Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	cdneh...congratulations!!!! you're next michelle. So nice to see you folks moving along!	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 14:20:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Yeah, the forms are no fun at all. You would think they'd fix that but... It's not uncommon at all to get a touch after an approval. Usually means your petition was scanned before heading out to NVC.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-20 17:49:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	The USCIS will send your fiance the I-797 (NOA2). It will look like the NOA1 he got but it will say the petition has been approved and it will have your A# on it. I believe you can make your dr's appointment with that. You can probably wait until the P3 comes as most of the doc's seem to make the appointments fairly quick...at least the ones in Auk. There will be a form in there for you to fill out and hand to the doctor but it's just destroyed after he inputs all of your information. With regards to the medical... you may want to inquire about a TB test as it is now needed for all K-1 applicants. It seems not very many of the panel physicians (overseas approved docs) and civil surgeons (US approved docs) have figured out quite how this will work just yet. AOS is a nightmare right now for those of us caught in the midst of it all. Your fiance will also receive at least one letter from NVC (usually...but they are pretty inconsistent with this) just saying they've received the approved petition and that it will be sent off to Auckland. You may receive another stating it has been sent. I got two saying it would be sent...with two different dates..and none saying it had been sent so it's really a ####### shoot. Don't worry if you don't get these as it really doesn't matter. You will, however, want to hold on to your NOA2 as you will need it when filing for AOS and a new copy is very expensive to get. If you were approved on the 17th, your petition most likely reached the nvc on the 18th and will probably leave for Auckland either today, tomorrow or Monday and arrive just a couple of days later. This is the normal progression for most people...the exception is those like us who got held up at NVC for 3 weeks. The Embassy is likely to have an electronic version of your approval so you can probably call to have them send out the P3 now if you wish. It will (should) get to you very soon after they receive the petition. The interview will be based on when you can get the P3 back to them and when the doctor gets the medical info to them (usually within a week). Once they have that they will schedule. It seems that normally the interviews are scheduled for anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month after but you can request an expedite so I guess it really depends on whether or not you are wanting to spend xmas in NZ or the US. Once approved it will take about 3 days for you to get the visa via post (you will need to bring a pre-paid mailer to interview for this). Again, there are security checks all the way through... up until that visa is printed into your passport and sent off to you... so this is all just how it usually goes.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-20 12:14:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Your approved petition will be sent to the NVC. It's not as easy to judge timing for CSC filers but with VSC is a matter of just a couple of days. There are more security checks at NVC which normally don't hold you up too long... although, we got held up for 3 weeks so it is possible. Normally the petition is sent off to the Embassy in a matter of days. It's not neccesary to call the NVC if you don't want to. One benefit is that you can schedule your medical with your new case number. But, if you're in no rush it really doesn't matter if you call or not. Your petition will be forwarded. The beneficiary will be contacted by the Embassy (packet 3) as soon as they receive the approved petition. Most of the forms can be downloaded and filled out ahead of time and are usually in much better quality. Send back what is required with packet 3 and you will sent packet 4 (interview packet) with a date very soon thereafter. Be sure you have everything you need from the USC and all you need for the interview. Russell wrote a really good review of the process at the Embassy so be sure to check that over. To the ladies in waiting... remember that Igor's list means very little. I realize moving up and down the list screws with your mind but it really has no true bearing on your actual timeline.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-19 11:12:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Oh I remember thinking the very same thing right about where you are. Ready to lose my mind every time I looked at that dang site or when our timeline would jump up! You might remember that my blood pressure even went up for a while. Not good. I work with computers but I was a psych major ....so you would think i'd be better at it. I know people will tell you not to look or to try to keep busy but I know that your mind is on nothing but this right now. Just do your best to keep your sanity. It really is coming. I know it's hard to see any good but I remember getting a lot of comfort knowing that we were dealing with a highly effecient and accommodating Embassy. Once you're through with CIS and NVC and on your way to NZ the time will fly!	