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

[cdneh 3,112]

We are right here sending positive thoughts....please let us know how you went?

[Lisaandtim 0]

We are right here sending positive thoughts....please let us know how you went?

Well that was a bit scary.

We get there and we have to go through a security check. Seems normal but then the guy says no phones with cameras. So we had to walk back to our car, which took 10 minutes one way, so that wasted 20 min. Good thing we came early.

We get to the room and there is the window to check in but instead of a person greeting you, you are greeted by blinds and a note that says to place your appointment notice in the window and have a seat. Did they not want to look at you? I thought that a bit odd.

They were late.

Also while I was waiting, I ended up finding a couple of bugs crawling around on me. I don't know what it is but bugs are attracted to me and I am SO not a bug person. I tried to freak out in a calm manner when I found them on me lol.

Anyways, our name finally called, we head back there. It seemed like an interrogation almost. First, she assigns us seating and does so sternly, almost rudely, and asked to see our ID's. She called my husband by name but then was like 'what's your name' to me. >.< Then we had to raise our right hand and tell the truth, then we could sit, she said.

She ended up asking a series of question, and my poor husband got some of them wrong . The poor guy was so stressed out. The first question was why do you want to live in the US, why not NZ. He didn't know what to say to this besides he wanted to marry me and such. Other questions were were was I born, my mother's maiden and middle name, the date we got married (one of the ones he got wrong), where we got married, why we chose a small ceremony, she asked me what his parents names were and where his father was born, asked also how we met and such and who proposed to who.

After the interrogation she asked to see copies of my birth certificate and the marriage one and my ID. Then she asked for anything that had both of our names on it. I gave her rent receipts and a copy of a wedding check that was written out to both of us but she wanted more.

I am glad the whole thing is over. The lady seemed nice a couple times and then stern the other times. She seemed like she was going to approve it but didn't say for sure. She said we'll get a notice in the mail saying if we're approved or not. I was under the impression we would find out =(.

Well the hubby and I are going away on a trip to Lake Tahoe for a couple days so I have to get packing. But I wanted to share our experience. Hope it goes better for you guys. It felt more like an interrogation than interview to me. I felt like a criminal lol.

Talk to you all soon!

[cdneh 3,112]

Sheesh..I am not looking forward to this

When she wanted more, what did you give her?

Have a great trip..try and relax!

[kiwiana 2]

We are right here sending positive thoughts....please let us know how you went?

Well that was a bit scary.

We get there and we have to go through a security check. Seems normal but then the guy says no phones with cameras. So we had to walk back to our car, which took 10 minutes one way, so that wasted 20 min. Good thing we came early.

We get to the room and there is the window to check in but instead of a person greeting you, you are greeted by blinds and a note that says to place your appointment notice in the window and have a seat. Did they not want to look at you? I thought that a bit odd.

They were late.

Also while I was waiting, I ended up finding a couple of bugs crawling around on me. I don't know what it is but bugs are attracted to me and I am SO not a bug person. I tried to freak out in a calm manner when I found them on me lol.

Anyways, our name finally called, we head back there. It seemed like an interrogation almost. First, she assigns us seating and does so sternly, almost rudely, and asked to see our ID's. She called my husband by name but then was like 'what's your name' to me. >.< Then we had to raise our right hand and tell the truth, then we could sit, she said.

She ended up asking a series of question, and my poor husband got some of them wrong . The poor guy was so stressed out. The first question was why do you want to live in the US, why not NZ. He didn't know what to say to this besides he wanted to marry me and such. Other questions were were was I born, my mother's maiden and middle name, the date we got married (one of the ones he got wrong), where we got married, why we chose a small ceremony, she asked me what his parents names were and where his father was born, asked also how we met and such and who proposed to who.

After the interrogation she asked to see copies of my birth certificate and the marriage one and my ID. Then she asked for anything that had both of our names on it. I gave her rent receipts and a copy of a wedding check that was written out to both of us but she wanted more.

