My husband, a United States Citizen and army veteran returned to the US on December 13, 2006 after having lived in New Zealand for 8 years. As soon as we’d saved sufficient money to pay the hefty immigration fees, we began the long and drawn out process of applying for the boys and I to attain legal permanent residency so we could join him.
In the interim, we’re not able to see each other. J is busy working to pay the ongoing cost, and as a potential immigrant, I would most likely be turned away at the border were I to attempt to travel to the US.
Our Timeline
A quick note: Where applicable I have added in brackets who has received or completed any part of the timeline. For example, for forms sent to J, you will see ‘AoS Received (J)‘.
NOA1 Received: 29 March, 07
NOA2 Received: 26 June, 07
Files Transferred to NVC: 17 July, 07
NVC Case Number Assigned (boys): 30 July, 07
NVC Case Number Assigned (me)*: 1 August, 07
Choice of Agent Forms Sent (boys): 13 August, 07
AoS Bills Generated (boys): 13 August, 07
Letter of Notice (me)**: 1 October, 07
Reminder Letters (boys)**: 1 October, 07
Choice of Agent Form Sent (me): 9 October, 07
AoS Bill Generated (me): 9 October, 07
AoS Bills Returned: 19 October, 07
Choice of Agent Forms Returned: 19 October, 07
IV Fee Bills Sent (to J): 29 October, 07
AoS Instructions Generated (J): 29 October, 07
IV Fee Bills Received and Returned (J): 08 November, 07
AoS Instructions Received (J): 16 November, 07
AoS Returned (J): 17 November, 07
DS-230 Part 1 Arrived (J): 08 December, 07
DS-230 Part 1 Returned: 16 December, 07
NVC CASE COMPLETE: 11 January, 08
Police Check Forms Arrived and Returned: 28 January, 08
DS-2001 Arrived and Returned: 28 January, 08
Medicals Scheduled: 4th March, 08
INTERVIEW DATE: 5th March, 08
Medicals Finally Sent to Consulate: 8th April, 08
APPROVED!!!: 10 April, 08
Next Step: (Updated 11 April, 08) Sell the house and hop a plane!
* My file went into administrative review sometime soon after being received by the NVC, where it was held for approximately 2 months. We have no idea why, despite calling repeatedly. One operator offered up the suggestion that it was due to a prior immigration history (we filed when we were first married but J came to NZ to live instead, so we didn’t follow through), and informed J to send a letter explaining the situation, stating it would take 2 weeks to clear up after the letter was received. That didn’;t happen and to this day we have no idea why.
** Letter of Notice informing us that my file was finally out of review and ready to continue. The reminder letter was because the boys had been processed prior to mine and they were waiting for payment of fees as well as the Agent of Choice forms for them.
Glossary
NOA1: Notice of Action 1 - notification that the applications were received.
NOA2: Notice of Action 2 - notification that the applications have been approved.
NVC: National Visa Center - the body that handles immigrant applications after the USCIS
Choice of Agent: Allocates a party to receive forms and pay all bills related to the application. This is usually either the petitioner or a lawyer.
AoS: Affidavit of Support - required to be filled out by the petitioner/sponsor to prove the applicant won’t wind up on welfare
DS-230 Part 1: Biographic data (names, ages, family, school and employment histories etc)
DS-2001: Confirmation we have our documents and are ready for the interview
IV: Immigrant Visa
Not Quite An Alien ...
Welcome to Jaded Alien, the personal weblog of a Kiwi girl and her whanau running the gamut of US immigration in an attempt to move from a sleepy New Zealand town to the hustle and bustle of Sin City.
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