ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Awww so nice to see so many of you getting closer. Such a good feeling!

Both of us had a very easy time with the social security office. Just a matter of filling out a quick form really. They are pretty used to seeing visa's of all kinds so they knew just what to do. We should be getting our new cards this week. We'll be sending out our AOS this week as well. It will be so good to be done with US immigration at least for a couple of years!!!
KimandRussFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-27 11:11:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Hi folks. smile.gif

Thank you all for the warm wishes and congrats. It means a lot to us. Our day turned out just beautiful. Gorgeous fall colors and the bright sun kept it pretty warm. The ceremony was quite short but Russell and I wrote our own vows which made it very special to us. Our group of 20 turned into about 60-80 throughout the day and night but it was nice to share our special day with many of those we love. Russell's family got up to toast us at 4am (sun nz time)...very sweet we thought. smile.gif We're quite glad it's over... well, until we do it again in 6 months anyway. smile.gif

Grant, I do hope you arrived in the U.S. safe and sound and that your wife is feeling 100% again. That sounds like a lot of stress just when you didn't need it. sad.gif Hopefully everything falls into place for you once you're here.

Kel, good to see you. I'm sorry you're missing home. sad.gif

You can get MILO here in the States (forgot where) but Russell (big MILO drinker) just uses our instant 'hot chocolate'. If you google it, you'll probably be able to find pretty much anything you're looking for. I only know this because my love is a fantastic cook and many of the recipes he uses (many from Edmonds) calls for things normally found in NZ. We have found most things here with a little looking.

We're headed to Social Security tomorrow and I need to go renew my license and change my name as well. I suppose we'll be dishing out the cash for AOS soon enough too. sad.gif

Well, happy thoughts to all. Will try to get some pics online sometime soon.
KimandRussFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-22 09:03:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Good morning kiwi/US friends.

Things are quite hectic on the homefront as we prepare for our wedding ceremony (part 1) on Saturday. It's only close family and friends but there sure is a lot of them. We're expecting 60-80 or so people. So much for the intimate ceremony we were planning. I feel badly that Russell's family can't be there with us but that's why we're doing it again on our 6th month anniversary in April. wink.gif Something more to look forward to.

I purchased a black dress with a little lace on the chest that I can wear again at some stage. I bought it online and it's not here yet so I'll have to see if it fits when it finally does come in. If not, i'll just wear something else. laughing.gif Funny how i'm not stressing at all about the ceremony itself. I guess that comes with age and wisdom ....but also the crazy process we've had to endure to get to this point. As long as we are finally joined as husband and wife ...well, the rest is just 'fluff'. wink.gif

We should be right at peak fall foliage on Saturday so it should be gorgeous! Now if the weather will just cooperate... wink.gif I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures to share.

Congrats to everyone moving forward... adjusting to life here in the U.S.... moving on to the next stage..etc.

For those left waiting, all I can offer you is my support and understanding. I know just how hard the waiting is and how very painful it can be. I am sorry you are having to endure that heartache...it's not easy. sad.gif What I can tell you is that there is an end to this... and the other side is just beautiful. Stay strong, you will get there. smile.gif
KimandRussFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-13 10:13:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
I've posted this before but I think it answers a lot of questions people have about the process and also may explain the disparity we see in approvals.

Every now and then it seems they take a newly sent petition for training the adjuticaters. Why they dont take someone they know has been waiting for quite some time is beyond me but this is how the adjuticator explained it.

You see the dates on Igor's list move you down further because of people joining VJ and adding to the timelines. Happens all the time and yes, it's frustrating!

I can tell you that as we were waiting I also tracked other K1 filers on uscis site who sent their petitions in the days surrounding our sent day and could pretty much tell what box we were in and when our approval was getting closer.