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 16:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (ivannna @ Nov 17 2008, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> thank you kim for answering my questions..really makes me feel better...one more....lol...on a f1 visa to you have to show proof of income? i'm worried i dont make enough and could this be held against me? or is it random..do they pick and choose if they feel you dont make enough? Who is on an F1 visa? And will who hold it against you? If you mean in order to travel I wouldn't think it would matter so much as I can't see them expecting a student to be making too much anyway. If you're talking about the Consulate then the beneficiaries income is irrelevent. QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 17 2008, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> OMG!! i just checked website and it says i was touched on 17th nov. I checked online status and it says i am approved!! it says a notice was sent out on 17th Nov!!! OMG! i can't believe this!!! i just can't think straight at all. I am just sooo happy, i am crying!!! cdneh, michelleS and others.. PLEASE check USCIS and see if you have any changes!!! they may have just updated the site as i had just checked!! I should be thinking about the next stage now but my mind is just still in shock that i have been approved!! and my police certificate from australia arrived today too!!! yay!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS Ana!!! I will never in my life forget that moment... just gets better from here! cdneh, it's coming sweetheart. I know this is so difficult but stay strong! The timelines you see here on VJ are really irrelevant at this point... your date is going to move with all the new members joining and dependant on who updates and who does not. It really doesn't mean a whole lot. I know it's harder than every to keep perspective during this stage but we're here to remind you that you're almost on your way!	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 15:51:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Russell and I have known each other for 11 years. Because I was going through a long drawn out divorce we had to do what we had to in order to be together. This included me moving myself and my children to AUS/NZ (where he was working) for some time in 2006 and then Russell quit his job to take his chances with the VWP for as long as he could. We really weren't aware there was anything wrong with doing that (taking advantage of it) as we just wanted to be together and he did leave the Country every 3 months as required. Anyway, we travelled to another Country for a weekend every 3 months for over a year and a half. First back to NZ, then London, then Iceland, then eventually Dublin, where he was 'allowed to withdraw his petition to enter the US'. We really pushed our luck. It was then I found VJ. Starting in January 2009 you will need to register with the Embassy before travelling. I suppose this is an effort to stop things like this from happening. Although you will not need a 'visa' per'se, you will need to be approved for travel. You can read more about ESTA here. Whether he gets into the Country for a visit will depend much on that and then, I imagine, on the POE officer. Being approved for travel should make people feel a little more confident about travelling. They will only know about your K-1 if you tell them. It is not something that is routinely in their system just by filing. Being denied entry will have no bearing on his visa as long as no laws were broken and there were no overstays. Because Russell was turned away in Sept of 07, and because we have spent upwards of $75,000 on travelling over the last few years, we were also living apart for an entire year. I work for myself but I have children and did not want to upset their routine by moving to NZ to wait out the process. Anyway, we had one 3 week visit in January (courtesy of my mother who travelled with me to meet Russell's family) the entire year. It took until April for my divorce to be final and until September to get the visa in hand. Russell arrived exactaly one year after he got 'das boot! I wont deny that it was hell but we stayed positive, stayed in contact as much as possible and educated ourselves to the process and how to go about it the right way...the first time..so as not to delay our being together for good any longer. I'm happy to say we've been married one month now and are very happy. It is a long road and the separation is hell... but it is a great test of your relationship and a super way to help build a lasting foundation that will help you not to take each other for granted as so many couples do. Spend this time talking as much as you can and learning all you can about how to get him here for good. Reading through this entire thread will help you immensley. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. Edited by KimandRuss, 17 November 2008 - 03:20 PM.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-17 15:17:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Hi ivanna, your fiance's visit on the VWP will have no effect on him getting a visa ...unless he overstayed his 90 day limit, that is. My now husband basically lived here in the U.S. for over a year using the VWP (leaving for a weekend every 90 days). I would not recommend this avenue... I would recommend you read through this entire thread and prepare yourself best you can for the next steps. I know it all looks daunting right now but you'll get there. good luck	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-17 11:59:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	dlopez...what a ride you had! In the end I guess all that matters is that you have been approved and are on your way home. Congratulations! Ana, we're thinking since nobody is very clear yet on the details that we'll just send the AOS in without having it transcribed and without the TB test and just hope for the best. We're expecting RFE but will deal with it when it comes. You are suppose to have originals/certified copy (raised seal) of marriage certificates for proof of legal name change as well as certified copy (raised seal) of divorce decree at interview. I have no idea if they looked at it or not but I did send all originals. Better to have then not I say. Kim, how exciting this time must be for you.... i'm sure it will all come together for you and soon you'll be 'home' where you belong. And for the holidays...how nice. Well, we're still procrastinating about AOS over here. It will be nice when Russell can actually work in his field and we're truly on our way to our new future. I've had it with the years of limbo! Have a nice weekend my kiwi/US friends!	