Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 16 2009, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I received my AP in the mail today....pretty stoked about that...just gotta wait for EAD now, should be here in a week or thereabouts Yay! Congratulations!! I checked online today and my EAD had been approved with card production ordered!! I am soo happy! I have been thinking that they may have lost my file especially as most folks who filed the same time as me have been receiving theirs. I still can't see my AP case online though. It still says the receipt number doesn't exist. Hopefully once the EAD arrives i will be able to go and sit the written driving test and then the practical! I haven't been able to drive for 3 months now and it's driving me crazy! Yesterday, i went to the bank and put my account into my married name. I handed the lady at the bank my passport for ID (aswell as ssn, marriage cert etc etc) she said, "ahh a New Zealand passport. Are you from New Zealand?" I said 'yes' She then said. "what language do they speak over there?" I looked at her with that 'you've got to be kidding me' look on my face but she was quite serious! I informed her that generally English is the spoken language. My SO and I had a good laugh about it afterwards	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-18 16:35:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jun 15 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We received our NOA on the 6th of June, but still havent received our Biometrics appt letter. USCIS website shows a "touch" on the 9th. At what point do you helpful folks think I should call them? Seems like we should have received our letter by now. If its lost in the mail or something, I would hate to miss the appointment! I got the biometrics letter 9 days after i received the NOA's, so you should receive it any day soon but as Kim&Chris said, it doesn't hurt to give them a phone call just to confirm if they sent the letter out or not. The workings of the process system of the USCIS is a mysterious one for sure. After my biometrics appointment, I was able to see the I-485 and I-765 online but not for the AP and still can't see it. A few May filers have already been approved their EAD and AP while others who filed months ago are still waiting. No rhyme or reason to it. Hope you have success with your biometrics letter! Kim&Chris: Thanks for the phone number I have written it down and keeping it close at hand, incase i have to contact them in the near future (which i hope won't happen)	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-15 16:45:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 10 2009, 09:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hehehehehe........Amazing what a phone call can do!!!!!! I can finally see my status online. Well for EAD and AP anyway. It says card production ordered for EAD and approval notice in mail for AP....this much is a huge load off my mind. YAY!! fantastic news!! Congratulations!! It's good to see that once you give them a prod, they will respond. I'm hoping i won't have to contact them under the same circumstances in a month or two, but if i do, what is the phone number to contact them and how do you get to talk to an actual person that is helpful?	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-11 12:27:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 8 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I filed for AOS on 23rd Feb. I haven't been on here for a while coz I have been pissed at not hearing anything from them since AOS NOA & RFE (early March) I rang them on May 7th and was told I should have EAD & AP by the end of the month. I gave them a bit of leighway but still nothing......Just rang them now and the woman put in a service request for me. Told me if I haven't heard anything in 45 days to call her back................................45 FECKIN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm kind of hoping I heard wrong and she said 4-5 days, but somehow I don't think so. Some AOS filers who filed after me have already had results. Out of 48 Feb filers, 34 have EAD, 32 have already had an interview, and 17 already have GC Out of 76 March filers, 56 have EAD, 23 have had an interview, and 11 already have GC Out of 55 April filers, 28 have EAD, 4 have had an interview, and 1 already has GC Whilst I could get used to being a kept woman......I want to be able to work!!!!!!!!!!! They suck!!!!! It's lovely to hear from you and Kelzm and kelvan and how you are all getting on... magic!! but OMG!! i can't believe you haven't received your EAD or AP yet?? what one earth is going on? Are you able to see any of your case files on line at all? That is almost 4 months!! I'm soo sorry to hear that you are still waiting! I wasnt able to see two of my case files online till after my biometrics but still can't see my AP file online. I really hope they will approve you VERY soon! and that they did mean 4-5 days and not 45 days!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-08 23:32:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (rubyred @ Jun 6 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> we filed for AOS on april 25, biometrics appointment was may 22, received EAD yesterday. hopefully the interview notice will be arriving soon! but really, for us right now the EAD was the most important thing to receive, since my current work visa expires in early july. now i won't have to quit my job. Congratulations on receiving the EAD!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-06 23:36:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	The link didn't work. hope this one does AOS May filers 2009	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-06 17:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jun 6 2009, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just dropping in to say we got our NOA for AoS in the mail today. Yay! Congrats on receiving your NOA's If you are interested, there is an AOS May filers thread. Go to the forum for "Adjustment Of Status (green card) from family based visas forum" and then underneath that forum is a subforum called: "Adjustment Of Status progress reports" . The AOS Filers- May 2009 thread is there. http://www.visajourn...howtopic=194682 Lisaandtim: Congrats on getting the I-765! The biometrics is kinda weird, the way they have you fill out a form in pencil. At least when i made a mistake i could rub it out with the eraser thats attached to the end of the pencil lol! Michelle and cdneh: Have you had any thoughts on when you will begin the AOS process? It's great to hear that all the home improvements are completed cdneh! Kim&Chris, KimandRuss, amaciar, kelvan, kelzm, rubyred,yankiwi, Ed+Cindy, gshennen, bobsagetti, dlopez86, ivannaloveskiwi (and others i may have forgotten). How are you all doing? It would be lovely to hear all your news and updates!