As far as the driving goes.... Russell caught on very quickly when he first moved here in 2006. Even though he's been gone a year, he's not had a problem driving at all once he was back home. smile.gif

We're doing very well. It's been two weeks now since Russell has been home. We paid for our rings yesterday and applied for our marriage license today. We will be married in just 10 days! Life is good again. smile.gif We're hoping to send in our AOS paperwork asap. It will be wonderful to be done with this whole immigration thing for a couple of years!
KimandRussFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 15:15:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Nov 2 2008, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 1 2008, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
btw Kim and chris: hope the interview went ok!! star_smile.gif


Well the interview went ok, I got there about half an hour early and there was only one other person ahead of me. The officer that took the interview was I think the blonde girl that others have mentioned. She was running a bit late so I didn't get called until about 30mins after my initial apt time, but it was ok. She was lovely and chatty, asking many questions about chris and I as she went through our paper work....it just felt like a conversation rather than an interview.
I was told i should have my "package" as soon as my police check has come back, and with not having any kind of record, that should be soon. kicking.gif

I'm so glad the paperwork part's over for now.........I have a flight booked for Nov 28, and that gives me a few weeks to concentrate on getting rid of belongings, (I had my first ever garage sale yesterday) and packing up stuff to fill my two suitcases and the packing crate that my son will send over when we relocate to SF in the spring....I plan on filling the crate with lots of edibles as well btw.....lol devil.gif


Congratulations! I'm glad it went so well ..and soon you will be on your way! biggrin.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-11-02 01:38:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Oct 30 2008, 04:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thinking of those of you still waiting... time is flying and you'll be there before you know it! Stay strong! wink.gif



Thanks Kim...we are waiting..patiently wink.gif no0pb.gif

Have you wedding pictures we can live vicariously through yet? I for one can't wait to oooooh and awwww smile.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-29 16:18:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Congratulations Kim and Russ! I can't wait to see your pictures. Glad the day went so well for you heart.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-22 13:40:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
All the best Grant, I hope the trip goes well good.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-19 08:13:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
I was just thinking todays the big day for Kim and Russ ! kicking.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-18 22:21:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
heart.gif


Kim...just wanted to wish you and Russell all the best for your big day. I hope the sun shines for you both...in every way.




And for heavens sake...we do need pictures! smile.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-13 15:43:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 10 2008, 05:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cdneh @ Oct 9 2008, 02:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've read that Kim…it was referred to just after I joined here. I've just read it all again, but if I'm being honest I'm not finding a whole lot of comfort in it tonight.

We filed in early July, it was signed for on the third, and it took 25 days to get a NOA1. Not so much as a touch since. Igor's list shows us going the wrong direction, and the date on my timeline has now been pushed back more than a month. There are NOA2's from May, June, August and even four from September, but not a solitary one from July.

unsure.gif



I see that a vermont july filer got approved today!! smile.gif That may be the one that gets the ball rolling for other vermont july filers! You and your SO have been apart for sooo long! Here's hoping yours will be processed VERY soon!! rose.gif


It seems like forever...so let's hope! kicking.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-10 00:12:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
I’ve read that Kim…it was referred to just after I joined here. I’ve just read it all again, but if I’m being honest I’m not finding a whole lot of comfort in it tonight.

We filed in early July, it was signed for on the third, and it took 25 days to get a NOA1. Not so much as a touch since. Igor’s list shows us going the wrong direction, and the date on my timeline has now been pushed back more than a month. There are NOA2’s from May, June, August and even four from September, but not a solitary one from July.

unsure.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-09 02:20:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 8 2008, 09:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cdneh @ Oct 8 2008, 02:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We're going backwards too, and I can't get my head around that. It seems every time the list shows an approval we go the wrong way. ...and I was really quite discouraged tonight to read that someone got a noa2...who MET their partner for the FIRST time nearly three weeks after we filed. How they heck does that happen, if it is meant to be first in first out?


I'm really wondering what kind of system they work on at the service centres. In my 'mind', I imagine that as the forms come in they are all placed neatly in order of dates received, but that theory has long gone out the window now for me, as some people who filed in June are getting approved, while others who filed in April are still waiting???? (go figure!?!)
Maybe the employees all take turns to DIVE blindly into a HUGE pile of 1-129f files lying on the floor and the one they pick up first is the one to be processed that day??? whistling.gif


That's as good an explanation as I've heard yes.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 11:15:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Oct 8 2008, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cdneh @ Oct 8 2008, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yes...I went to my Doctor for that test, and then straight to medlab with the bit of paper. Cost me nearly $300..but I did find out all I needed was the tetanus. Canada keeps school records..but when you are as old as I am..well... no0pb.gif

We're going backwards too, and I can't get my head around that. It seems every time the list shows an approval we go the wrong way. ...and I was really quite discouraged tonight to read that someone got a noa2...who MET their partner for the FIRST time nearly three weeks after we filed. How they heck does that happen, if it is meant to be first in first out?