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-15 09:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 13 2008, 01:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 12 2008, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married! I've been procrastinating about it for weeks! kimandruss: will you be sending in the EAD, AOS and the 1-131 all together to the one place (chicago or whereever). or will you send the EAD separately to a local office? I read on guides here that you can do either. is that right? if so, which would be the best way to do it? Do we all have to get TB tests done when we live there? i thought getting the 1-129f package together was complex but looking at what one has to do ONCE married and living there seems even MORE complicated Lol! All forms together for one cost ...$1010. The EAD is only until the temp green card arrives...really not worth the extra cost to file seperately. The TB is a new requirement for K-1's. Even the CS's and panel physicians (doc's abroad) aren't clear on this yet. Dr. Arnold (someone who ppl here on VJ frequently use now to transcribe vacc's onto the I683) isn't clear on this. They wont sign off on it since they are not the ones who did it. Make sense? Those of you with medicals coming up.... If you can get Dr. Stone (or whomever) to perform a TB test then I would suggest that as it will make your life a lot easier at AOS. If not, your local health department here in the US will usually test you for free...you can then send the results in with your AOS paperwork and hope for the best. Also don't forget to get a list of your vaccinations (forgot form number) to submit with I693. It does look daunting...but much like the petition process... it all does come together. At least we're together as we wait this one out.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-13 08:26:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married! I've been procrastinating about it for weeks!	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-12 14:11:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	It is suggested you make copies of your packet for many reasons, lost in mail, uscis errors, reference at the interview...etc, etc. It is not mandatory, but it is good to know just what the CO is looking at... even if you prepared it yourself. The Consulate specifically requested originals of all documents so I did send ALL originals. Although not much was done with them in the end it did make me feel as prepared as possible. It's also important to note that an original birth certificate does not mean the first birth certificate ever issued. You can easily get a certified (raised seal) copy of your birth certificate for a small fee from the County in which you were born. This is all that is needed. Since so many of you are getting closer to interview, I did just also want to reiterate the fact that you DO need a police certificate for any Country you've lived in for 6 months or more since age 16. We were told by the Consulate that it was one year or more but the CO told us that we were misinformed by her staff.	KimandRuss	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-10 11:22:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Thanks so much Kim! Amazing how that works when you know what goes where OMG my house looks like a bombs hit it....I've been telling everyone it's organised chaos......but really.... There's so much I should've done sooner but when you're in that limbo state of waiting it's not easy to get motivated....then all of a sudden the visa's in your hand and it's all go. Glad to see all you guys are moving along nicely...well done all of you.....Michelle you won't be far behind I'm sure. 2 more sleeps and then I'm off. 2 more sleeps ! ! Edited by cdneh, 26 November 2008 - 02:01 PM.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-26 13:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 26 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Nov 25 2008, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'd love to see that We are calling NVC later this morning, so see if they have it When you get the NVC case number from them, will you go ahead and go for your medical? If so, where will you get the forms that you have to give to doc etc if you do it before you hear from embassy? We haven't contacted NVC yet, but i have been looking on dhl and last thursday quite a lot went out but none to NZ Also, on an older review of the embassy info, it said that one needs to get 11 passport photos done (3xmedical, 4 to be sent with packet three and 4 to be taken to interview) but on the recent update, it says 6 photos are needed (2x medical and 4 for packet 3 and if any more are needed it can be done at embassy). so what is the correct number of photos needed? sorry for all the q's..... We called NVC today and they gave us the new case number, so I am going to go ahead and email the embassy tonight and see if we can get the ball rolling a bit. The chap said he expected it to go out to AKL on Monday next. Does anyone...Kim..know how to track shipments to AKL with DHL? I had a search but it brought up a lot of things I wasn't expecting I believe the number of photos needed is 6. Our other Kim (Kim and Chris) is almost ready to fly out?! I think the forms are online...Kim will know for sure if she sees this and let us know. QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Nov 26 2008, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 26 2008, 08:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> cdneh...congratulations!!!! you're next michelle. So nice to see you folks moving along! hehe thanks kim, i'm getting very excited, can't wait Getting close ...yay!!!	