Costs include the relocation costs themselves, split across two stages if the family follows later, plus any legal review of the employer's letter and the applicant's documentation. A staged move can add some duplicated logistics costs compared with one combined move.
Weigh staged costs against staged certainty
A single combined move may look cheaper upfront but carries more risk if the applicant's admission does not go exactly as planned. Ask a mover or relocation service what a staged approach would add in practical terms, and weigh that against the certainty gained by confirming the applicant's status first. Confirm any current government fees separately at the time they apply.
Price both sequences before choosing, since a single combined move usually looks cheaper on paper while carrying the greater risk. Ask a mover or relocation service what a staged approach adds in duplicated logistics, temporary accommodation, and storage, then weigh that figure against the certainty gained by confirming the applicant's status first. Add the cost of reviewing the employer letter and the applicant's documentation, which is small and disproportionately useful.
Where the applicant's history contains anything unusual, add a review of that too. Confirm current government charges separately at the time they apply rather than budgeting from a figure quoted for someone else's case. Write both totals down side by side.