It's so discouraging, tho i've decided to keep busy and take on Kiwiana's suggestions about the drivers test and my cv etc, that should keep me out of trouble


Done that heh...I am ready to roll. Kind of like being all dressed up with no place to go smile.gif

Oh..except for tomorrow morning, when the clock will go off at 0500 for my second day shift. Now that's something to look forward to laughing.gif
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 02:40:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Yes...I went to my Doctor for that test, and then straight to medlab with the bit of paper. Cost me nearly $300..but I did find out all I needed was the tetanus. Canada keeps school records..but when you are as old as I am..well... no0pb.gif

We're going backwards too, and I can't get my head around that. It seems every time the list shows an approval we go the wrong way. ...and I was really quite discouraged tonight to read that someone got a noa2...who MET their partner for the FIRST time nearly three weeks after we filed. How they heck does that happen, if it is meant to be first in first out?

Edited by cdneh, 08 October 2008 - 02:30 AM.

cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 02:28:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
double post *ack*

Edited by cdneh, 08 October 2008 - 02:09 AM.

cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 02:07:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 8 2008, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Oct 7 2008, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello again.

Was just wondering if there's anything we can do between the time of the NOA1 and NOA2? I was reading some of you got fingerprinted and up to date on shots. Can/should we do that while we wait?



If your fiance has lived overseas at any time (usually between 6 months to a year or more there) since the age of 16 then he will need a police check from that country. If he hasn't then I think the US embassy here in Auckland does it for him for the New Zealand police check (is that correct? anyone?)




If you are a Kiwi, and need the NZ equivalent of a police check, or even in my case I only live in NZ, the embassy in Auckland does the NZ police check for you . I have read they won't accept ones you get for yourself. I downloaded the correct paperwork, but as it won't be accepted I never submitted it.
cdnehFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 02:07:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Nov 1 2008, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 1 2008, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
btw Kim and chris: hope the interview went ok!! star_smile.gif


Well the interview went ok, I got there about half an hour early and there was only one other person ahead of me. The officer that took the interview was I think the blonde girl that others have mentioned. She was running a bit late so I didn't get called until about 30mins after my initial apt time, but it was ok. She was lovely and chatty, asking many questions about chris and I as she went through our paper work....it just felt like a conversation rather than an interview.
I was told i should have my "package" as soon as my police check has come back, and with not having any kind of record, that should be soon. kicking.gif

I'm so glad the paperwork part's over for now.........I have a flight booked for Nov 28, and that gives me a few weeks to concentrate on getting rid of belongings, (I had my first ever garage sale yesterday) and packing up stuff to fill my two suitcases and the packing crate that my son will send over when we relocate to SF in the spring....I plan on filling the crate with lots of edibles as well btw.....lol devil.gif








Glad to hear the interview went well for you! it must be such a relief to have that part all out of the way. Wow! only
3 and a half weeks to go! How wonderful!!!! star_smile.gif

Congratulations!! good.gif and very best wishes!!!
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-11-02 03:08:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
btw Kim and chris: hope the interview went ok!! star_smile.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-31 18:14:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
kelzm and Grant: just been looking at my california map and pin pointed Coarsegold and Gilroy! star_smile.gif Coarsegold does look quite remote. I'd imagine it is just beautiful there!! I will be living in Orange County and the furthest I have travelled going up towards SF is Pismo Beach (so quite a long way away from SF) But my fiance says that he wants to take to me to see San Francisco one day so am really looking forward to that day! smile.gif hope the job search is all going well.

kimandruss: congrats on becoming a moderator on vj! good.gif

yankiwi: yes!!! ovaltine or Nesquik! that will fill the void for sure!!! yes.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-31 18:11:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (gshennen @ Oct 27 2008, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello All

Just wanting everyone to know that we made it. I have been without internet access for a few days, but have that sorted now.

We had the flight from hell, our 21 month old refused to sleep on the plane, and cried and screamed the entire flight (we weren't very popular amongst the other passengers). But we made it eventually. Customs was a breeze (we flew to San Francisco). I was the only person in the New Immigrant line, and I told the guy that the screaming kids at the other end of the arrivals hall were mine, he took pity on me, and I was processed very quickly and welcomed to the USA. The fact that I also was covered in baby food from head to foot probably helped me get more pity as well.