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-26 02:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 26 2008, 08:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> cdneh...congratulations!!!! you're next michelle. So nice to see you folks moving along! Thanks Kim...I'll be re-reading some of your older posts about where we go from here	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 15:39:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Michelle.S @ Nov 26 2008, 12:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Nov 25 2008, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Isn't it wonderful I would love to have gone mad and danced around like a nutter...but I was at work ..and Ambulance Control Seniors are usually not known for this ......................>>> So...I politely excused myself and went off to the ladies...and had my little happy dance there ... lol ....no audience...but it was great all the same pft i don't care what the inspector says, when it's my turn i'm going be yelling it out loud for the whole floor to hear congratulations Kate I'd love to see that We are calling NVC later this morning, so see if they have it	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 11:21:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Isn't it wonderful I would love to have gone mad and danced around like a nutter...but I was at work ..and Ambulance Control Seniors are usually not known for this ......................>>> So...I politely excused myself and went off to the ladies...and had my little happy dance there ... lol ....no audience...but it was great all the same	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 03:58:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Approved 18th November. No touches, no change on the website..just turned up in the letterbox	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 02:51:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	I can't wait for that...time flying by It seems that my BP is way the heck up to...but I had to laugh when my Doc asked....' do you think you could be stressed?" *ack*...we have gone from 47 to 77 on Igor's.... *head banging smiley here*	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 18:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 19 2008, 09:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (ivannna @ Nov 17 2008, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> thank you kim for answering my questions..really makes me feel better...one more....lol...on a f1 visa to you have to show proof of income? i'm worried i dont make enough and could this be held against me? or is it random..do they pick and choose if they feel you dont make enough? Who is on an F1 visa? And will who hold it against you? If you mean in order to travel I wouldn't think it would matter so much as I can't see them expecting a student to be making too much anyway. If you're talking about the Consulate then the beneficiaries income is irrelevent. QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 17 2008, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> OMG!! i just checked website and it says i was touched on 17th nov. I checked online status and it says i am approved!! it says a notice was sent out on 17th Nov!!! OMG! i can't believe this!!! i just can't think straight at all. I am just sooo happy, i am crying!!! cdneh, michelleS and others.. PLEASE check USCIS and see if you have any changes!!! they may have just updated the site as i had just checked!! I should be thinking about the next stage now but my mind is just still in shock that i have been approved!! and my police certificate from australia arrived today too!!! yay!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS Ana!!! I will never in my life forget that moment... just gets better from here! cdneh, it's coming sweetheart. I know this is so difficult but stay strong! The timelines you see here on VJ are really irrelevant at this point... your date is going to move with all the new members joining and dependant on who updates and who does not. It really doesn't mean a whole lot. I know it's harder than every to keep perspective during this stage but we're here to remind you that you're almost on your way! Thanks Kim... for sure the closer it gets the harder it is. We are down to 46 on Igor's, and haven't gone backwards in a while. That adjudication timeline thing started us off in October and has been getting further out since then. I just wish the darn website for USCIS was working. Nothing on ours has changed since July. And I used to think I had such patience	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 16:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 18 2008, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks kim&chris! I am still finding it hard to believe that it has happened! I am hoping that the uscis website hasnt made an error and tomorrow there will be a message up there for me with oops! we made a mistake!! lol! cdneh: I can just feel it in my bones that you guys are gonna get approved VERY soon! what i found tonight when i logged in on the uscis site is that when i clicked onto my receipt number (to see why the date had changed (had a touch) nothing would happen. i clicked furiously away at the receipt number and nada!!! so i went back to the log in page and clicked onto 'case status search' and then typed in my receipt number and then it came up that it had been approved. That's how I've been checking since the website is not working well. Nothing yet for us.