After months of tension, negotiations between West coast dockworkers and their employees have successfully been able to reach a tentative contract at the end of last month. The labour dispute had halted international trade including some international moves at seaports along the coast worth approximately one trillion dollars.

The successful agreement came after almost nine months of negotiations that turned heated this past fall season. Dockworkers and their employees were blaming each other for the various problems of getting imports to consumers on scheduled deadlines. Their prior six year contract expired July of last year.

The new five year deal, confirmed by International Longshore and Warehouse Union spokesman Craig Merrilees must still be approved by the 13,000 union members. These members work the 29 ports from Seattle to San Diego and handle approximately one quarter of all US international trade.

Many groups of retailers are thankful the negotiations have been successful. Some major companies were beginning to warn consumers that their goods might be delayed for upcoming holidays such as Easter.

Although the two sides have reached an agreement, with the assistance of the Secretary of Labour it will probably take a few months to clear up the massive backlog of cargo that is currently lined up.

If you’re planning to travel or relocate overseas to Russia, The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) is reminding individuals that all foreign visitors must report the cities, towns and other inhabited areas they are planning to visit while in Russia.

The new rule came into effect as of January 26, 2015 by the Federal Migration Service of Russia. All visitors also require proof of an invitation to visit any locations in Russia along with information of the person or organization that has invited the visitor. For more information please visit the Russian Federal Migration Service site.

            A recent study featured in CNN Money highlighted the top 10 countries employees would move abroad to for employment. The Network and The Boston Consulting Group gathered more than 200,000 responses for their online survey. The survey findings are fascinating.

            For instance, 90% of respondents from France and the Netherlands said they would work abroad. While less developed economies including Jamaica, Ghana and Pakistan were also more willing to transfer to more stable economies in other parts of the world.

            On the other hand, less than half of the German, British and American respondents were willing to uproot themselves from their current location. One of the reasons being respondents were worried about the type of quality of life they would have if they transferred. The BCG survey found the top 3 countries Americans would move to if they needed to for their work would be the UK, Germany and Canada.

            Location also makes a huge difference when it comes to selecting a new place to live. The top 10 countries where respondents say they would move abroad for work is:

            If 2015 is the year you are considering moving to or from Canada consider giving Starline Overseas Moving a quick call. We have a variety of options for relocating your personal goods including professional packing services, storage solutions and an assortment of moving services to make your next move a smooth transition.

Season’s Greetings!

This holiday season we have chosen to save a few Christmas trees by sending you some warm holiday wishes electronically! Please click on the following link below to enjoy a special presentation made just for you!

Happy Holidays from your friends at Starline Overseas Moving.

Happy Holidays Greeting Card

Thinking of relocating to South Africa but want to visit the country first with your family? Before booking your flight tickets ensure you are up to date with the South African immigration rules. South Africa is in the midst of implementing new immigration rules which apply to children.

As of October 1st, 2014 the documentary rules for traveling with children has changed. This means that adults traveling with children to South Africa must carry unabridged birth certificates for all accompanying children regardless of whether or not it is their biological children.

These changes affect all types of visas and permits. Additionally, unaccompanied minors must travel with letters of consent and contact details from both parents in addition to letters and identity documents of the persons receiving the children in South Africa.

South Africa made the strict changes last month to reduce the amount of child trafficking as part of the beginning of their immigration overhaul. For more information please visit the FIDI site.

When it comes to relocating to Canada and applying for various types of Canadian visas, the process is known for being much simpler than applying within other countries. Many would agree that the steps on the official government website are clear. The Canadian government even states online who is elgible to apply.

Individuals considering moving to Canada should be aware that there are various fees associated with every kind of Canadian visa, except for those visitors arriving to Canada on a tourist visa from a visa-waiver nation. These types of tourist visas are free of charge and are valid for a stay of up to six months. Be aware that while on this type of visa, folks visiting are not permitted to accept any kind of employment in Canada and cannot apply for their permanent residency status.

Canada’s non-immigrant visas are known as Temporary Resident Visas (TRV). This type of visa is used by visitors that are coming from countries that are not on the visa-waiver list who need to complete specific purposes in Canada such as studying or business deals. The cost for a single entry TRV is $75 CAD and a multiple entry TRV is $150 CAD.

Emigrants who are applying for permanent residency status pay different application fees depending on what type of visa they are applying for. For instance, Skilled Workers and Provincial Nominees pay $550 CAD for the primary applicant, $550 CAD for each family member 22 years or older, and $150 CAD for each family member under 22 years of age.

The other type of immigration visa available for investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals costs $1050 CAD in addition to $550 CAD for each family member applying over the age of 22 years and $150 CAD for family members under the age of 22 years. If a spouse of a Canadian citizen is relocating to Canada, the cost is $475 CAD for the main application.

When applying for Canadian citizenship it costs $200 CAD for the entire application process and an additional $75 CAD to receive the certificate.

To learn more about the various Canadian visas potentially available to you please visit the following Canadian government site. If you are in the process of receiving your Canadian visa or citizenship and are in need of assistance with relocating your goods to Canada, Starline Overseas Moving would be happy in assisting with the international move.

Did you know customs have existed in the United Arab Emirates for over a hundred years? The Federal Customs Agency also known as the FCA is responsible for creating the customs policies, representing the UAE in all the states while also supervising the execution of customs-related laws.