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-06 17:54:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ May 28 2009, 04:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone think it would be viewed unfavorably to apply for AoS w/o applying for the work thing (EAD or whatever)??? I have just read that that application requires yet another freaking set of passport photos, and frankly, unless necessary, we just cant be bothered to get what would probably be our 10th set of passport photos done. (We just got the ones for AoS) I sometimes wonder what they do with all these photographs and fingerprints that are taken When you apply for AOS you not only have to include more photos but at the biometrics appointment, they take fingerprints and another photo.(At least you don't have to supply a photo for this as they take it for you) They take fingerprints at embassy for interview, again when you enter POE and again when you go for biometrics appointment (plus when i had to get a police report from Australia, i had to get fingerprints done for that too) At each stage of having my photos done, i have had different lengths of hair (past shoulder, then shortish, and now just above shoulder) LOL!! As Ed+Cindy said i don't think you need to apply for EAD if you don't want to at time of applying for AOS	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-28 14:54:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 26 2009, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cindy here. Ed pretty much described my 'intense' interview with the new officer at the US Consulate. He kept pounding me about why I didn't have the correct visa at first, so I told him that I did have a B1/B2 traveler's visa. He continued to poke me for more info, but I didn't want to answer further so eventually I shrugged for some questions Another point I want to add is that the interview was conducted at a window. The newbie is loud and deaf, so he shouted into the microphone while I shouted across the window. After he told me that they'll approve my visa in a grumpy way, I exited from the window and saw a line of people with astonished facial expression because I'm sure they heard our entire conversation! yes they conduct the interview at the window which feels a little 'weird'. And with the use of microphones, one is sure that the whole waiting room can hear EVERYTHING that is being said! Glad that part is now over for you and you can now look forward to being with your loved one very soon!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-27 16:44:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 25 2009, 08:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cindy was finally approved today for the K-1 in Auckland. She is quite pissed off at how mean the interviewing officer was to her. She thinks he was a middle-eastern guy. Anyone else interview with that man? I can't believe how much they like to bully people just for the hell of it. They didn't ask her for any evidence of our relationship, etc. They kept pounding on her about a 'denied' entry when she was turned away in Canada trying to visit me at the end of her round-the-world trip. The officer also harassed her about having two passports (she wasn't born in NZ, she moved there as a kid). He asked her why she wants to have so many passports, and why she will need three once she has a US one. I told her she should have told the man that she has no desire for a F'ing US passport, she just wants the immigration permit. Anyway, she should be here soon, though she is stressing POE in San Fran because every single time she encounters US officials, she is treated like a terrorist. congratulations on the approval!! sorry to hear that she had a bad time with the officer. When i had the interview i dealt with an older American woman first and then interviewed by a younger woman. They were both very friendly! Hope all goes well at POE! when will she leave NZ? Best wishes to the both of you!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-26 12:09:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ May 22 2009, 12:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey all. Good to see most of us here are happy together with our SO's now. Genna and I have gotten married, received her new SS card, added her to my insurance, and are now working on the AoS package. I basically had to raise riot at the SS office to get it put into her married name, but I succeeded! What exactly are we supposed to send in for the medical part??? She got a medical in NZ for the K-1... and now we have her X-Ray and this one page Vaccination worksheet. Is that what we are supposed to send in? This is the only unclear area for me. Also, If we dont get the package sent in by the time the K-1 expires... what can happen? Is it real risky, as in she can be sent back? Great to hear that things are moving along wonderfully for the both of you! The medical part is a little confusing to me. I have read on vj that some people only sent in the vaccination record while others sent in the I-693 form and got a TB skin test done too. I went to a civil surgeon in my area that was on the uscis list of civil surgeons that you could use and he transcribed the vaccination record onto the I-693 form. He then put it in an envelope. sealed it and gave it back to me.(it has to remain sealed, you aren't allowed to open it) I included it in the AOS package BUT i didn't get a tb skin test done. I already got the tb xray done in New Zealand , so thought i would chance it and not get it done here. so i could very well get a RFE for not having it done. I'm not even sure if uscis themselves know what the correct procedure is, as some vjers get approved with just sending in the vaccination record only while others get RFE for not including I-693 or the tb skin test. sorry i haven't been much help! Kim&Chris and Kim&Russ have sent in their AOS package. Hopefully they will be able to tell you what they did. I don't think Genna would be sent back if they don't receive the package before her K-1 expires.