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 14:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	To add insult to injury...I checked our timeline..an hour ago it read November 22 to December 3. Now it reads November 27 to December 10.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 03:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Nov 18 2008, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> OMG!! i just checked website and it says i was touched on 17th nov. I checked online status and it says i am approved!! it says a notice was sent out on 17th Nov!!! OMG! i can't believe this!!! i just can't think straight at all. I am just sooo happy, i am crying!!! cdneh, michelleS and others.. PLEASE check USCIS and see if you have any changes!!! they may have just updated the site as i had just checked!! I should be thinking about the next stage now but my mind is just still in shock that i have been approved!! and my police certificate from australia arrived today too!!! yay!!!!! I just checked. Still the same as it has been all along.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 01:09:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	The Never Ending Process	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-13 02:05:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Oh congratulations! How exciting	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-06 02:11:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (cdneh @ Nov 25 2008, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'd love to see that We are calling NVC later this morning, so see if they have it When you get the NVC case number from them, will you go ahead and go for your medical? If so, where will you get the forms that you have to give to doc etc if you do it before you hear from embassy? We haven't contacted NVC yet, but i have been looking on dhl and last thursday quite a lot went out but none to NZ Also, on an older review of the embassy info, it said that one needs to get 11 passport photos done (3xmedical, 4 to be sent with packet three and 4 to be taken to interview) but on the recent update, it says 6 photos are needed (2x medical and 4 for packet 3 and if any more are needed it can be done at embassy). so what is the correct number of photos needed? sorry for all the q's.....	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-26 01:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (cdneh @ Nov 25 2008, 02:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Approved 18th November. No touches, no change on the website..just turned up in the letterbox omg!!!!! that is just sooo fantastic!!!! wooo hoooo!!!! I am soooo happy for you!!!!! Yours was approved a day after mine.. i KNEW it was coming soon!!!!! It just HAD to!!!! This is soo cool!!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-25 03:21:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (yankiwi @ Nov 23 2008, 10:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> kiwiana- Yay!!! That's great news!! Seems to me the Consulate here gets all the paperwork out pretty quick once they receive the documents from the US. You should be able to schedule your medical check before Christmas I would think! cdneh- I'll be sending good energy that you hear something soon! Their website is so frustrating, it never was accurate with when our case was touched and NOAs were issued. We got documentation in the mail before we got email notification, and considering they were sending everything to NZ (since I'm here instead of in the US) that's really bad. Not to mention the two sets of notifications we were sent with different approval dates... Thank you!! It is still sinking in My SO told me yesterday that the hard copy of the NOA2 arrived in the mail for him on Saturday. So that was good to hear! I really do hope that i can get the medical done before xmas, so i can get it out of the way. I know i am going to be a bundle of nerves the day i go! Things do seem to go pretty quick though. I mean,we got approved on 17th, had another touch on 18th and then NOA2 arrived on 22nd!! After waiting 129 days for NOA2 it seems like everything is whizzing along now. I can't keep up with it!! lol!! How is everything going with you?	