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

[Lisaandtim 0]

She'll be sitting outside in the coffee place waiting to go up the lifts now ...sending you calming vibes!!!

thanks so much, amazingly i was quite ok once i was seated inside the consulate and waiting, still very nervous but a huge improvement on just trying to get there

CONGRATZ!

And yes, as Ruby asked, Tim and I are a young couple, which makes me worry. He's worked 3 jobs at a time before but now is just doing the mechanical assembly job as coming to the US a bit doesn't make you happy with the bosses lol. I am on disability for depression and wasn't able to get a dr note in time, so I attached a letter from myself explaining what I have, and how I am working on getting better, etc. Part of my plan to see if I can function is to pass a program (14 week pharmacy technician ) I am in at the moment, which I attached too. I hope that will show I hope to return to the workforce one day. He'd like to go to the program as well, should I mention that? Or will that look funny? My cousins could put a word in for him at dryer's ice cream if he knows his way around and has a licence lol. Any tips on what we should do? I have a cosponsor who is slightly above the poverty lines as well. Thanks

APPROVED!

Just waiting on police report now >< and i have to find a new cosponsor once we're married ><

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

She'll be sitting outside in the coffee place waiting to go up the lifts now ...sending you calming vibes!!!

thanks so much, amazingly i was quite ok once i was seated inside the consulate and waiting, still very nervous but a huge improvement on just trying to get there

CONGRATZ!

And yes, as Ruby asked, Tim and I are a young couple, which makes me worry. He's worked 3 jobs at a time before but now is just doing the mechanical assembly job as coming to the US a bit doesn't make you happy with the bosses lol. I am on disability for depression and wasn't able to get a dr note in time, so I attached a letter from myself explaining what I have, and how I am working on getting better, etc. Part of my plan to see if I can function is to pass a program (14 week pharmacy technician ) I am in at the moment, which I attached too. I hope that will show I hope to return to the workforce one day. He'd like to go to the program as well, should I mention that? Or will that look funny? My cousins could put a word in for him at dryer's ice cream if he knows his way around and has a licence lol. Any tips on what we should do? I have a cosponsor who is slightly above the poverty lines as well. Thanks

APPROVED!

Just waiting on police report now >< and i have to find a new cosponsor once we're married ><

congratulations, wonderful news, was it as bad as he thought it would be?

[kelzm 0]

Congrats Michelle, and congrats also to Lisa and Tim.

[kiwiana 2]

Congratulations Michelle and Lisa and Tim!!

who else has interview coming up? kelvan? ivannaloveskiwi? anyone?

yankiwi: Have a safe journey and best wishes!!

i can hardly wait for tomorrow as i hand in my notice at work! I have been waiting sooo long for this moment!!!!!

Haven't booked plane ticket yet but its looking like it may be march 6th (if all goes well) yay!!

[Lisaandtim 0]

She'll be sitting outside in the coffee place waiting to go up the lifts now ...sending you calming vibes!!!

thanks so much, amazingly i was quite ok once i was seated inside the consulate and waiting, still very nervous but a huge improvement on just trying to get there

CONGRATZ!

And yes, as Ruby asked, Tim and I are a young couple, which makes me worry. He's worked 3 jobs at a time before but now is just doing the mechanical assembly job as coming to the US a bit doesn't make you happy with the bosses lol. I am on disability for depression and wasn't able to get a dr note in time, so I attached a letter from myself explaining what I have, and how I am working on getting better, etc. Part of my plan to see if I can function is to pass a program (14 week pharmacy technician ) I am in at the moment, which I attached too. I hope that will show I hope to return to the workforce one day. He'd like to go to the program as well, should I mention that? Or will that look funny? My cousins could put a word in for him at dryer's ice cream if he knows his way around and has a licence lol. Any tips on what we should do? I have a cosponsor who is slightly above the poverty lines as well. Thanks

APPROVED!

Just waiting on police report now >< and i have to find a new cosponsor once we're married ><

congratulations, wonderful news, was it as bad as he thought it would be?

Well he got a question wrong. But wasn't a biggie. And they said I need a cosponsor with a job =(. That's going to be really hard. No family wants to be sued for being on food stamps, even tho theres no way we're going to do that. I wouldn't put them into trouble. But also waiting for police report =( says could take a week before they send the visa. I want to die! My bday is on the 17th. Would have been a nice present o well

[cdneh 3,112]

Just checking in. Everyone has gone very quiet!

I've had my last day at work...Saturday. They were very good to me, did a big breakfast I didn't know they were organzing, and some of the roadstaff were able to come in for it. Got cards, and flowers, faxes, visits, and the other team members got together and bought me a lovely piece of greenstone. I had lots of calls from people who had no idea it was my last day...or why

Funny how you never know they liked you so much, particularly the road staff, until they hear you are about to be history.

Now it's about packing up, settling all the loose ends, and getting ready to go. 16 days...and yes... I am counting

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

Just checking in. Everyone has gone very quiet!

I've had my last day at work...Saturday. They were very good to me, did a big breakfast I didn't know they were organzing, and some of the roadstaff were able to come in for it. Got cards, and flowers, faxes, visits, and the other team members got together and bought me a lovely piece of greenstone. I had lots of calls from people who had no idea it was my last day...or why

Funny how you never know they liked you so much, particularly the road staff, until they hear you are about to be history.

