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26th April 2013, 11:31 AM
#1
I am now a New Zealand resident
My residence visa application has been approved! My CO doesn't work Fridays, so I haven't received an approval letter/email or anything, but my online status has shifted to approved. I called Immigration this morning and verified with them. Because I'm impatient, this afternoon I'm sending off my passport and a cover letter authorising them to deduct the migrant levy from my credit card.
This has been a long time coming... and what a long, strange trip it's been.
The beginning, 18 October 2004: "If George W. Bush gets re-elected this November, I am leaving the United States of America. I will probably never come back, except to visit friends and family."
3 July 2008: Landed in New Zealand with my wife -- she had a student visa, I had a partnership visa
2009-2011: I worked toward and earned a Masters degree at Massey University
March 2012: I got a job at Massey
2 September 2012: Wife left me and moved out
10 September 2012: EOI submitted
5 October 2012: ITA received
28 November 2012: Wife went back to the States
21 December 2012: Residence visa application submitted
3 January 2013: Application lodged
15 January 2013: Temporary Essential Skills work visa granted
Late February 2013: Divorce finalised
26 April 2013: Residence visa granted
I've spent the whole year so far worrying that my residence visa application would be declined, and I'd have to return to the States after my temporary work visa expired in October. That won't happen now, and it's such a huge load off my mind that I don't think it's entirely hit me yet that what I've been working toward for so long has finally happened.
Thanks to everyone at ENZ for their encouragement over the past several months. It's meant a lot.
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26th April 2013, 11:39 AM
#2
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26th April 2013, 12:44 PM
#3
That's a story and a half. Congratulations on the residency!
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26th April 2013, 01:44 PM
#4
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26th April 2013, 02:31 PM
#5
Congratulations! I had to laugh at the reason you gave for starting your journey. My journey home started when I heard on television that Sarah Palin really stood a chance at being the VP! Obviously she didn't but by then I'd made my decision. So happy that it worked out for you.
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26th April 2013, 09:40 PM
#6
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26th April 2013, 09:42 PM
#7
Congratulations, it must be such a relief! (I can relate to the worries, even if our situation was very different from your personal one, but we had some very anxious moments at the time!).
To may more happy years to come
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26th April 2013, 10:40 PM
#8
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27th April 2013, 12:56 AM
#9
what a long journey. congratulation.
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27th April 2013, 08:26 AM
#10
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