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-22 12:22:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Michelle.S @ May 13 2009, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey Guys Long time, no chatter, i've finally managed to get my access on the forums fixed, apparently when i changed my email address something happened and i haven't been able to post or reply at all. Things with Rob and I are going well. Rob's doing ok healthwise, more tests, more doctor visits and he will have to have a transplant, not this year and hopefully not next but we have to see how he goes. I'm so over having to deal with the pharmacy and medicare or medicaid, i still can't get it right. We're married, I have my social security card and I got my North Carolina drivers licence today. So much sitting around and waiting, you'd think i'd be used to that by now, but i'm not. Then they would only issue my drivers licence til August 12th, which is the date the immigration officer at POE put on my visa, not sure why he chose August 12, i arrived March 14 and visa was issued Feb 20th so none of it makes any sense but i was tired of trying to reason with people. We sent off our AOS and EAD papers but they were returned to us, seems we sent them too much money. I thought it would be $1010 for the AOS and $340 for the EAD, so we sent them one check for $1350. They told us the amount was wrong but didn't make it clear whether they were ok with one check and we didn't have to pay for EAD or whether they wanted a seperate check for both. Anyways, sent them one check for $1010 today, hopefully we won't get another RFE. Does anyone know whether they'll have checked all of the paperwork the first time around and the rest of it checked out ok or whether we may get another RFE? I never thought i'd be itching to get back to work, i can't wait for my EAD. Oh and i found a solution to the icky bread problem, i just buy the pilsbury italian bread in the round tin and bake it, very very yummy Good to hear that everything is going well!! I'm not sure if they check everything as soon as they get the package. But from what i have read from others that receive RFE, sometimes it may be two months after they sent off the package that they can receive one and sometimes it is straight away. There don't seem to be any rhyme or reason at times with USCIS ,on how or why the order is of their processing etc.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-14 12:18:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ May 13 2009, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Check out this link http://spreadsheets....ToveJE2nWAbMiHw This is the group of Feb AOS filers from here and most of them have had some kind of response after their biometrics apt, some have had their cases transfered to California, which means no interview, some have received their interview apt, some have received their EAP & AP, and some have even received their Green Cards already!!! There's only a few that like me have heard nothing., I still can't access my case online and when I rang to find out where it's at, I was told EAP & AP take 3 months so I should have something by the end of this month and that they're still working on Oct 08 cases.........after looking at the spreadsheet and seeing how many people have received EAP etc and also Green Cards, I think they're blowing smoke up my you know where!!!! They're absolutely full of it!! I'll give them till the end of the month for EAP coz I need to get my CV together and shop for summer clothes etc, but then I'm going to ring them back and stick a bomb under them for the GC. I was hoping they would transfer my case to California like some of the others, then we wouldn't have to drive the 2.5 hrs to Memphis for an interview. They transfer cases to CA to ease the load and I know some of the people, before they have been transfered, have rung up and kicked up a bit of a stink, so and the end of the month I'll give it a go... Wow! most of the people have had progress on their cases and you are still waiting? that sucks! I don't understand how some people get transferred and some don't. If we all came on a K-1 then we should all get transferred as we had an interview in our home country before we arrived. That seems quite unfair really. It should be the same for all of us. And you would think they would look at where you live and see how far you have to travel for an interview and transfer your case to California, without question?!! Ugh! so frustrating! I hope you hear something very soon! you should at least have your EAD by now! It is 3 weeks now since i applied for my ssn into my married name and nothing! still waiting! I thought about inquiring into getting my cali drivers licence but am hesitant as i fear i will just have the same hassle and head hitting against the brick wall saga as i have had at SSA. *sigh* Anyway, on a good note, i text my son and daughter in nz yesterday and they received them!!I was soo happy. Good to know it works!! yay!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-14 12:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 13 2009, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 13 2009, 09:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi all! I have been trying to send a text from usa mobile phone to a nz telecom mobile phone without any luck. I'm not sure of the correct combination of numbers you are suppose to put down. has anyone had any success at sending a text to nz from usa? Do I put 011 then 64 then 027(for telecom) and then the rest of the nz mobile phone number? or do i have to put a 9 in there somewhere for an auckland area code? or do i not put the 0 down on the 027 number but just put 27? I am very confused If you are on a GSM network (ATT, T-Mobile), you can use "+64 27 xxxxxxx). From a CDMA network (Verizon, Sprinit), You will probably use "011 64 27 xxxxxxx) Don't ever use the "0" before 27 or 21. That is only for calls placed within NZ. Also, you may have to call your cell phone carrier in the US and make sure international texting is enabled. Sometimes they don't enable it by default for security. Thanks! didn't know about the + thingee	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 12:31:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ May 13 2009, 12:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 