Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
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
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 13 2009, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 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? 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... Edited by Kim & Chris, 13 May 2009 - 01:13 PM.	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 13:11:00
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. Ana if you're not sure about putting in the + before the 64 (I wasn't) you can still programme 011 into the phone (as I did) and it should automatically convert it to + when it dials or sends the text (mine does and I'm with AT&T).	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 12:26:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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?	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 12:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-06 14:27:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Apr 30 2009, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 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. Goodness it's late so I'll have to think back. As far as I can remember it's pretty much as you said Ana. You take the apt letter, the NOA1's that you recieved for all parts, (AOS, EAD & AP), your passport, your marriage cert. You don't need any of the K-1 stuff you sent in previously, but I took the copies of everything I'd sent in for AOS as well as all the birth, old marriage & divorce certs. They basically just take your fingerprints several times over and take your pic. While they're doing this they engage you in general chit chat, but the girl who did mine asked quite a few questions, in general conversation, like had I been home yet and did I manage to find a job yet.......i answered no to both stating that I was still waiting for the papers to do these things. She may have only been making conversation but just be aware. I guess when you've been through as much as we have you learn to be on your guard, like everything is a test. The whole thing only took about 10mins, and we were lucky enough to have no waiting time. 2 and a half hours drive each way for a 10min apt...lol...crazy eh!!	Kim & Chris	Female	New Zealand	2009-04-30 23:26:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 2 2009, 07:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Popping in to say hello...finally done with the home improvements hey stranger good to hear you're done with all that	Michelle Kauffman	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-01 16:49:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ May 27 2009, 05:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 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!! yes congratulations I think i had the same two women Kiwiana had, my interview was very easy and friendly, so sorry to hear things weren't the same.	Michelle Kauffman	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-26 13:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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	Michelle Kauffman	Female	New Zealand	2009-05-13 13:55:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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.	rubyred	Male	New Zealand	2009-06-06 18:36:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	michelle, you only pay $1010, the EAD is free when you file all those forms together. got our NOA1 at the end of april, and i have my biometrics appointment on may 22! so far, so good!	rubyred	Male	New Zealand	2009-05-13 21:19:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Hey guys~! Sorry it's been so long since I last updated. I'm still in NZ, planning on leaving around August 6th. Wedding will be September 18th! I'm frantically trying to organize the wedding/invitations/bridesmaid/wedding dress! Have NO CLUE how I will get my wedding dress through the 3 flights to Kansas! I'm ordering a new printout of my birth certificate cos at my interview the lady said it was void if it had holes punched in it (thanks mum for filing it and punching holes lol). What exactly do I do with my x-rays? Do I take them with me on the plane?	Kelvan	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-06-07 03:01:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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!	Dave_n_Genna	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-06-15 15:05:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Just dropping in to say we got our NOA for AoS in the mail today.	Dave_n_Genna	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-06-06 15:39:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Kewl! Thanks guys, that's kinda what we were figuring as well. I'm just not going to bother with it at this point then. The sheer number of passport photos and fingerprints is truly ridiculous! And as you said Kiwiana, Genna has looked a bit different in every photo.	Dave_n_Genna	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-05-28 22:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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)	Dave_n_Genna	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-05-28 03:12:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	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? Edited by Dave_n_Genna, 22 May 2009 - 12:08 AM.	Dave_n_Genna	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-05-22 00:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ May 28 2009, 07:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Kewl! Thanks guys, that's kinda what we were figuring as well. I'm just not going to bother with it at this point then. The sheer number of passport photos and fingerprints is truly ridiculous! And as you said Kiwiana, Genna has looked a bit different in every photo. Hello again everyone! Just jumping on to say hello. Sorry haven't been on awhile but i've been sick better now tho. Still no news paprwork wise but just checked online and said they ordered my husband a card for the I-765 work one. But then it said it can take up to 30 days to get one. Times have been rough on us having only one of us with a source of income, and not much of one I might add. But we are getting through it day by day. Maybe in the end it will make us grow even closer. The biometrics went well, was a little surprised and worried they had us fill out paperwork in pencil tho. Simple procedure, they hold ur hands on the machine and you get embarrassed getting yet another photo of yourself taken. Man, they sure require alot of photos hey! Hehe. But yeah that was pretty much it. Oh yeah and as if that wasn't embarrassing enough, ours was in front of the whole office! So my hubby got ice cream afterwards hehe. A little reward, and excuse to have some ice cream. Anyways, hope you all are doing good.	