Frequently Asked Questions

Travel to the U.S.

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Do I need a visa to visit the U.S.?

Am I allowed to lock my luggage?

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are responsible for screening checked luggage. Either by choice or by chance, your luggage may be selected for examination. You may lock your luggage if you wish. However, if TSA screeners cannot open your checked baggage through other means, then they may have to break the lock.

TSA suggests that you help prevent the need to break your locks by using a TSA recognized locking mechanism. TSA is not liable for damage caused to locked bags that must be opened for security purposes.

TSA screeners will secure your bag if they need to open it for screening. If your bag has a TSA recognized locking mechanism, and TSA officials open your locked bag, they will re-lock the bag after the screening process.

Can you tell me about the US-Visit Program for entry and exit procedures at air and seaports?

Am I able to legally drive in the U.S. and do I need an international driver's license to do so?

New Zealand citizens can drive in the U.S. on a full New Zealand Driver License for up to 12 months. An International Driver's License, although not essential, serves as proof of validation of your New Zealand driver license and as another form of photo identification. You must also carry your New Zealand driver's license at all times.

Some rental car agencies require an international driver's license as part of the agreement. Contact the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) for more information.

Americans planning to drive in New Zealand should visit the Land Transport Safety website for information about driving in this country. All foreign drivers should be familiar with the New Zealand Road Code.

Where will I find the Driver Manuals (Road Codes) for each U.S. state?

Am I able to tour the White House?

The New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. is able to request White House tours for New Zealand Nationals visiting the United States.

However:

• Tours can only be scheduled for groups of 10 or more people;
• Requests must be submitted no less than one month and no more than six months before the planned visit;
• The self-guided tours are available from 7.30am to 12.30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. 
  

The application should clearly state the desired date or range of dates for the tour, and each member of the group must provide: full name, date and place of birth, country of origin (nationality/citizenship), passport number and country of issue, and, where applicable, U.S. social security number and U.S. citizenship status.

Unfortunately, submitting a request does not mean a tour is guaranteed, as there are limited tours available.

To submit your tour request to the New Zealand Embassy by email contact: kerry.bothwell@mfat.govt.nz 

If you are a United States citizen, you must contact your local U.S. Representative or Senator. Requests for tours may be submitted up to six months before your trip to the national capital. Tours are generally scheduled one month in advance of your visit.

The White House website also has information about tours.

Can I claim back the sales tax I paid while in the U.S.?

You can only claim back the sales tax for purchases from selected stores in the state of Louisiana.

Each state in the U.S. has the right to charge its own local taxes, including a sales tax on certain purchases. The sales tax varies from state to state and from item to item. This sales tax is not the same as the GST in New Zealand or the VAT in the United Kingdom/Canada and cannot be claimed back except, as noted above, in Louisiana.

Further information about sales tax.

How do we get married in Las Vegas / Hawaii / New York / other parts of the U.S.?

The municipal clerk in the city where you wish to marry will know the requirements for marriage in that particular place.

Both marriage applicants will need to appear in person at the clerk's office to apply for a marriage license and will each require photographic identification. Fees and 'waiting times' vary greatly depending which state you get married in. If either party has been previously married you will need to present documentation which states that both parties are free to marry.

How do I know if my New Zealand passport is 'machine-readable'?

Nearly all New Zealand passports are machine readable - less than four per cent are non-machine readable.

If your New Zealand passport is machine-readable then the passport number will begin with:

• either the letter X, L, N, or F

• or the letters AA, AB or EA

If your New Zealand passport is non machine-readable then the passport number will begin with:

• either the letter J

• or the letter M

If you are still unsure, contact the New Zealand Passport Office on 0800 22 50 50 (+64 4 4748100 if calling from outside New Zealand), or ask your travel agent who should be able to advise you.

Most non machine-readable passports are likely to have been issued outside New Zealand, Australia or the United Kingdom.

For further information on 'machine readable' and biometric passports, please visit the Department of Internal Affairs website.

How do I obtain travel information about the U.S.?

If you are planning a trip to the United States and you have access to the internet, we suggest you search for the specific locations you wish to visit. All states, big cities, and well-known tourist attractions have their own websites.

Your local public library may offer access to the internet or you may ask a librarian to help you find books about the area you would like to visit.

Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States and U.S. Territories.

