Moving to the UK Mission Control

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
1	Task	Project	Relevance	Timeline	Essential	Responsible	Done	Done when...

2	Make a copy of this spreadsheet	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			I have an editable copy of this spreadsheet all of my own (or I've copied it to my favourite project management app)
3	Decide date of move	⏳ Set a timeline		T - 4 months	yes			I've decided roughly what day I (and any other family members and pets) will leave the country
4	Set up password manager	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			There's a password manager set up on my laptop and phone
5	Set up online admin folder	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			There's a folder on a secure cloud storage platform where I'll store my important documents
6	Ensure I can sign PDFs digitally	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			I have an easy way to sign PDFs digitally on my computer
7	Ensure I can scan documents with my phone	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			I have an easy way to scan physical documents
8	Set up physical document folder	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	yes			I have a physical folder where I'll store passports and other key paperwork
9	Get certified copies made of key documents	🗄 Get organised		T - 4 months	no			I've made 2-3 certified copies of my most important documents (e.g. passport, marriage certificate)
10	Schedule weekly family meeting	🗄 Get organised	You're moving as a family	T - 4 months	no			I've set up a weekly family meeting to chat about the move
11	Decide which visa or passport route is right for me	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport		T - 3 months	yes			I've decided what visa/passport to apply for
12	Put together application pack	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 3 months	yes			I have prepared all the documents I need for my application
13	Complete application form on gov.uk	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 3 months	yes			I've submitted the visa application form
14	Book TB test (if required)	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 3 months	yes			I have booked a date for my TB test
15	Book English language test (if required)	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 3 months	yes			I have booked a date for my English language test
16	Book visa appointment	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 3 months	yes			I have a date for my visa biometrics/interview
17	Upload supporting documents	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 2 months	yes			I have uploaded my supporting documents on the visa portal
18	Attend visa appointment	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 2 months	yes			I have attended my visa interview
19	Collect visa / decision letter	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 1 month	yes			I’ve got a document that will allow me to enter the UK
20	Take note of visa rules and valid dates	🛂 Get a visa or UK passport	You need a visa	T - 1 month	yes			I know how many days I'm allowed to be out of the country on my visa and decided if this means I should change my move date
21	Update LinkedIn profile	💼 Find a job		T - 4 months	yes			My LinkedIn profile shows off my skills and says I'm looking for work in the UK
22	Refresh CV/resume	💼 Find a job		T - 4 months	yes			I have a dazzling resume ready to go
23	Email professional contacts	💼 Find a job		T - 4 months	no			I've emailed the people I know who might be able to help me find a job
24	Apply for jobs	💼 Find a job		T - 4 months	yes			I've got some interviews set up for jobs that I'm excited about
25	Sign a job contract!	💼 Find a job		T - 3 months	yes			I've signed the contract for my new job in the UK
26	Research UK school system	🎓 Prepare kids	You have kids	T - 3 months	no			I understand how I'm going to get my kids into the UK school system
27	Talk to educational consultant	🎓 Prepare kids	You have kids	T - 2 months	no			All of my big questions about the UK school system have been answered
28	Make an inventory	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 2 months	yes			I have a high-level list of everything I own
29	Decide what to sell, return, trash, donate	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 2 months	yes			I've decided the fate of everything I own
30	Book movers	📦 Sort out stuff	You're shipping stuff over	T - 2 months	yes			I have signed the contract and confirmed a date for movers
31	Bulk buy wine and SA spirits	📦 Sort out stuff	You like good wine	T - 1 month	no			I have the wine and spirits I want to take with me
32	Obtain boxes and packing supplies	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 1 month	yes			I've got enough boxes and packing supplies for the stuff I'm going to ship
33	Pack stuff that's coming with you	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 2 weeks	yes			I have packed everything that will be shipped or brought in my luggage
34	Book extra luggage for your flight	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 2 weeks	no			I've booked extra luggage for my flight if necessary
35	Complete ToR forms	📦 Sort out stuff	You're shipping stuff over	T - 2 weeks	yes			I've submitted my ToR forms to the shipping company
