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

[Kim & Chris 0]

That's good to know that maybe one day the driving on the 'wrong side' will all fall into place. I live in hope! let us know when you receive your EAD. Will we have to go back to the SSA once the EAD arrives and get them to take off the part on our SSN card that says something like ' work allowed with DHS authorization" (can't remember the exact wording off hand)?

Dave_n_Genna: Congratulations on receiving the biometrics appointment letter The process doesn't take very long, so hopefully you will be in and out of there, in 20 minutes. The longest part for me was in the waiting room. The actual biometrics took like 10 minutes at the most.

cdneh: Yay! It's a good feeling to be able to get that package finally sent off and out of the way. Welcome back to the waiting room

I wondered about going back to the SSN offcie again afterward...I dunno what we are meant to do there.

Thanks...I'll wait with everyone in here. It's home

Lol ...home is right

Ana I never thought about the SSN card, good point. Will have to check that out.

Anyone else suffering with the heat here......the rest of this week is supposed to be 38 deg, I can't bear to leave the house

[cdneh 3,112]

That's good to know that maybe one day the driving on the 'wrong side' will all fall into place. I live in hope! let us know when you receive your EAD. Will we have to go back to the SSA once the EAD arrives and get them to take off the part on our SSN card that says something like ' work allowed with DHS authorization" (can't remember the exact wording off hand)?

Dave_n_Genna: Congratulations on receiving the biometrics appointment letter The process doesn't take very long, so hopefully you will be in and out of there, in 20 minutes. The longest part for me was in the waiting room. The actual biometrics took like 10 minutes at the most.

cdneh: Yay! It's a good feeling to be able to get that package finally sent off and out of the way. Welcome back to the waiting room

I wondered about going back to the SSN offcie again afterward...I dunno what we are meant to do there.

Thanks...I'll wait with everyone in here. It's home

Lol ...home is right

Ana I never thought about the SSN card, good point. Will have to check that out.

Anyone else suffering with the heat here......the rest of this week is supposed to be 38 deg, I can't bear to leave the house

Hot...omg...if it wasn't for the aircon I'd be a puddle And to think Auckland is having the coldest winter in ages I am enjoying the fireflies

[kelzm 0]

It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either

[cdneh 3,112]

It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either

We had a bit of a heat wave about then as well. There was snow the night I arrived, and within weeks it was that hot. Lately we are getting nearly daily thunderstorms, plenty of lightening and thunder, but no so much rain. Just as well, as all that does is make it muggier.

[Kim & Chris 0]

It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either

We had a bit of a heat wave about then as well. There was snow the night I arrived, and within weeks it was that hot. Lately we are getting nearly daily thunderstorms, plenty of lightening and thunder, but no so much rain. Just as well, as all that does is make it muggier.

This is part of why we hope to move to Portland Oregon early next year. The climate there is more like Auckland but without the humidity, and like Auckland most places don't seem to have aircon, but then hopefully we won't need it most time. Man the humidity here is a killer, I used to complain about the bit we got at home mainly in Feb. It's nothing compared to the severity of it here in Arkansas.

Everyone at home is complaining of the cold but I've got my own pity party going on so I'm not really feeling it for them

[cdneh 3,112]

It's not been too bad here lately, it got up to around 86 at one point but now is nicely settled in the 70s. I can handle that! In March we had a heat wave where it was around 105, apparently that's what it's going to be like once summer truly arrives. *sigh*. No aircon in the house either

We had a bit of a heat wave about then as well. There was snow the night I arrived, and within weeks it was that hot. Lately we are getting nearly daily thunderstorms, plenty of lightening and thunder, but no so much rain. Just as well, as all that does is make it muggier.

This is part of why we hope to move to Portland Oregon early next year. The climate there is more like Auckland but without the humidity, and like Auckland most places don't seem to have aircon, but then hopefully we won't need it most time. Man the humidity here is a killer, I used to complain about the bit we got at home mainly in Feb. It's nothing compared to the severity of it here in Arkansas.

Everyone at home is complaining of the cold but I've got my own pity party going on so I'm not really feeling it for them

Or me

[Kim & Chris 0]

I just got an email from CRIS saying that my EAD aproval was mailed out on 19th Jun, so it should be here anytime

#######!! now i've gotta get off my rear end and look for a job, haven't had to do that in 13yrs

[Kim & Chris 0]

Just got the mail and there it is a brand spankin' new EAD card

[Dave_n_Genna 0]

Just got the mail and there it is a brand spankin' new EAD card

Congrats!

Genna is hating the heat here... but then so am I!

She had a taste of it last summer though, so she knew what was coming. She also loves the fireflies.

[kiwiana 2]

Just got the mail and there it is a brand spankin' new EAD card

YAY!! Congratulations. I am soo happy for you !!!