Now it's about packing up, settling all the loose ends, and getting ready to go. 16 days...and yes... I am counting

i'm not looking forward to my farewell, i think there may be tears, possibly, maybe....

it's exciting isn't it? i'm counting days now too, hoping to fly out 9th march, so 21 days for me

[kiwiana 2]

we are all very close with our leaving dates I paid for my ticket on saturday.Cdneh will leave 3rd March ?, I will be going 6th March and Michelle 9th March!! (three days between each others departing dates!! )

what airlines did you eventually go with? i just got a qantas flight one way. Almost cost the same as a return ticket (when on special). but oh well!! I am really starting to get excited . We have an unofficial wedding date of March 17th (st patricks day) at vegas

My last day at work is Friday. Can't wait!!

[cdneh 3,112]

I'm flying in what used to be Business on Air New Zealand. Premier Economy, bigger seats, just behind First Class.

Not my idea, heh, my SO thinks I'll arrive better rested if I don't fly cattle class. Once I get to SFO I still have a nearly 5.5 hour flight onwards.

He's also booked us in for 2 nights at a lovely hotel we've been at before. He..is a keeper

[kiwiana 2]

I'm flying in what used to be Business on Air New Zealand. Premier Economy, bigger seats, just behind First Class.

Not my idea, heh, my SO thinks I'll arrive better rested if I don't fly cattle class. Once I get to SFO I still have a nearly 5.5 hour flight onwards.

He's also booked us in for 2 nights at a lovely hotel we've been at before. He..is a keeper

that's lovely that he booked a hotel!!

I received my eticket info and baggage labels etc in the mail today from travel agency with the passenger departure card and usually i just fill out the departure card without so much as a blink of an eye, but now that i am leaving nz, i was looking over it today and was wondering:

in the part that says 'occupation or job' do i write unemployed? or shall i still state what kind of work i do?

And below that question. it says: "full contact or residential address in NZ" do i write 'none'?

It felt strange writing out the baggage address labels and writing a USA addy instead of a NZ one..

16 days to go.

[cdneh 3,112]

I'm flying in what used to be Business on Air New Zealand. Premier Economy, bigger seats, just behind First Class.

Not my idea, heh, my SO thinks I'll arrive better rested if I don't fly cattle class. Once I get to SFO I still have a nearly 5.5 hour flight onwards.

He's also booked us in for 2 nights at a lovely hotel we've been at before. He..is a keeper

that's lovely that he booked a hotel!!

I received my eticket info and baggage labels etc in the mail today from travel agency with the passenger departure card and usually i just fill out the departure card without so much as a blink of an eye, but now that i am leaving nz, i was looking over it today and was wondering:

in the part that says 'occupation or job' do i write unemployed? or shall i still state what kind of work i do?

And below that question. it says: "full contact or residential address in NZ" do i write 'none'?

It felt strange writing out the baggage address labels and writing a USA addy instead of a NZ one..

16 days to go.

I would write what sort of work you do. That's what I'll put.

As far as the address...I dunno...I mean after I leave here I won't be here, but the flatmate will, so I could do either.

[AnnexoxShay 1]

Woohoo! ... Congrates to all the Kiwi cousins waiting for their departure dates ... Ill be thinking of you all and hope you all have a stress free trip ... Kiwiana you in particular, my birthday is 18th and thats the 17th in the US so Ill more then likely remember ...

{{Hugz}}

[rubyred 0]

marriage question: when you do the legal part - the certificate - are there requirements for the witnesses? e.g. do they have to have known you for a certain amount of time, or be US citizens, etc.? we're thinking of getting (legally) married when my best friend and her husband are here at the end of march (they're kiwis, living in switzerland, on their way to nz, 2 night stopover in san francisco). it would be nice for my bf to be here for the actual marriage, since she probably won't make the ceremony. i can't seem to find any info relating to witnesses (i'm assuming it's 2?) online.

[Kim & Chris 0]

marriage question: when you do the legal part - the certificate - are there requirements for the witnesses? e.g. do they have to have known you for a certain amount of time, or be US citizens, etc.? we're thinking of getting (legally) married when my best friend and her husband are here at the end of march (they're kiwis, living in switzerland, on their way to nz, 2 night stopover in san francisco). it would be nice for my bf to be here for the actual marriage, since she probably won't make the ceremony. i can't seem to find any info relating to witnesses (i'm assuming it's 2?) online.

Depends what state you're in I think, we didn't need any, but I found this for you, it says in CA you need one.

http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/californi...agetmarried.htm

Sorry if it's not clickable

[kelzm 0]

Heya Justine,

Getting married in California is pretty simple. You need to visit the County Clerk office for the County you're going to get married in. Both of you need to go there to fill in the marriage license and you need picture ID. You will get the license at the time you go there to fill it in.

You then need to have someone officiate the wedding. You are required to have ONE witness, but you can have two. I am not sure if they have to be a US citizen but they do have to provide their address and state. Maybe you could have one US citizen as witness and your friend as the second one, since they're more 'added flavour' and it'll save any worries about legalities.

I don't know what kind of ceremony you're planning but I can tell you how we did our California wedding. I flew in on a Thursday and we went straight to the recorders off at the County Clerk. My husband had already called the clerks office to ask for their list of offciates. They had a couple of people on the list that worked at the county office so he arranged to have one of them officiate our wedding.

We got married on the Saturday, the officiate came to our house and we had my husbands best friend and his wife as our witnesses, ring bearer, best man, photographer - the works! The officiate gave us a nice ceremony in our back yard and we had to give vows etc. Then our witnesses signed the license and the officiate took it away.

It's important to know that the officiate has to file the license with the county clerk office for the marriage to be official. It has to be done within 90 days of the wedding. You usually then have to wait a week or two before you can request a copy of your marriage certificate from the office. Because our officate was from the county clerk's office she took it and put it through the system that Monday so I could go in on the Tuesday and get copies of the certificate to send off to USCIS.

Anyway, March isn't far away! I hope that you manage to sort everything out and have the ceremony you want