[Amerikiwi]

Hello, everyone!! I`m new here... just happened to find the site yesterday, same day I got approved for P.R.!! :cheers
The family category is such an easy thing... arrived 18 months ago from Boston to stay with my kiwi fiance (we met when I was here for holiday previously), did an online visitor permit extension (1 day approval), applied for a work permit (no questions asked under the family category), and applied for permanent residence 6 weeks later. If you`re going from work permit to p.r. residence, don`t wait too long, as medical certificates expire within 90 days and you`ll have to start the process all over - also, police clearance letter is only good for 6 months, if I remember correctly) So the entire application process was completed by February 15th, 2005.
Didn`t dwell on it TOO much more until this week, when I decided I`d better phone n.z. immigration to check the status... once I got past the people who answer the phones (who tell you things like "it can take 18 months before a decision is made" ... "your application is still being processed, anything else I can help you with today?") and got through to my case worker, it was a BREEZE!! She was SO nice... called me back the next day to say my application`s been finalized/approved and I`ll be receiving a letter of confirmation within a couple of days.
It`s such a great feeling to finally become a PERMANENT resident of this beautiful country and no longer have those occasional nagging thoughts of just how you might have to sell everything you`ve bought after arriving here and even worse... going back to your old country and starting all over again.
The N.Z. Immigration site states that an immigration consultant isn`t necessary and that all applications are given equal attention, and it`s true!! Just be sure to double check that all your forms and documentation are completed as required and you`ll have no problem at all... at least in my experience.
Thanks for listening, everyone.. I`m THRILLED to be a NEW ZEALAND P.R.!! Off to check out those new resident "meet ups" threads now!! ; ))

[Marie P]

:raebanana :raebanana

Well done ,have your first dancing banana's .

Welcome to the forum too :nice1

Where are you living ?

Marie x

[Amerikiwi]

THANKS, Marie!! We live on Gossamer Drive, Pakuranga (Auckland). How about you? I`m looking forward to getting to know the people here... great site!!

[Marie P]

Small world eh ....I was there yesterday for coffee with JubJub [forum member] .
I'm not far away ,renting in Otahuhu,but looking to buy in Howick or Pakuranga.

Marie x

[Smiler]

Hi Amerikiwi

Welcome to the forum. Good to hear your news. :raebanana:raebanana another banana or two to add to the collection

'The N.Z. Immigration site states that an immigration consultant isn`t necessary and that all applications are given equal attention, and it`s true!! Just be sure to double check that all your forms and documentation are completed as required and you`ll have no problem at all... at least in my experience.'

Very good advice indeed. There was a thread about that somewhere recently.


Deborah ( in wellington )

[Amerikiwi]

THANK YOU, Deborah... how are things in Wellington? I haven`t been that far south yet, but Wellington`s definitely on my list of things to do!! :)

[Smiler]

Absolutely awesome today, sparkling water, blue blue sky, little puffs of breeze. Welly is great.

But I'm feeling dreadfully family and friends sick today, it would be easier if it were raining. :wah

Dx

[Diny]

Welcome to the forum !! I agree that the family category is such an easy way to get PR. I have a kiwi spouse and 2 'half breed' kids, my application took exactly 3 months from day one to being granted PR and all I had to do was fill in a few forms and sit back and wait.

If you're wanting to meet up with other forum members, have you seen the thread in the lounge about a weekend in Taupo. So far there's a good crowd of us meeting up (Marie & Dave included). Come along to, it would be great to have you join us.

Diny

[Amerikiwi]

Sure, Diny, and thanks for the welcome/invitation!! It would be great to meet up with everyone. Please PM me when you know more and we`ll go from there!!

[urban78]

THANKS, Marie!! We live on Gossamer Drive, Pakuranga (Auckland). How about you? I`m looking forward to getting to know the people here... great site!!

Hey Amerikiwi,

Congrats on getting the PR and welcome to the PR under family category club :laugh

Pakuranga is a great place to live in, happened to notice Gossamer drive it as we drove in Pakuranga, it's not too far from Arkley ave, where my partner's (the Aucklander) family live ;)

Jen

[zardell]

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

CONGRATULATIONS on your P.R

and welcome to the forum.

