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

[kiwiana 2]

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????

Still no word yet? It's got to be close.. especially as you have had touches on it. They like to stretch it out don't they? Surely you will hear by next week! or maybe it will just turn up in the mail without any email notification

That's wonderful Kim that you have finally got your cds on the storage unit I had to leave most of my cds behind when i left and I have a deep passion for music so it was very hard to part with them but i managed to bring about 50 with me (without jewel cases in suitcase but now have cases), so that was good. They have a home amongst my SO collection so we are all united as one!

awww!!!! LOL!

How hard are you guys finding it for a job? I'm even wondering if the employers look at my application form or whether as soon as they see NZ on it as past work history they just abandon the resume? I'm finding it extremely hard!!

Some say they want experience but how can you get any kind of USA work experience if no one will hire you? *sigh*

[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????

Still no word yet? It's got to be close.. especially as you have had touches on it. They like to stretch it out don't they? Surely you will hear by next week! or maybe it will just turn up in the mail without any email notification

That's wonderful Kim that you have finally got your cds on the storage unit I had to leave most of my cds behind when i left and I have a deep passion for music so it was very hard to part with them but i managed to bring about 50 with me (without jewel cases in suitcase but now have cases), so that was good. They have a home amongst my SO collection so we are all united as one!

awww!!!! LOL!

How hard are you guys finding it for a job? I'm even wondering if the employers look at my application form or whether as soon as they see NZ on it as past work history they just abandon the resume? I'm finding it extremely hard!!

Some say they want experience but how can you get any kind of USA work experience if no one will hire you? *sigh*

The perennial problem eh? I have an American Qualification which we had to re-cert every 2 years and you 'd think that would help.

Don't mind me, I'm just finding the wait a bit exasperating at this point. We have only shown the recent 2 touches in the 4 months since we filed and were transferred. Shades of the K1 all over again. Maybe my picture makes me look dodgy

[kelzm 0]

I finally found a job in September. One year after I first moved here. It's only 20 hours a week but the pay is good, and it's in my profession. I can also pick up extra hours which I'm doing as much as I can.

Most employers I'm sure did not look closely at my resume for the many jobs I applied for. They had so many to choose from that they didn't have to take the 'risk' of hiring a foreigner. I applied for a low paying job at a local medical centre. I live in a town of 35,000 people, they had 200 applicants for a $10 an hour part time job. There's a lot of competition out there.

I think what made the difference for me was getting some temporary jobs and getting the US experience on my resume. The best way to get the temp jobs I found was by knowing someone. People told me over and over... it's who you know, and I didn't believe them but I think that it's true. I recommend doing some volunteer work. See what your local county or city has going, at the least it gives you someone in the US to use as reference.

When I got my job I got it because of all the experience that I had in NZ. But I believe that if I had not been able to put down that I'd been working temporarily in a library here in the US(first as a volunteer, then as the lowest paid temp), I would not have got my foot in the door for that interview.

I know it's probably not the news you wanted to hear, and things may be different where you are, but I think if you can find a way to get some US experience or references then you'll have a better chance.

[kiwiana 2]

I finally found a job in September. One year after I first moved here. It's only 20 hours a week but the pay is good, and it's in my profession. I can also pick up extra hours which I'm doing as much as I can.

Most employers I'm sure did not look closely at my resume for the many jobs I applied for. They had so many to choose from that they didn't have to take the 'risk' of hiring a foreigner. I applied for a low paying job at a local medical centre. I live in a town of 35,000 people, they had 200 applicants for a $10 an hour part time job. There's a lot of competition out there.

I think what made the difference for me was getting some temporary jobs and getting the US experience on my resume. The best way to get the temp jobs I found was by knowing someone. People told me over and over... it's who you know, and I didn't believe them but I think that it's true. I recommend doing some volunteer work. See what your local county or city has going, at the least it gives you someone in the US to use as reference.

When I got my job I got it because of all the experience that I had in NZ. But I believe that if I had not been able to put down that I'd been working temporarily in a library here in the US(first as a volunteer, then as the lowest paid temp), I would not have got my foot in the door for that interview.

I know it's probably not the news you wanted to hear, and things may be different where you are, but I think if you can find a way to get some US experience or references then you'll have a better chance.

Yes i am starting to think too that its not what you know but who you know as far as getting a foot in the door in the job market with no usa work experience. I think it is going to be a long slow process indeed. There are so many other people out there looking for work too, so it is only natural that an employer will look towards those who have got local work experience.

It's just a little frustrating and disheartening not being able to find work.

Thanks so much for your insight and suggestions.I'm so happy to hear that you found a job in September.That's great news!!

[BinhJerome 14]

[cdneh 3,112]

I think somebody was lost ^ ^ ^

[kiwiana 2]

I think somebody was lost ^ ^ ^

[kiwibelcanto 3]

Hi guys,

So we finally got the NOA2! YAY!!! I know it's not huge news but it means that the wait is over at last (it was a looooong 3 months) and now things will start to move quickly and become more real and scary. No doubt I'm going to have a lot of questions in the coming weeks about all the forms and the medical and the interview, eeeeek.

Very sad to hear about your aunt, Kim. it was lovely that you were able to spend that time with her though.

