I-129F March 2017 Filers

[TearsOfBabylon 1,680]

5 hours ago, Mootak said:

Hi All, Joining the group late with the March filers.

 

I'm travelling all the way from NZ to visit fiance at Easter, because I'm travelling with a large crowd, I want to take advantage of the 'two bags per passenger' allowance and bring as much stuff as possible. Saves me on freight bring my stuff, when we finally get approved! I am worried customs will think I'm planning on staying with the amount of luggage we're bring for a short stay  should I be? 

 

Oh and to all those selling your belongings.... I read somewhere, one good way to help homesickness is to make sure you have some familiar things. Could be worth bearing in mind, that'll you want some of your own things in the new foreign country. Or unless, your thinking you'll breeze through the homesickness stage like a charm. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on how they're preparing to manage that. Because I know I'm going to miss NZ but want to make the best of new life with hubby! 

Welcome to the Anonymous Whiners!
Good luck with your journey!
It's good to hear they're good on the way with the petitions, time goes by faster than I thought!

Yeah, I'd advise you as well to bring some binding ties.
Would be a giant bummer if you'd flew so far and then got a problem.

We've decided either he will come here (which is unclear, because he's got to request leave at the army, and they're so slow that he already decided to skip April if he gets approved, because tickets are getting super expensive), or we'll just wait until I come for good and take his leave together than. For this little side effect of a wedding, haha!

Have a nice day everybody!

[pajobra 1,395]

14 hours ago, Mootak said:

Hi All, Joining the group late with the March filers.

 

I'm travelling all the way from NZ to visit fiance at Easter, because I'm travelling with a large crowd, I want to take advantage of the 'two bags per passenger' allowance and bring as much stuff as possible. Saves me on freight bring my stuff, when we finally get approved! I am worried customs will think I'm planning on staying with the amount of luggage we're bring for a short stay  should I be? 

 

Oh and to all those selling your belongings.... I read somewhere, one good way to help homesickness is to make sure you have some familiar things. Could be worth bearing in mind, that'll you want some of your own things in the new foreign country. Or unless, your thinking you'll breeze through the homesickness stage like a charm. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on how they're preparing to manage that. Because I know I'm going to miss NZ but want to make the best of new life with hubby! 

Welcome Mootak to our crazy March group.  Glad to have you with us for the process and we can help keep each other sane. My fiance and I are on day 21 now. 

 

My sentimental belongings are coming with me but those are little knickknacks and stuffed things mostly. I honestly don't have much at all. I lived in Northern Manitoba for 14 years and when I finally moved back south to the city to be closer to my parents as my stepdad was very ill. In that move I purged EVERYTHING, furniture, knickknacks, etc. The only stuff I brought was an antique coffee table, a huge cat tree, my computer, my clothes and my two cats. When I moved in with my Mum two years ago I again purged and took lots to the homeless shelter that I knew they would use. I did pick up some furniture though and moved my bed and computer desk. However in my move down south to the states I plan on only bringing my computer table and computer for big items. I gave my Mum my bed and lamp which are currently in the basement anyway as a spare room for guests.  Then after I leave she will have two spots for people to stay specially at Christmas. I have a big family if you include my stepsisters and their families. The other day my 11 year old niece said to me "Auntie when are you moving to Colorado?" I said "Oh maybe in October depends on the government." She said "Will you be here for my birthday?" I said "Um maybe" Her birthday is October 25th and I missed it last year on a trip to Wisconsin to visit my best friend and a cousin who lives there. She has told me though that she sees how happy I am and that makes her happy because family being happy is important to her. My niece is a very empathetic soul and maybe too much at times. I will likely try and stay for her birthday and leave afterwards and hope that winter doesn't hit early but then I am Canadian and I am used to driving in wintery conditions. lol

 

Although I think I would be less homesick then a lot of you from overseas due to the fact that I am in Canada and I am only moving a 15.5 hour drive south of where I am now. Getting my AP is important to me though as my last living grandparent is 95 years old and will be 96 when the AP comes in most likely.

[pajobra 1,395]

13 hours ago, eastcoastgroove said:

Just make sure you have proof you plan on going back to NZ (like a letter from.your employer).  I actually got questioned the last time I visited and I was very vague on my reason for going; the officer asked why I had 2 bags for a 6 day trip.  I am also leaving a pile of stuff at home so when my mom comes for our reception, she can bring an extra suitcase with some things.  

 

I am definitely keeping a few familiar things.  I have a blanket I always snuggle with on the couch that I'm bringing my next visit and when I make the final move I might try and bring my duvet (my fiance only sleeps with a fleece blanket 😱).  They are random things, but things I deem important.  I will also bring a few knick knacks and we are shipping a piece of art that I love.  I don't think I should be too homesick because I really only have my mother in town that I see often.  I have a small friend group and over the years 3/4 have moved out of town.  I work with kids though and will miss them and my co-workers. 

