amaciar

Congrats RubyRed and welcome to all the new faces!

We are headed back to NZ for our first family trip since adding a new addition and Nic's removal of conditions! I can't believe it has been so long since I was in the middle of the immigration process. Here is hoping the process of getting Sage's (my sons) New Zealand passport is easier than acquiring residency for my husband.

All I have to say is as stressful as the process is it is so worth the final outcome.

Zeddess- We also plan to move back to NZed eventually. Not for at least 5 years though so we plan on having my husband apply for dual citizenship. That way we can come and go from the US as we please. It seems worth it to wait it out til the citizenship process is finished to not have to deal with residency again. Except on the other end that is :-) Does it ever end?

Dave n Genna- The removal process wasn't to bad. We sent in about 5-10 different proofs of joint finances/living and didn't even need an interview. It was pretty convenient since we were in the process of bringing our own little KiwiAmerican into the world. We sent in joint insurance info (life and health), our deed (but I am sure a rental agreement is fine), joint bank account info, bills with both our names on it (phone,electric, gas etc). Basically anything we had on hand with both our names on it. It may have been overkill but it did the job. The waiting was the worst part.

We received our Biometrics appointment letter on Friday. We will head to St Albans on Thursday. They didn't give much time to arrange schedules if we needed to but we are only 45 minutes or so from the location and well not much you can't change when it comes to getting immigration one step closer to done. I thought I would make a list of what we sent in our packet, since most people will be going through this in the next year or so!

Deed to the house we bought in November

Copy of life insurance policies

Copy of health insurance cards through Nic

Copy of marriage certificate

Bills in both our names (cable,power,gas...)

Bank statements in both our names (one from a while ago and a more recent one) We have several accounts for various things

credit card statements in both our names

Most of the info we sent was finance based but it seems to have done the trick. We keep everything so it was much easier than the first application to put together.. We just kept putting random bits and bobs in a folder once we realized we would have to do this soon. It made the whole gathering process easier.

Not sure I have to go to the Bio appointment with Nic but I figure why not. Not sure how long it will take to get to the interview stage but we are happy to at least feel like we are getting somewhere.

Kelzm we recently sent in our removal of conditions packet too. We sent it to VT. We sent in a few bank statements, insurance and life insurance policies with both our names and the deed to our house. I think Nic threw in a few other things but it did feel like a much smaller packet than the first time around. Nic wanted to send in my ultra sound ( I am 5 months pregnant) just to be cheeky but held off the urge.

The next big concern is that they schedule our interview around my due date. Crossing our fingers on that one!

Nic and I did go the CR1 route. We went about it in a bit of a backwards way and in the end I think we ended up going the DCF route. The Embassy in New Zealand kind of took over for use and said don't worry about NVC. Long story but happy to help with any questions. I will have a look at what we were planning to send in to NVC. I think the most complicated bit for us was the tax information but shouldn't be too big a worry if the USC is actually living in the US, which I hadn't been for a few years.

We flew home together. We were living together in NZ at the time. We spent a few weeks at his father during the interview and packet 3 stage. I think it was nice for us to spend time at his fathers for a few weeks since it must be emotional to have your child moving to the other side of the world. We had the interview and flew to the US 3 days later. We move fast and had spent the last 6 months preparing to come home.

Thanks so much guys! I understand it a lot better now I am slowly, slowly getting the forms completed. I just wanted to start filling them out before the wedding so I wasn't in a mad rush after our honeymoon!

We are going to apply for our marriage certificate today!!!

Congrats! :dance:

Nic and I have been back in the states for a year tomorrow. I can't believe how time flies. We also have our two year anniversary on the 20th. It is nice to finally be settled in together in a place we know we will be for more than a year.

Everyone seems to be moving right along and before you know it you will be in the same boat as us. Contemplating the process of removing conditions! Does it ever really end?

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.

