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Michelle Kauffman

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Posts posted by Michelle Kauffman

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    Thought i'd add a copy of my email to the folks back home :)

    The flight out from Auckland was held back for approx 2 hours, which meant we missed the connecting flight to Charlotte from LA. Luckily the airline decided to send us to the LAX Hilton for the 8 hours we had to wait for the next flight. They also gave us lunch and dinner vouchers, so we had the most expensive burger for lunch and the absolutely best steak dinner I've ever had in my life, for dinner.

    Immigration at LAX was a breeze. I got into the same queue as my daughter, the one for visitors as the other line had a sign that said for US permanent residents and US passport holders only. I had read about horror stories but it was a breeze, the immigration guy at the window just asked me a couple of questions about how long I'd known Rob and when were we planning to get married, it was quick and painless but man he had no sense of humour at all.

    Finally flew into Charlotte airport at 0600hrs Sunday morning, 9 hours late but at least we were finally there.

    I really can't express how happy I was to see Rob, it was truly like I was finally home and could finally relax and rest. Since Kelly and I have arrived we have mainly been shopping and sleeping. Poor Rob was dragged from shop to shop as we looked for rings and dresses, finally have everything we need.

    In the middle of it all Rob had a doctors appointment and then they made an appointment for him at the hospital to test his lung function. It was all good news, Rob can be very stubborn and for some reason I won't bore you with, he hadn't been back to his doctor since I went with him in April 2008. But we had a very frank talk with the doctor and the doctor agreed that as Rob's condition seems to be stable, & he can carry on a conversation without getting breathless, he agreed with Rob that there was no immediate need for him to have a lung transplant, which is why we were at the hospital for the lung function tests, the doctor wanted a base line to compare Rob's progress too. All in all I'm very happy about our visit to the doctor, while Rob cannot come off the o2, we can put off the transplant for the forseeable future and he put Rob's worries about the addiction to o2 to rest. The doctor says the addiction is physiological, not psychological and therefore when Rob no longer needed the o2 his body wouldn't crave it. We're still waiting on the results for the lung function tests but I'm very optimistic.

    We're waiting on some things I ordered online to arrive and when they get here we'll head off to the court house and get hitched (hehe)

    Rob is going to have to put some of his things in storage, because there is no way that I fit with all my stuff into his bedroom, so we're organising that over the next few days while we wait for our packages.

    Tomorrow we're going to be shooting Rob's gun and his fathers shotguns, well Kelly will, I'll probably just watch.

    ***

    Now a question for those already here, what's with the bread and can anyone recommend a brand that doesn't smell quite so bad?

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    APPROVED!!! Well, actually only partially because I had to take home my passport as we are going to Australia on Monday! So as soon as I return it I will get my visa!!! :D The consulate also advised me that I might want to renew my passport while I'm still in NZ as it expires next year so I will have to do that as well.

    hey guys, sorry it's late coming but CONGRATULATIONS!!

    i haven't really spent much time near the computer since i got here (Harmony, NC), spending too much time in my honey's arms hehe

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    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 :no:

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

    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 :)

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    Kate: i sent you a message, haha like you don't already know

    Ivannaloveskiwi: We are all rooting for you and will try and give what help we can

    As for me, I'm still hoping to leave on the 14th March, no reason why I shouldn't unless they have no seats available on the plane by the time I get the money to make the bookings.

    I'm very happy to be having my daughter coming with me for a 4 week visit, so I'll have company on the plane :)

    Now it's just about the waiting

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    yes, he's leaving tomorrow =D im so excited. Sry havent posted a bit but ive had the flu and a birthday

    Lisaandtim: All the very best on your wedding day on the 27th (tomorrow in usa) :thumbs::star:

    kimandruss: Great to see you back!! :yes:

    cdneh: :wow: only like 4 days to go!!! woo hooo :D

    michelle: did you get a confirmed booking for 9th march?

    I thought i would try and pack my two suitcases last night. woah! Looks like i am going to have to thin my stuff out even more. The NEW suitcase i bought was groaning under the weight of what i had packed into it so far :star:

    unfortunately not, silly of me to hope i could go on the 9th, it was dependent on the ex wanting an earlier closure on the house sale and he didn't so now i've resigned myself to having to wait til the 14th march, even that is prob being optimistic but i'm gonna do my best to fly out of here on the 14th.

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    I'M CANT BELIEVE THIS... INTERVEIW DIDNT GO WELL...AND IF THIS MAKES NO SENCE IS'S BECASUE I'M CRYING AS I WRITE IT...THEY SAID I DIDNT HAVE MY DIVROCE PAPERS FROM THE COURT BUT I SENT THEM WHAT THEY SENT ME...HE HAD SOME PRIOR CONVICTIONS THAT WERE 15 YRS AGO.. NOTHING MAJOR, JUST MINOR BUT WANT IT RAN THROUGH HOMELAND SECURITY.. AND EACH OF US TO WRITE A LETTER OF HARDSHIP..GOING TO COST US 891 MORE DOLLARS AND MAYBE TAKE 2-6 TO PROCESS...MY HEART IS BROKEN... :crying::crying:

    wow i'm so very sorry to hear your bad news :(

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    Just checking in. Everyone has gone very quiet!