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-24 01:23:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 20 2008, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The USCIS will send your fiance the I-797 (NOA2). It will look like the NOA1 he got but it will say the petition has been approved and it will have your A# on it. I believe you can make your dr's appointment with that. You can probably wait until the P3 comes as most of the doc's seem to make the appointments fairly quick...at least the ones in Auk. There will be a form in there for you to fill out and hand to the doctor but it's just destroyed after he inputs all of your information. With regards to the medical... you may want to inquire about a TB test as it is now needed for all K-1 applicants. It seems not very many of the panel physicians (overseas approved docs) and civil surgeons (US approved docs) have figured out quite how this will work just yet. AOS is a nightmare right now for those of us caught in the midst of it all. Your fiance will also receive at least one letter from NVC (usually...but they are pretty inconsistent with this) just saying they've received the approved petition and that it will be sent off to Auckland. You may receive another stating it has been sent. I got two saying it would be sent...with two different dates..and none saying it had been sent so it's really a ####### shoot. Don't worry if you don't get these as it really doesn't matter. You will, however, want to hold on to your NOA2 as you will need it when filing for AOS and a new copy is very expensive to get. If you were approved on the 17th, your petition most likely reached the nvc on the 18th and will probably leave for Auckland either today, tomorrow or Monday and arrive just a couple of days later. This is the normal progression for most people...the exception is those like us who got held up at NVC for 3 weeks. The Embassy is likely to have an electronic version of your approval so you can probably call to have them send out the P3 now if you wish. It will (should) get to you very soon after they receive the petition. The interview will be based on when you can get the P3 back to them and when the doctor gets the medical info to them (usually within a week). Once they have that they will schedule. It seems that normally the interviews are scheduled for anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month after but you can request an expedite so I guess it really depends on whether or not you are wanting to spend xmas in NZ or the US. Once approved it will take about 3 days for you to get the visa via post (you will need to bring a pre-paid mailer to interview for this). Again, there are security checks all the way through... up until that visa is printed into your passport and sent off to you... so this is all just how it usually goes. wow thanks Kim soo much!! I didnt realise that it could happen this quickly if all goes smoothly, seeing as we have waited 4 months to get this far!! lol! I kind of feel giddy about it all at this moment, trying to take in all that is happening. last night i was tossing and turning in bed, i had images of all the forms i have to send in going round in my head. I have already practiced filling in the ones that i could get online, but forms and me don't make a good combination really. I always tend to panic at the sight of anything official, silly i know as they are JUST forms. I found out through asking here on vj that on the ds-156 on q18 where it says 'spouses full name (even if divorced or separated)', i have to put my ex husbands name there but on DS-230 part one it says on Q14 'Name of spouse (maiden or family name). I would put N/A there wouldn't I as i am not married yet until i get to the usa? I find the forms are somewhat contradicting at times. I mean to me a spouse means your present husband/wife but on ds-156 it tells you to list spouses name even if divorced. well if divorced, then you don't have a spouse? I noticed that on the uscis site, i had another touch on 18th (day after the approval) so not sure if that meant anything or not but hopefully it meant that they were moving it ,to be sent to nvc. i will definitely ask the doctor about the tb test when the time comes.. crazy that it is implemented by the officials without docs etc really know what the heck to do about it.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-20 14:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 19 2008, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Your approved petition will be sent to the NVC. It's not as easy to judge timing for CSC filers but with VSC is a matter of just a couple of days. There are more security checks at NVC which normally don't hold you up too long... although, we got held up for 3 weeks so it is possible. Normally the petition is sent off to the Embassy in a matter of days. It's not neccesary to call the NVC if you don't want to. One benefit is that you can schedule your medical with your new case number. But, if you're in no rush it really doesn't matter if you call or not. Your petition will be forwarded. The beneficiary will be contacted by the Embassy (packet 3) as soon as they receive the approved petition. Most of the forms can be downloaded and filled out ahead of time and are usually in much better quality. Send back what is required with packet 3 and you will sent packet 4 (interview packet) with a date very soon thereafter. Be sure you have everything you need from the USC and all you need for the interview. Russell wrote a really good review of the process at the Embassy so be sure to check that over. To the ladies in waiting... remember that Igor's list means very little. I realize moving up and down the list screws with your mind but it really has no true bearing on your actual timeline. Thanks Kim! I think it's best if we just let nvc do what they do and not hassle them with phone calls etc (unless it gets held up for ages!) will my US partner get a letter from nvc at all or do they only get the NOA2 from uscis? I shouldn't think an interview will be happening before Christmas? (This will probably be my last xmas with family etc here, so want to make the most of it) when the embassy here sends out package 3, is that when i phone the doc in remuera and make an appointment for the medical? I will definitely be reading over everyones reviews and advice on the medical and interview. I am a worry wart at the best of times	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-19 