If one reads the Guides, they will know what documentation is required for future events, like the K-1 Interview, the AOS submittal and subsequent interview, the N-400 Interview, etc. One can start assembling the required documents now way ahead of what the Embassy tells you. It is a lot of work.

But if one has not found this website until later in the process then they shouldn't be belittled because of it.

Hi Everyone.

It's great to see that everyone is moving forward and that so many of us are now here in the US.

Nic and I have been here since August and he has finally found work in his field. Some days I think the job search was as stressful as immigration! But luckily he is a town planner and municipality always need employees even if it is hard times. So we are extremely excited because we love the city we are living in and our seasonal jobs were coming to an end and we were afraid we were going to have to move.

As for the bread I never noticed it was sweet growing up but after living in NZ for three years I can really taste it now. Yuck. I try to get fresh bread when possible because it doesn't taste sweet. I think our next investment may be a bread maker. Luckily here on the east cost every grocery store seems to have a bakery though.

Nic has been missing pies though so if anyone has any tips on that it would be great. Healthwise he probabably better off without them but it would still be great to find a decent substitute to suprise him.

Hi Ivanna. I am not sure if you are looking for a lawyer but we consulted one in Auckland and she was very helpful. Her name is Barbaara J Johnson and her auckland number is 64 9 915 0891. She ended up telling us our case was easy and told us what we needed to do and who to contact. Plus she called the US embassy for us and had them call us back which i thought was good of her since she didn't make any money off of us.

Good luck! I hope if you cantact her she can help you. I am sure she can.

Did anyone here use the Wellington Terrace Medical Clinic for the K1 pre-interview exam? How quickly were they able to get you in for an appointment?

My husband used Dr David L Hingston from the Immigration Medical Assessment place on Terrace St. We were in within days but he took forever to process the information. We were on his case constantly and only realized later that he only works on Tuesday! So if you go way before your interview you will be fine but we went to him three weeks before ours and the medical info showed up at the embassy 20 minutes after our interview....and only did so because we called every Tuesday between the medical and the interview. If you can go elsewhere I would suggest it. Plus he didn't give shots there so Nic had to go to his doctor in Palmerston North to administer the only vaccination he needed and in the long run he wouldn't have needed the shot but the guy wouldn't take the records he brought in as prrof.

So long story short he does do what needs to be done but it sounds like much more hassel than the gentleman in Auckland. We called and had an appointment the following Tuesday which was about a week away. With this gentleman leave at least 4 weeks for the info to make it to the embassy and make sure he is not going out of town anytime soon! Wish I had better news. I just don't want you to read everyones reviews from Auckland and expect the same.

Our situation: Currently in Denmark. Applied for residency here, just waiting for approval. However, we want to return to the states when possible so we have decided to go ahead and file the I-130 now and get the process started. Note: We cannot file DCF because of the 6 month residency rule.

Question 1: Is it ok to list the USC address as the address here in Denmark?

Question 2: Will they mail required paperwork overseas?

Does the USC have residency in Denmark? If so then DCF might be the best way to go. It tends to be quicker and you can deal directly with the US Embassy in Denmark instead of dealing with USCIS in the US.

Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Public holiday but I still get to work :-(

Kiwiana- Glad the interview went so well. I didn't doubt it they are so nice. My hubby and I had a gentlemen do the second part and he had a hardcore NY City accent. It was awesome. It was an accent I hadn't heard in a long time. Also enjoy the warm weather it was -21 degrees this morning and my car wouldn't atrt because of the cold. Yucko! Hope this cold snap ends soon.

Any advice on phone cards in America? I have never been able to find a decent one and now my husband needs one to call home. Anyone have a good one they use? Or an idea of where to get one? I used to go to the Mobile in my old town but no such luck in this town

I thought of that counting backwards idea too! I was going to start at 50 though :-)

*ahem*

It's over. They tell us tonight it has been sent to Auckland.