13 2009, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi all! I have been trying to send a text from usa mobile phone to a nz telecom mobile phone without any luck. I'm not sure of the correct combination of numbers you are suppose to put down. has anyone had any success at sending a text to nz from usa? Do I put 011 then 64 then 027(for telecom) and then the rest of the nz mobile phone number? or do i have to put a 9 in there somewhere for an auckland area code? or do i not put the 0 down on the 027 number but just put 27? I am very confused Hi Ana Lol I had a devil of a job getting this all sorted when I first got here, I could send texts home but couldn't recieve them for a couple of months, turns out the guy in the AT&T store hadn't set the phone properly when we got it and nobody could figure it out for ages. But back to your problem.....to send a text you go.... 0116427 and then the rest of the number .... whether it's 027 or 021 you leave off the 0. To phone back home is 011649 and then the number. Hows everything else going, have you had any AOS progress? Thanks Kim! Two months ago i bought a boost mobile phone and tried to send texts to nz but failed. (i got them to set it so i could phone and text to nz). I gave up on it after a few attempts. But i decided to give it another shot, so yesterday i bought a verizon phone and the guy there set it so i could make phone calls and texts to nz. i tried to send a text to nz last night but not sure if it went through or not. I had been trying all kinds of combinations of numbers so who knows where half the texts end up I am still waiting for a biometrics appointment to come in the mail. I have tried to track my file on the uscis site but it doesn't recognise my receipt numbers Can you see your file on the uscis site? I'm wondering how long i have to wait until i get the biometrics appointment. I thought it may have been fairly quickly after they send out the NOA's. How's your AOS going? have you heard anything?	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 12:27:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Hi all! I have been trying to send a text from usa mobile phone to a nz telecom mobile phone without any luck. I'm not sure of the correct combination of numbers you are suppose to put down. has anyone had any success at sending a text to nz from usa? Do I put 011 then 64 then 027(for telecom) and then the rest of the nz mobile phone number? or do i have to put a 9 in there somewhere for an auckland area code? or do i not put the 0 down on the 027 number but just put 27? I am very confused	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 11:55:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 8 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 8 2009, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you let IRD know before you leave, you may be entitled to a refund of some PAYE taxes. That's because IRD would have taxed you based on a full year's salary, but since you left before the year is up, you probably overpaid your PAYE. I did this before moving back to the US and got about nz$500 back. The same form lets IRD know you will no longer be working in NZ. I can't remember the form number, but you could search for it. Here you go: IR50: Refund application - people leaving New Zealand IR50 http://www.ird.govt....leaving-nz.html Thanks!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-08 21:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ May 6 2009, 02:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A few questions for anyone who may be lurking here during the very long wait for poxy offialdom to do their thing!! Are we obligated to inform any official depts at home that we've married?? Wasn't sure if we needed them to udate their records or anything. Is anyone who isn't extremely qualified in one field or another contemplating sitting the highschool diploma that most of the jobs here seem to request? 40 years of work experience may not count for much here, don't know yet, just anticipating this may be the case while I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs and could be studying if it would help. There seems to be few enough jobs going in smalltown American as it is (the size of Pukekohe if that) without me being hampered by not having the HSD. I'm invisaging ending up flipping burgers till we move .....I'm too long in the tooth for my pins to take it methinks Oh and has anyone found a mayo here similar to ETA. The standard stuff seems to be bland and very oily. As you can tell....yes I have alot of time on my hands at the moment...lol you are not alone on that one!! Out of the last 10 days my SO has worked 9 of them! And here i am not able to work and spend my time waiting on the mailman to deliver anything for me (ssn in married name? biometrics appointment? transfer to csc?) I have far too much time on my hands to say the least lol! But yesterday the mailman did deliver on the NOA's! all three arrived in separate envelopes! yay!! I have not heard of the high school diploma you mentioned, so am very interested in what others think on it. As far as the departments back home. I'm not quite sure which ones would need to know our married names. But do we have to notify places like Inland revenue that we now live overseas? or would they all ready know that from us leaving our jobs there and on our passport information? The work situation seems to be a bit grim worldwide at the moment and i hope that i will be able to get a job when the EAD arrives. I can envisage myself serving in a fast food place asking the customer. 'would you like chips with your order'? 'what fizzy drink would you like'? 'The tomato sauce and serviettes are over there'! And the customer giving me a confused look .. like 'what the heck did she just say to me?'	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-06 16:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 5 2009, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Question for everyone who went through Auckland on a K-1: Did Auckland request a copy of the original I-129F package you mailed to USCIS? We are prepping for packet 3 and the interview and this is the only item I don't have. Our lawyer has it. I can get it, but if I don't need it, I can go ahead and mail documents to Cindy. Thanks. They didn't ask for the I-129F package as such but i did take a copy of the package along with me just incase. They mainly asked to see the usual documents like birth, marriage, divorce certificates. And asked for recent photos. They handed me back the older photos that we had sent in the original package. Then at the interview the lady asked for some earlier evidence of us being together and i pulled out a few things from the copy of the I-129F package i had brought along.