Coming Here
Climate | Visas | Travel | Shipping
The Southwest, part of the legendary “Wild West,” is famous for its varied scenery—deserts, great canyons sculpted out of multicolored rock, mesas and buttes that rise over high plateaus, and immense mountain ranges. Modern highways crisscross the region, and goods and services are available in every town.
The town of Los Alamos is small, and most of its amenities are concentrated along several blocks of one main street, where county government offices, our post office, library, cultural center, county museum, and many shops and services are located. Parts of Los Alamos are historic and still reminiscent of the town designed by the U.S. Army during the war years in the early 1940s.
Albuquerque is the closest major city and lies 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Los Alamos. Albuquerque has a population of approximately 660,000 people. The next largest city is the State’s capital, Santa Fe, which has a population of about 68,000 people.
LANDSCAPE/ CLIMATE [LANL’s Weather Machine]
A popular misconception exists that New Mexico is a desert. A portion of a desert does extend from Mexico into southern New Mexico, but New Mexico’s scenery is beautiful and diverse. The Rocky Mountains thrust into the north-central portion of the State from Colorado, reaching an altitude of just over 13,000 feet (about 4,000 meters) near Taos. The vast Colorado Plateau, a region of high tablelands serrated by canyons cut deeply through red sandstone and shale, covers the northwest section of the State.
Although not a desert, the Southwest is arid; New Mexico averages less than 20 inches (48 centimeters) of precipitation a year and most crops require supplementary irrigation. Northern New Mexico, however, is relatively green and well watered. As much as 300 inches (720 centimeters) of snow falls each year in the higher mountains.
Los Alamos has a temperate mountain climate with four distinct seasons. Springtime comes late to the Rockies. It is windy then, and wet snowstorms may occur in May. Summer begins with warm, often dry, conditions in June, followed by a two-month rainy season. On many summer days, rain may pour down by early afternoon, accompanied by lightning and sometimes hail. However, the skies clear, and summer evenings are almost invariably delightful and cool. The stars are magnificent.
Fall is a beautiful season. At this time of year the aspen trees on the mountainsides turn to gold, and the sky becomes a deep turquoise blue. The first significant snow usually falls in late November, and the skiing season frequently starts by December. Winter brings cold, sunny days and enough storms to keep the ground (not roads) covered with snow for about two months.
OBTAINING A VISA
The Immigration Services staff can be contacted by FAX at 505.667.8650 or through e-mail at immigration@lanl.gov.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
After you have secured the appropriate visa, you are ready to make travel plans. Los Alamos is 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Albuquerque International Sunport, the nearest major airport. Depending on your particular situation, you may receive assistance with your travel arrangements from your Laboratory host/sponsor and/or the Laboratory’s Travel Office. You should also plan ahead for your transportation needs in Los Alamos.
Travel/Reimbursement Policies
The Laboratory includes with your employment contract a statement of Laboratory travel and reimbursement policies. The policies explain the expenses that will be reimbursed and how you should document them. For further information, check http://financial.lanl.gov/accounting/travel/.
For example, the policy describes the insurance the Laboratory carries for visitors who have an accident in a rented car while on Laboratory travel. If you purchase additional coverage, the Laboratory cannot reimburse you. Purchase additional insurance only if you expect to take personal trips in the rented car.
Individuals visiting the Laboratory on official business should contact the Affiliate Section of the Travel Office (505.667.4138) to discuss authorized travel expenses.
SHIPPING YOUR BELONGINGS
In many cases, the Laboratory will pay for shipping professional books, clothing, and personal effects that are needed immediately. Again, carefully read the travel and reimbursement policy that has been sent to you. You may also check with your host or with the Laboratory Travel Office.
You may send belongings by air freight, through a shipping company, or through the postal system. Surface mail is the cheapest method but can take as long as three months.
Send your belongings to your Los Alamos address or in care of someone you know in Los Alamos. The Laboratory is unable to accept or store personal belongings.
U.S. Customs Regulations
A travel agent or an officer at an American consulate can give you a complete description of the items you may bring into the United States duty free. Do not bring meats, fruits, vegetables, or plants unless you obtain special permission. There is also a prohibition against clothing made from the skins of endangered wildlife. For more traveler information, visit the U.S. Customs Office at http://www.customs.gov/.