I wonder if we had the same person looking at our files today. I too, received an email today saying that my EAD was mailed out on the 19th and when i checked the mailbox about an hour ago, it was there!!!

Wow the card is quite flash looking too isn't it? I may go back to the SSA office on Wednesday and see if they do have to take off the DHS authorization notice that is printed on the SSN card or not.

Now that its finally dawned on me that i have the EAD card, i will have to start looking for a job which is quite a scary thought. As it will be first job here.

I had worked 14 years at my last job in nz, so this job hunting business is going to be very foreign to me. yikes!

By the way, have any of you seen the new movie called "the proposal' with Sandra Bullock? We went and saw it last night. I had to giggle to myself about the whole fiance visa (getting married scenario) with uscis that they portrayed.

[Kim & Chris 0]

Just got the mail and there it is a brand spankin' new EAD card

YAY!! Congratulations. I am soo happy for you !!!

I wonder if we had the same person looking at our files today. I too, received an email today saying that my EAD was mailed out on the 19th and when i checked the mailbox about an hour ago, it was there!!!

Wow the card is quite flash looking too isn't it? I may go back to the SSA office on Wednesday and see if they do have to take off the DHS authorization notice that is printed on the SSN card or not.

Now that its finally dawned on me that i have the EAD card, i will have to start looking for a job which is quite a scary thought. As it will be first job here.

I had worked 14 years at my last job in nz, so this job hunting business is going to be very foreign to me. yikes!

By the way, have any of you seen the new movie called "the proposal' with Sandra Bullock? We went and saw it last night. I had to giggle to myself about the whole fiance visa (getting married scenario) with uscis that they portrayed.

Congrats to you too....... better late than never for me, not bad considering I put mine in two months ahead of you.......lol

I was at my last job in NZ for nearly 13yrs so I'm not looking forward to job hunting either.

I've seen the shorts for "The Proposal" and it looked funny so I put it on my netflix list, (I like Sandra Bullock but Chris doesn't).

I had a wee chuckle to myself when I heard the whole immigration thing in the shorts too

Still can't see my I-485 online though .....lol

Ana you know what comes next don't you..........the dreaded driving test.....lol

[cdneh 3,112]

I was thinking about this, I worked at my last job in NZ for 16 years. I can do the same sort of thing here, as my qualification in USA based. Just not sure I want to

[Kim & Chris 0]

I was thinking about this, I worked at my last job in NZ for 16 years. I can do the same sort of thing here, as my qualification in USA based. Just not sure I want to

I know what you mean, the company I worked for at home is an American company but it would be a good oportunity for a change.....maybe....lol. Mind you, the way the employment scene is at the moment it might be a case of whatever you can get

Edited June 23, 2009 by Kim & Chris

[gshennen 0]

Hi All

I have not been on the site for ages, but thought I'd have a read and catch up with how everyone is going.

Sounds like on the whole everyone is making great progress.

It is hard to believe that we have now been in the US for 8 months. We are well and truly settled into life in Sacramento. I'm working as a Project Management consultant for a consulting firm. I am on a huge long term project for the Californian Government. I am enjoying it a lot.

It seemed to take forever to find a job, but the hardship of it all is starting to all seem worthwhile now.

Brook and the kids are doing well. Brook is enjoying being a stay-at-home mother, but is keeping an eye out for the perfect job. The boys are doing well, our oldest is going a million miles an hour, and our youngest has now spent more of his life in the US than in NZ.

I am enjoying the Californian lifestyle a lot, and loving the weather. I am also enjoying Sacramento, I think that, overall, it is a very nice city.

Overall, the administrative parts of getting established here all went well, my SS card, and Green card arrived quickly, I got my drivers licence as soon as I could. We got my name added to Brooks existing bank accounts and credit card. We put all the bills that we could under my name. That has meant that in the 8 months we have been here, I have already got a good credit score (to go along with Brook's).

Anyway, great to see how everyone is going.

Take care and I hope progress continues to made by you all,

Grant

[Ed+Cindy 1]

This is part of why we hope to move to Portland Oregon early next year. The climate there is more like Auckland but without the humidity, and like Auckland most places don't seem to have aircon, but then hopefully we won't need it most time. Man the humidity here is a killer, I used to complain about the bit we got at home mainly in Feb. It's nothing compared to the severity of it here in Arkansas.

Portland is awesome. Move here.

I have lived in Portland for 10 1/2 years, except for the 4 years I was in NZ. The Pacific Northwest US is as close as you can get to NZ climate and culture (with regards to people's attitudes, friendliness and laid backness). I won't live anywhere else in the US (and I have been all around the US before). Cindy is liking it so far too.