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

[cdneh 3,112]

Congrats on getting married

I didn't get a doctor here to certify the form. I just sent in the copy of the vaccination form that the doctor that did the medical in NZ gave me. It went through ok so I wouldn't be too worried about it. Probably more important to get your paperwork filed and then reply to any RFE you may get. At least that way it'll be in the system and underway

Cdneh..... you're too kind......

No..I'm not lol..you are Kim!

I sent the same thing for the vaccination as Kim. No problems either. We were transferred to CA and in due course we were right

Edited July 5, 2010 by cdneh

[kiwiana 2]

So my visa expired today and I still haven't sent in the AOS package, because for some reason the civil surgeon won't certify my I-693 form without a full immigration medical, which I do not NEED. Is it supposed to be this hard to get something signed? Anyway, my social security is still in my maiden name because it took 10 weeks to get so I haven't been back there yet, but I've used my married name on all the forms. Are they going to chuck a wobbly if I don't send in the medical form or am I worrying for nothing?

I got the vaccination form signed off by a medical doctor here. I ended up going to an interview for AOS and the woman looked at the form the medical doctor had filled in and she said that he didn't sign off on one part of it.. I was NOT happy about this. She suggested that i would have to go back and get it re-signed. I was very upset about it! She went away and talked to her supervisor and came back and said that it was ok.

Kim&Chris and Cdneh didn't get the vaccination form signed off and didn't have to go for an interview.. It is all in the lap of the gods!! As Kim said, It's probably more important to get it sent in, even if you get an RFE for it.. At least it will be in the 'works' so to speak.. Let us know how you get on.

Kelzm and Amaciar: Keep us all posted on your progress with the removing of conditions.At least three of us will be going through that around May onwards of next year...

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th July!!

[Kim & Chris 0]

Kelzm and Amaciar: Keep us all posted on your progress with the removing of conditions.At least three of us will be going through that around May onwards of next year...

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th July!!

Oh god, the thought of having to dig out the box of bits and start all the paperwork again.....not to mention more $$$$$$........#######!!!!

That aside, I hope everyone's 4th was a good one.

[kelzm 0]

Amaciar - Congrats on the pregnancy! Hope it's a smooth one.

So far I've had my NOA back from USCIS but am now just waiting for a biometrics appt letter. It seems from other posts that they're on a go slow with these. I've also just filled out the I-130 for my son, he's got one year of high school left and I'm hoping I can get him approved for residency then go for my citizenship before he's 18. Hoping to transfer citizenship to him that way. It may not go through in time, and there may be some issues with him being out of the county for school, but I figure I may as well try.

In other news - I'm hoping to go back to NZ for Christmas this year and realised that my passport expires in April 2011. To get a new one now it seems I have to mail a bunch of things to Wellington. I'm considering just trying to fly back with only the 3-4 months left on the passport and then renew while there. Anyone know if there'll be any issues flying out with a nearly expired passport?

[kiwiana 2]

Amaciar - Congrats on the pregnancy! Hope it's a smooth one.

So far I've had my NOA back from USCIS but am now just waiting for a biometrics appt letter. It seems from other posts that they're on a go slow with these. I've also just filled out the I-130 for my son, he's got one year of high school left and I'm hoping I can get him approved for residency then go for my citizenship before he's 18. Hoping to transfer citizenship to him that way. It may not go through in time, and there may be some issues with him being out of the county for school, but I figure I may as well try.

In other news - I'm hoping to go back to NZ for Christmas this year and realised that my passport expires in April 2011. To get a new one now it seems I have to mail a bunch of things to Wellington. I'm considering just trying to fly back with only the 3-4 months left on the passport and then renew while there. Anyone know if there'll be any issues flying out with a nearly expired passport?

That is a good question about the passport expiry issue. I always thought you had to have at least 6 months left on your passport to be able to travel. Maybe you could email The New Zealand Department Of Internal Affairs and ask them.

NZ Department Of Internal Affairs

(There is an "email us" link at the bottom right hand side of their web page)

Congrats on receiving the NOA! Back in the waiting room again Keep us posted with your progress

[cdneh 3,112]

Paperwork. *ack* You don't suppose if I told them I am over it they'd let me off doing any more???

I have a job. Had a second interview the other day, so as of August 2nd I am working for 911. (Not 111...not 111...lather rinse repeat...) It would seem I am too young to retire...so bored even my teeth are asleep.

To get that I needed a drivers license. I went and did the written last week, not expecting to have to do the road test. Wrong.

He sent me to the DMV to get a 30 day waiver, and I did the road test this afternoon. Not even around the block..up a side street, around a traffic circle and right back. Meh.

And no one asked me for my NZ license, so ..don't ask don't tell

It was kind of funny, I had the Mother in law's brand new Prius..and he was more interested in that then what I was up to I am still car shopping

[kiwiana 2]

Paperwork. *ack* You don't suppose if I told them I am over it they'd let me off doing any more???

I have a job. Had a second interview the other day, so as of August 2nd I am working for 911. (Not 111...not 111...lather rinse repeat...) It would seem I am too young to retire...so bored even my teeth are asleep.

To get that I needed a drivers license. I went and did the written last week, not expecting to have to do the road test. Wrong.

He sent me to the DMV to get a 30 day waiver, and I did the road test this afternoon. Not even around the block..up a side street, around a traffic circle and right back. Meh.

And no one asked me for my NZ license, so ..don't ask don't tell

It was kind of funny, I had the Mother in law's brand new Prius..and he was more interested in that then what I was up to I am still car shopping

Congratulations!!!! That's great news!!!! Really funny that the guy was more interested in the car then what you were up to!

[cdneh 3,112]

Congratulations!!!! That's great news!!!! Really funny that the guy was more interested in the car then what you were up to!

