U.S.A Visa required when travelling to Mexico (via the U.S.A) for more than 90 days

New Zealanders travelling to the U.S.A for business or pleasure may be eligible for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if certain conditions are met. These include, staying less than 90 days, travelling via a commercial carrier and with a return ticket, travelling on a machine readable passport, having an approved electronic travel authorization (ESTA), and having no criminal convictions.

IMPORTANT NOTICE  (January 2013):  Under the Visa Waiver Program, time spent in Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands counts towards the maximum of 90 days stay in the U.S.A allowed under the U.S.A visa waiver program.

For example, if you propose to stay in Mexico or the adjacent islands for more than 89 days, and you plan to enter to and exit through the USA, you may not exit via the U.S.A on the Visa Waiver Program because your total stay in the U.S.A, Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands would exceed 90 days. In this case, to exit through U.S.A you would need to apply for a USA B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa, or a C-1 Transit Visa before leaving New Zealand.

To apply for the B1/B2 or C1 visa please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland, New Zealand.

Further information on visas and how to apply can also be found at the U.S.A Embassy in New Zealand website: http://newzealand.usembassy.gov/