You’re headed to the Land of Opportunity, the good ol’ US of A. That’s exciting! But to get there, you’ve got to tackle a few big tasks.
Any international move has plenty of logistics to consider, and moving to the USA from NZ adds a few extras. Not to worry; the key is to know every step, get organised, and tick them off one by one.
We know how to move to the USA from NZ (we handle this for people all the time), so we’ve put together a simple moving to USA checklist for you to work through. Consider this your complete relocation guide, with every step you need to ensure you don’t have to juggle a thousand different tasks at once.
Step One: Make sure you have the legal right to live in the USA.
First, consider your immigration status. Everything else on your moving to the USA checklist depends on whether you can actually live and work in the United States. You’ll need many key details, and America’s visa system is more complex than New Zealand’s.
While Australia has a general working holiday or skilled migration stream for moving to the USA, Kiwis don’t have the same option. Moving to the USA from NZ requires a job offer, a family connection, or a specific immigration category.
Here are some common pathways to meet the requirements:
- Employer-sponsored work visas (H-1B, L-1), which require a US job offer and sponsorship from your employer.
- E-3D visa, which can be available to spouses and dependents of any E-3 visa holders.
- Family-based green cards, if you have any qualifying US citizen or permanent resident family members (these are heavily case-dependent).
- Investor visas (EB-5) if you are making a qualifying investment in a US business.
- Student visas (F-1) if you are enrolled in a US academic institution.
Getting a visa can take months or even years, which is why this is arguably the longest and most complex step on a moving to the USA checklist. If your move is employer-sponsored, communication with your employer’s internal HR team is key. For the most up-to-date and relevant visa pathways for moving to the U.S. from New Zealand, reach out to the United States Embassy and Consulate; they can help you match your circumstances to the right visa.
Step Two: Research your destination & plan your U.S. life.
The United States is enormous, and life can look very different depending on where you decide to touch down. That means your daily costs, culture, and logistics will all differ. So, take the time to get a clear picture of exactly where you’re going.
We recommend that anyone planning to move to the USA from NZ research the following to make sure they’re ready:
- Cost of living
- Healthcare
- Transport options
- School (if they have children)
- Banking
- Phone plans
- Housing
Step Three: Decide how you’re shipping your belongings.
Beyond the logistics of moving your daily life to the US, you also have to consider your belongings. Moving to the USA from NZ physically comes with its own set of considerations.
Luckily, that’s our speciality. You have three main options to ship your belongings:
Full Container Load (FCL)
This is simple. You fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container with all your household goods, which travel to the US by sea freight. This is best if you are not downsizing before you cross the ocean and want to bring most of your household belongings with you.
Transit time for containers typically ranges from four to eight weeks.
Less Container Load (LCL)
Also called a ‘groupage’shipment, this is when your belongings share a container with others who are moving to the USA from NZ. If one of the main considerations on your moving to the USA checklist is minimising costs, this is a great choice if you have a smaller volume of belongings to move.
Air Freight
If you need certain items sooner, air freight can help you move to the USA much faster. Air freight loads arrive in days rather than weeks, but limited space makes it more expensive. We find that most customers ship their essential items in an initial air freight load, then send the remainder by sea. This is generally the most cost-effective option.
A crucial part of moving to the USA from NZ is navigating customs. No matter how your belongings arrive, US Customs will require a CBP Form 3299 add link, also called a Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles, to come with your belongings. This declares everything you’re bringing over and confirms that you plan to live and work in the United States.
We guide you through filling out this form, but you need to have your visa sorted before you begin. Certain items aren’t allowed to come with you, so make sure to chat with us or check the current CBP list of prohibited items add link to site before you decide what goes in your container.
Step Four: Settle everything in New Zealand.
Moving to the USA from NZ also means understanding how to wind things down here. This side of the move isn’t necessarily as complex, but missing any items from this moving to USA checklist on the New Zealand side can create a real headache for you.
Work through the following before you depart:
- Notifying the IRD that you’re leaving NZ
- Withdrawing your funds from your KiwiSaver, if you so choose. Note that you can only access the funds after you have been living in the U.S. for a year, and you will not be able to withdraw the government contributions- only yours and your employer’s. More here
– Advise Work and Income that you’re moving if you receive assistance from them.
- Decide which of your bank accounts you want to keep, transfer, or close.
- Advise whether you want to keep up on your electoral roll to vote remotely. This should rather be ‘advise’ – please rewrite
There you have it! Essential steps on the moving to USA checklist, from your expert international moving team.
Moving to USA from NZ? Use The Moving Company.
We are a worldwide moving and storage company specialising in moving to USA from New Zealand. Get in touch today for a free moving quote.