I am glad the whole thing is over. The lady seemed nice a couple times and then stern the other times. She seemed like she was going to approve it but didn't say for sure. She said we'll get a notice in the mail saying if we're approved or not. I was under the impression we would find out =(.

Well the hubby and I are going away on a trip to Lake Tahoe for a couple days so I have to get packing. But I wanted to share our experience. Hope it goes better for you guys. It felt more like an interrogation than interview to me. I felt like a criminal lol.

Talk to you all soon!

Woah! that sounds pretty scary!! How long do you think you were in there in total? They must know that people are going to be nervous without having to put them through such an interrogation!! sheesh!

After all that, you definitely need to get away for a couple of days. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing time!!

[Kim & Chris 0]

Yes all the best for tomorrow and tell us how you get on.....We're planning on moving to Portland Oregon, the heat here in the south sux. Oregon is the closest to the climate at home in Auckland so I can't wait. I'm actually missing the rain, it'll be nice to have a storm without the worry of tornadoes!!!!

How's the driving going Ana????

I haven't been out in a car to terrorize anyone with my driving since my first practice run round a huge parking lot . We have been looking at used cars in the newspaper/online etc but nothing has popped up yet that is suitable or that hasn't been sold before we can manage to get to look at it.

I applied for a job at mcd's and subway last week but haven't heard anything back. How are you getting on at driving and job hunting? This has to be the longest i have ever been unemployed and worry that it is going to take ages to find any kind of job, considering that i don't have any USA job history and that i am not exactly 'young'

I actually "love" the weather here in Cali. It hasn't rained since i arrived here in March! which is like a miracle to me When do you plan on moving to Oregon?

Would you believe it, I just thought to myself only yesterday, god i miss the rain....lol. Lucky we're hoping to move to Oregon eh....lol

Probably early next year sometime, I don't know if the job situation is any better there but I'm sure it's no worse than California. Anyways, I cannot stand another summer of these temps is all I know!!!

Haven't been for the driving test yet but it's looming on the horizon....I'll keep you posted.

I spent days last week updating my cv so it's condensed down and U.S friendly. I sent it off to one job on Monday (for a chiropractic assistant), and I accidently applied for another job online today with UPS as a package handler.....I was checking out the questions for one of Chris' kids and had to fill in the first page in order to get to the second and before I knew it, I'd applied.........lol, oh well, you never know.

After listening to Lisa and Tim's account of their interrogation....I mean interview..... I'm fair crapping myself to be honest

Damn I wish I'd been transfered to California.....lol

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Would you believe it, I just thought to myself only yesterday, god i miss the rain....lol. Lucky we're hoping to move to Oregon eh....lol

Probably early next year sometime, I don't know if the job situation is any better there but I'm sure it's no worse than California. Anyways, I cannot stand another summer of these temps is all I know!!!

Economy is no better here in OR (we have one of the countries highest unemployment rates now, about 11-12%).

I hhope things are better for us all next year though, when you come up here.

Oregon (Portland in general) tends to have wide economic swings...when the country is doing well, its extremely good here (hence the big boom in people moving to Portland in 2006-2007), but when the country is doing poorly, Portland is always hit hard.

But Cindy is loving it here. Its very comfortable for her. I still support you moving here

Edited July 10, 2009 by Ed+Cindy

[Kim & Chris 0]

Would you believe it, I just thought to myself only yesterday, god i miss the rain....lol. Lucky we're hoping to move to Oregon eh....lol

Probably early next year sometime, I don't know if the job situation is any better there but I'm sure it's no worse than California. Anyways, I cannot stand another summer of these temps is all I know!!!

Economy is no better here in OR (we have one of the countries highest unemployment rates now, about 11-12%).

I hhope things are better for us all next year though, when you come up here.

Oregon (Portland in general) tends to have wide economic swings...when the country is doing well, its extremely good here (hence the big boom in people moving to Portland in 2006-2007), but when the country is doing poorly, Portland is always hit hard.