Can I take alcohol into the U.S.?

The Immigration & Customs Enforcement Attache Office in Singapore provides the following advice for travelers wishing to take alcohol into the United States:

One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be brought in duty free if:

• You are 21 years of age or older;

• It is for your own use or for use as a gift;

• It is not in violation of the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Most states restrict the quantity of alcoholic beverages you may import, and you must meet state alcoholic beverage laws in addition to federal ones. If the state in which you arrive permits less liquor than you have legally brought into the United States, then that state's laws prevail.

Information about state restrictions and taxes should be obtained from the state government as laws vary from state to state. Alcoholic beverages in excess of the one-liter limitation are subject to duty and internal revenue tax.

In summary, visitors and residents - over 21 are allowed to bring in 1 liter of alcohol duty-free. Duty begins to be payable in excess of 1 liter.

• Duty rate for beer - approx. 0.6 US cents per liter
• Duty rate for wine - 3.8 to 23.1 US cents per liter
• Duty rate for whisky - 0.9 to 1.2 US cents per proof liter
• Duty rate for rum - approx. 17.4 to 25.9 US cents per proof liter
• Duty rate for gin - approx. 2.7 US cents per proof liter
• Duty rate for brandy - 1.8 to 15.7 US cents per proof liter
  

Duty rates will vary as the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is revised annually.

All alcoholic beverages, whether produced domestically or imported, are subject to a Federal Excise Tax, in addition to any duties levied on them.

Excise taxes range from US$1.07 per gallon on still wines - containing not more than 14% alcohol to US$3.40 per gallon on champagne and other sparkling wines; US$18.00 per standard 31 gallon barrel of beer; and US$13.50 per proof gallon of distilled spirits.

A proof gallon is one gallon of product at 100 proof strength - (50% alcohol); actual duty rates are calculated based on the proportion of actual alcohol content less than or more than 100 proof (most liquors are bottled at 80 proof).

Shipping alcohol by mail is prohibited by United States postal laws. Alcoholic beverages include wine, beer and distilled spirits.

How do I seek redress for treatment received at port of entry as a result of being on the lookout list?

On occasion, CA and posts abroad receive complaints from foreign travelers about their treatment at ports of entry as a result of lookouts, some of which also generate TSA "no fly" alerts. Passengers may be delayed or denied boarding, miss flights, consistently be sent to secondary screening, or even be detained until these are resolved. With the frequency of name duplication, the problem promises to expand. CA and the Department have neither the authority nor the resources to intervene on behalf of such travelers. However, DHS does have a redress process for reviewing the request of an individual traveler to be clearly identified as not the target of the lookout. Travelers can request an audit of their case by completing and signing the redress request form located at http://www.dhs.gov/trip and following the website instructions for submitting it to DHS.

How do I contact the U.S. Customs Service?

The nearest U.S. Customs office is the regional office in Singapore:

Customs Enforcement Attaché Office
American Embassy
27 Napier Road
SINGAPORE 258508

Ph: +65 6476 9425
Fax: +65 6476 9188 or 9479

If you have specific questions about taking animal or plant material into the United States, please contact the regional office of the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service which is in Canberra, Australia.

Ph: + 61 2 6214 5989

How do I make a formal complaint about the U.S. Customs Service?

If you have any complaints or comments about your experiences with Customs and Border Protection  (CBP) staff at United States airports or other ports of entry, you can follow the process below :

Summarize the incident in report form, with the header Border Complaint, and mail it to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
Assistant Commissioner,
Office of Field Operations, Room 5.5C,
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20229. 

Reports can also be faxed to (202) 344-2791.

Upon receipt of the correspondence, CBP will research and provide a response within 10 business days.  If they determine that it falls under the jurisdiction of another agency, CBP will take the liberty of forwarding it to that agency for direct response to the requester.

When are public holidays in the U.S.?

When are school holidays in the U.S.?

The dates of school holidays vary from state to state and from school district to school district, however, generally speaking, the following applies:

• The school year ends by mid-June at the lastest and resumes in mid-August at the earliest. Most schools will be in session on or before the first Tuesday in September (after the Labor Day holiday which is the first Monday in September).
• Schools will close for a week during March or April, often around Easter but not always.
• Schools will close for two weeks in December, up to and including the New Year's Day holiday.

