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

[cdneh 3,112]

Hi Guys ...... remember me

Well I made it back at the end of Sept (28th) and promptly came down with bronchitis or the flu or some such thing, major chest infection though and quick onset, lucky I brought some augmenten back with me.

My Aunt hung on till I was back here for two days and then she passed away, but I was just glad that I got to spend alot of the 3 weeks with her.

I went through most of the rest of my stuff back home and $875 later .......sent 4 of the largest NZ Post boxes back here

I took em to the post office the day before I left and they arrived here today, pretty beat up and I have to replace a few CD cases, I think they musta been playing rugby with them at the airport or something

Still looking for a job, have sent in a few applications, we'll just have to wait and see. How are you going with it Kiwiana?

What has everyone done about medical insurance, I still haven't got that sorted and after being so sick in the last week or so, I really need to do something. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cdneh - What is it with your paperwork ...again.....must be a bad case of de ja vue for you, I'm sure it'll all be sorted out soon.....fingers crossed.

Kim :0)

It's wonderful to hear that you made it back ok!! . I have been wondering how you were! Did you have any problems leaving and re-entering on your passport in your old name?

I'm so sorry to hear about your Aunt and that you got quite sick!! I'd love to hear suggestions for medical insurance too!

Good to hear the packages arrived ok. Isn't that the way though that they arrive looking like they have been used as a football?!

I'm wondering too how others here are getting on with the job hunt. I have had no luck so far. The ones i applied for online, i never hear back from them!

Did you go back to SSA to get the conditions removed? Over three weeks ago, I went back there and was told that they have to get authorisation from USCIS first. Then last week, the man from SSA left a message on my voicemail to say that I have to go back into the office and fill out a form as they heard back from immigration.

So i filled out a form and was told that it should take 10 days before i receive a card with the conditions removed in the mail!!

I'm still waiting for my state ID (with the correct birthdate on it) to arrive in the mail. It's been 4 weeks so far!

Tomorrow afternoon (14th) I go for my practical driving test. I'm as nervous as heck about it! Today for the first time in 7 months it actually rained here! (though it was only spitting of rain and for like 10 minutes) and they reckon it may rain tomorrow. So I may be taking the test in the rain!!

Hope everyone is doing well!

cdneh I really hope you hear something soon about your GC! You waited so long for your K-1 visa. You really deserve a break!!

Welcome back Kim...sorry to hear about your Aunt, and that you have been so sick *hugs*

Good luck with the driving test Kiwiana..I'm sure you'll be fine

I dunno why the heck we always seem to strike a place where they are doing something new, or just when they start to slow down. We seem to be a bit of a magnet really. I think Chase is more upset than I am...he keeps wanting to know WHAT the heck they are doing with our application?

I wish I had an answer for him

[cdneh 3,112]

I have NO idea what on earth is going on. We had an email, and I looked and there is a touch tonight. They transferred us in July and I don't know if they have sent it back to a local office, or if they are working on it at CSC.

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

[kiwiana 2]

I have NO idea what on earth is going on. We had an email, and I looked and there is a touch tonight. They transferred us in July and I don't know if they have sent it back to a local office, or if they are working on it at CSC.

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Hopefully the touch is a GOOD sign! i would think that it would still be at the CSC. Maybe they have finally picked the file up and are in the middle of processing it right now!! I have my fingers and toes crossed for you!!

Edited October 17, 2009 by kiwiana

[cdneh 3,112]

I have NO idea what on earth is going on. We had an email, and I looked and there is a touch tonight. They transferred us in July and I don't know if they have sent it back to a local office, or if they are working on it at CSC.

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Hopefully the touch is a GOOD sign! i would think that it would still be at the CSC. Maybe they have finally picked the file up and are in the middle of processing it right now!! I have my fingers and toes crossed for you!!

Man I hope so. I am over these people and their whacked out system

[cdneh 3,112]

Kiwiana..how did the driving test go???

[kiwiana 2]

Kiwiana..how did the driving test go???

They had got my birth date wrong on my state ID and i was still waiting for the new one with the correct information to arrive in the mail.

But when i arrived for my appointment for the driving test, i was informed that the birthdate was still wrong and that a new state ID was never issued or in the system!! So i had to get all that fixed first! so more photographs and thumb prints!!

We then waited for almost two hours sitting in the car outside.( lined up with everyone else). Then finally it was my turn! By this time i had knots in my stomach but the guy that was testing me was very nice and put my mind at ease. I didn't have to do a three point turn or parallel park. I did have to park alongside the kerb and reverse in a straight line. I felt the rear tyre touch the kerb and thought ' Oh no!'

I was surprised that my test was much shorter than the others that went before me ( i have a feeling they were running out of time as they still had lots of others to test before they closed for the day) and soon i was back at the DMV. He said to me: "Congratulations! you have passed!".

I was ecstatic!!! He handed the form to me that he had to mark off and i had gotten 95% out of 100 (knocked -5 off) He wrote on the form ' Good Job!!!'

So i am soo glad that is over! We got car insurance for me yesterday and today was the first time i went out on my own!! It feels good to finally have that little bit of independence back!!

[kelzm 0]

Congrats Kiwiana!

[cdneh 3,112]

Kiwiana..how did the driving test go???

They had got my birth date wrong on my state ID and i was still waiting for the new one with the correct information to arrive in the mail.

But when i arrived for my appointment for the driving test, i was informed that the birthdate was still wrong and that a new state ID was never issued or in the system!! So i had to get all that fixed first! so more photographs and thumb prints!!

We then waited for almost two hours sitting in the car outside.( lined up with everyone else). Then finally it was my turn! By this time i had knots in my stomach but the guy that was testing me was very nice and put my mind at ease. I didn't have to do a three point turn or parallel park. I did have to park alongside the kerb and reverse in a straight line. I felt the rear tyre touch the kerb and thought ' Oh no!'