36	Fill prescriptions for essential medications	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 2 weeks	no			I have enough of my essential medications to see me through the first few months
37	Sell your stuff	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 1 month	yes			I have gotten rid of everything I want to get rid of
38	Arrange donation collection	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 1 month	yes			I've arranged for everything I'm not selling or taking to be collected by a charity
39	Sell car	📦 Sort out stuff	You have a car	T - 1 month	yes			Ownership of my car has transferred out of my name
40	Do a final clean of your home	📦 Sort out stuff		T - 1 week	yes			My home is spotless and ready for the next tenants/owners
41	Return keys to landlord	📦 Sort out stuff	You're a renter	T - 1 week	yes			My landlord has received my home keys
42	Hire pet moving company	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 4 months	yes			I've paid the deposit for the pet move
43	Book rabies vaccine and microchip insertion	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 4 months	yes			I've booked essential vet appointments on the required timeline
44	Get microchip number	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 4 months	yes			I have sent my pet's microchip number to the pet transport company
45	Book rabies antibody titre test	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 3 months	yes			I've booked essential vet appointments on the required timeline
46	Get animal health certificate	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 1 week	yes			The state vet has issued me with an animal health certificate
47	Book tapeworm treatment (dogs ony)	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 1 week	yes			I've booked essential vet appointments on the required timeline
48	Prepare pet crates	🐶 Move pets	You have pets	T - 1 week	yes			The crate is ready for my pet to be loaded into
49	Get tax and financial advice	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 4 months	no			I've spoken to an expert to understand what I need to do with my finances and tax status, if my situation is complex
50	Get a police clearance certificate	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 2 months	no			I've obtained a few copies of a police clearance certificate if my job will require it
51	Arrange end of tenancy	📂 Pre-move admin	You're a renter	T - 2 months	yes			I've agreed on a move-out day with my landlord
52	Renew SA documents	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 2 months	yes			I have renewed any essential South African documents like my passport, if they'll expire soon
53	Make sure you'll have access to your cash	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 1 month	yes			I have figured out how I will access cash for my first few months in the UK (e.g. I've set up a Shyft account and received my card)
54	Pre-order UK SIM card	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 1 week	no			I have pre-ordered a UK SIM card
55	Cancel accounts	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 1 month	yes			I've cancelled insurances, subscriptions and other accounts I no longer need
56	Book dentist and hair appointments	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 1 month	no			I've booked appointments with my favourite personal care providers before I go
57	Throw a going away party	📂 Pre-move admin		T - 1 week	no			I've planned to see my most important people before I go
58	Research which city/borough you want to live in	🛌 Find temporary accommodation		T - 2 months	yes			I know more-or-less where I want to live in the UK
59	Book temporary accommodation	🛌 Find temporary accommodation		T - 2 months	yes			I've booked accommodation for the first month(ish) after I arrive
60	Obtain unabridged birth certificates	👶🏻 Secure parental rights	You have kids	T - 3 months	yes			I have the legal documents that will allow my children to leave South Africa/enter the UK with me
61	Obtain relevant documents to travel with child	👶🏻 Secure parental rights	You have kids	T - 3 months	yes			I have the legal documents that will allow my children to leave South Africa/enter the UK with me
62	Hire a lawyer to get court order	👶🏻 Secure parental rights	You have kids and won't be moving with a coparent	T - 4 months	yes			I have the legal documents that will allow my children to leave South Africa/enter the UK with me
63	Book flights	👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Move people		T - 4 months	yes			I've booked flights to the UK for all the people going across
64	Print and pack travel documents	👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Move people		T - 1 week	yes			I've printed and gathered the key documents I need in my hand lugggage
65	Pack cabin luggage	👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Move people		T - 1 week	yes			I've packed the bag I'll take with me on the flight
66	Arrange transport to airport	👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Move people		T - 1 week	yes			I know how I'm going to get to the airport on moving day
67	Arrange transport from airport	👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Move people		T - 1 week	yes			I know how I'm going to get from the airport to my temporary accommodation in the UK
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