NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!

[kelzm 0]

Michelle - by all means dress nicely if you wish As I said I dressed tidily, like I do for work, but I wouldn't worry about going all out with suits and the like. I don't think that they're judging the calibre of your clothing, it's more important to have all your paperwork ready to go. Honestly, I know that it's very nervewracking waiting for the interview but the people at Auckland are lovely. They actually seem to want to help and I don't think they're there to trip anyone up. As long as you're sincere about this visajourney (and I know we all are) then I don't think anyone has anything to worry about.

[markjo 0]

Hi all,

Just thought I would drop back in to let you know that my Green Card turned up in the post yesterday - stoked to have it in-hand.

We were lucky in that the process has been relatively smooth sailing for us and hope that you all have easy journeys too. The web system kept us updated and I received email alerts as each stage of the process.

Good luck to all.

Cheers,

Mark

[kiwiana 2]

Hi all,

Just thought I would drop back in to let you know that my Green Card turned up in the post yesterday - stoked to have it in-hand.

We were lucky in that the process has been relatively smooth sailing for us and hope that you all have easy journeys too. The web system kept us updated and I received email alerts as each stage of the process.

Good luck to all.

Cheers,

Mark

Congratulations on getting your EAD and AOS! That is pretty good that it took around 3 months! How long is the green card valid for?

So happy to hear that everything went smoothly for you!

Best wishes

[KimandRuss 0]

Lisa, congratulations on getting the petition sent out. Sorry you're in a bad place... leaving is soooo hard. Hopefully the process will go quickly for you.

Russell posted about his attire for the interview. He wore a dress shirt and tie and felt quite overdressed. Apparently the folks in there were dressed in mostly very casual clothes. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Congratulations on your GC Mark!! Wonderful news!

Ana, the GC is good for 2 years.

Grant, I hope you get some good news on the job front soon!

Well, after much drama and added expense, my man is finally back home where he belongs! It's been a whirlwind since he's been home but we are extremely happy to be together again. It's almost as though the past year never happened. We meet with the JP Wednesday night. We're planning a short, sweet ceremony on October 18th ...and then a bigger party in April when Russell's family comes from NZ. Can't wait!

[rubyred 0]

congratulations kim and russ!!!!!!

[Kelvan 0]

Kim and Russ, I was wondering how you guys were getting on! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you both! I have no idea how you are feeling right now, I can only imagine

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

tick tock tick tock

omg i hate waiting, nothing, not even a touch and i've never wanted to be touched so much in my life

i am so like this i'm sure half the time Rob must feel like a possum caught in headlights

aarrgghh

so how's everyone doing?

[kiwiana 2]

No touch here either The other day i had an idea I thought to keep my mind occupied, i'd go to the DMV site for California and download their drivers licence handbook. So i can learn up on their road rules and such for when the time comes i am there and can sit licence. Later on, I thought I would print it out until i saw how big it was. It is something like 92 pages!!!!!!! Now THAT will keep me busy for sure!!!

Kim: It must be soo wonderful to have Russell back home! Not long to go till the ceremony!!

cdneh: I 'think' you got a police report from canada?? How long is the Canadian one valid for? I need to get one from Australia but i read somewhere here on vj on a thread that the Aussie one is only valid for 3 months. That just doesn't seem long enough. It really would be nice to get this out of the way but no point if its only good for 3 months. *sigh* ( i did email the authorities that do the police checks but they haven't replied yet)

Ok enough of my ramblings.. hope everyone is doing ok!

[cdneh 3,112]

cdneh: I 'think' you got a police report from canada?? How long is the Canadian one valid for? I need to get one from Australia but i read somewhere here on vj on a thread that the Aussie one is only valid for 3 months. That just doesn't seem long enough. It really would be nice to get this out of the way but no point if its only good for 3 months. *sigh* ( i did email the authorities that do the police checks but they haven't replied yet)

Ok enough of my ramblings.. hope everyone is doing ok!

The Canadian one they say is good for six months, but it was a total pain to get. I had to get fingerprints done here in Auckland, the appointment for that took 3 weeks to get, and then I sent the lot off to a Fingerprint Services company in Ottawa. They took it to the RCMP and got the clearance, and sent it back to me. That took four months. It was dated May 14th, and if it was going to be good for 6 months...well we aren't expecting a NOA2 until November ...

I emailed the Embassey in Auckland and they got back to me straightaway. As long as I stay out of Canada, it will be good ! Makes sense to me, as I haven't been in Canada and I haven't any intentions of going there so I am okay with the one I got back in May. Hope that helps!

[cdneh 3,112]

tick tock tick tock

omg i hate waiting, nothing, not even a touch and i've never wanted to be touched so much in my life

i am so like this i'm sure half the time Rob must feel like a possum caught in headlights

aarrgghh

so how's everyone doing?

It is discouraging, isn't it. No touches here either..no sign of any kind of activity. Well other than the date on my time line getting later and later...my poor man has just got into the habit of saying...'yes, dear'...