I was surprised that my test was much shorter than the others that went before me ( i have a feeling they were running out of time as they still had lots of others to test before they closed for the day) and soon i was back at the DMV. He said to me: "Congratulations! you have passed!".

I was ecstatic!!! He handed the form to me that he had to mark off and i had gotten 95% out of 100 (knocked -5 off) He wrote on the form ' Good Job!!!'

So i am soo glad that is over! We got car insurance for me yesterday and today was the first time i went out on my own!! It feels good to finally have that little bit of independence back!!

Congratulations!! I knew you would be fine!!

Lot of drama over the stupid ID thing..what a pain all that is. You hear so much about errors that are not your fault that hold you up.

Okay now if I had to wait lined up for that long in the car I would be a total wreck. I hate to parallel park and will go to any length to avoid it lol...if it means walking farther that's fine with me !

Well done...you have that all behind you

[Kelvan 0]

I went to the bank to put my name on Evan's account because we are married now. They said they needed a government form of ID. SO I went to get a Kansas state ID card today and they said they can't give me one until my status has been adjusted because my I-94 expires on November 5. They need it to be valid for 60 days at least to give me a state ID How did you guys all get a joint bank account?

[cdneh 3,112]

I went to the bank to put my name on Evan's account because we are married now. They said they needed a government form of ID. SO I went to get a Kansas state ID card today and they said they can't give me one until my status has been adjusted because my I-94 expires on November 5. They need it to be valid for 60 days at least to give me a state ID How did you guys all get a joint bank account?

We went and opened a new bank account, as he didn't have one at all, believe it or not lol...we went to Bank of America. We weren't married at the time, but I had my SSN number. No trouble at all, the only ID I had was my passport and NZ drivers license at that was fine.

After the wedding, and getting the SSN changed to the new name, we went bank to the bank and changed the name there. I took the marriage certificate, but they didn't want to see it.

Maybe the various banks have different, and silly, requirements?

[kiwiana 2]

I went to the bank to put my name on Evan's account because we are married now. They said they needed a government form of ID. SO I went to get a Kansas state ID card today and they said they can't give me one until my status has been adjusted because my I-94 expires on November 5. They need it to be valid for 60 days at least to give me a state ID How did you guys all get a joint bank account?

Like cdneh, we went to Bank of America and didn't have any trouble either. I showed my nz passport, ssn, marriage certificate and i think that was all and that was for a joint account (My SO never had a bank account either)

Maybe try and go to a different bank? The ssn, passport and marriage certificate should be enough evidence. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

[Kelvan 0]

I went to the bank to put my name on Evan's account because we are married now. They said they needed a government form of ID. SO I went to get a Kansas state ID card today and they said they can't give me one until my status has been adjusted because my I-94 expires on November 5. They need it to be valid for 60 days at least to give me a state ID How did you guys all get a joint bank account?

Like cdneh, we went to Bank of America and didn't have any trouble either. I showed my nz passport, ssn, marriage certificate and i think that was all and that was for a joint account (My SO never had a bank account either)

Maybe try and go to a different bank? The ssn, passport and marriage certificate should be enough evidence. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for your advice guys! I was feeling sooo down after getting back from the State ID license place. I think we are going to call Bank of America tomorrow and ask what they require here in Kansas. It seems like Kansas is a little more strict than other states. Apparently in CA you only need a SSN to get a state ID

[kelzm 0]

I went to WellsFargo. They accept accounts from people who are not permanent residents etc. I did not have my SSN. They said that once I got it I should give it to them as it would allow me to collect interest. All I needed was my NZ passport and the money to open the account.

[Kim & Chris 0]

Kiwiana..how did the driving test go???

They had got my birth date wrong on my state ID and i was still waiting for the new one with the correct information to arrive in the mail.

But when i arrived for my appointment for the driving test, i was informed that the birthdate was still wrong and that a new state ID was never issued or in the system!! So i had to get all that fixed first! so more photographs and thumb prints!!

We then waited for almost two hours sitting in the car outside.( lined up with everyone else). Then finally it was my turn! By this time i had knots in my stomach but the guy that was testing me was very nice and put my mind at ease. I didn't have to do a three point turn or parallel park. I did have to park alongside the kerb and reverse in a straight line. I felt the rear tyre touch the kerb and thought ' Oh no!'

I was surprised that my test was much shorter than the others that went before me ( i have a feeling they were running out of time as they still had lots of others to test before they closed for the day) and soon i was back at the DMV. He said to me: "Congratulations! you have passed!".

I was ecstatic!!! He handed the form to me that he had to mark off and i had gotten 95% out of 100 (knocked -5 off) He wrote on the form ' Good Job!!!'

So i am soo glad that is over! We got car insurance for me yesterday and today was the first time i went out on my own!! It feels good to finally have that little bit of independence back!!

Well done Kiwiana!!!!!

I had no doubt you would pass. God what a drama though. I suppose that's one thing about a smaller town, things like that happen a bit quicker. Harder to find a job though....believe me!!

I'm with you on the parallel parking Cdneh. Walking a bit further or looking for a double space is my only option....lol. I got me fingers crossed for you on the GC though. If you've just had a touch then it shouldn't be too much longer. And i agree that it would still be at CSC.

I've just been replacing all the broken CD cases that got cracked while my boxes were in transit, and now they're all set up on the storage unit. It feels good to have some more of my things around me

[cdneh 3,112]

Ah..it's just so maddening. Two touches and then nothing. People who filed long after we did are getting approvals and it is starting to get up my nose a bit. What are we..chopped liver????