I am a software professional. I stayed in Boston, MA in an apartment for 2 years. I moved back to Hyderabad, India in June 2015. The following was the final checklist from my experience. I wish to share it with others to help in their planning:
1) Notice to employer: Request for release from project/delivery/work assignment as per policy: I did it 2.5 months in advance.
Visa/Green card related: Understand the immigration policy based on your visa and take necessary action. We have green cards and applied for I 131 about 2.5 months before travel date. Our appointment date came as 9 days before our departure date.
2) Notice to leasing office: Be compliant to agreement of notice period for lease termination or ending lease. Agree on the last date, termination fee and when it
should be paid, mode of payment, last month's rent amount, how and when to hand over keys + resources to leasing office.
should be paid, mode of payment, last month's rent amount, how and when to hand over keys + resources to leasing office.
3) Buy, dispose, distribute items: Decide on which items to bring to India, decide on which items to sell off/dump/donate. If a few items/gifts should be purchased, start doing it well in advance. Ensure that you have reasonable sized bags/suitcases, buy if needed.
4) Landline phone:If you have Vonage, Unovon, talk to their service desk, check the billing cycle start date and close connection before the billing date (again
based on your requirements) so that you do not have to pay for 1 more month. Unovon informed that they can close connection on a immediate basis only.
based on your requirements) so that you do not have to pay for 1 more month. Unovon informed that they can close connection on a immediate basis only.
Inform Internet service provider :(Comcast in my case) about the service stoppage, expected end date. Understand if any equipment is to be handed over to provider.
Mobile service provider: Talk to them about closing the account.
5) Kid's school stuff: If kids are in school, inform school office about your last date, the need for certificates. Take them from school when school provides, check if all the progress reports are provided.
6) Bank account, credit cards: If there is a slightest possibility of using the card in future, you may keep bank accounts with minimum balance, otherwise, close it.
Ensure that you inform help desk (number is behind the card) before the card's expiry to ensure that bank does not send cards to your address in US.
Ensure that you inform help desk (number is behind the card) before the card's expiry to ensure that bank does not send cards to your address in US.
7) Power connection account: (National grid in my case) talk to them or go to the website and close the account as per the final date. You may submit your
request about a week before your last day.
request about a week before your last day.
8) Clean the apartment: Thoroughly clean the apartment's carpets, kitchen, bathroom, etc. The way it was handed over to you is the benchmark. Start this activity at least 1 week in advance.
9) Book a cab: Based on need, book a cab at least a day in advance. Explain the space requirement based on your luggage/baggage so that you will get a required sized vehicle.
10) Hand over to leasing office: Hand over keys, belongings of apartment/leasing office in leasing office (based on details from point #2)