19:11:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Thanks guys!! I just have a feeling that you guys are gonna get approved any moment soon!!! I am hoping soo much that good news are coming your way. Can't believe that the website is being screwy to people. I haven't had any trouble logging on but when i clicked onto receipt number it wouldnt open and had to go to online case status and enter my receipt number there to get details. Also, as far as igors list goes.. I updated my timeline 4 times over (yesterday and today) as it wasnt showing up on igors list, so there may be people updating when they get approvals and the details don't show up for a few days. You guys have GOT to get approved VERY soon, as i am starting to feel a bit lonely out here kimandruss: now that we have been approved. what happens now.. (apart from getting stuff sent from US fiance ready for the interview).do we just sit and wait for the NOA2 to arrive in the mail and then wait for NVC to send the information to auckland US embassy,who in turn will contact me? I have read that some people contact NVC. Is this neccesary? do we have to get a reference number from them or something? I feel that i have entered into some unknown territory where i'm not sure what to do.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-19 04:05:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Thanks kim&chris! I am still finding it hard to believe that it has happened! I am hoping that the uscis website hasnt made an error and tomorrow there will be a message up there for me with oops! we made a mistake!! lol! cdneh: I can just feel it in my bones that you guys are gonna get approved VERY soon! what i found tonight when i logged in on the uscis site is that when i clicked onto my receipt number (to see why the date had changed (had a touch) nothing would happen. i clicked furiously away at the receipt number and nada!!! so i went back to the log in page and clicked onto 'case status search' and then typed in my receipt number and then it came up that it had been approved.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-18 04:17:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	OMG!! i just checked website and it says i was touched on 17th nov. I checked online status and it says i am approved!! it says a notice was sent out on 17th Nov!!! OMG! i can't believe this!!! i just can't think straight at all. I am just sooo happy, i am crying!!! cdneh, michelleS and others.. PLEASE check USCIS and see if you have any changes!!! they may have just updated the site as i had just checked!! I should be thinking about the next stage now but my mind is just still in shock that i have been approved!! and my police certificate from australia arrived today too!!! yay!!!!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-17 23:10:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Nov 15 2008, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Item 13 of the I-129f checklist on VJ says basically that if you're using a different name other than what's shown on the relevant documents (birth cert), then you must supply a copy of the legal document that made the change - marriage cert, adoption decree or court order. I'm still using my married name even though i was divorced some time ago, so I had to provide a copy of my marriage cert. Even though I had a copy of my I-129f with me, they never asked for the cert at the interview. If you feel you need to have a copy of it, you just request it from Births, Deaths and Marriages like you would a birth cert, provided you were married in NZ I guess. They look up the records and then just type you up a certificate. Can't remember how much it is, around $20 - $25 I think I've got so much sorting of stuff to do, I really don't know where to start. I've been at it for the last few weeks on and off but just don't seem to be making much headway. 28 years of accumulated "stuff" I've only got 13 more days till I leave so I really have to crank it up a gear or two....lol It's a double edged sword........hard to leave your family, but when you've found "The One" ......you just have to go. This time, two weeks from now I will have been back in the U.S. with Chris for about 5 hours Thank You!! I went to their website and printed out the form, filled it out and it's all ready to post now with the cheque for $26. I still use my married name too even though have been divorced for years, so it looks like i will need it. I don't know how many times i read over the guides etc but i still seem to miss stuff somehow It's wonderful that you only have two weeks to go!! As far as sorting stuff out goes, you don't realise how much one accumulates till the time comes to sort it all out! It must be hard to decide what to put into the suitcases and what has to be left behind. And then there are big items like furniture and beds, washing machine etc to get rid of too. Lol!! Hope the 2 weeks goes super fast for you and before you know it you will be back in your partners arms again!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-15 04:35:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Saturday morning here. start of another day waiting for the approval and i am starting to freak out here. I have got conflicting advice about prior marriage certificates etc and really need some kind of clarification from you guys! Do you have to show prior marriage certificates at the interview or any other time during the process?? I only have a divorce decree. I am pretty sure that when i got divorced, the marriage certificate had to be sent in, thus do not have it now. (it was years ago now so my memory is a little rusty) some say i don't need it and some say i do. I am just so confused And if i do have to have it, where do i go to get one? would they even still have it on record? I just think that i am sitting pretty with all the evidence i will need for the interview and then a curveball is thrown and i go into panic mode. hope you guys can help me answer this question please????	