But Cindy is loving it here. Its very comfortable for her. I still support you moving here

Thanks Ed+Cindy.......we're looking forward to moving there like you wouldn't believe......I'm sure like home, it's just what you make it

[kiwiana 2]

I haven't had any touches on my I-485 but in todays mail i received a notice letter to appear for an initial interview! The interview is on August 28th. I must say that after reading Lisa&Tims interrogation, I'm not looking forward to it. The only things we have in both of our names is savings account, wedding cards/letters addressed to us and some photos.

How can they possibly expect couples to gather lots of stuff in joint names in such a small amount of time??!! I'm still trying to find my feet, looking for job and cheap car etc

Kim&Chris: have you heard any news from uscis yet??

[Kim & Chris 0]

I haven't had any touches on my I-485 but in todays mail i received a notice letter to appear for an initial interview! The interview is on August 28th. I must say that after reading Lisa&Tims interrogation, I'm not looking forward to it. The only things we have in both of our names is savings account, wedding cards/letters addressed to us and some photos.

How can they possibly expect couples to gather lots of stuff in joint names in such a small amount of time??!! I'm still trying to find my feet, looking for job and cheap car etc

Kim&Chris: have you heard any news from uscis yet??

Nope...haven't heard a thing. My I-485 status isn't even showing online yet and I don't suppose it will until I ring up and have a ###### at someone.

Might wait for a week or so though.....we've got tickets to go to St Louis to watch our beloved LA Dodgers play the Cardinals on the 27th of this month. It would be my luck to complain about no interview date and then get given an apt for the same day as the game.....lol

[cdneh 3,112]

I haven't had any touches on my I-485 but in todays mail i received a notice letter to appear for an initial interview! The interview is on August 28th. I must say that after reading Lisa&Tims interrogation, I'm not looking forward to it. The only things we have in both of our names is savings account, wedding cards/letters addressed to us and some photos.

How can they possibly expect couples to gather lots of stuff in joint names in such a small amount of time??!! I'm still trying to find my feet, looking for job and cheap car etc

Kim&Chris: have you heard any news from uscis yet??

*ack* !!! Man I am hoping like crazy we don't get one of those. Maybe the GC faery will take pity on us....I mean we were trapped in NVC on AP for more than 7 weeks when every one else rocketed right through there...so maybe they will be kind and not torture us any more?????

Ya, right

[ivannnaloveskiwi 0]

HI EVERYONE!

I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL HOW WONDERFULL( "B"- THE LADY BEHIND THE GLASS) AT THE US EMBASSY IN NEW ZEALAND IS..YOU KNOW THAT PACKAGE YOU GET THAT YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN? WELL IT HAD A BIG TEAR IN IT..MY FIANCE WAS UPSET SO HER CALLED HER ABOUT IT AND SHE WANTED HIM TO BRING IT BACK SO SHE COULD REPACKAGE IT.ANYWAY.. YOU ALL KNOW THE TROUBLE WE HAD GETTIN APPROVED.. SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS SO HAPPY THAT IT WAS ALL DONE AND HOW MUCH SHE REALLY LIKE US ( I NEVER MET HER , JUST TALKED ON THE PHONE.) BUT SHE TOLD ME MY FIANCE WAS A LOVELY MAN..LOL..THEN HE WAS GETTING READY TO GO AND SHE SAID " WAIT, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU" AND SHE GAVE HIM A PIN.. OF AN ANERICAN AND NEW ZEALAND FLAG TOGETHER..SHE TOLD HIM THEY DONT GIVE THEM OUT ANYMORE BUT WANTED HIM TO HAVE IT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO SWEET OF HER.. SHE REALLY DID HELP US OUT ALOT AND LISTEN TO ME CRY AND WHEN THE INTERVIEW WENT BAD..MADE ME FEEL BETTER TO KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS AGAINST US..

[Kim & Chris 0]

Well I have lots of news.

