Y'all....you will not believe the craziness I've been through in the last week, let alone the last two months. And after everything, I couldn't not write about it. I do not want another person to go through what I did. So, if you're about to PCS with the DoD, have a pet who will fly with your abroad, getting your Household Goods (HHGs) picked up, and thought you could trust people?
Well, let me tell you...you can't.
That's rule number one. Don't trust anyone. I can't tell you how many times I would learn of something new as I was going through various motions that kind of took my carefully laid plan and through in the garbage disposal.
Okay, now that the number one rule is written, let's get into the nitty gritty.
Hope you're ready to count, but if you want to skip down to the bottom...and get the tips and tricks like this were a recipe blog....you're more than welcome to do so.
PCS-ing (Permanent Change in Station)
Moving is stressful. Period. There's no getting around that fact. And one thing you definitely don't want happening when you're moving, are systems that aren't working.
After being directed to submit my request to have my HHGs picked up in their online portal early September....nothing happened. Not until I called over two weeks before I departed and they tell me I never submitted my documents. Now mind you, I verified multiple times that my file stated 'submitted' online.
And yet..."we did not get your forms. When did you email them?"
Me: Since when was I supposed to email them? I was only directed to submit into the portal and that my counselor would get in touch with me.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 1
Trust: 0
Now, after a week long of negotiating and requesting an exception, my HHGs shipment did not get picked up. And it is now a week before I leave. Outside of that, everything else was pretty much ok. I already gotten all my flights arranged, my hotel for the one night layover I have, and my suitcases packed. All that I had remaining was my cat's health certificate. Which had to be done 10 days before departure.
5 days before I depart, I was informed that my cat needed to have a Rabies Antibody Test (FAVN) completed at least 30 days before departure. I'm no math wiz, but even I know 5 does not equal 30. And her vet told me she wasn't comfortable completing the Health Certificate without it. She listed various reasons of which I understood, but I was also having a break down.
Why did no one mention this sooner? Did no one think to mention this when I called to make Binna's appointment for a Health Certificate? Where I stated where we were going?
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 2
Trust: 0
I did not want to fly without Binna. She's been such a sassy godsend since I adopted her. And while working in a high stress job, she's been what's kept me calm and motivated during a lot of bullshit. The only reason I got up on most days was because I needed to make sure she was taken care of. I've already had to re-home one cat, I could not do it again. I did not have the strength. Not again.
Never. Again.
For a moment there, I considered turning down my new position.
But, I ended up having a delicious dinner and slept deeper than ever.
When I woke up, I started making plans.
1 - Call around to get verification on if that test was really needed.
2 - Reach out to my sponsor to talk about my situation.
3 - Talk to the HHG people on the soonest everything can be picked up?
3a - Find someone who can be at the apartment to pick everything up.
4 - Health Certificate for Binna...?
5 - Talk to the leasing office about staying longer.
6 - Find Binna potential Pet Transport to Korea...?
7 - Breath.
After many phone calls, not only was I able to verify that if Binna didn't get the test done or have pending results, she would be quarantined in Korea until the results came back. Verified that with the airline.
Early morning, I shot an email to Korea asking my supervisor if she could call me when she could. This was a conversation we needed to have over phone, and not email.
After work, I called Binna's vet and told her what I learned from the airline, she agreed to do the health certificate. She sent me the file to verify the information, and after I clarified the information is correct....guess what I learned next.
"The health certificate also has to be endorsed by the USDA. So...you'll need to pay $121."
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 3
Trust: 0
Now I have an additional payment to make?!
I just realized, I forgot to mention that the FAVN test costs roughly $350.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 4
Trust: 0
But hey....the health certificate was going to get done. If I was willing to pick up the health certificate, get a money order of $121, and get to Fedex before the last pick up, and I could get it overnighted to the USDA. But of course, there's no guarantee when the health certificate will get back. And i'll have to pay for overnighting fee with Fedex, too.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 5
Trust: 0
If anyone is keeping track, I'm almost to $500 and that's not even counting Binna's flight tickets.
While I was running around town, making a (maybe) miracle happen, I get emails saying my HHGs could be picked up 11-2. Maybe. Its peak season, and everything has already been pretty screwy. But hey! My stuff finally has a pick up date!
Almost two weeks after my flight to Korea.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 6
Trust: 0
I was able to talk to my Leasing Office, they agreed to pushing my date out.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 6
Trust: 1
My sponsor called during dinner time (timezones and all that) and I was able to tell her about my whole situation. Bless her. After one conversation with her, I felt not only better, but relaxed. My departure date got pushed back a month to allow for me to be there when my stuff got picked up. And for Binna to get her test results back....hopefully. That way she can fly with me.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 6
Trust: 2
When I called my leasing office the next day to extend again, not only was I informed that my previous extension request wasn't actually recorded, I would have to switch to the month-to-month rent amount.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 7
Trust: 2, 1
Yeah, I asked if the lead leasing office person could give me a call back. So I can verify everything. I spoke to her today. She verified that I would pay a pro-rated amount of what I'm currently paying for November, and that the fee that I would owe by breaking my lease was waived.
Rule Number One: Don't trust anyone: 6
Trust: 1.5
And that's where I am. A departure date set further out, and waiting for things to get done. And like any good recipe blog, here's a recipe to get through PCS-ing with a pet.
- Make sure your pet has all necessary testing done well in advanced. The FAVN test is good for 2 years, and can take up to a month to process. Do not hope for expedited testing. Testing will cost you money.
- Your pet will need a Health Certificate no more than 10 days old from your departure date. You will need it to be endorsed by the USDA. (Once I know how long it took mine, I will update this post to give a time frame.) This will cost you money. (I'll also list the final cost)
- Make sure your pet is familiar with their kennel (soft or hard, but only soft can be in the main cabin) before their flight.
- Call your airline (if you have any commercial flights) to add your pet to your ticket. Pet space fills quickly!
- When booking anything, make sure you're always notifying everyone you will have a pet. If you have a cat, make sure you verify there is a litter-box available.
- Verify two days after you submitted your HHG request. Constantly call. Leave nothing to chance. Assume everything is broken.
- Make sure you have more than enough time to get your passport taken care of, if you need to request an official one. Go through the official passport office. It'll go much quicker than the post office. Especially if you're doing this during the pandemic era.
- If you're renting, make sure your leasing office updates the exact dates.
- Print all necessary docs and make sure you have at least three copies of your flight information. But a copy of your papers in your suitcases.
I will update this list, as more things come together. After all, I'm still stateside for another 30 days.
If there's anything I hope you leave this post with its that when it comes to moving...is to remember Rule Number One. Don't trust anyone, make them prove you differently.
As always,
#SaveOurToya
PS, here's some pictures of Binna after a long read.