Funny too...picture this. Me...and about 12 16 year olds all queued up

I don't imagine he sees a lot of those...I don't think I would want any car with that much going on in the display. For one thing the back up camera is distracting.

[Lisaandtim 0]

Kelzm we recently sent in our removal of conditions packet too. We sent it to VT. We sent in a few bank statements, insurance and life insurance policies with both our names and the deed to our house. I think Nic threw in a few other things but it did feel like a much smaller packet than the first time around. Nic wanted to send in my ultra sound ( I am 5 months pregnant) just to be cheeky but held off the urge.

The next big concern is that they schedule our interview around my due date. Crossing our fingers on that one!

I have a question

My husband and I are married and next year we file to remove the conditions.

If the co-sponsor passes away and I don't make enough to support him according to the poverty lines do I have to file another co-sponsor? Does what he make not come into account? Or do I just wait for the interview?

[Kim & Chris 0]

Paperwork. *ack* You don't suppose if I told them I am over it they'd let me off doing any more???

I have a job. Had a second interview the other day, so as of August 2nd I am working for 911. (Not 111...not 111...lather rinse repeat...) It would seem I am too young to retire...so bored even my teeth are asleep.

To get that I needed a drivers license. I went and did the written last week, not expecting to have to do the road test. Wrong.

He sent me to the DMV to get a 30 day waiver, and I did the road test this afternoon. Not even around the block..up a side street, around a traffic circle and right back. Meh.

And no one asked me for my NZ license, so ..don't ask don't tell

It was kind of funny, I had the Mother in law's brand new Prius..and he was more interested in that then what I was up to I am still car shopping

Well done on the job!!!! You mentioned it when I saw you but I wasn't sure if it was all go and whether you'd started it or not. Lemme know which EMS you're working for in case hubby has a turn in the middle of the night...lol.

And yaaay on the license ....LOL...........did you sit it at the Carmichael Centre? That's where I went. Sat the written, (ie poke...sorry touch screen), and when I went up to get the paperwork from the State Trooper, he said, well done, you passed them all. I said I was pretty nervous as I hadn't had to sit a license test since 1982. He laughed and said I didn't have to do the drive, (something about I'd been driving long enough), and to go to the DMV and get the paperwork sorted. He didn't have to tell me twice.....I high tailed it outta there....lol.

[Y&E 12]

Interesting to hear about people's driver licence experiences. I have to go and do that in the next couple of weeks (when my SSN arrives) in Indiana. I hope it's not as bad as the licence tests that I had to do in NZ at the end of the 90's / early 2000's!

Congrats cdneh on the job. Can't wait until I receive permission to work. I'm going stir-crazy with nothing to do and only the cat and cleaning for company!

[cdneh 3,112]

Well done on the job!!!! You mentioned it when I saw you but I wasn't sure if it was all go and whether you'd started it or not. Lemme know which EMS you're working for in case hubby has a turn in the middle of the night...lol.

And yaaay on the license ....LOL...........did you sit it at the Carmichael Centre? That's where I went. Sat the written, (ie poke...sorry touch screen), and when I went up to get the paperwork from the State Trooper, he said, well done, you passed them all. I said I was pretty nervous as I hadn't had to sit a license test since 1982. He laughed and said I didn't have to do the drive, (something about I'd been driving long enough), and to go to the DMV and get the paperwork sorted. He didn't have to tell me twice.....I high tailed it outta there....lol.

White County 911...and yes..that IS your area lol...start 2nd August

I went to the Carmichael Center as well, and I also got them all right he said...and I've been driving since 1968 lol..maybe that's not long enough?

Thanks Y&E..I am going to be glad to have something to do..after nearly a year and a half I have worked out I am too young to retire. Almost

[kelzm 0]

So I recently emailed the NZ passport office (thanks for the link Kiwiana!) to ask about my expiring passport. The answer was that as far as they are concerned it's valid up to the date of expiry but that the airline who check me in and the border agents can reject at their discretion. So now my dilemma is... 4 months to go, do I try and do it via post, or take the risk that it'll all go smoothly.

[kiwiana 2]

So I recently emailed the NZ passport office (thanks for the link Kiwiana!) to ask about my expiring passport. The answer was that as far as they are concerned it's valid up to the date of expiry but that the airline who check me in and the border agents can reject at their discretion. So now my dilemma is... 4 months to go, do I try and do it via post, or take the risk that it'll all go smoothly.

Wow! This is definitely a tough one! I mean it all depends how picky the person at check in or the border agents are, on the day!! I personally, would probably be so worried about getting rejected at check in that i would probably apply beforehand for a new passport.. Though, i don't think you can send it in at the NZ embassy here in the US for renewal?? I think you would have to mail it to NZ to get a new one?

If you do decide to renew the passport, let us know how you get on. And what documents you have to mail in etc?

[amaciar 0]

We received our Biometrics appointment letter on Friday. We will head to St Albans on Thursday. They didn't give much time to arrange schedules if we needed to but we are only 45 minutes or so from the location and well not much you can't change when it comes to getting immigration one step closer to done. I thought I would make a list of what we sent in our packet, since most people will be going through this in the next year or so!

Deed to the house we bought in November

Copy of life insurance policies

Copy of health insurance cards through Nic

Copy of marriage certificate

Bills in both our names (cable,power,gas...)

Bank statements in both our names (one from a while ago and a more recent one) We have several accounts for various things

credit card statements in both our names

Most of the info we sent was finance based but it seems to have done the trick. We keep everything so it was much easier than the first application to put together.. We just kept putting random bits and bobs in a folder once we realized we would have to do this soon. It made the whole gathering process easier.

Not sure I have to go to the Bio appointment with Nic but I figure why not. Not sure how long it will take to get to the interview stage but we are happy to at least feel like we are getting somewhere.