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

[Kim & Chris 0]

I'm picking they'll try and get it off you. You're probably better to tell them you didn't bring it with you.

I went in to pick my new US license up yesterday, and she asked for my NZ license. I said am I going to get it back and she said no. I told her I need it coz I'm about to visit home (I'm not), and if I get caught driving without it I'll be in trouble and get fined. She said I'd be in trouble here if I get caught driving around with two licenses so I said I'll leave my NZ one at home. After confering with a collegue she said that's ok.............and you know what I promptly did.......I lost the damn thing!!!!!!! I've looked everywhere and I can't find it. Just desserts or what.....lol!!

I'll ph the DMV on Monday and see if it's there otherwise I'm going to have to apply for a new one ($32 nzd). I won't really need it here but then I don't want to wait till I get back home to sort it either as it takes a few weeks to get a replacement.

Aaah well, at least I'm legal here for now but talk about a pain in the behind

That is what i was thinking too. If we go back to nz for vacation etc then how will we all be able to drive if we don't have our nz licence? that makes no sense to me! I mean the nz licence is meaningless here anyway really. I hope you manage to find your nz licence. Are you sure the lady at DMV didn't pick it up while you weren't looking?

And a big CONGRATULATIONS!! on getting your USA one!! well done!!!

I am feeling quite pleased with myself at the moment. Yesterday my SO took me out in the "new" car (its 16 years old but you know what i mean by 'new' !) and first i drove round a huge parking lot and practised three point turns and *parallel parking (*my worst nightmare are those!) and then i took it out on the road and drove!. It was so much better driving an automatic! My confidence started to come back and it felt like i had never stopped driving in the first place. so i felt VERY good about that!! I can't wait to go out again!

Ana I could kick myself for losing it, after having one for 28 years and never losing it before, I'm more mad at myself than anything else........ I never actually handed it to the woman and just slipped it back into my bag rather than putting away properly, or so I thought, it could have fallen out anywhere but I'll call the DMV on Monday morning and ask if they've had it handed in, I've checked everywhere else I went afterwards with no luck.

If they make you hand it over before they'll let you have the US one, here's a link where you can order a replacement. It's crazy waiting till you get home to put the paperwork in, it will take a few weeks and you'll be gone again before it arrives.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/replacement-licences.html

Ana I'm so pleased you're back behind the wheel again, there's nothing like feeling your independence returning and a sense of normality once more. .......well done!!

Edited August 8, 2009 by Kim & Chris

[kelzm 0]

I wasn't asked to hand over my license. It may be because I had to do the driving test and was considered a brand new driver rather than leveraging off my nz one. I did hear if you have an out of state license and get a California one based on that you had to turn over the other one, so it seems that's likely what they were doing when asking for the NZ one this time.

I have both in my wallet right now

[Kim & Chris 0]

I have both in my wallet right now

I would too if I hadn't lost it

[Kelvan 0]

I'm in Kansas now! Immigration at the airport went fine. The woman was a little scary though. I'm super tired and it's only my second day!

So now I guess I need to apply for my SSN in two weeks.

Woohoo I am here!!!

[kiwiana 2]

I'm in Kansas now! Immigration at the airport went fine. The woman was a little scary though. I'm super tired and it's only my second day!

So now I guess I need to apply for my SSN in two weeks.

Woohoo I am here!!!

Yay! Welcome to the U S of A!!!! Hope you manage to rest and catch up on sleep! Travelling and the whole K1 thing is quite exhausting!

Kim thanks for the link for NZ licence. I'm hoping that like Kelzm,(being in California too), i won't have to hand it over but at least I will be prepared for the worst if they do Did you have to show the nz one at all to them Kelzm at any stage of applying for the licence (written test or practical?)

Let us know how it goes at DMV tomorrow Kim. I'm *crossing my fingers* that they found it and it will be there for you!!

I went out driving again yesterday after my SO came home from work. It feels sooo good!!

[kelzm 0]

Woohoo, congrats Kelly and Even on making it this far and getting to be together

Kiwiana - I don't think I had to show my licence at all. If I did it was only to show that I was able to drive around in the interim of applying (since I'd driven myself to the DMV to take the practical). I did the written test, turned up for the appt. He wrote me out a paper interim license which was what I used till the card arrived. I know for sure I did not hand over my license then.