(can't remember exactly what now- it may have been hotel bills- my brain is a bit tired to think at the moment ) I would say that it may pay to be safe and have it on you anyway. Better to be over prepared then under	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-06 00:12:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Apr 30 2009, 06:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Apr 30 2009, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kiwiana @ Apr 27 2009, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Apr 28 2009, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sent the parcel in on 23rd Feb and I got the little card thing back about a week later to say the parcel had been delivered and signed for . The first NOA1 letter arrived on 7th March 12 days after I sent AOS off. And so the waiting continues....... 12 days is pretty good! It's a bit like deja vu. In the waiting room again There was so much to remember to put into the package. I hope I never left anything out Hello everyone ! Sorry haven't been on much. I have been busy with wedding, AOS paperwork, and finals for my pharmacy class, which I passed! We have the biometrics appointment tomorrow. They're making us drive way out of our way but lol guess I should be used to that by now. I was wondering if we have to bring the K1 stuff too as it says bring all paperwork in regards to this document or something along that lines. Does anyone know? Glad to see the progress some of you are having. Hope it continues. Sorry my last one was brief, I wanted to share our social security/DMV experience but ended up spilling soda on the desk. So here it is. I , the USC, ended up being the one to change my name. So it wasn't as hard as some of you had to go through. We go to the social security office so I can get a new card and they say oh you have to go to this other location. So we go there, and it's in the back of a scary looking building. Luckily, that meant no line; all of the lines were for the front part. So we applied for cards, and things seemed to go well. But the lady said since I am receiving benefits from social security, i have to let them know i am married so i may want to save myself a trip and just go next door now and tell them. So we did only to find out they couldn't because my husband didn't have a SSN but to come back or call in 2 weeks when we get the cards. That seemed okay but in 2 weeks, he got his card but mine never showed. I called on the phone and asked and they said it should be there but to be patient. Also while on the phone, I had to let them know about being married and then they tell me my benefits are going to stop since I got married. I was like WHAT?! I can't work because disabled at the moment and they are telling me my money is going to stop? This was definately a roadblock. So I went in to the office to talk about it to someone only to go through the same process again, as if no one reported I was married before, which made me wonder who the guy was on the phone that took my info down. But the lady said I might still qualify for other benefits but I would have to go to the other office because someone there started some form and they don't like to interfere with other office's stuff. So the next day we go back and get it figured out. They said I'll be getting a little less a month under a different benefits program. Also, I had to apply for a new card since mine never showed. The guy's excuse was it was the post office's fault. Hmm idk about that but ok. So I have my card now but now they are saying I owe them $1700 because of overpayment so idk what is going on! But we tried to go to DMV to get my husband an ID card. They said they could only issue it until the visa expires but it has to go through a legal office which takes 60 days so by the time he would get it, it'd be expired . Has anyone run into this? So that is my experience with the wonderful SSA and DMV lol. i totally know what you have gone through with SSA!! Talk about frustration at the highest level! I'm so sorry that they have given you the run around! I really don't think they know what on earth the rules ARE at all!! I hope it all works out well!! We haven't attempted to go to DMV yet, as i fear there will be roadblocks there aswell. so I am going to wait until the EAD arrives before we experience that part of the journey I asked on a different thread about what to take to biometrics and was told that you need the appointment letter, ID- passport, DL or birth certificate and marriage certificate. Kim&Chris have had their biometrics done, so hopefully they will be able to tell us what you need for the appointment.	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-04-30 19:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 18 2009, 02:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yesterday, i went to the bank and put my account into my married name. I handed the lady at the bank my passport for ID (aswell as ssn, marriage cert etc etc) she said, "ahh a New Zealand passport. Are you from New Zealand?" I said 'yes' She then said. "what language do they speak over there?" I looked at her with that 'you've got to be kidding me' look on my face but she was quite serious! I informed her that generally English is the spoken language. Cindy has gotten asked about language in past trips in the US. Its sorta funny, but shows how much Americans live in their little American bubble.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-06-19 12:07:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ May 28 2009, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone think it would be viewed unfavorably to apply for AoS w/o applying for the work thing (EAD or whatever)??? I have just read that that application requires yet another freaking set of passport photos, and frankly, unless necessary, we just cant be bothered to get what would probably be our 10th set of passport photos done. (We just got the ones for AoS) I think that's fine. From what I've read, if you want EAD later on, just send the NOA from the AOS package and you should still be able to get the EAD at a later time for free.