Julie.

xx

[Amerikiwi]

Hi Jen,
Thanks for welcoming me to the "club" :nice1 ... it`s great to finally FIND a group of us all who`re in the same boat! Nice to have found this site after searching the internet for so long. I`ve met more Americans in the last 18 hours here than I`d met in the last 18 months of living here in Auckland!! Been scanning the "meet up" posts in the Lounge forum, and looking forward to meeting with both Americans and non-Americans before long. :cheers

[Amerikiwi]

Hi Julie (Zardell),
So nice to be welcomed by the nice people here, and thanks for yours!! Your profile says you`re in the U.K.? Will you be joining us in New Zealand anytime soon or are you already here?

[clarkydicko]

CONGRATULATIONS on your PR, WooHoo! :raebanana

Good luck with your future plans

Chantell & Simon :)

ps we are going to the Taupo Meet, so might see you there too!? we are really looking forward to meeting everyone :yes

[zardell]

Hi Amerikiwi.

No, we're not in NZ yet, still in U.K... Hope to be with you around October/November 2006...........and, if all things go according to plan, with PR in pocket - but who knows eh?

We will be putting the house on the market in the spring (hopefully) and if it sells quickly - well, we might just pack a bag and book a flight.....sort out the remaining paperwork when we get there !

You see, I'm afraid patience isn't one of my virtues. LOL

Julie

xx

[Amerikiwi]

Thanks Chantelle and Simon,
Yes, I`m very interested in the Taupo meetup, but haven`t yet run it by the warden (yep, you know who!! ;) ) and I`m self employed, meaning weekends away can be tough at times... but hopefully we will get there and get to know you and everyone else who`s going. :cheers

[Amerikiwi]

Sure DO understand about the patience thing, Julie.. it`s definitely an acquired quality, and one which I`m still working on myself!! Must`ve called immigration 6 times in 2 days while waiting for my case worker to call me back... impatience isn`t ALWAYS a bad thing, though, as it seems to have worked in getting her to finalize the P.R. paperwork!! ; ))

[JoanneB]

HI

Congratulations on your PR, that's grear news for the new year :clap

We live off Gossamer Drive in pakuranga so not far from you, i love the place, it's my favourite place i've ever lived :)

Looking forward to chatting more, take care, jo

[jubjub]

Right, I have decided that the forum should just all move into Gossamer Drive..... thats two members actually on it and two members not that far away.

It would make meet ups nice and easy :laugh

Amerikiwi, which end are you? We are near the Ti Rakau Drive end.

[Amerikiwi]

Hi JubJub,
I`m at the Pakuranga Rd. end... between all of us, looks like we`ve pretty much got the whole neighborhood under control!! :nice1
I think I feel a backyard b.b.q. coming up... my place if the other "G Team" (Gossamer) members are up for it?

[jubjub]

I think I feel a backyard b.b.q. coming up... my place if the other "G Team" (Gossamer) members are up for it?


Sounds a good idea :nice1 :cheers

[Marie P]

Hope I get an invite too ....only a few minutes away :nice1

Went for a free swim today in your pool ,then into Auckland to see the tall ships .

Going to watch the fireworks tomorrow night too.

Marie x

[Amerikiwi]

Okay then... we`ve got 3 out of 4? Gossamer Drive members ready for a b.b.q. meet up... any others out there? I`m sure we can squeeze in a few more, and non-Gossamers, too. :cheers

[JoanneB]

I'm on Archmillen Ave, just through the alleyway from Gossamer, can i come too???

xx jo xx

[Amerikiwi]

hmmm, lemme think :uhoh ... should we let JoanneB come to the bbq, G-Team? tough one there....

OF COURSE you can come, Joanne! :clap :cheers
I just have to find time from my work schedule, as 6 day work weeks are the usual for me, but we`ll manage... having it on a Saturday would be best for me, but will still need to adjust my schedule before choosing a definite date. Does that work for everyone?