I made him ring back and speak to someone else...just to double check

Wooo Hooo! Glad it has finally happened. Not long now til you are all done and with the one you love!

Seven weeks! That is just mean. Hopefully the AKL embassy will be able to move things along. They are very helpful so I if they can do something I am sure they will.

Funny story about the Auckland embassy or well my husbands interview. We showed up and they were chatting with my husband and the lady said "You know you almost didn't make it to this point" we were like WHAT! Apparently when they did his police check his report came back with all sorts of convictions and not just little ones. The lovely lady said she called the police back as she was writing the "Yeah right what are you thinking applying for immigration letter" and there was a letter or number off. So long story short thankfully they checked back with the police or else I would have had a hear attack when the rejection letter came. My husbands record was clean and all was smooth after that.

Yep snow sleet ice and rain in one day are the norm. Ha ha ha but you are right about the other three seasons.

Silly question time Kim...nothing seems to be going out of DHL at the moment...and now that it's the new year, I have to change what I enter under reference right?

2008A becomes 2009A?

right! Hopefully they're not 'on' to us and changing how they do things! Otherwise, we'll have some work to do to figure out how they track them now.

It sounds like the Embassy in AUK is as helpful as always. I know they can issue an inquiry to NVC and specifically ask for the file to be sent. That is what someone from one of my 'many' phone calls to NVC stated. Perhaps that's what they're saying... I certainly hope so! Enough is enough. Do something kind for YOU and try your best to keep your spirits up until then.

Ivanna, I'm not really clear on what you're asking. As long as you each filled out a I-134 with employment info and anual income, and both included supporting evidence of income (tax papers, paystubs, letter from employers) you should be all set. If your uncle meets the minimum requirement for supporting your fiance he will not need bank statements or proof of assets.

Another ice storm going on outside right now. Oui, winter in New England!

You have to be semi insane to live in the Northeast really. Luckily up here in Burlington VT it is supposed to be all snow and it actually looks like it has stopped. The summer make it worth it though. Warm and there are so many rivers and lakes to swim in. Plus the scenery isn't too bad.

Still there as of right this minute.

I dont think I'd worry Michelle...I mean in order to move countries you kind of have to quit right?

cdneh- My husband and I also thought of the Canada route and just as I was getting frustrated enough to investigate it everything fell into place. We also thought about England but it seemed even more of a hassle then US immigration. For me not for him. I keep cheking and hoping to see that your package is in NZ. I can't imagine the frustration of finally hitting NVC and having this happen. Keep strong. It will be worth it when it is all said and done. Even though all said and done seems likes forever away!

Well one thing at least with Canada....they have to take me

Thanks for that, and I do appreciate all the support. It's just hard to keep your chin up now and then.

a lot of peaple lose its weight because of the stress of the waitting of ther approval

so how to gain the weight ???????????,

Come to America and eat Tex Mex!

Saludos,

Caro

Yum Tex Mex. That is definetly the fast track to weight gain

Still there as of right this minute.

I dont think I'd worry Michelle...I mean in order to move countries you kind of have to quit right?

cdneh- My husband and I also thought of the Canada route and just as I was getting frustrated enough to investigate it everything fell into place. We also thought about England but it seemed even more of a hassle then US immigration. For me not for him. I keep cheking and hoping to see that your package is in NZ. I can't imagine the frustration of finally hitting NVC and having this happen. Keep strong. It will be worth it when it is all said and done. Even though all said and done seems likes forever away!

Yum vegemite. I do miss it. Anyone know how to get it stateside?

http://www.worldmarket.com/home.jsp

just been looking over this site. They have vegemite for $6.99 (picture on main page) as well as other things like cadbury roses for $1.99 (from UK). I found the site to be quite interesting. And they seem to have shops right around the USA!!

I will have to have a look at that today if there is a slow time at work. :-)

Merry Christmas Everyone. Those of you still in New Zealand enjoy the warm weather :-)