Can I take my medications with me on my trip to the U.S.?

The Immigration & Customs Enforcement Attache Office in Singapore provides the following advice for travelers taking prescription medications to the United States:

Narcotics and dangerous drugs, including anabolic steroids, are prohibited entry and there are severe penalties if imported. A traveler requiring medicines containing habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g., cough medicines, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.) should:

1. Have all drugs, medicines and similar products properly identified;
2. Carry only such quantity as might normally be carried by an individual having some sort of health problem;
3. Have either a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicinals are being used under a doctor's direction and are necessary for your physical wellbeing while traveling.

It is important to have medications in the originally-dispensed container.

It is against the law not to properly declare imported medications to U.S. Customs.

Travelers should be aware that drug products which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not be acceptable for such importation.

Other websites you may find useful:

• Catalog of FDA approved drug products
• Importation of prescription medicines/drugs

The above advice applies to all medications taken into the United States by travelers.

Are there any guidelines for traveling with medical conditions or disabilities?

Where can I find travelers' health information?

Where can I find 'travel warnings' and 'traveler information' for New Zealand and other countries?

Where can I find information about working in a U.S. summer camp?

These websites will provide you with information:

• Camp Counsellors USA (CCUSA)
• Camp America NZ

How far is it from 'city A' to 'city B'?

• Driving Distance Between Selected U.S. Cities

Where will I find information about U.S. airports and airlines?

How can I be better prepared for my airport security check?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides tips and informative materials which will help ensure a brief, yet thorough security experience at any of the airports served by TSA.

Who do I contact about lost or damaged luggage or items I believe were removed during an airport security check?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operate a a full service Claims Management Office.

Can I take my pet to the U.S.?

Can I bring my pet to New Zealand?

What will U.S. Customs allow me to take with me/import into the U.S.?

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website has a useful Questions and Answer section. We recommend you look through this site for information about taking or sending specific goods to the U.S.

Who can I contact for specific advice about Customs and importing matters?

The nearest U.S. Customs office is the regional office in Singapore:

Customs Enforcement Attaché Office
American Embassy
27 Napier Road
SINGAPORE 258508

Ph: +65 6476 9425
Fax: +65 6476 9188 or 9479

Can I obtain a license to export a firearm from the U.S. and bring it to New Zealand? (U.S. citizens only)

Firearms and ammunition shall be exported in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 and a license must be obtained from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), U.S. Department of State. You should contact them to find out how to obtain the license at +1 202 663 2714. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for such licenses.

The DDTC provide a publication called "Guidelines for Completing Applications for the Permanent Export, Temporary Export and Temporary Import of Firearms and Ammunition"  which may be of interest.

More information can be found on the DDTC website.

The export of sporting shotguns with barrels greater than 18 inches is regulated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security. For more information call +1 202 482 4811. If the barrel is 18 inches or less, contact the DDTC at +1 202 663 2714.

I would like to temporarily import a firearm to the U.S. to participate in legitimate hunting or a lawful sporting event. Who do I contact?

If you wish to bring a firearm into the U.S. for hunting, sport or repair, you will need to apply for a permit from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF).

Certain foreign visitors, workers and students are forbidden from buying guns and ammunition in the U.S. 

These rules do not apply to diplomats, foreign law enforcement officials and visiting dignitaries designated by the State Department.

A hunting license from the state in which you intend to hunt may also be required.

We recommend you contact the ATF for specific information about your circumstances.

Ph: (304) 616-4550
Fax:(304) 616-4551

How do I obtain a temporary import license to take my firearm to the U.S. for reasons other than legitimate hunting or lawful sporting purposes?

Contact the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

The publication "Guidelines for Completing Applications for the Permanent Export, Temporary Export and Temporary Import of Firearms and Ammunition" may be of interest.

Ph: +1 202 663 1282 (for all general inquiries)
Email: DDTCResponseTeam@state.gov 

Do I need a permit if I am transiting the U.S. with a firearm?

If you are transiting the U.S. by air, you do not need a permit from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), however, you may need a DSP-61 (Temporary Import License) from the Department of State.

If you have questions about whether a DSP-61 is needed, you should contact the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Ph: +1 202 663 1282 (for all general inquiries)
Email: DDTCResponseTeam@state.gov 

If you are transiting by car, please contact the ATF for guidance.