Lisaandtim	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-05-31 01:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	As for the mayo I do know that in the Price chopper near me they have a new English food section. There is salad cream and english baked beans. Not that it is completely the same but probably closer than American stuff.	amaciar	Not Telling	New Zealand	2009-05-09 08:38:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jul 12 2009, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I haven't had any touches on my I-485 but in todays mail i received a notice letter to appear for an initial interview! The interview is on August 28th. I must say that after reading Lisa&Tims interrogation, I'm not looking forward to it. The only things we have in both of our names is savings account, wedding cards/letters addressed to us and some photos. How can they possibly expect couples to gather lots of stuff in joint names in such a small amount of time??!! I'm still trying to find my feet, looking for job and cheap car etc Kim&Chris: have you heard any news from uscis yet?? *ack* !!! Man I am hoping like crazy we don't get one of those. Maybe the GC faery will take pity on us....I mean we were trapped in NVC on AP for more than 7 weeks when every one else rocketed right through there...so maybe they will be kind and not torture us any more????? Ya, right	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-13 17:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Sheesh..I am not looking forward to this When she wanted more, what did you give her? Have a great trip..try and relax!	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-08 17:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	We are right here sending positive thoughts....please let us know how you went?	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-08 08:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Jul 8 2009, 12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jul 7 2009, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Jul 8 2009, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jul 6 2009, 11:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (ivannnaloveskiwi @ Jun 29 2009, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hi everyone, i've been gone for awhile.. just got back from New Zealand.. its was beautiful and loved every minute.. especally being with my true love!!..and i have good new.. everything has been approved and we will be together..he has some loose ends to tie up and will be in the states within the month.. its been a long hard journey.. and i dont think i could of gotten through without all of the help here.. thanks to all who helped with advise. THANK YOU ALL, HUGZ ALL ROUND!! Congratz! Okay so we have our interview tomorrow to finalize the green card. Anyone have any advice? We are so so nervous and freaking out. I honestly don't know what to do if he got deported, he is my life. The notice is enough to scare us. It goes on saying how if you don't bring this or that it will result in automatic denial. I'm just a mess right now. Oh for those of you working up to this point, I hope you have a copy of your birth certificate, you will need it. That was the slump we almost fell into. He only brought one certified copy with him from NZ. So I hope they don't intend to keep it. Also, sorry I have not been able to get on as much. It's been so hectic here trying to find us both jobs and then other bad family news with my mom getting sicker I hope you all are doing better than us and is surviving this heat. I definately want to move or at least get a pool lol this 100-degree weather is killing me lol. I was born here and I still can't stand it. Plus jobs in California are slim. We were thinking about Oregon but not sure job outlook or anything. But it'd definately be cooler, that's for sure. Good luck to you all! I wish I had some sage advice to give you...but all I can do is send positive thoughts your way and big *hugs* We're doing okay so far..just filed for AOS and behind most everyone else. Surviving the heat ...just I am worried about the part where you have to show proof of ongoing relationship. All we have to bring are photos. We didn't do a joint checking/credit card or anything like that yet since we have no jobs. And we live with and care for my mom so names aren't on the rent. I hope that will be enough I don't know what they want from people...I mean it's clear we have hardly more than just arrived in the country..I wonder they interview K1's at all I do. We have a joint bank account, and some mail addressed to both of us here, some from friends and some from the bank ( I save everything) but we live rent free in a flat at his daughter's house...so its going to be hard for us to show this too.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-07 18:11:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Jul 8 2009, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Dave_n_Genna @ Jul 6 2009, 11:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (ivannnaloveskiwi @ Jun 29 2009, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hi everyone, i've been gone for awhile.. just got back from New Zealand.. its was beautiful and loved every minute.. especally being with my true love!!..and i have good new.. everything has been approved and we will be together..he has some loose ends to tie up and will be in the states within the month.. its been a long hard journey.. and i dont think i could of gotten through without all of the help here.. thanks to all who helped with advise. THANK YOU ALL, HUGZ ALL ROUND!! Congratz! Okay so we have our interview tomorrow to finalize the green card. Anyone have any advice? We are so so nervous and freaking out. I honestly don't know what to do if he got deported, he is my life. The notice is enough to scare us. It goes on saying how if you don't bring this or that it will result in automatic denial. I'm just a mess right now. Oh for those of you working up to this point, I hope you have a copy of your birth certificate, you will need it. That was the slump we almost fell into. He only brought one certified copy with him from NZ. So I hope they don't intend to keep it. Also, sorry I have not been able to get on as much. It's been so hectic here trying to find us both jobs and then other bad family news with my mom getting sicker I hope you all are doing better than us and is surviving this heat. I definately want to move or at least get a pool lol this 100-degree weather is killing me lol. I was born here and I still can't stand it. Plus jobs in California are slim. We were thinking about Oregon but not sure job outlook or anything. But it'd definately be cooler, that's for sure. Good luck to you all! I wish I had some sage advice to give you...but all I can do is send positive thoughts your way and big *hugs* We're doing okay so far..just filed for AOS and behind most everyone else. Surviving the heat ...just	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-07 17:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Happy 4th !	