Moving to USA from NZ

There is an ever-increasing number of people relocating to the United States of America, so if you’re moving for a change of lifestyle, perhaps taking up a contract, or returning home to the United States of America, New Zealand Movers can help and our team are ready. We’re NZ’s moving experts with over 40+ years experience and a passion for moving!

USA Moving Services

Wherever in the USA you are moving, even to the interior of the country far from any sea port, we have a range of services to help you move ‘door-to-door’:

Sea freight in a shared container with Los Angeles and New York as our gateways

Contact us and we’ll explain the services we offer for moving to the United States.

Usa-San-Francisco

USA Moving Destinations

The USA is a big country and we cover all major cities such as Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Chicago. But wherever you are moving to, even if it’s somewhere away from a major city, we can take care of it for you.

Get a Quote for Moving to the USA

We don’t need much to work out the cost of moving your belongings to your new home in in the USA. Whatever your requirements, we have a variety of options for you.  To get started, simply complete the Free Quote request form on this page and we’ll be in touch.

Request a Free Quote

We are all aware of the stringent security measures imposed by the US government on everything that moves across its borders, importing your household goods is no exception. Before anything else you need to ensure that if you’re immigrating to the United States you have the appropriate visa to live and work there.

All shipments must be cleared by the Customs service for entry into the country. You can import your household goods into the United States free of duty and tax provided you have owned and used them abroad for at least one year. Your shipment must not arrive before you do as it will not be cleared by Customs and will incur significant charges. Due to different regulations in different states we strongly discourage you from importing any alcohol or food as it can cause significant delays and high charges.

Virtually every  shipment that arrives into the United States is subject to an inspection of some type, ranging from an external container x-ray to an intensive inspection where a container is completely unloaded and individual packages inspected. There will be additional costs for these inspections and the charges can vary dramatically.

The following door-to-door transit times apply to the USA. These are average times, given as a guide to assist your planning. The transit time for shared containers can vary and are subject to having enough shipments to fill a container.

  • Via the US West Coast
    Sole Use Container & Crated LCL 8-9 weeks, Shared Container 10-16 weeks
  • Via the US East Coast
    Sole Use Container & Crated LCL 9-10 weeks, Shared Container 12-18 weeks
  • Air freight: 1-2 weeks

Whilst it is not mandatory to have your goods professionally packed by us we strongly recommend it. This is Because the US Customs service tend to look less favourably at ‘owner packed’ shipments and there is a much higher chance of an intensive inspection with very high costs. This is because the inventory prepared by someone who packs their own goods is usually a lot less descriptive than that prepared by New Zealand Movers packing staff, so the Customs service may need to physically view a shipment to determine its exact contents.

Packing Pictures For Moving

We use the best materials available and employ the latest techniques to ensure your goods arrive safely. We also have a variety of cartons, tailor-made for items such as flat screen TVs, golf clubs, hanging clothes, bikes, and artwork. We also custom-build wooden crates for fragile and precious items. Every item moving will be packed either in a carton or export wrapped. Once packed all goods will be numbered with a label sticker and recorded on the removal inventory.

You are welcome to pack some or all of your goods yourself if you prefer. We can  provide you with packing materials and a handy packing guide to help you.

If you need to store your goods we can provide storage services in both New Zealand and the United States. If you are awaiting your visa for the United States you will need to store your household goods here in New Zealand until you receive your visa and can get the shipping arranged. If your shipment arrives in the United States, but you haven’t found a new home, we can store everything there for you until you are ready.

New Zealand Movers Auckland

You should insure your goods during relocation to give you peace of mind and to provide protection, just in case.  We offer a range of insurance options through Vero marine, one of the world’s largest and most reputable insurance providers.

And to top it off and make your move complete we can provide house cleaning services after emptying your home, arrange the transferring of your funds to the United States with foreign exchange services and perhaps even valet unpacking at your destination to really put the finishing touches in place.

If you require currency exchange, we will introduce you to XE Money Transfer, one of New Zealand’s leading Foreign exchange companies, to arrange the transferring of your funds to the United States. You will benefit from discounted fees and the best exchange rates available when you move to the United States with New Zealand Movers.

Thinking about shipping your car to the United States? The cost of shipping depends on your destination so get a quote from New Zealand Movers for transporting your car to the USA.

Ute Pickup Truck

All cars are subject to a physical inspection by the Quarantine service upon arrival. If a vehicle is considered ‘dirty’ then it will require steam cleaning which can be very expensive. To try and avoid these expensive charges we recommend that you have your vehicle thoroughly cleaned on the interior and exterior before shipping.

* Disclaimer: All information provided is a general guide only and can change without notice. We suggest making contact with the appropriate authorities for verification.

Moving to the USA FAQ

Can I pack my own goods for shipping to the United States?

Yes you can if you wish, however we recommend that you do not as it poses a high risk of your shipment being stopped for an intensive inspection by the Customs service and incurring very high charges. Customs tend to have more confidence in shipments professionally packed by moving companies like New Zealand Movers.

Can I take alcohol to the United States?

Due to different regulations in different states we strongly discourage you from importing any alcohol as it can cause significant delays and expensive charges. And some states will simply not allow it in.

Can I take food to the United States?

The same rules for alcohol apply to food. Due to different regulations in different states we strongly discourage you from importing any food as it can cause significant delays and expensive charges. And some states will simply not allow it in.

Will my goods be inspected by Customs when they arrive in the United States?

It is almost guaranteed that your shipment will be inspected when it arrives in the United States. Inspections range from an external x-ray to an intensive inspection where everything is unloaded and individual packages inspected. Unfortunately, there are costs associated with these inspections.

Do you have shared containers going to the United States?

Yes, we have regular shared containers heading to the gateway ports of Los Angeles and New York.

Will I get charged duty and tax on my goods in the United States?

You can be charged duty and tax, however you can import your household goods into the United States free of duty and tax provided you have owned and used them abroad for at least one year.