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-28 10:30:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Cindy here. Ed pretty much described my 'intense' interview with the new officer at the US Consulate. He kept pounding me about why I didn't have the correct visa at first, so I told him that I did have a B1/B2 traveler's visa. He continued to poke me for more info, but I didn't want to answer further so eventually I shrugged for some questions Another point I want to add is that the interview was conducted at a window. The newbie is loud and deaf, so he shouted into the microphone while I shouted across the window. After he told me that they'll approve my visa in a grumpy way, I exited from the window and saw a line of people with astonished facial expression because I'm sure they heard our entire conversation!	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-26 22:33:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 26 2009, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> sorry to hear that she had a bad time with the officer. When i had the interview i dealt with an older American woman first and then interviewed by a younger woman. They were both very friendly! I think the man she interview with was new (she said he seemed like he was fresh off the boat from training in the US. He was very loud and rude - like an army sargent, something most people who work in NZ are not). Once Cindy has her GC, I am actually going to complain to Dept of State about the interviewing officer. It was unnecessary for a consulate somewhere like NZ. I did not expect that from Auckland. The older lady (B?) was very nice to her. We have been emailing her for a while and she is always nice. The young lady you interviewed with was probably the same person Cindy interviewed with for a B visa in early 2008. She was nice too.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-26 13:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Cindy was finally approved today for the K-1 in Auckland. She is quite pissed off at how mean the interviewing officer was to her. She thinks he was a middle-eastern guy. Anyone else interview with that man? I can't believe how much they like to bully people just for the hell of it. They didn't ask her for any evidence of our relationship, etc. They kept pounding on her about a 'denied' entry when she was turned away in Canada trying to visit me at the end of her round-the-world trip. The officer also harassed her about having two passports (she wasn't born in NZ, she moved there as a kid). He asked her why she wants to have so many passports, and why she will need three once she has a US one. I told her she should have told the man that she has no desire for a F'ing US passport, she just wants the immigration permit. Anyway, she should be here soon, though she is stressing POE in San Fran because every single time she encounters US officials, she is treated like a terrorist.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-25 20:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 13 2009, 09:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi all! I have been trying to send a text from usa mobile phone to a nz telecom mobile phone without any luck. I'm not sure of the correct combination of numbers you are suppose to put down. has anyone had any success at sending a text to nz from usa? Do I put 011 then 64 then 027(for telecom) and then the rest of the nz mobile phone number? or do i have to put a 9 in there somewhere for an auckland area code? or do i not put the 0 down on the 027 number but just put 27? I am very confused If you are on a GSM network (ATT, T-Mobile), you can use "+64 27 xxxxxxx). From a CDMA network (Verizon, Sprinit), You will probably use "011 64 27 xxxxxxx) Don't ever use the "0" before 27 or 21. That is only for calls placed within NZ. Also, you may have to call your cell phone carrier in the US and make sure international texting is enabled. Sometimes they don't enable it by default for security.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-13 12:17:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Ed+Cindy @ May 8 2009, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you let IRD know before you leave, you may be entitled to a refund of some PAYE taxes. That's because IRD would have taxed you based on a full year's salary, but since you left before the year is up, you probably overpaid your PAYE. I did this before moving back to the US and got about nz$500 back. The same form lets IRD know you will no longer be working in NZ. I can't remember the form number, but you could search for it. Here you go: IR50: Refund application - people leaving New Zealand IR50 http://www.ird.govt....leaving-nz.html	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-08 16:23:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 6 2009, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have not heard of the high school diploma you mentioned, so am very interested in what others think on it. Its sometimes called a 'GED" for General Equivalency Diploma. It shows you have education consistent with high school here. If you don't have a solid high school degree, then it would definitely help your job searching. QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 6 2009, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As far as the departments back home. I'm not quite sure which ones would need to know our married names. But do we have to notify places like Inland revenue that we now live overseas? or would they all ready know that from us leaving our jobs there and on our passport information? If you let IRD know before you leave, you may be entitled to a refund of some PAYE taxes. That's because IRD would have taxed you based on a full year's salary, but since you left before the year is up, you probably overpaid your PAYE. I did this before moving back to the US and got about nz$500 back. The same form lets IRD know you will no longer be working in NZ. I can't remember the form number, but you could search for it. Edited by Ed+Cindy, 08 May 2009 - 04:17 PM.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-08 16:14:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Question for everyone who went through Auckland on a K-1: Did Auckland request a copy of the original I-129F package you mailed to USCIS? We are prepping for packet 3 and the interview and this is the only item I don't have. Our lawyer has it. I can get it, but if I don't need it, I can go ahead and mail documents to Cindy. Thanks.	