As we had so many bags (we had 8 large over sized and weight bags...which were all accepted by Air NZ), a SF airport official arranged a porter to take all of our bags for us - this was a lifesaver. We seemed to bypass everything and next thing we were through and on the road south. We stayed in a town called Gilroy for a night, and then travelled to Brook's parents the next day.

We are currently in Coarsegold, CA, where Brook's parents retired to. It is in the foothills of the Yosemite Mountains, about 40 minutes NE of Fresno. It is quite remote, and their place has wild deer and quails wandering through the yard. The weather is magic, and after 5 days we are all pretty well aclimatised (it was hard to get the kids aclimatised and back onto schedule - however today went like clockwork).

However tomorrow, I have to start the job hunting proper. We are still looking at either the Bay Area or Sacramento.

Hope everyone else is doing well, and making progress.

Cheers

Grant


good to hear you all made it ok and safely. It is a long journey for young ones and there isn't a lot of room to move around on the plane. I notice that parents of young children are usually put in the front of the middle section of the plane. I always 'feel' for the parents when you see them trying to calm their young ones through a 12 hour flight. Very stressful indeed!

it sounds that one good thing from the unsettled flight is that you managed to get through customs a bit quicker star_smile.gif
Did you have to pay excess baggage fees to take the 8 suitcases on board the plane? if so, was it very expensive?

it sounds lovely where you are staying at the moment. Hope all goes well with job hunting! Best wishes!! smile.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-28 02:28:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Oct 26 2008, 05:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Kiwiana - don't worry.....With all the red tape and processes we've been going through over the last few months, I've still managed to be worried about my fave foods I'm going to have to do without, and trying to find out if i can get them there.......lol...how will i live without twisties ohmy.gif crying.gif


Anyway.........I have a more immediate concern.....my interview is on Tuesday morning at 9.45...... helpsmilie.gif

I received a phone call on Friday morning from a woman at the consulate kind of telling me off for not sending back my paperwork sooner!!!.....I would have sent it straight back if it wasn't for the small matter of having to sign a declaration stating that i have all my paperwork for the interview......which I didn't as Chris' papers took 20 days to arrive....gotta love the postal service wacko.gif ....I really didn't feel comfortable saying I had them when I didn't. If I'd sent them straight back and had gotten an interview reasonably quickly...I would have been in deep you know what....lol

Anyway .....she was more concerned that the police check was going to take 2-3 weeks ohmy.gif wink.gif no0pb.gif .......so I'm to have the interview and then will have to wait for the police check before i can get the final yes or no. I have a flight tentatively booked on Nov 28 so it should still be in plenty of time so I'm not stressing about it.

ALL my paperwork is gathered and up to date ..............so I'm raring to go.......lol good.gif







Isn't it just the way that when you are waiting for something important to arrive in the mail, it takes forever to come!! Arrgh!! mad.gif Even more added stress for you but am so glad to hear that it finally arrived in time smile.gif

Good luck and very best wishes for the interview!! Let us know how it all goes heart.gif


(mmmmm twisties...... drool! drool! star_smile.gif )
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-26 15:36:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Oct 25 2008, 11:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey guys

I know they sell milo at walmart in statesville nc, saw it there when i was visiting Rob smile.gif


and..... we're 227 on Igor's list, hehe, i am excited, taking into account cdneh's calculations of duplicates and dormants that makes us 199 hehe biggrin.gif

silly how excited i am over that and how depressed i'll be if/when we head back the other way.


It shouldn't be too long now. I see that a lot of June filers are getting their NOA2! good.gif I ,too get excited over igors list when it moves UP! silly isn't it? but it's in anticipation that maybe one day we will get that NOA2 notice!! yay!!!! star_smile.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-26 02:40:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Hi folks!!
Hope you are all having a lovely weekend (a long one if in NZ with Labour day) It's pretty much windy city here in Auckland today! ohmy.gif

KimandRuss: how did it go at social security? Did Russell get a ssn? hope it all went smoothly.

cdneh: I have an appointment on tuesday at central police station for fingerprints for Aussie police check. Do you have to pay a fee for the fingerprints?

amaciar and Kim: thanks for the tips with milo. I guess i could take a tin of milo with me when i leave wink.gif At least they do have hot chocolate over there as a substitute. All the hassles and stress we all have, going through K1 process and i am worried about MILO!! jest.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-25 20:26:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (kelzm @ Oct 21 2008, 07:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi all, been a little while since I checked in but good to see everyone is still coping with the process and some of you are moving forward. Grant, must be exciting to be just about on your way. No news from Kim and Russ I see, here's hoping they're having a fantastic time after the wedding and we'll get some pics soon.