If you are planning to relocate to the UAE you should know that of all the custom bureaucracies around the world, the UAE is one of the easier customs processes to navigate. Many believe the process is a user friendly experience because it is a duty-free country for used personal effects. The following items are a few things you should know before moving to the UAE:

• Weapon and related equipment need permission. Weapons and items such as body protection, ammunition and gun cleaning kits all require permission before entering the UAE.
• Zero-tolerance policy for drugs. The UAE is very strict when it comes to any drug related offenses. There are severe penalties for smuggling, drug trafficking or having possession of drugs while in the UAE. Even the presence of drugs in your blood can count as possession and the minimum sentence can start at 4 years of jail time.
• What types of import documents are required? It is best to speak with your relocation coordinator to ensure all the documents are filled out properly however you will be required to provide a copy of your passport, the residency visa card and a written list of all the goods being imported.
• Specialized technical equipment such as radio transmitters, powerful cameras, satellite radios or recording devices may require a special license to be utilized within the UAE.
• Electronic cigarettes are illegal in the UAE and will most likely be confiscated from you at the border.
• Importing new and used vehicles. The UAE allows individuals to import new or used cars however the following documents must be provided by your shipping company: the invoice, packing list, bill of lading and a copy of your passport. All vehicles imported will be inspected by customs inspectors and a customs tax of five percent will be imposed on the total assessed value of each vehicle being imported.

For further information on relocating to the United Arab Emirates please feel free to contact our Starline Overseas Moving team or visit the UAE customs website by clicking on the following link.

In international moving industry news, the Philippines Bureau of Customs estimates that approximately 75,000 mostly empty 20 foot containers are currently waiting to be collected at the port. Many believe the container congestion is due to a truck ban which was implemented earlier this year in Manila.

In February, a law was signed which enforced cargo trucks, gravel and sand trucks and other heavy cargo trucks from entering the city of Manila between the hours of 5:00am and 9:00pm. The restrictions were put into place after reports of multiple injuries involving trucks and congested lanes of traffic on a daily basis.  If violators are caught, City Council stated that the truck drivers would be fined P5,000 along with possible impoundment.

Since the implementation of the restricted truck hours, empty container vans owned by shipping companies have occupied approximately 50% of the container yard space which has made it nearly impossible to pass through the roads. The clogging of the containers has caused more headaches because international vessels are unable to dock and unload their shipments.

Stakeholders on both sides have agreed to assist in moving containers this upcoming weekend to ease the congestion pressure. Reports have also stated there may be access for truckers to utilize the South Luzon Expressway starting Monday August 18^th, 2014. For more information regarding this developing international story click on the following link.

              Last month the Canadian government unveiled changes to the temporary foreign worker program. The program will now be reorganized into two very specific programs. The hope is that the changes will reduce confusion and demonstrate the major differences between various employment streams.

                Canadian employers hoping to relocate foreign workers to Canada will have to now get approval through a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The Canadian government highlighted the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will be focused on matching low skill with low pay occupations and will be managed by the Employment and Social Development Canada department. Also note that Canadian employers applying for LMIA’s are only able to have 10% of their workforce move to Canada to work under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

                The application fees associated with the LMIA are also increasing from $275 to $1,000 per worker plus a $100 privilege fee. In addition, the work permits are limited to only one year periods. The Canadian government has also highlighted that if an employer is in a region with unemployment rates above 6% then they will not be able to access the low skill stream of temporary workers.

                The new program being installed will be only based on wages rather then a NOC. Therefore, jobs paid below the provincial median wage will be classified as low wage while jobs paid above the provincial median wage will be classed as high wage. The main objective of the new LMIA program is to fill Canadian jobs for when qualified Canadians are not available to fill them by relocating workers to Canada.

                The other stream that came into effect last month was the new International Mobility Programs (IMP) which is targeted towards foreign nationals not subject to an LMIA application. Individuals who qualify under this category have a primary objective of advancing Canada’s broad economic and cultural national interests. The department responsible for the IMP stream is the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

               For additional information on the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program please click here. 

Moving overseas may seem like a daunting task to tackle yet millions of individuals relocate on a yearly basis.Our promise here at Starline Overseas Moving is to ensure your upcoming international relocation is as smooth as possible. The last thing you want to be worried about is if your furniture will make it in one piece to the new destination. Whether you are simply moving to the next country over or across the overseas pond we will ensure your valuable goods will arrive safely. 

The difference between us and other international moving companies that makes us stand out is the dedication and investment of time we put into training our staff professionally. Our team members are trained on topics such as utilizing the proper floor coverings, protecting the walls and stair railings in a home prior to beginning the relocation process. 

When it comes to overseas training, each Starline Overseas Moving team member is trained to professionally pack and wrap an assortment of household items in our training facilities. For example, all crew members are trained on origin and destination service procedures. By taking the extra small steps at the beginning it will ensure when it comes time for your international shipment to be relocated we will be well prepared. 

We are proud of the customers we get to service on a daily basis. Starline Overseas Moving recieved the following feedback from a customer in regards to their recent relocation experience.

I just wanted to share with you how happy we are overall with our experience with Starline Overseas Moving. Top notch service!!!! It doesn’t even compare to our previous experience with another moving company. With the other company our shipment arrived very dirty and many things were broken by the crews. We had horrible service and our shipment was way later than expected. It was a horrible moving experience! With Starline Overseas Moving, your guys had all of our boxes unpacked and except for a couple small candle holders everything survived, the boxes were clean, and you gave us such great service! So thank you so very much!!!! – Submitted to our relocation coordinator July 1st, 2014

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to service your upcoming overseas relocation needs!