I haven't been able to see my online status for the I-485 all this time but when I looked today there it was, and when I clicked on it to check out where it's at ......... lo and behold........my case has been transfered to California!!!!!!! I'm so happy I could just you know what......lol. After all the mucking around and delays we've had it's about time I got a bit of good news. I'm not worrying about it anymore, the GC will arrive when it arrives. That means no 2.5hr drive each way to Memphis, and no dreaded interrogation I am sooooo relieved, I tell you, I've been stressing alot about the lack of credible evidence I have that we are a proper married couple. I mean would I have opted for the sauna that is Arkansas in the summertime if I didn't truly love him puleeeease....lol

On the job front...... I went for an interview on Wed, it was for a chiropractic assistant and only mentioned admin work in the advert, which is what I'm after, so I thought why not. However they expect you to help out in the therapy room with the patients (involved naked bits ) as well as a few other things that weren't really my cup of tea so I've scrubbed that one. Have sent off another application though for one of the new hotels about to open here. They advertised for all positions so I've applied for a Front Desk position. Will keep my fingers crossed for that one as it's something I've always been wanting to do and the company has hotels all over the country so it might be handy for when we move.

The job interview prompted me to go clothes shopping, something I hate, but it feels good to have new stuff in the wardrobe so it was worth it. Also, hubby and I have both gone low/no carb, (not an eating plan I'll be sticking with permanently), to shed the vast amount of flab we've accumulated in the last year and I've lost 3lb in the last few days, (only started wednesday), so it's a start and I feel motivated now which is the biggest thing.

We got our tickets to the Dodgers vs Cardinals baseball game in St Louis on the 27th. It's about a 5hr drive each way and an overnight stay so I'm really looking forward to that. Go Dodgers....lol

Next thing on the list is the drivers license but I'll get stuck in with the revision of the rules here so hopefully that will go ok

How's the driving going Ana. You'll be just fine I'm sure. Have you heard anything about the jobs you applied for yet? The weather has cooled slightly today, only 28c so far....lol Are you still suffering there Cdneh, it's been shocking here for weeks. Congrats Ivannnaloveskiwi, the consulate staff in Auckland really are helpfull and pleasant to deal with, so glad all finally went well for you

Well that's about it for me at the moment.

Cheers

Kim

[kiwiana 2]

Kim&chris

Woo Hoo! Congratulations on getting transferred! I am soo jealous of you!! Now all you have to do is wait for the letter to arrive in the mail.. you have certainly been waiting long enough for it

On the appointment letter i received for the interview it said i have to show ID,( like drivers licence or state ID card) before they will let me in the building for the interview. I have neither. I looked online at the DMV site to make an appointment to get a state ID card but it said that the office i was going to only did walk ins.

so on Monday my SO took me to the DMV.. OMG!! Their HUGE carpark was full and all the surrounding streets was filled with parked cars. We found a spot to park and as we walked towards the place, i saw people lined up outside, waiting to get inside. We joined the end of the queue and stood out in the hot sun.

Eventually, it was our turn to go inside. A guy at the counter gave me a piece of paper with a number on it. I was #208. I filled out a form and waited.....( hanging from the ceiling was monitors and an automated voice was calling out the numbers that were ready to go to the counters with the numbers up on the screen. They were up to #133!?!?)

While I waited, there was chatter from the MANY people in there waiting aswell. Then there was this really loud voice shouting... All of a sudden the whole place went quiet. You could hear a pin drop!!.. The guy shouting bellowed.." I WANT MY MONEY BACK"

I couldn't see him as it was crowded in there but he continued shouting..."I WANT MY MONEY BACK! I DON'T CARE I WANT IT BACK NOW!!!" I was like.. OMG! hope he isn't gonna pull a gun or something and go berserk.. A few minutes later it was all quiet again, so maybe security took him outside or something.. I sighed relief and finally took my eyes off the exit door that i was sitting next to (incase of an emergency lol!!)

After an hour and a half, i finally got to hand in my application. It cost like $24 or $26. I then had a photo done.. (isn't it the way that the moment they take the picture, you blink! and then you wonder if your eyes were closed when they took it) and that was that. They said it can take up to 60 days for the ID to arrive in mail. I hope it arrives sooner as i will need it for the interview in a months time.

