It's in the mail

Today's the day! We have our FBI background checks - not the original ones - but that's another story. And Erik got the last medical signatures on the health forms today. At this moment all that paperwork is in a FedEx envelope on its way to the New Zealand consulate in Los Angeles. We expect NZ to take about three weeks to get us our visas. Assuming we wrote legibly in all capital letters, didn't miss any check boxes, attachments, initials, signatures or get any dates backwards (they do day/month/year and it's crazy-making to try to remember that).

This is the stack of paperwork we completed and sent in.

We can't get a Yes or No answer out of our immigration adviser - just vague, unhelpful answers, in not so good English. She's Chinese so between her English with a NZ twist, and our American, we're not even sure she understands the questions we email. So, Erik called the consulate last week to ask a question about the health forms. He got the answer and then the helpful lady at the consulate (with excellent spoken NZ English) also told Erik that they had just changed the acceptable form of FBI background checks. They no longer need an official copy of FBI background checks. There is a third party company you can go through and for US$90 and a stamp you can get this coveted piece of documentation in THREE DAYS. Yep, three days. We've been waiting (and still are) since mid-August for the over-worked, under-staffed, crack team of elite FBI agents to send us this:

"A search of the fingerprints on the above individual has revealed no prior arrest."


I can't even tell you how disgusted I am about this situation. I would gladly have sent the FBI the 90 bucks (or more) for each of us in August and we'd be in NZ already. Not to mention the fact that our paid immigration adviser had no knowledge of this new development.

We're so excited to get going but even more excited for us to have an income again. Erik is still unemployed (for 4 months already) because his new company can't pay him until he has a NZ tax ID number. And that can't happen until we are actually in the country. So, no job, no income, just more waiting.

Things to do (in no particular order):

• Figure out the huge stack of papers the moving company sent us
• Find Scooby a home or find more than $10,000 to pay to move him 
• Sell Baby Bloomers business to the O'Briens
• Final Yard Sale
• Sell both vehicles
• Sell house
• Buy the biggest suitcases made
• Shake-off feeling of frustration and helplessness