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

[Kelvan 0]

Thanks Michelle! Wow 4 days to go for you!!!

Evan arrives here for his 2 week holiday on Sunday!!!

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

Thanks Michelle! Wow 4 days to go for you!!!

Evan arrives here for his 2 week holiday on Sunday!!!

cool, i bet you can't wait, how soon do you plan to go to the states, after your interview?

[Kim & Chris 0]

Well I sent the AOS package off on Feb 23 and it was received by them on Feb 26.

I received NOA1 for EAD & AP on March 7 and NOA1 for I-485 & the Biometrics apt on March 9th....a nice birthday prezzie it was too. The AP's a biggie for me as my Dad is in good health, (touch wood), but he's still 78 and my 2nd Mum (my Aunt) is steady for now but terminal so I really want to be able to travel at the drop of a hat if I need to. Hopefully it won't take too long to be approved.

I have my biometrics apt on March 20th in Memphis. It's a 2hr drive but I've already google mapped it so I know where we're going.....lol

Hopefully there will be no RFE's and it'll be transfered straight through to CA, I'm crossing my fingers on that one

Still things are moving along so I can't complain.

[Lisaandtim 0]

Well I sent the AOS package off on Feb 23 and it was received by them on Feb 26.

I received NOA1 for EAD & AP on March 7 and NOA1 for I-485 & the Biometrics apt on March 9th....a nice birthday prezzie it was too. The AP's a biggie for me as my Dad is in good health, (touch wood), but he's still 78 and my 2nd Mum (my Aunt) is steady for now but terminal so I really want to be able to travel at the drop of a hat if I need to. Hopefully it won't take too long to be approved.

I have my biometrics apt on March 20th in Memphis. It's a 2hr drive but I've already google mapped it so I know where we're going.....lol

Hopefully there will be no RFE's and it'll be transfered straight through to CA, I'm crossing my fingers on that one

Still things are moving along so I can't complain.

Hello everyone!

Just getting back from the honeymoon we had in Santa Cruz. Wedding went great. It was simple and private, at the county clerk's office, where you get the marriage certificate . Only set off was my mom forgot to put the handicap placard up when she parked so we came out to see a policewoman writing a ticket. Luckily she only got off with a warning hehe.

We had a week long honeymoon in Santa Cruz, California where we mainly went to the beach and got to watch movies indoors since it was raining most of the time

Today we went to Social Security...for 3 hours. First we go to one office and they are like you have to go to the card place. So we drove there and they said to go back around to the other side of the building, that that was where they do cards. Great lol. An hour later, we saw a human and applied for a couple cards. I had to get one too since I changed my name. Then she says since I am getting benefits I have to notify the people at the front of the building we got married. So we walk there, go through a security check, and get a number just to see a person to tell us to wait another bit. Then after all of that, she says she can't do anything because my husband doesn't have a social security number, even though I told her we just applied for one.

So we have to wait 2 weeks for the cards now..great.

So I am looking at these AOS papers and am trying the I-765 one first haha and am not sure what to put for questions 14 and 15 which ask manner of last entry and current immigration status. He's not a visitor or student. Should I just put K1 Visa holder? Bah! I hate more forms. These seem worse than the first set of forms. But if anyone has any advice/input on that, it'd be greatly appreciated.

[Kim & Chris 0]

Hello everyone!

Just getting back from the honeymoon we had in Santa Cruz. Wedding went great. It was simple and private, at the county clerk's office, where you get the marriage certificate . Only set off was my mom forgot to put the handicap placard up when she parked so we came out to see a policewoman writing a ticket. Luckily she only got off with a warning hehe.

We had a week long honeymoon in Santa Cruz, California where we mainly went to the beach and got to watch movies indoors since it was raining most of the time

Today we went to Social Security...for 3 hours. First we go to one office and they are like you have to go to the card place. So we drove there and they said to go back around to the other side of the building, that that was where they do cards. Great lol. An hour later, we saw a human and applied for a couple cards. I had to get one too since I changed my name. Then she says since I am getting benefits I have to notify the people at the front of the building we got married. So we walk there, go through a security check, and get a number just to see a person to tell us to wait another bit. Then after all of that, she says she can't do anything because my husband doesn't have a social security number, even though I told her we just applied for one.

So we have to wait 2 weeks for the cards now..great.

So I am looking at these AOS papers and am trying the I-765 one first haha and am not sure what to put for questions 14 and 15 which ask manner of last entry and current immigration status. He's not a visitor or student. Should I just put K1 Visa holder? Bah! I hate more forms. These seem worse than the first set of forms. But if anyone has any advice/input on that, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations you guys, sounds like you had a great time.

If your SO entered on a K-1 Fiance Visa then that's the correct answer to put down for both questions 14 and 15.

Check out the example forms on here. That's what I did and it was a big help

[Lisaandtim 0]

Hello everyone!

Just getting back from the honeymoon we had in Santa Cruz. Wedding went great. It was simple and private, at the county clerk's office, where you get the marriage certificate . Only set off was my mom forgot to put the handicap placard up when she parked so we came out to see a policewoman writing a ticket. Luckily she only got off with a warning hehe.

We had a week long honeymoon in Santa Cruz, California where we mainly went to the beach and got to watch movies indoors since it was raining most of the time

Today we went to Social Security...for 3 hours. First we go to one office and they are like you have to go to the card place. So we drove there and they said to go back around to the other side of the building, that that was where they do cards. Great lol. An hour later, we saw a human and applied for a couple cards. I had to get one too since I changed my name. Then she says since I am getting benefits I have to notify the people at the front of the building we got married. So we walk there, go through a security check, and get a number just to see a person to tell us to wait another bit. Then after all of that, she says she can't do anything because my husband doesn't have a social security number, even though I told her we just applied for one.

