MattNZ2014

Yarrrrrrrriba!!!!
NOA2 email arrived this morning (Saturday) at 5:45 am.
I know there's still a long row to hoe (as the old farmers used to say), but I'm just so happy to be able to do something besides wait.
Best of luck to all those still stuck in USCIS: they do seem to be catching up a bit (we're exactly three days short of five months, which was the posted service time in Nebraska the last time I checked).

Yes they MUST accompany each other. Perhaps I was unclear. Either a) transfer money to a US bank account and send a US check with the petition from NZ or b) check with your local bank to see if they can make a money order in US funds to send with the petition or c) send the entire petition to a trust worthy US relative and have THEM send the petition and check to the USCIS.
The petition MUST be sent to the chicago lockbox because you both live outside the USA.

As a graduate student, you know the difference between a present tense question or issue and a past tense question or issue. When stating or providing evidence of "current income", NOTHING that is in a past or future tense context is used. Your current income is what you are making the day you sign the affidavit. You provide evidence of it in the form of a current pay stub.

I thought so, yes. I explained a concept, that I thought you would understand but that you clearly had not yet applied to your thought process. Application of the concept will help prevent over-thinking issues.