For those of you that are worrying about driving over here, I think that once you've been doing it a little while it feels fine. It's actually not that scary driving on the other side of the road, because you sit on the other side of the car, so that still feels right. What I have the most trouble with is turning, at first I was muttering 'stay right' under my breath as it's tempting to want to turn over to the wrong lane. The four way stop signs always give me a shudder too. But I'm getting used to the 'whoever gets their first goes first' rule. I've even driven up to San Francisco which is about an hour and a half from where I live.

As an update, I too was planning a life of leisure and looking forward to some time off but I soon found myself going stir crazy. I've got a two week temp job as a secretary/receptionist just to fill in time and give me a little bit of extra money. I'm going to start my serious job searching after that. I'm looking at a commute though which after living 10 minutes from my workplace is going to be tough.

I've had a few moments of homesickness, and I've definitely started to notice differences between NZ and the USA. I've visited many times but living here is just different.



That's good that you have got a temp job. Like you, i KNOW i will go stir crazy if i have to be idle for 3 months or more waiting for an EAD! So it looks like volunteer work will be the option for me.

Thats pretty good that you have driven up to San Fran. It certainly sounds like it didn't take long to get the hang of it. Those four way stop signs always baffle me when i am in my fiances car and he approaches them. I am like.. how on earth do you know... who gives way to who? But everyone always seem to be courteous and it all works out ok ...

What differences have you started to notice between USA and NZ? One thing that i still can't get my head around, no matter how many times i have been there is their currency.

I kind of wonder who on earth invented their coins? The five cent coin is bigger than their 10cent. While the 1c coin should be put out to retirement!! smile.gif And their notes all look the same to me. The shopkeepers definitely know i am a foreigner when i purchase anything.

Have you missed any foods from NZ yet?
I haven't seen milo over there in the shops and I am going to miss not being able to drink it when i move there and will probably get withdrawal symptoms wink.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-22 01:05:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
Grant: Have a safe, trouble free trip! All the best!! star_smile.gif

Bobsagetti: It didn't take too long to receive the EAD. Wow! 10 days driving! ohmy.gif Would never be able to drive for that long,going one way in NZ!! (would run out of land laughing.gif ) Hope you are settling in Virginia ok. Good luck with the job hunting! smile.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-20 01:31:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
amaciar: yikes! your doctor was pretty thorough!

Will definitely try and see Dr Stone when the time comes. Not sure what this 'checking down below" is all about? Are they making sure you are a woman? biggrin.gif It's going to be nerve wracking as it is to go to the medical, so you really want a doc that is going to make you feel at ease and not more stressed out.

I know one can't take the timelines here as gospel but was pleasantly surprised this morning to see my timeline has jumped ahead once more. The estimated time is now nov 31st! It was anything up to December 19th . So am hoping it will stay on that path!! wink.gif

Big day for Kim and Russell today! Best wishes to you guys!!! good.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-18 15:42:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Oct 17 2008, 05:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The medical went ok.....Got there about 20 mins early and Dr Stone took me in more or less straight away.....the initial medical only took about 10-15 mins so I was out of there before the actual apt time....lol smile.gif
The x-ray and blood test were down the road further but not that far.
$125 for the medical, $50 for a tetanus shot, $80 for the x-ray and $31 for the blood test....$286 all up.
Allowing for driving between locations the whole thing took about 2 hours.

Since you have to sign to say you have all your paperwork for the interview I thought it best not to send back package 3 yet as i'm still waiting for the forms from my SO in the U.S. Never had a problem with the post in the past, but of all times for it to take the slow route, it would have to be now unsure.gif , I'm sure they won't be too far off but I would def get them fed-ex'd or similar if i was doing it now.