So we have to wait 2 weeks for the cards now..great.

So I am looking at these AOS papers and am trying the I-765 one first haha and am not sure what to put for questions 14 and 15 which ask manner of last entry and current immigration status. He's not a visitor or student. Should I just put K1 Visa holder? Bah! I hate more forms. These seem worse than the first set of forms. But if anyone has any advice/input on that, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations you guys, sounds like you had a great time.

If your SO entered on a K-1 Fiance Visa then that's the correct answer to put down for both questions 14 and 15.

Check out the example forms on here. That's what I did and it was a big help

I didn't see example ones when I looked before but I was in a rush so I'll be sure to check it out again or google it. Thanks!

[KimandRuss 0]

dave, hope genna got her visa!

michelle..have a great trip home!

good luck at the interview kelvan

congrats on getting the process moving again Kim & Chris

congrats lisa and tim

Example Forms scroll down a bit for the AOS ones.

How is everyone else doing?

Edited March 11, 2009 by KimandRuss

[cdneh 3,112]

Doing okay ..in spite of the up and down weather. I have a cold coming on I think..I know I have a fever...bah.

On my second night here, the water heater tank in the next room to our flat died, and flooded us out. I had no idea the thing held so much water! We were ankle deep in the flat, and everything smells musty now, so we spent today clearing up. Thank goodness we haven't got to putting the new flooring down, or it would already need replacing.

5 of the boxes I sent myself in the post turned up here today early, they did say 25 days minimum, so it has only been 10 days. Not that I want summer clothes today

Michelle...just a couple of days left for you...have a safe and enjoyable flight and a gret POE! See you on this side

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

Doing okay ..in spite of the up and down weather. I have a cold coming on I think..I know I have a fever...bah.

On my second night here, the water heater tank in the next room to our flat died, and flooded us out. I had no idea the thing held so much water! We were ankle deep in the flat, and everything smells musty now, so we spent today clearing up. Thank goodness we haven't got to putting the new flooring down, or it would already need replacing.

5 of the boxes I sent myself in the post turned up here today early, they did say 25 days minimum, so it has only been 10 days. Not that I want summer clothes today

Michelle...just a couple of days left for you...have a safe and enjoyable flight and a gret POE! See you on this side

hehe yep, thanks Kate, 2 big sleeps and then i'm flying.

Sorry to hear about the cold/fever and the weather and the water heater tank, wow, hope things get better, tho i'm sure being with Chase makes it all bearable, nice to be able to do the hard stuff together

[KimandRuss 0]

Kate ( I dont think I even knew your name ) , i'm sorry you're sick and for all the troubles you've been having. Like Michelle said, at least you're together! Get plenty of rest!

Michelle, you must be about jumping out of your skin right now!

Kelly, only a few more days until you see your man! woohooo.

[cdneh 3,112]

Doing okay ..in spite of the up and down weather. I have a cold coming on I think..I know I have a fever...bah.

On my second night here, the water heater tank in the next room to our flat died, and flooded us out. I had no idea the thing held so much water! We were ankle deep in the flat, and everything smells musty now, so we spent today clearing up. Thank goodness we haven't got to putting the new flooring down, or it would already need replacing.

5 of the boxes I sent myself in the post turned up here today early, they did say 25 days minimum, so it has only been 10 days. Not that I want summer clothes today

Michelle...just a couple of days left for you...have a safe and enjoyable flight and a gret POE! See you on this side

hehe yep, thanks Kate, 2 big sleeps and then i'm flying.

Sorry to hear about the cold/fever and the weather and the water heater tank, wow, hope things get better, tho i'm sure being with Chase makes it all bearable, nice to be able to do the hard stuff together

Oh it does make it easier for sure...picture if you will...the dark of night, a sudden boom, and Niagra falls comes cascading from across the hall. And in the middle of the chaos the two of us laughing so hard I thought we'd do ourselves an injury...

[cdneh 3,112]

Kate ( I dont think I even knew your name ) , i'm sorry you're sick and for all the troubles you've been having. Like Michelle said, at least you're together! Get plenty of rest!

Michelle, you must be about jumping out of your skin right now!

Kelly, only a few more days until you see your man! woohooo.

That's me

It's still the best time, I'm being well looked after never fear, and at least although we had a minor disaster we did get to have that together...

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

Any ideas on health insurance for us non citizens?

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Any ideas on health insurance for us non citizens?

This is very regional and there is a lot of variety. Best to have your US fiance research either their work plan, or temporary individual plans in their area.

Sometimes you can get it under your US fiance's health plan from work without being married, but usually you will have to be married. You could gamble and not have insurance until you are married (this might work if you plan to marry within days of arriving). I don't recommend going more than an extremely short time without medical coverage in the US.

In Oregon, for example, Blue Cross Blue Shield offer temporary plans for up to 6 months. They are mainly for people between jobs, etc. You have to research these too though, because sometimes there are residency requirements.

Edited March 13, 2009 by Ed+Cindy

[Dave_n_Genna 0]

Been busy the last few days.

Genna got her Visa and she flies here on the 17th!

I am having trouble focusing on any new Immigration stuff at the moment.

I took a look at the AoS guides, and they seem really helpful, but I just couldn't take it all in now. Too excited, plus making wedding plans.

Is there anything major I need to do for immigration/AoS before the wedding? I would hate to miss some important step along the way.