[kiwiana 2]

cdneh: I 'think' you got a police report from canada?? How long is the Canadian one valid for? I need to get one from Australia but i read somewhere here on vj on a thread that the Aussie one is only valid for 3 months. That just doesn't seem long enough. It really would be nice to get this out of the way but no point if its only good for 3 months. *sigh* ( i did email the authorities that do the police checks but they haven't replied yet)

Ok enough of my ramblings.. hope everyone is doing ok!

The Canadian one they say is good for six months, but it was a total pain to get. I had to get fingerprints done here in Auckland, the appointment for that took 3 weeks to get, and then I sent the lot off to a Fingerprint Services company in Ottawa. They took it to the RCMP and got the clearance, and sent it back to me. That took four months. It was dated May 14th, and if it was going to be good for 6 months...well we aren't expecting a NOA2 until November ...

I emailed the Embassey in Auckland and they got back to me straightaway. As long as I stay out of Canada, it will be good ! Makes sense to me, as I haven't been in Canada and I haven't any intentions of going there so I am okay with the one I got back in May. Hope that helps!

Wow! that took quite a while to get eh? It sounds like i really should just go ahead and get it over with. It was the AFP i emailed about the aussie police checks. So if they are as efficient at doing the police checks as they are at (not) replying to emails then i really should do it now!

Thanks ever so much for the information cdneh!

[cdneh 3,112]

cdneh: I 'think' you got a police report from canada?? How long is the Canadian one valid for? I need to get one from Australia but i read somewhere here on vj on a thread that the Aussie one is only valid for 3 months. That just doesn't seem long enough. It really would be nice to get this out of the way but no point if its only good for 3 months. *sigh* ( i did email the authorities that do the police checks but they haven't replied yet)

Ok enough of my ramblings.. hope everyone is doing ok!

The Canadian one they say is good for six months, but it was a total pain to get. I had to get fingerprints done here in Auckland, the appointment for that took 3 weeks to get, and then I sent the lot off to a Fingerprint Services company in Ottawa. They took it to the RCMP and got the clearance, and sent it back to me. That took four months. It was dated May 14th, and if it was going to be good for 6 months...well we aren't expecting a NOA2 until November ...

I emailed the Embassey in Auckland and they got back to me straightaway. As long as I stay out of Canada, it will be good ! Makes sense to me, as I haven't been in Canada and I haven't any intentions of going there so I am okay with the one I got back in May. Hope that helps!

Wow! that took quite a while to get eh? It sounds like i really should just go ahead and get it over with. It was the AFP i emailed about the aussie police checks. So if they are as efficient at doing the police checks as they are at (not) replying to emails then i really should do it now!

Thanks ever so much for the information cdneh!

No worries ..I'd go ahead if it was me. That's why I've got my shots all done and up to date...if they ever get around to giving us a NOA2..I'm going to be ready ...

[gshennen 0]

Hi All

I'm sorry to hear that some of you are stuck in limbo at the moment, and that progress is pretty slow. You have my sympathy.

Also great that Kim and Russ have finally reached a very happy conclusion!

We are just counting down now, I am trying to wrap up a couple of bits of work. We have shipped all of the stuff we wanted to ship. We have ordered a lot of stuff on line in the US, and it is starting to show up at Brook's parents. It is hard to believe that in less than 3 weeks we will be living the other side of the world!

We have got short term health insurance for all of us (wow that is expensive!!).

I am still job hunting, but am starting to make appointments with recruitment agencies for after we arrive.

We are also the kings of selling stuff on Trade Me. Poor Ash is having his toys sold out from under him. We currently have 17 auctions running, with more to start next week.

Anyway - here's hoping lots of progress starts to get made for those waiting.

Cheers

Grant

[Lisaandtim 0]

Hi All

I'm sorry to hear that some of you are stuck in limbo at the moment, and that progress is pretty slow. You have my sympathy.

Also great that Kim and Russ have finally reached a very happy conclusion!

We are just counting down now, I am trying to wrap up a couple of bits of work. We have shipped all of the stuff we wanted to ship. We have ordered a lot of stuff on line in the US, and it is starting to show up at Brook's parents. It is hard to believe that in less than 3 weeks we will be living the other side of the world!

We have got short term health insurance for all of us (wow that is expensive!!).

I am still job hunting, but am starting to make appointments with recruitment agencies for after we arrive.

We are also the kings of selling stuff on Trade Me. Poor Ash is having his toys sold out from under him. We currently have 17 auctions running, with more to start next week.

Anyway - here's hoping lots of progress starts to get made for those waiting.

Cheers

Grant

Got noa1 today yay

[kelzm 0]

My green card arrived in the mail today. Overall I'm very impressed with the speed of things here since I'd read that some people waited months. SSN arrived 1 week after POE, greencard within 3 weeks of POE.

Yesterday I applied for my CA drivers license and sat the written test while there. I passed that and have my practical driving test on Tuesday.