move stressful. One way to alleviate the stress of PCSing to a foreign country is to research the new country in detail. What are some of the local customs? Is English widely spoken in the country? Will it be necessary to learn a new language? But researching the new country prior to the PCS move will only reveal so much. It is only after moving abroad that a military family will find out what it is really like to live there. Culture shock can still hit a family hard, but taking the time to learn about the new country prior to the PCS move can help make it easier to overcome.

Household Goods