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-04 09:01:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (ivannnaloveskiwi @ Jun 30 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hi everyone, i've been gone for awhile.. just got back from New Zealand.. its was beautiful and loved every minute.. especally being with my true love!!..and i have good new.. everything has been approved and we will be together..he has some loose ends to tie up and will be in the states within the month.. its been a long hard journey.. and i dont think i could of gotten through without all of the help here.. thanks to all who helped with advise. THANK YOU ALL, HUGZ ALL ROUND!! Congratulations! That is great news!	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-29 15:54:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Yes..I am back in the queue....another blessed queue....	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-27 15:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Walking out the door here gives me the feeling I am trying to breathe through a wet sweater	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-27 10:24:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Heatwave....sheesh..I've already had enough of that! I sat out last night for a bit and watched the crazy lightening, it was pretty much constant and looked more like someone with a strobe flashing it. My husband says it's heat lightening, but I've never seen the sky lit so constantly. Didn't worry the fireflies!	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-27 08:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Really hot here in Virginia as well. Just come in from shopping and I think I need a nap I sent our AOS packet off today...we meant to post it Monday but my husbands daughter laid her Harley down on Monday morning, she was cut off by a car just a few blocks from here. We had to wait for her signature on the I-864A. She's basically unhurt except for a bit of road-rash, and a scraped up elbow. Her writing hand She was beside herself about making us wait, but a few days makes no never mind. The bike is fine..she told me I had to say that	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-26 12:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	I was thinking about this, I worked at my last job in NZ for 16 years. I can do the same sort of thing here, as my qualification in USA based. Just not sure I want to	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-22 19:36:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 22 2009, 11:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 21 2009, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kelzm @ Jun 22 2009, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either We had a bit of a heat wave about then as well. There was snow the night I arrived, and within weeks it was that hot. Lately we are getting nearly daily thunderstorms, plenty of lightening and thunder, but no so much rain. Just as well, as all that does is make it muggier. This is part of why we hope to move to Portland Oregon early next year. The climate there is more like Auckland but without the humidity, and like Auckland most places don't seem to have aircon, but then hopefully we won't need it most time. Man the humidity here is a killer, I used to complain about the bit we got at home mainly in Feb. It's nothing compared to the severity of it here in Arkansas. Everyone at home is complaining of the cold but I've got my own pity party going on so I'm not really feeling it for them Or me	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-22 09:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kelzm @ Jun 22 2009, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either We had a bit of a heat wave about then as well. There was snow the night I arrived, and within weeks it was that hot. Lately we are getting nearly daily thunderstorms, plenty of lightening and thunder, but no so much rain. Just as well, as all that does is make it muggier.	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-21 16:37:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jun 22 2009, 07:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 21 2009, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 22 2009, 06:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's good to know that maybe one day the driving on the 'wrong side' will all fall into place. I live in hope! let us know when you receive your EAD. Will we have to go back to the SSA once the EAD arrives and get them to take off the part on our SSN card that says something like ' work allowed with DHS authorization" (can't remember the exact wording off hand)? Dave_n_Genna: Congratulations on receiving the biometrics appointment letter The process doesn't take very long, so hopefully you will be in and out of there, in 20 minutes. The longest part for me was in the waiting room. The actual biometrics took like 10 minutes at the most. cdneh: Yay! It's a good feeling to be able to get that package finally sent off and out of the way. Welcome back to the waiting room I wondered about going back to the SSN offcie again afterward...I dunno what we are meant to do there. Thanks...I'll wait with everyone in here. It's home Lol ...home is right Ana I never thought about the SSN card, good point. Will have to check that out. Anyone else suffering with the heat here......the rest of this week is supposed to be 38 deg, I can't bear to leave the house Hot...omg...if it wasn't for the aircon I'd be a puddle And to think Auckland is having the coldest winter in ages I am enjoying the fireflies	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-21 14:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 22 2009, 06:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's good to know that maybe one day the driving on the 'wrong side' will all fall into place. I live in hope! let us know when you receive your EAD. Will we have to go back to the SSA