One thing that I had to do that I wasn't expecting was show all the hand signals, so make sure you learn them! It was part of the practical test as well as doing things like turning on lights, indicators, hazard lights etc.

[Kim & Chris 0]

I'm in Kansas now! Immigration at the airport went fine. The woman was a little scary though. I'm super tired and it's only my second day!

So now I guess I need to apply for my SSN in two weeks.

Woohoo I am here!!!

Well done Kelly and Evan........ Congrats on arriving finally

The rush and the crazyness of getting organised to leave and then the looooooong flight and connection to get here.....I'm sure you're exhausted, I know I was. Now sit back and relax a while, you've earnt it

Fingers crossed for tomorrow Ana, it won't be the end of the world if it's not there, but it'll save alot of hassle if it is

[cdneh 3,112]

I don't know if this helps, but when I got to New Zealand I was told I could drive there on my Canadian DL for a year. People rent cars there when they visit from all over and they do the same thing.

[Kim & Chris 0]

I don't know if this helps, but when I got to New Zealand I was told I could drive there on my Canadian DL for a year. People rent cars there when they visit from all over and they do the same thing.

Thanks Cdneh, yeah I figured I could probably still drive at home on my US license. It's just me, I want me NZ one ....lol

I just rang the DMV and they said they haven't got it so I'm going to aply for a new one. Crazy I know, but that's me

[kiwiana 2]

I don't know if this helps, but when I got to New Zealand I was told I could drive there on my Canadian DL for a year. People rent cars there when they visit from all over and they do the same thing.

Thanks Cdneh, yeah I figured I could probably still drive at home on my US license. It's just me, I want me NZ one ....lol

I just rang the DMV and they said they haven't got it so I'm going to aply for a new one. Crazy I know, but that's me

what a shame they didn't have it! I suppose there isn't any slim chance it fell out of your bag and wedged down the side of the car seat of the car? I know you have probably hunted everywhere for it and that was the first place to look but i know when i lose anything, my mind won't rest until i look everywhere like 100 times over

Thanks Kelzm for the tip about learning hand signals. The thought never entered my head, so i will definitely do that!

[Kim & Chris 0]

I don't know if this helps, but when I got to New Zealand I was told I could drive there on my Canadian DL for a year. People rent cars there when they visit from all over and they do the same thing.

Thanks Cdneh, yeah I figured I could probably still drive at home on my US license. It's just me, I want me NZ one ....lol

I just rang the DMV and they said they haven't got it so I'm going to aply for a new one. Crazy I know, but that's me

what a shame they didn't have it! I suppose there isn't any slim chance it fell out of your bag and wedged down the side of the car seat of the car? I know you have probably hunted everywhere for it and that was the first place to look but i know when i lose anything, my mind won't rest until i look everywhere like 100 times over

Thanks Kelzm for the tip about learning hand signals. The thought never entered my head, so i will definitely do that!

Thanks for the thoughts Ana, but I checked everywhere else I went that day as soon as I got up Saturday morning, and the car many times over.....lol.....but thanks for the thought. It'll be ok, I'll just order another one.

[cdneh 3,112]

Sorry it hasn't turned up Kim..I know how frustrating that is

[kiwibelcanto 3]

Hey guys, just thought I'd say that we're officially waiting to be approved now, yay! I've just been reading and observing what's going on with everybody and trying to keep up lol, I'm really far behind so it's a bit hard to understand what happens later on in the process...

Congrats to Kelly & Evan! you must be so happily exhausted!! lol. Sorry you lost your license Kim! but well done for getting your US one, hopefully your NZ one turns up soon, or if it doesn't at least you can get a replacement, although it's probably not quite the same as having the one you've been driving on for years... what an experience with the tornado though! glad it didn't come too close, although Portland sure would be safer tornado-wise.. when are you guys moving?

Good luck with the parallel parking Ana! glad that you're enjoying driving don't worry I'm completely hopeless at parallel parking even here, I've driven a few times over there but parallel parking is definitely NOT my area of expertise lol, let us know how you get on! Did you end up getting the Geo?

