Going to New Zealand you flew over the States? How odd! I thought you would fly the other way ;D
It seems shorter to me lol.

You can go either way, it's much the same time wise. I've been to Australia/New Zealand 3 times and I've flown via Singapore, Kuala Lumpar and LA. Other options are Hong Kong and Bankok.

Oh! Haha. I didn't know you could do that kind of thing (obviously I don't travel too much lol.)

Do you try and fly a different route every time you go there? Or is that just how it's worked out?

I like to go somewhere different each time. :)

I would too!
I'd love to see Hong Kong. Even as just a stopover.

Okay now I'm confused. The USCIS website says that:

"To promote family unity, immigration law allows U.S. citizens to petition for certain qualified relatives to come and live permanently in the United States. Eligible immediate relatives include the U.S. citizen’s:
- Spouse
- Unmarried child under the age of 21
- Parent (if the U.S. citizen is over the age of 21)
Immediate relatives have special immigration priority and do not have to wait in line for a visa number to become available for them to immigrate because there are an unlimited number of visas for their particular categories."


Why would your friend have to wait so long? :(
Did she apply for a visa BEFORE she got married?

No, she couldn't apply for a greencard until after they were married. I don't really know all of the details, I just know she wasn't allowed to move there until it was approved. I'm guessing the system is actually more complex than they say on their website.

It would appear so :(
That's so stupid.

Family Unity my ass, making newlyweds wait an entire year to live together.

And she wasn't 'waiting in line' as such. It just took a year to get the paper work all processed, then get her interview etc. As soon as she was approved she got it.

:( Everything here takes so long.

It's like 6 months just to get a passport.

My mothers green card was green :] She immigrated from Ireland to the U.S. but that was 30 some years ago. Maybe they are pink now?

actually, when he came to live in Texas...he was adopted by the relatives and became a naturalized citizen. Remember, he was still a young kid when he came over here and had NO living relatives in Ireland anymore...so I am sure the process was probably a lil easier. It essentially was a case of political asylum from my understanding. There might be more to it as well. I only know what John was telling me yesterday while he did my tattoo.