once the EAD arrives and get them to take off the part on our SSN card that says something like ' work allowed with DHS authorization" (can't remember the exact wording off hand)? Dave_n_Genna: Congratulations on receiving the biometrics appointment letter The process doesn't take very long, so hopefully you will be in and out of there, in 20 minutes. The longest part for me was in the waiting room. The actual biometrics took like 10 minutes at the most. cdneh: Yay! It's a good feeling to be able to get that package finally sent off and out of the way. Welcome back to the waiting room I wondered about going back to the SSN offcie again afterward...I dunno what we are meant to do there. Thanks...I'll wait with everyone in here. It's home	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-21 14:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (kiwiana @ Jun 20 2009, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jun 19 2009, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Congratualtions Ana..on all accounts Thanks! How's the progress on getting everything together for your AOS package? There is such a lot of things to remember to put in there isn't there? True! All ready to post out Monday	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-20 18:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	Congratualtions Ana..on all accounts	cdneh	Female	New Zealand	2009-06-19 19:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	I haven't had any touches on my I-485 but in todays mail i received a notice letter to appear for an initial interview! The interview is on August 28th. I must say that after reading Lisa&Tims interrogation, I'm not looking forward to it. The only things we have in both of our names is savings account, wedding cards/letters addressed to us and some photos. How can they possibly expect couples to gather lots of stuff in joint names in such a small amount of time??!! I'm still trying to find my feet, looking for job and cheap car etc Kim&Chris: have you heard any news from uscis yet??	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-11 17:24:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Lisaandtim @ Jul 8 2009, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (cdneh @ Jul 8 2009, 05:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We are right here sending positive thoughts....please let us know how you went? Well that was a bit scary. We get there and we have to go through a security check. Seems normal but then the guy says no phones with cameras. So we had to walk back to our car, which took 10 minutes one way, so that wasted 20 min. Good thing we came early. We get to the room and there is the window to check in but instead of a person greeting you, you are greeted by blinds and a note that says to place your appointment notice in the window and have a seat. Did they not want to look at you? I thought that a bit odd. They were late. Also while I was waiting, I ended up finding a couple of bugs crawling around on me. I don't know what it is but bugs are attracted to me and I am SO not a bug person. I tried to freak out in a calm manner when I found them on me lol. Anyways, our name finally called, we head back there. It seemed like an interrogation almost. First, she assigns us seating and does so sternly, almost rudely, and asked to see our ID's. She called my husband by name but then was like 'what's your name' to me. >.< Then we had to raise our right hand and tell the truth, then we could sit, she said. She ended up asking a series of question, and my poor husband got some of them wrong . The poor guy was so stressed out. The first question was why do you want to live in the US, why not NZ. He didn't know what to say to this besides he wanted to marry me and such. Other questions were were was I born, my mother's maiden and middle name, the date we got married (one of the ones he got wrong), where we got married, why we chose a small ceremony, she asked me what his parents names were and where his father was born, asked also how we met and such and who proposed to who. After the interrogation she asked to see copies of my birth certificate and the marriage one and my ID. Then she asked for anything that had both of our names on it. I gave her rent receipts and a copy of a wedding check that was written out to both of us but she wanted more. I am glad the whole thing is over. The lady seemed nice a couple times and then stern the other times. She seemed like she was going to approve it but didn't say for sure. She said we'll get a notice in the mail saying if we're approved or not. I was under the impression we would find out =(. Well the hubby and I are going away on a trip to Lake Tahoe for a couple days so I have to get packing. But I wanted to share our experience. Hope it goes better for you guys. It felt more like an interrogation than interview to me. I felt like a criminal lol. Talk to you all soon! Woah! that sounds pretty scary!! How long do you think you were in there in total? They must know that people are going to be nervous without having to put them through such an interrogation!! sheesh! After all that, you definitely need to get away for a couple of days. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing time!!	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-08 19:29:00
Australia and New Zealand	NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!	QUOTE (Kim & Chris @ Jul 7 2009, 08:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes all the best for tomorrow and tell us how you get on.....We're planning on moving to Portland Oregon, the heat here in the south sux. Oregon is the closest to the climate at home in Auckland so I can't wait. I'm actually missing the rain, it'll be nice to have a storm without the worry of tornadoes!!!! How's the driving going Ana???? I haven't been out in a car to terrorize anyone with my driving since my first practice run round a huge parking lot . We have been looking at used cars in the newspaper/online etc but nothing has popped up yet that is suitable or that hasn't been sold before we can manage to get to look at it. I applied for a job at mcd's and subway last week but haven't heard anything back. How are you getting on at driving and job hunting? This has to be the longest i have ever been unemployed and worry that it is going to take ages to find any kind of job, considering that i don't have any USA job history and that i am not exactly 'young' I actually "love" the weather here in Cali. It hasn't rained since i arrived here in March! which is like a miracle to me When do you plan on moving to Oregon?	kiwiana	Female	New Zealand	2009-07-07 20:58:00