Yeah like you I know I will miss my Mum since I live with her and my sister lives down the street one way and my Aunt lives down the street the other way. So family I will miss. Family is so very important to me. They all love my fiance though and think he is a very good choice. My Mum cried after she met him and told me I did a great job picking someone. From her that's high praise because my father is no prize but my stepdad he was the most amazing father figure and I miss him everyday. He passed away almost 3 years ago now but I know he would have loved my fiance and they woulda had many great chats. Funny about the blanket, last night my fiance and I were video chatting on skype as usual and I was making my bed up. I said to him this blanket is coming because its my favourite and I could  not imagine leaving it. He said of course not love that comes with you and then laughed and said along with your basket of yarn. HA I have a yarn obsession because I love to crochet. 

[Rev 392]

Just got my text and e-mail for NOA1

[Mattagba 141]

1 minute ago, Rev said:

Just got my text and e-mail for NOA1

When was your petition received? mine was received March 29 and the check was cashed April 4th but i am still waiting NOA1 

[Rev 392]

4 minutes ago, Mattagba said:

When was your petition received? mine was received March 29 and the check was cashed April 4th but i am still waiting NOA1 

I checked the case status and the official receive date is March 31st.  Did you send the notification form?  I can't remember if you said before.

[Mattagba 141]

11 minutes ago, Rev said:

I checked the case status and the official receive date is March 31st.  Did you send the notification form?  I can't remember if you said before.

I literally just got a text a minute ago. I am so happy. Thanks

[Rev 392]

3 minutes ago, Mattagba said:

I literally just got a text a minute ago. I am so happy. Thanks

Yay!!!!

[GemsWorld 8]

32 minutes ago, Rev said:

Just got my text and e-mail for NOA1

Congrats!!! Now i'm officially worried. They haven't cashed the check yet and we all filed same day 😰

[GazLisa 1,168]

44 minutes ago, Rev said:

Just got my text and e-mail for NOA1

Yaaaay that's awesome news 😃😃😃

[Rev 392]

15 minutes ago, GemsWorld said:

Congrats!!! Now i'm officially worried. They haven't cashed the check yet and we all filed same day 😰

Gosh, I hope you hear soon!  I wonder if it depends on who has the stack and how fast they work or if it's check vs. money order ??? 
 

4 minutes ago, Gary JT said:

Yaaaay that's awesome news 😃😃😃

Thank you! So glad to finally have the clock ticking

[GazLisa 1,168]

2 minutes ago, Rev said:

Gosh, I hope you hear soon!  I wonder if it depends on who has the stack and how fast they work or if it's check vs. money order ??? 
 

Thank you! So glad to finally have the clock ticking

Our clock has been ticking for a month already 😀😀😀

Edited April 6, 2017 by Gary JT

[Rev 392]

34 minutes ago, Gary JT said:

Our clock has been ticking for a month already 😀😀😀

Exciting! I hope the time is passing quickly

[BahamaIslander242 244]

 

Hey everybody, I was surfing through the VJ site trying to pick up some tips and I came across this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/adjudicator-q-and-a

 

Seems old but it gives some great insight into how the whole adjudication of petitions process works behind the scenes.  Whether it's still that way, who knows, but it's a great read for curious people like me. lol

[Andrew&Elizabeth 78]

On 4/6/2017 at 7:41 AM, Mootak said:

Hi All, Joining the group late with the March filers.

 

I'm travelling all the way from NZ to visit fiance at Easter, because I'm travelling with a large crowd, I want to take advantage of the 'two bags per passenger' allowance and bring as much stuff as possible. Saves me on freight bring my stuff, when we finally get approved! I am worried customs will think I'm planning on staying with the amount of luggage we're bring for a short stay  should I be? 

 

Oh and to all those selling your belongings.... I read somewhere, one good way to help homesickness is to make sure you have some familiar things. Could be worth bearing in mind, that'll you want some of your own things in the new foreign country. Or unless, your thinking you'll breeze through the homesickness stage like a charm. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on how they're preparing to manage that. Because I know I'm going to miss NZ but want to make the best of new life with hubby! 

 

I got questioned when I arrived in the US at the end of November last year with two big bags, but I think that's more because I was staying 88 days on an ESTA so they wanted extra proof that I was actually going to leave. They didn't believe that I could take that much time off work.

I've been lucky though, I have spent more than 6 of the last 18 months in the US with my fiancee, so I at least know that homesickness won't be an issue for me! I'll miss my friends and family but I much prefer being in the US to Australia so the day to day side of things is easy for me.

 

I've started selling my belongings too - it gives me something to do that feels productive while I wait for this NOA2 to finally arrive. The annoying thing is going to be to try and sell my car quickly once the visa has been approved!

Edited April 7, 2017 by Andrew&Elizabeth