Kiwiana: God you're good, I've worked all my life, with the exception of a couple of years off having my son. This year has been a very eventful and somewhat stressful one in part, so I'm planning on taking all my favourite dvd's and some books and having an initial period of time off to relax and recharge the batteries while waiting for EAD. With all the sorting and selling things off and everything else that goes along with a monumentous move like this, the thought of time off is about all that's holding me together right now... wacko.gif ..........LOL

Probably practice my driving too, drove earlier in the year when i was there, took a bit of getting used to.....lol



Thats good that the medical only took like 10-15mins. For women, does the doctor do a full medical (like breast check, cervical smear check?) or does he just do the usual checks like blood pressure etc?
I know a few here have already mentioned their medicals, but i know Grant and Russell wouldn't have had the breast/cervical checks LOL! biggrin.gif so am just curious.

Anyway,it's great to know that the medical all went well and that you only needed a tetanus shot. The fees do seem to vary with everyone, depending on what shots are required etc.

It certainly sounds like you will need a well deserved rest once you get there yes.gif

The driving part for me will also take a bit of getting used to, as i have never driven over there wink.gif
I can imagine my SO will want to get a megaphone to alert upcoming and oncoming drivers that there is a KIWI loose on the road!! LOL!!
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-18 02:00:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
dlopez86: Best wishes and good luck with your interview smile.gif


*************

It takes at least 3 months, from what i have read to receive EAD and i was thinking today of how to fill in time when i am over there during that time. My SO will of course be working and I probably won't be able to drive at first.

Not meaning to sound like a whiney person but I am so used to working all the time that to not work for at least three months or more is going to be very hard for me.
So i was wondering, have any of you thought about how you will fill in your time before you receive your ead (if you are planning to work that is smile.gif )

I would like to do volunteer work maybe while waiting for ead, but not sure of what organisations etc are over there.

And to those that are already living there, did you find the move a big adjustment at all? What are the pro's and con's that you have found so far about the move/settling in to a different country?
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-17 03:53:00
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kelzm: whew! thank goodness there was no parallel parking! smile.gif Thanks for telling us about the test! It must feel strange driving on the other side of the road. Does it take long to get use to it? It's something that i haven't done over there yet.

dlopez86: Good to hear the medical went ok. Wow! it's pretty expensive eh? Do you have a date set for the interview?

Kim & Chris: Hope the medical went well. If you find time, we'd love to hear about it all.

Kim and Russell: All the best for the BIG day! Don't forget to show us a pic of the wedding!! smile.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-15 02:23:00
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QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Oct 11 2008, 11:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
haha i was too quick, i'll keep looking too.



it seems the main dmv site for NC (ncdot i think is what it is called) is down. Their links don't appear to be working. That is where the free handbook would be too. that sucks!
Have they all left town for the weekend and can't fix their site? LOL! tongue.gif

will have to keep trying their site over the coming week and see if they get it up and running again.
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-11 23:42:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 11 2008, 11:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Oct 11 2008, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 12 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
my apologises. i meant to say Kim and chris and lisa and tim at end of last post (got the names mixed up lol)



i'm not surprised, there's quite a few of us now smile.gif

am hanging in there but going from stalking the forums and igor's list to not wanting to go near either cos it's all too depressing

and omg i never even thought about parrallel parking on the wrong side of the road, eek something new to worry about

i did go searching for the handbook for North Carolina but couldn't seem to find a free one, everyone wanted me to pay them so i decided to keep looking.



Michelle try this link:
http://www.welcometo...com/nc-dmv-.asp

looks like there is a free download of the drivers handbook there.



forget that idea. just tried it and it don't work.. sorry.. i will keep looking for you
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-11 23:15:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Oct 11 2008, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (kiwiana @ Oct 12 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
my apologises. i meant to say Kim and chris and lisa and tim at end of last post (got the names mixed up lol)



i'm not surprised, there's quite a few of us now smile.gif

am hanging in there but going from stalking the forums and igor's list to not wanting to go near either cos it's all too depressing

and omg i never even thought about parrallel parking on the wrong side of the road, eek something new to worry about

i did go searching for the handbook for North Carolina but couldn't seem to find a free one, everyone wanted me to pay them so i decided to keep looking.



Michelle try this link:
http://www.welcometo...com/nc-dmv-.asp

looks like there is a free download of the drivers handbook there.
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-11 23:11:00
Australia and New ZealandNEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!
my apologises. i meant to say Kim and chris and lisa and tim at end of last post (got the names mixed up lol)
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-11 22:48:00
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Hi all! hope you have all had a great weekend!