And thanks to Julie & Alan for your lovely note of support, I appreciate it heaps

-Camille

[Kim & Chris 0]

Hey guys, just thought I'd say that we're officially waiting to be approved now, yay! I've just been reading and observing what's going on with everybody and trying to keep up lol, I'm really far behind so it's a bit hard to understand what happens later on in the process...

Congrats to Kelly & Evan! you must be so happily exhausted!! lol. Sorry you lost your license Kim! but well done for getting your US one, hopefully your NZ one turns up soon, or if it doesn't at least you can get a replacement, although it's probably not quite the same as having the one you've been driving on for years... what an experience with the tornado though! glad it didn't come too close, although Portland sure would be safer tornado-wise.. when are you guys moving?

Good luck with the parallel parking Ana! glad that you're enjoying driving don't worry I'm completely hopeless at parallel parking even here, I've driven a few times over there but parallel parking is definitely NOT my area of expertise lol, let us know how you get on! Did you end up getting the Geo?

And thanks to Julie & Alan for your lovely note of support, I appreciate it heaps

-Camille

Thanks Camille......... We're hoping to move late this year or early next year.

Well now you've got a bit of waiting to do, but my main advice to you is, use this time to get all your personal stuff sorted out. I don't know how old you are, but we older members had an aweful lot of stuff accumulated over the years (well I did anyway) and getting rid of it all was a major feat. When you're issued with the interview date things will move very quicly from there on and before you know it you'll be approved and booking your ticket and jetting off. So take this few months waiting time to get organised. There's nothing worse than rushing at the end and trying to get it all done. That happened to me and I'd definately do it differently if I had it to do all over....god forbid!!!!! .....lol

[kiwiana 2]

Hey guys, just thought I'd say that we're officially waiting to be approved now, yay! I've just been reading and observing what's going on with everybody and trying to keep up lol, I'm really far behind so it's a bit hard to understand what happens later on in the process...

Congrats to Kelly & Evan! you must be so happily exhausted!! lol. Sorry you lost your license Kim! but well done for getting your US one, hopefully your NZ one turns up soon, or if it doesn't at least you can get a replacement, although it's probably not quite the same as having the one you've been driving on for years... what an experience with the tornado though! glad it didn't come too close, although Portland sure would be safer tornado-wise.. when are you guys moving?

Good luck with the parallel parking Ana! glad that you're enjoying driving don't worry I'm completely hopeless at parallel parking even here, I've driven a few times over there but parallel parking is definitely NOT my area of expertise lol, let us know how you get on! Did you end up getting the Geo?

And thanks to Julie & Alan for your lovely note of support, I appreciate it heaps

-Camille

Thanks Camille......... We're hoping to move late this year or early next year.

Well now you've got a bit of waiting to do, but my main advice to you is, use this time to get all your personal stuff sorted out. I don't know how old you are, but we older members had an aweful lot of stuff accumulated over the years (well I did anyway) and getting rid of it all was a major feat. When you're issued with the interview date things will move very quicly from there on and before you know it you'll be approved and booking your ticket and jetting off. So take this few months waiting time to get organised. There's nothing worse than rushing at the end and trying to get it all done. That happened to me and I'd definately do it differently if I had it to do all over....god forbid!!!!! .....lol

TOTALLY agree with Kim!! Once the interview date is set, things generally move very quickly!! I remember waiting for the I-129f to be approved seemed like forever and i was always impatient about the whole process (looking for touches on my file like a zillion times a day!! lol) and thinking.. is this ever going to move along... then BOOM! once you get to interview stage its all GO!

I never thought that i owned much stuff... until i had to sort through it...and deciding on what I had to leave behind (as you can't fit much into two suitcases). I am a HUGE music fan and owned thousands of cds. I managed to trade some into real groovy but i had to throw out HEAPS in the rubbish as i simply ran out of time.

And things like family photos ,( sorting through what seemed liked thousand of pics from when i was a small child ( many moons ago ) up until now. And to get rid of all the furniture, whiteware, tv, whew! the list just went on. I thought i would be making progress, then turn around and see more stuff. It is like the items bred overnight!!(The older one is the more things one accumulate in life )

So definitely make the most of the time you have now and start sorting through your things and getting organised. And getting stuff together for the interview

(yes, we did get the Geo car )