Ed+Cindy	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-05 21:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Hey Kelvan, great to hear you're nearly on your way! I can't believe how fast time is flying. In September I'll have been here a year. It doesn't seem that long, I only ever realise the amount of time when I think about my family and how long it's been since I've seen them! Unfotunately I still do not have a job. I've done a number of temp jobs and I have one temp job of 12 hours a week that is pretty much going to go on indefinitely, unless they have to make some staff cutbacks. Sadly 12 hours a week of low pay isn't really enough. I've got an interview in July (they scheduled it for a month out... grrr), it's the first job interview I've had that's actually in my field. I'm trying to stay hopeful for that. The tough thing is that surrounding counties have laid off librarians and local schools are actually looking at closing down libraries to save money, my experience and qualifications are as a librarian. I know that where I live jobs are tough for everyone, we have nearly 17% unemployment in my county and that's only that low as so many people have now been put on furloughs, had hours reduced or are temping, like me. I'm now looking further afield and trying to get used to the fact that I'm going to have to do an hour and a half commute each day if I want to find a job. Eeks! Apart from the job situation life is good. I'm trying to figure out how to enrol in graduate school (looking for scholarships!) and just starting an exercise program since I have a lot of freetime at the moment. Hope everyone else is well, and doing better in the job department than I am!	kelzm	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-08 16:43:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Congrats to Ed and Cindy. Ed - tell Cindy not to stress too much about POE. San Francisco is really good, I've never heard of anyone having any problems there. Once, on a visit to the US I did get pulled through to secondary processing where I was asked some questions but even there they were very nice and polite, and I was never worried that it would turn out badly. I'm sure that Cindy will get through POE no problem at all.	kelzm	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-26 21:05:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 18 2009, 04:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 16 2009, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I received my AP in the mail today....pretty stoked about that...just gotta wait for EAD now, should be here in a week or thereabouts Yay! Congratulations!! I checked online today and my EAD had been approved with card production ordered!! I am soo happy! I have been thinking that they may have lost my file especially as most folks who filed the same time as me have been receiving theirs. I still can't see my AP case online though. It still says the receipt number doesn't exist. Hopefully once the EAD arrives i will be able to go and sit the written driving test and then the practical! I haven't been able to drive for 3 months now and it's driving me crazy! Yesterday, i went to the bank and put my account into my married name. I handed the lady at the bank my passport for ID (aswell as ssn, marriage cert etc etc) she said, "ahh a New Zealand passport. Are you from New Zealand?" I said 'yes' She then said. "what language do they speak over there?" I looked at her with that 'you've got to be kidding me' look on my face but she was quite serious! I informed her that generally English is the spoken language. My SO and I had a good laugh about it afterwards OMG...are you serious!!!!!! She looked at your NZ passport and then said are you from NZ!!! ....... and then to ask what language we speak...... Just when I thought not much more could amaze me Congrats on your EAD I got an email from CRIS today to say on the 17th June my EAD card was ordered for production and on the USCIS website the status that said it had been ordered on 10th of June now says 17th of June.....god knows what they're up to I give up....lol	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-18 17:19:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 15 2009, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 16 2009, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 15 2009, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Okay...ready to start this AOS nightmare. Been going through the files today...no wonder I have a headache. More paperwork, which I confess to steadfastly ignoring while busy with the home improvments. Didn't even want to THINK about it. Still don't...but there we are. One page at a time Cdneh....one page at a time.....lol That's what I was thinking this afternoon...it's the way you eat an elepahant..one bite at a time Lol...too true I received my AP in the mail today....pretty stoked about that...just gotta wait for EAD now, should be here in a week or thereabouts	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-16 21:52:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 15 2009, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Okay...ready to start this AOS nightmare. Been going through the files today...no wonder I have a headache. More paperwork, which I confess to steadfastly ignoring while busy with the home improvments. Didn't even want to THINK about it. Still don't...but there we are. One page at a time Cdneh....one page at a time.....lol	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-15 20:17:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 15 2009, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jun 15 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We received our NOA on the 6th of June, but still havent received our Biometrics appt letter. USCIS website shows a "touch" on the 9th. At what point do you helpful folks think I should call them? Seems like we should have received our letter by now. If its lost in the mail or something, I would hate to miss the appointment! I got the biometrics letter 9 days after i received the NOA's, so you should receive it any day soon but as Kim&Chris said, it doesn't hurt to give them a phone call just to confirm if they sent the letter out or