    I've had my last day at work...Saturday. They were very good to me, did a big breakfast I didn't know they were organzing, and some of the roadstaff were able to come in for it. Got cards, and flowers, faxes, visits, and the other team members got together and bought me a lovely piece of greenstone. I had lots of calls from people who had no idea it was my last day...or why :)

    Funny how you never know they liked you so much, particularly the road staff, until they hear you are about to be history.

    Now it's about packing up, settling all the loose ends, and getting ready to go. 16 days...and yes... I am counting :D

    i'm not looking forward to my farewell, i think there may be tears, possibly, maybe....

    it's exciting isn't it? i'm counting days now too, hoping to fly out 9th march, so 21 days for me :)

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    She'll be sitting outside in the coffee place waiting to go up the lifts now ...sending you calming vibes!!! :thumbs:

    thanks so much, amazingly i was quite ok once i was seated inside the consulate and waiting, still very nervous but a huge improvement on just trying to get there :)

    CONGRATZ!

    And yes, as Ruby asked, Tim and I are a young couple, which makes me worry. He's worked 3 jobs at a time before but now is just doing the mechanical assembly job as coming to the US a bit doesn't make you happy with the bosses lol. I am on disability for depression and wasn't able to get a dr note in time, so I attached a letter from myself explaining what I have, and how I am working on getting better, etc. Part of my plan to see if I can function is to pass a program (14 week pharmacy technician ) I am in at the moment, which I attached too. I hope that will show I hope to return to the workforce one day. He'd like to go to the program as well, should I mention that? Or will that look funny? My cousins could put a word in for him at dryer's ice cream if he knows his way around and has a licence lol. Any tips on what we should do? I have a cosponsor who is slightly above the poverty lines as well. Thanks

    APPROVED!

    Just waiting on police report now >< and i have to find a new cosponsor once we're married ><

    congratulations, wonderful news, was it as bad as he thought it would be?

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    My visa was approved :)

    I've done a full review of the consulate but i thought i would add a few things here.

    Lisaandtim, I know exactly how you're feeling, everyone can tell us not to freak but until you actually go through it yourself you don't believe it.

    I was a complete and utter mess, as i said in the review i left home at 7.30 for my interview at 8.45, traffic was horrendous and when i got diverted on queen st because of an accident i actually started yelling and crying. I had convinced myself that if i wasn't there at or before 8.45 they would turn me away. As it was i got up there at approx 8.50 and there was already someone there before me at the window. I didn't actually get seen til approx 9.15, not that i'm recommending you come late for the interview :)

    When it came to proof of funds all i had was the contract to the sale of the house, i didn't take my bank statements as i have no money in the bank (keeping two households running will do that for you), i explained how much money i would have to take with me from the sale of the house and they were happy with that.

    The first woman did ask for my resume, however i'm not sure the second woman even looked at it, but again, i would recommend taking one, i totally understand about doing the resume, they're a pain in the you know whatsit but ruby's suggestion is a good one and i think that's the format of mine, i don't have an objective on mine either.

    Rob and my daughter had to tell me several times over the last 3 days before my interview to breath as i would quite literally forget to do that, i was stressing myself out so much over everything. Really after all the worry it was a breeze and i do think it is just a matter of them ticking off the boxes and making sure that we fit the requirements and have provided the evidence.

    Lisaandtim, good luck for your interview though i really don't think you need it :)

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    ok last minute freak out

    the pink letter from the consulate says to bring a large (foolscap/legal size) self addressed courier pack or registered envelope

    i bought an A4 courier pack, did i buy the wrong one?

    ok now don't freak out.. I got out the stuff the consulate sent to me and tried to put it in a plain A4 envelope (not a courier bag, so the courier bag may be a little bigger) and it wouldn't fit just trying to slide it in.. BUT maybe if they folded over the yellow/brown envelope a bit more it could fit! be a tight squeeze but they may be able to do it!!

    would you have time in the morning to get a foolscap size envelope at all?

    what time is your appointment? There is a post shop nearby the embassy i think!!

    my interview is at 0845, the post shop next door opens at 0830 :)

    the courier bag is maybe an inch larger all around then the standard A4 sheet, but i think i'll buy a bigger one anyway, just to be safe

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

    in Australia and New Zealand

    Posted

    yes they certainly are, had to move up my doctors appointment to tomorrow as my interview at the consulate in on tuesday 10th feb :D

    How'd it go at the medical today? :)

    i was nervous as heck, i'd just about convinced myself that they wouldn't let me in cos i'm too fat but the doctor said that wouldn't happen.

    he was amazing, made me feel very comfortable, was a good laugh in fact, i read and reread your post on your visit to the doctor and it all went really smoothly :)

    i found the doctor, the xray place and the place to have the blood tests.

    i think you were very game walking that road, i drove :)

    and google maps with street view made finding everything so much easier

    now i'm just hanging out for tuesday and my interview

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