[Kelvan 0]

Woohoo I'm so happy for ya Zeddess! I read on VJ that the wait times for the I-129F part is only 5 months right now! That's a huuuge improvement from the 8 months it took us

kelzm: Congrats on your job! I am expecting my work permit in about 3 months, so I too will be looking soon. I think I will start looking in a month or so for volunteer work (i.e. free work experience) at a place so that I can get something on my resume. We'll see how it goes though. I'm a little worried it'll be hard to find a job close by in my field.

We received our NOAs today for our AOS etc. Now just waiting for the biometrics appointment letter etc! Is there anyway to track the progress of our AOS forms right now?

Edited November 3, 2009 by Kelvan

[cdneh 3,112]

Hi guys,

So we finally got the NOA2! YAY!!! I know it's not huge news but it means that the wait is over at last (it was a looooong 3 months) and now things will start to move quickly and become more real and scary. No doubt I'm going to have a lot of questions in the coming weeks about all the forms and the medical and the interview, eeeeek.

Very sad to hear about your aunt, Kim. it was lovely that you were able to spend that time with her though.

Congratulations! That was way way quicker than ours!

[cdneh 3,112]

Woohoo I'm so happy for ya Zeddess! I read on VJ that the wait times for the I-129F part is only 5 months right now! That's a huuuge improvement from the 8 months it took us

kelzm: Congrats on your job! I am expecting my work permit in about 3 months, so I too will be looking soon. I think I will start looking in a month or so for volunteer work (i.e. free work experience) at a place so that I can get something on my resume. We'll see how it goes though. I'm a little worried it'll be hard to find a job close by in my field.

We received our NOAs today for our AOS etc. Now just waiting for the biometrics appointment letter etc! Is there anyway to track the progress of our AOS forms right now?

Congratulations to you too!

You can follow the AOS papers at the same website you followed the K1, you just enter the numbers off your notices. If you haven't got an account from then you can make one really easily.

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/portfolioCustomerRetrieve.do

[kiwiana 2]

Hi guys,

So we finally got the NOA2! YAY!!! I know it's not huge news but it means that the wait is over at last (it was a looooong 3 months) and now things will start to move quickly and become more real and scary. No doubt I'm going to have a lot of questions in the coming weeks about all the forms and the medical and the interview, eeeeek.

Very sad to hear about your aunt, Kim. it was lovely that you were able to spend that time with her though.

Yay!! Congratulations!! The rest of the process should go fairly fast now

Congrats Kelvan on receiving the NOA's for the AOS! It shouldn't be long until you receive the appointment letter for the biometrics! Speaking of AOS.. cdneh any news on the GC??

I have been looking for jobs. Went for an interview for seasonal work in retail last week. I arrived at the appointment to find four other ladies also there for the same appointment time. It was a group interview!! (I have never attended one of those before)

Of course all the ladies had usa work experience and then there was me! ( I'm not holding my breath on hearing back on that one)

Kim have you had any luck with job hunting?

[Kelvan 0]

Woohoo I'm so happy for ya Zeddess! I read on VJ that the wait times for the I-129F part is only 5 months right now! That's a huuuge improvement from the 8 months it took us

kelzm: Congrats on your job! I am expecting my work permit in about 3 months, so I too will be looking soon. I think I will start looking in a month or so for volunteer work (i.e. free work experience) at a place so that I can get something on my resume. We'll see how it goes though. I'm a little worried it'll be hard to find a job close by in my field.

We received our NOAs today for our AOS etc. Now just waiting for the biometrics appointment letter etc! Is there anyway to track the progress of our AOS forms right now?

Congratulations to you too!

You can follow the AOS papers at the same website you followed the K1, you just enter the numbers off your notices. If you haven't got an account from then you can make one really easily.

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/portfolioCustomerRetrieve.do

Ah I was hoping it was something like that! Thanks!!!

[cdneh 3,112]

Hi guys,

So we finally got the NOA2! YAY!!! I know it's not huge news but it means that the wait is over at last (it was a looooong 3 months) and now things will start to move quickly and become more real and scary. No doubt I'm going to have a lot of questions in the coming weeks about all the forms and the medical and the interview, eeeeek.

Very sad to hear about your aunt, Kim. it was lovely that you were able to spend that time with her though.

Yay!! Congratulations!! The rest of the process should go fairly fast now

Congrats Kelvan on receiving the NOA's for the AOS! It shouldn't be long until you receive the appointment letter for the biometrics! Speaking of AOS.. cdneh any news on the GC??

I have been looking for jobs. Went for an interview for seasonal work in retail last week. I arrived at the appointment to find four other ladies also there for the same appointment time. It was a group interview!! (I have never attended one of those before)

Of course all the ladies had usa work experience and then there was me! ( I'm not holding my breath on hearing back on that one)

Kim have you had any luck with job hunting?

Not a peep. There are a few of us in the June AOS thread in the same boat, transfers to CSC, that haven't heard a thing. I laugh now to think we all were pretty happy about that, as it was meant to be so much quicker. A lot of people from the same time that had interviews have already got their cards.

I will be so pleased to get this over with..for a while

Good luck on the job front...lol..I have never heard of a group interview!

[that_girl 9]

Hi everyone!

I just filed our petition this morning. My fiance's only been back in NZ (Chch) for 3 weeks and it's already driving me mad!

It's good to have other people in the same boat to keep my spirits up.

Good luck to all of you!