I haven't heard anything at all about the jobs I applied for. It feels like I am in a losing battle in that aspect. If i can't even get a job at Mcdonalds, then there really isn't much chance of getting anything at all at the moment. At least that is how i feel right now.

I really hope you have some good news about the other job application soon

I have been looking and phoning about used cars for sale. So far nothing. The good ones sell like hot cakes and the bad ones.. well! they remain bad.. the other day we looked at one car.. The photo in the advert for the car looked pretty reasonable ( i mean we aren't expecting a perfectly gleaming car with no blemishes) and we asked about the condition of the car etc when i phoned, but when we got to look at the car, It turned out that one front headlight (the WHOLE thing) was hanging precariously with just some cellotape and with no front bumper. so gave that a miss.

You're not alone with putting weight on. I have too in the four months i have been here. A few weeks ago i bought a Jillian Michaels work out dvd and have been doing that almost every day. I never realised just how unfit i was/am until now. Even if i don't lose weight, it is keeping me occupied for 40 minutess out of each day

oops sorry for the long post. it's almost turning into a novel!!

[kiwiana 2]

HI EVERYONE!

I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL HOW WONDERFULL( "B"- THE LADY BEHIND THE GLASS) AT THE US EMBASSY IN NEW ZEALAND IS..YOU KNOW THAT PACKAGE YOU GET THAT YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN? WELL IT HAD A BIG TEAR IN IT..MY FIANCE WAS UPSET SO HER CALLED HER ABOUT IT AND SHE WANTED HIM TO BRING IT BACK SO SHE COULD REPACKAGE IT.ANYWAY.. YOU ALL KNOW THE TROUBLE WE HAD GETTIN APPROVED.. SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS SO HAPPY THAT IT WAS ALL DONE AND HOW MUCH SHE REALLY LIKE US ( I NEVER MET HER , JUST TALKED ON THE PHONE.) BUT SHE TOLD ME MY FIANCE WAS A LOVELY MAN..LOL..THEN HE WAS GETTING READY TO GO AND SHE SAID " WAIT, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU" AND SHE GAVE HIM A PIN.. OF AN ANERICAN AND NEW ZEALAND FLAG TOGETHER..SHE TOLD HIM THEY DONT GIVE THEM OUT ANYMORE BUT WANTED HIM TO HAVE IT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO SWEET OF HER.. SHE REALLY DID HELP US OUT ALOT AND LISTEN TO ME CRY AND WHEN THE INTERVIEW WENT BAD..MADE ME FEEL BETTER TO KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS AGAINST US..

Yes the people at the embassy in Auckland are pretty good (or at least the ones i saw at my interview). Soo glad that everything has worked out ok for you guys . When will your SO be joining you?

Edited July 17, 2009 by kiwiana

[Kim & Chris 0]

OMG Ana .........what an experience at the DMV!!!!!! I can't believe it. You see all this awful stuff on tv and in the movies but the thought of being involved in any of it yourself is totally terrifying. Shows how badly you need the state ID!!! I can't believe you have to wait that long to get it, they gave me mine on the spot, but that's the difference between big and small town I guess. Where are you in California?

My hairdresser (where else would you get all your information from.....lol) was telling me that I shouldn't have too much trouble finding something as no-one here really wants to work (in this town), I'm sure she was generalising and there's plenty who do, but still, she said they have a devil of a job getting people who actually turn up. And it took 3 days for a plumber to come out on an urgent cal, apparantly they all bunk off to go hunting.....lol, can you believe it.

Have you tried looking on Craigslist for a job? They have plenty for Little Rock, being alot bigger than here, but they do have a few for Searcy still. I check there from time to time. They may have some for your area. It's funny Little Rock is only 35-40 mins away, no different than going from Waiuku to Manukau but here they all think it's a long way away.....lol

Anyways, I'm off to make low carb cheesecake