Kimand Russ: not long to go now.. woo hooo!! smile.gif hope you will be able to find time to let us know all the details of the occasion from what you wore down to how the weather was on the day

Kelzm: congratulations on getting your licence. that is GREAT news!! good.gif How was the test? how long did it last for? did you have to do a three point turn at all or reversing into a space inbetween 2 parked cars (is that called parallel parking? even now i still have difficulty doing that one lol! yes.gif )

yankiwi: thats good news about Chris and the contract job!! Not long to go till the big move!


Grant: not long till the big move for you either. hope you managed to get everything sorted out.

Bobsagetti: has your EAD arrived yet?

cdneh, michelle.s,kelvan, amaciar, tim and chris, and others i may have forgotten. hope you are all doing well.
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-11 22:38:00
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QUOTE (cdneh @ Oct 9 2008, 02:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've read that Kim…it was referred to just after I joined here. I've just read it all again, but if I'm being honest I'm not finding a whole lot of comfort in it tonight.

We filed in early July, it was signed for on the third, and it took 25 days to get a NOA1. Not so much as a touch since. Igor's list shows us going the wrong direction, and the date on my timeline has now been pushed back more than a month. There are NOA2's from May, June, August and even four from September, but not a solitary one from July.

unsure.gif



I see that a vermont july filer got approved today!! smile.gif That may be the one that gets the ball rolling for other vermont july filers! You and your SO have been apart for sooo long! Here's hoping yours will be processed VERY soon!! rose.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-09 23:26:00
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QUOTE (cdneh @ Oct 8 2008, 02:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We're going backwards too, and I can't get my head around that. It seems every time the list shows an approval we go the wrong way. ...and I was really quite discouraged tonight to read that someone got a noa2...who MET their partner for the FIRST time nearly three weeks after we filed. How they heck does that happen, if it is meant to be first in first out?


I'm really wondering what kind of system they work on at the service centres. In my 'mind', I imagine that as the forms come in they are all placed neatly in order of dates received, but that theory has long gone out the window now for me, as some people who filed in June are getting approved, while others who filed in April are still waiting???? (go figure!?!)
Maybe the employees all take turns to DIVE blindly into a HUGE pile of 1-129f files lying on the floor and the one they pick up first is the one to be processed that day??? whistling.gif
kiwianaFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-08 03:06:00
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Congrats Kim and Chris!
kelzmFemaleNew Zealand2008-11-03 16:40:00
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Good to hear you made it safe and sound Grant, good luck with the job hunt. Did you smell the garlic when you were in Gilroy? I'm living just a little south of there and have made quite a few trips up to the outlet mall to pick up essentials...

Kim I know what you mean about being over the immigration process. I need to get started on my sons paperwork but now that I've got everything sorted for me I just want a break! I may leave it till he visits again in January and get the paperwork underway then.

Hoping to hear some news from a few of you soon, it must be about time those noa2's came through!
kelzmFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-31 02:31:00
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Hi all, been a little while since I checked in but good to see everyone is still coping with the process and some of you are moving forward. Grant, must be exciting to be just about on your way. No news from Kim and Russ I see, here's hoping they're having a fantastic time after the wedding and we'll get some pics soon.

For those of you that are worrying about driving over here, I think that once you've been doing it a little while it feels fine. It's actually not that scary driving on the other side of the road, because you sit on the other side of the car, so that still feels right. What I have the most trouble with is turning, at first I was muttering 'stay right' under my breath as it's tempting to want to turn over to the wrong lane. The four way stop signs always give me a shudder too. But I'm getting used to the 'whoever gets their first goes first' rule. I've even driven up to San Francisco which is about an hour and a half from where I live.

As an update, I too was planning a life of leisure and looking forward to some time off but I soon found myself going stir crazy. I've got a two week temp job as a secretary/receptionist just to fill in time and give me a little bit of extra money. I'm going to start my serious job searching after that. I'm looking at a commute though which after living 10 minutes from my workplace is going to be tough.

I've had a few moments of homesickness, and I've definitely started to notice differences between NZ and the USA. I've visited many times but living here is just different.
kelzmFemaleNew Zealand2008-10-21 19:47:00