[Benjy]

I am coming over for a 3 month holiday but i want to try and find a job and get a visa.

What sort of questions are they going to ask me at customs? Will they try and send me home?

On thing tha worries me is the stuff i am taking will probably reflect my intentions.

I am taking, guitar, motobike gear (helmet jacket etc), laptop and a few clothes. not really your normal holiday gear...

What should I expect? :o

[veronica]

well for a start a lot of backpackers turn up with guitars and laptops and a lot of people hire motorbikes to travel on. so thats three out of the way, but to be honest I doubt they will ask you anything. just put down holiday and enjoy it as such.

[Bubbles]

Hi benjy,

Who's to say you're not planning a tour of NZ on two wheels and when not on the bike you intend to strum away merrily on your guitar and record on your laptop.
With regard to what sort of questions they may ask, I don't really know. Would think the usuall sort of stuff though, a) How long are you staying b) where are you staying/plan to stay, I guess ?? Seriously, I can't see why you should have any problems.

[Benjy]

Cheers for boosting my confidence guys :). I am going to stay with a friend. Would that make it anymore believable? I dont think i could bare to fly 24 hours there to have to fly 24 hours back. Yes I am flying Battery Chicken Class.

[wanderingoregonian]

I'd also make sure you had your friend's full address and phone number, and know exactly how you are planning to get there from the airport (taxi, bus, etc.). I've consistently had problems with customs (but always got through) when I had a vague plan like - 'staying at some hostel' or 'i have this hotel reservation but don't remember which one.' And once in OZ, the custom folks were NOT impressed, but still let me through, with this series of answers

"I'm staying with friends"

"no I don't remember their address" (mostly because they had just been evicted so their landlord could sell their house, and I didn't know if they had actually move or not and they hadn't emailed me their old address in case they had already moved - choose not to share this info though:)

"How will I get there? oh they are picking me up"

"I'm sure they'll show up, but no I don't have their current phone number (because of the move) and don't have a mobile with me (airports do have payphones, but I guess a mobile preprogrammed with the number was the right answer)"

very long pause

"If they don't show up, I could my husband back home and get the number..."

and I got through. I had so many different people I could have stayed with, knew tons of hotels and hostels from previous trips, that I felt very confident that i had a place to stay - but it took awhile to convince customs that I wasn't going to be living in a cardboard box for the night. When I told my Australian friends the story, they laughed and said when they came to the states for a year, the custom agent finally told them to lie and make up an address on their form or they weren't getting through - so they did. Crazy!

[Benjy]

Yeah ive heard about making up address's :) I actually do have an address that i am going to and my friend is picking me up. Thanks for the advice WanderingOregonian

[jubjub]

They want people to move to the country, never forget that. They are behind on their numbers for the year.

[Benjy]

Thanks Jubjub. Thats what I hear from inside NZ but everyone outside is so negative.

[Smiler]

What sort of questions are they going to ask me at customs? Will they try and send me home?

What should I expect? :o

Sorry Benjy couldn't resist this one........

1st question. Bend over?

(Snapping of latex gloves fills the room)

D x

[Benjy]

Hehehe there not going to find anything of interest in there :0

[selchie]

When customs has asked where I'm staying and what I'm there for, I give them info on my first night's lodging, and that I'm on holiday. They've never given me any grief. I believe the customs form asks what the length of stay is.