not. The workings of the process system of the USCIS is a mysterious one for sure. After my biometrics appointment, I was able to see the I-485 and I-765 online but not for the AP and still can't see it. A few May filers have already been approved their EAD and AP while others who filed months ago are still waiting. No rhyme or reason to it. Hope you have success with your biometrics letter! Kim&Chris: Thanks for the phone number I have written it down and keeping it close at hand, incase i have to contact them in the near future (which i hope won't happen) Hi Ana Glad to help. I could finally see my EAD & AP online once I'd rung and had a wobble but still have no I-485 available to view. No rhyme nor reason is an understatement......lol	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-15 16:51:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jun 15 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We received our NOA on the 6th of June, but still havent received our Biometrics appt letter. USCIS website shows a "touch" on the 9th. At what point do you helpful folks think I should call them? Seems like we should have received our letter by now. If its lost in the mail or something, I would hate to miss the appointment! Hi Dave n Genna.........I think I got mine a couple of days after I got the NOA's. If you're worried about it give them a call. Tell them you want to check if an apts been mailed out yet as you don't want to run the risk of missing it. Cheers Kim	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-15 15:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 11 2009, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 10 2009, 09:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hehehehehe........Amazing what a phone call can do!!!!!! I can finally see my status online. Well for EAD and AP anyway. It says card production ordered for EAD and approval notice in mail for AP....this much is a huge load off my mind. YAY!! fantastic news!! Congratulations!! It's good to see that once you give them a prod, they will respond. I'm hoping i won't have to contact them under the same circumstances in a month or two, but if i do, what is the phone number to contact them and how do you get to talk to an actual person that is helpful? Hi Ana They only seem to respond to nagging, and I think they only respond to less nagging if it's gone over the 90 day waiting period!! You can call at any time I think and get an update on the case status. The number is 1-800-375-5283, (It will be on your NOA's). There's the automated menu thing like you seem to have everywhere these days, you push 1 then 2 then 3. The 3 is the option if you can't find your case number and I thinks it's the only one where a human will answer. So even if you have your case number still push 3. Now there's just the interview to deal with when I eventually recieve an apt........oh well there's always something.....lol	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-11 14:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Hehehehehe........Amazing what a phone call can do!!!!!! I can finally see my status online. Well for EAD and AP anyway. It says card production ordered for EAD and approval notice in mail for AP....this much is a huge load off my mind.	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-10 21:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 8 2009, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 8 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I filed for AOS on 23rd Feb. I haven't been on here for a while coz I have been pissed at not hearing anything from them since AOS NOA & RFE (early March) I rang them on May 7th and was told I should have EAD & AP by the end of the month. I gave them a bit of leighway but still nothing......Just rang them now and the woman put in a service request for me. Told me if I haven't heard anything in 45 days to call her back................................45 FECKIN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm kind of hoping I heard wrong and she said 4-5 days, but somehow I don't think so. Some AOS filers who filed after me have already had results. Out of 48 Feb filers, 34 have EAD, 32 have already had an interview, and 17 already have GC Out of 76 March filers, 56 have EAD, 23 have had an interview, and 11 already have GC Out of 55 April filers, 28 have EAD, 4 have had an interview, and 1 already has GC Whilst I could get used to being a kept woman......I want to be able to work!!!!!!!!!!! They suck!!!!! It's lovely to hear from you and Kelzm and kelvan and how you are all getting on... magic!! but OMG!! i can't believe you haven't received your EAD or AP yet?? what one earth is going on? Are you able to see any of your case files on line at all? That is almost 4 months!! I'm soo sorry to hear that you are still waiting! I wasnt able to see two of my case files online till after my biometrics but still can't see my AP file online. I really hope they will approve you VERY soon! and that they did mean 4-5 days and not 45 days!! Hi Ana.....no I still can't see any of them online. I guess I kind of fell between the cracks!! A far cry from the efficiency we were used to with the Consulate in Auckland isn't it.....lol Kim	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-09 06:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	I filed for AOS on 23rd Feb. I haven't been on here for a while coz I have been pissed at not hearing anything from them since AOS NOA & RFE (early March) I rang them on May 7th and was told I should have EAD & AP by the end of the month. I gave them a bit of leighway but still nothing......Just rang them now and the woman put in a service request for me. Told me if I haven't heard anything in 45 days to call her back................................45 FECKIN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm kind of hoping I heard wrong and she said 4-5 days, but somehow I don't think so. Some AOS filers who filed after me have already had results. Out of 48 Feb filers, 34 have EAD, 32 have already had an interview, and 17 already have GC Out of 76 March filers, 56 have EAD, 23 have had an interview, and 11 already have GC Out of 55 April filers, 28 have EAD, 4 have had an interview, and 1 already has GC Whilst I could get used to being a kept woman......I want to be able to work!!!!!!!!!!! They suck!!!!!	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-08 20:35:00