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-14 17:38:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 13 2008, 08:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> All forms together for one cost ...$1010. The EAD is only until the temp green card arrives...really not worth the extra cost to file seperately. The TB is a new requirement for K-1's. Even the CS's and panel physicians (doc's abroad) aren't clear on this yet. Dr. Arnold (someone who ppl here on VJ frequently use now to transcribe vacc's onto the I683) isn't clear on this. They wont sign off on it since they are not the ones who did it. Make sense? Those of you with medicals coming up.... If you can get Dr. Stone (or whomever) to perform a TB test then I would suggest that as it will make your life a lot easier at AOS. If not, your local health department here in the US will usually test you for free...you can then send the results in with your AOS paperwork and hope for the best. Also don't forget to get a list of your vaccinations (forgot form number) to submit with I693. It does look daunting...but much like the petition process... it all does come together. At least we're together as we wait this one out. Thanks Kim! This TB test sounds rather muddled, as you say, even the docs aren't clear on it. Hope when Russell goes to get his done, you will let us all know how he gets on.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-14 04:33:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (dlopez86 @ Nov 14 2008, 01:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi everyone We Just got back from Auckland today. We drove 5 hours to get to Auckland and once we got to our hotel we realized nobody grabbed the folder of documents!! I thought she grabbed it and she thought I grabbed it, so after 3 hours of ringing around and trying to get a courier to bring it to us by 9am, we never found one that could guarantee it's arrival by 9am. Then we rang Napier airport and they said we could put the folder on a plane for $110 and we will receive it in an hour, so we did that and picked it up at the airport. Next day we had our interview at 9:30am, we arrived at 9am and waited about 30 mintues until there was someone at the window, first we gave all our documents to the nice lady at window 3 after we had given her everything she said it looked very good for us to be approved. So after waiting about 45 minutes we were called to window 5 for our interview by Nicholas. He was very nice and made us not so nervous by telling some jokes. He asked us a couple easy questions like what we plan to do when we get there and what city we are gonna live in and with who, after some more jokes he said that we were approved and explained what we would need to do at poe, and that was it, altogether the whole process took about 2 hours but about 1:15 of that time was waiting. When we arrived home today we saw the courier packet was already delivered to us, we weren't home so we are picking it up tomorrow. We are leaving for Colorado December 5th so we got 3 weeks to get the rest of our stuff sold, which is quite a bit of stuff. Oh my, that is kind of like ones worst nightmare not realising that neither had the documents until you reached Auckland. That was good that you managed to get them sent to you via plane. whew! Good to hear that the interview went well. It certainly helps when the person makes you feel at ease. Only 3 weeks to go! Congratulations to both of you! and very best wishes!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-14 04:27:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	when i try to explain to people how involved the process is, they look at me in disbelief. I think the general public think it's all like those hollywood movies, where two people from different countries meet, fall in love and just zoom off into the sunset with each other. Not one sign of a 1-129f or K1 visa in sight!! Lol!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-13 02:23:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Nov 12 2008, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married! I've been procrastinating about it for weeks! kimandruss: will you be sending in the EAD, AOS and the 1-131 all together to the one place (chicago or whereever). or will you send the EAD separately to a local office? I read on guides here that you can do either. is that right? if so, which would be the best way to do it? Do we all have to get TB tests done when we live there? i thought getting the 1-129f package together was complex but looking at what one has to do ONCE married and living there seems even MORE complicated Lol!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-13 01:26:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Nov 8 2008, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Congratulations! ...and I dont know what MILO is, but my girl was horrified to find that they dont sell her V (energy drink) here in the USA. Its like hot chocolate but yummier! made of extracts of malted barley and has cocoa in it. I am drinking some hot milo right now!! I don't like drinking milk on its own but milo stirred in cold milk is delicimo! and it doesn't all dissolve properly and you have little crunchy bits on top of the cold milk! wow! Am surprised that they don't sell V over there. I always thought it was sold worldwide.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2008-11-08 19:57:00