Newbie - ltbv applicant
Jul 4th 2003, 9:30 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Coventry
Posts: 68
Thanks Ben
You certainly answered a few questions with that post. I think I knew the answers deep down and just needed to hear someone tell me it's the only way. I have looked in depth at the requirements and I was hoping someone would tell me there was an easier way. Seems not!
My business experience is quite eratic and I have never owned a business but I have worked at a supervisory level of at least 15 staff in various roles including sales, marketing and training. I am hoping to elaborate on this to meet the criteria.
I think franchise is definately the way to go and I have been in contact with a couple of possibilities, sourcing information, facts and figures etc.
The business plan is definately a stumbling block but one franchisor has offered to provide this for us.
I think I need to book a flight and go meet people.
Thank you
carol
You certainly answered a few questions with that post. I think I knew the answers deep down and just needed to hear someone tell me it's the only way. I have looked in depth at the requirements and I was hoping someone would tell me there was an easier way. Seems not!
My business experience is quite eratic and I have never owned a business but I have worked at a supervisory level of at least 15 staff in various roles including sales, marketing and training. I am hoping to elaborate on this to meet the criteria.
I think franchise is definately the way to go and I have been in contact with a couple of possibilities, sourcing information, facts and figures etc.
The business plan is definately a stumbling block but one franchisor has offered to provide this for us.
I think I need to book a flight and go meet people.
Thank you
carol
Jul 4th 2003, 9:45 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 234
Sounds like a plan to me! Just be aware that the Business Plan the franchisee provides may not be in a suitable format for the application. I was advised to use a template based on an expanded version of the LTBV application form itself.
Are the franchises you are considering in the same area as your supervisory experience? The sales and marketing will certainly be useful for any business. It might be worth your while having an initial assessment with an Immigration Agent before you go to the bother and expense of going to NZ to see if they think your background and experience are sufficient...
Ben
Are the franchises you are considering in the same area as your supervisory experience? The sales and marketing will certainly be useful for any business. It might be worth your while having an initial assessment with an Immigration Agent before you go to the bother and expense of going to NZ to see if they think your background and experience are sufficient...
Ben
Jul 14th 2003, 1:53 am
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 425
LTBV and franchises
Sorry for the slow reply Ben.M, I had assumed the migration forum was the only one where immigration queries were posted.
Silly me!
Re NZIS and franchises. I understand NZIS's main problem with franchise applications is that a heap of shady plan writers have put people down for franchises where the applicant has never been in contact with the franchisor!
I think that' just being lazy, as it's hard to get good data about businesses without conducting fairly good research. The cut price operators will take shortcuts in various areas to keep their prices down, usually at agent or applicant request ;-0, and this often means thin research.
Franchises often supply standard data to about anybody, so the weaker planners go for these to make their job easier, often regardless of the applicant's abilities and interests.
My position is, if the franchise seems to fit, do some research on the market and the franchise. Then if it all looks Ok and you ahev teh chociue between franchise or not, I'd generally refer people to take the franchise option because of better management support, training, management systems etc.
For the record, we advocate all business applicants visit NZ. This demonstrates good intentions and commitment. Also makes sense doesn't it - why migrate to do business in a country you've never visited??? Helluva risk on the face of it, but some research conducted over several days/weeks can minimise the risk.
Hope that helps.
Silly me!
Re NZIS and franchises. I understand NZIS's main problem with franchise applications is that a heap of shady plan writers have put people down for franchises where the applicant has never been in contact with the franchisor!
I think that' just being lazy, as it's hard to get good data about businesses without conducting fairly good research. The cut price operators will take shortcuts in various areas to keep their prices down, usually at agent or applicant request ;-0, and this often means thin research.
Franchises often supply standard data to about anybody, so the weaker planners go for these to make their job easier, often regardless of the applicant's abilities and interests.
My position is, if the franchise seems to fit, do some research on the market and the franchise. Then if it all looks Ok and you ahev teh chociue between franchise or not, I'd generally refer people to take the franchise option because of better management support, training, management systems etc.
For the record, we advocate all business applicants visit NZ. This demonstrates good intentions and commitment. Also makes sense doesn't it - why migrate to do business in a country you've never visited??? Helluva risk on the face of it, but some research conducted over several days/weeks can minimise the risk.
Hope that helps.
Originally posted by Ben.M
The thing to bear in mind is that the LTBV is no longer the back door route to NZ residency. As part of the policy change last November, NZIS have tightened up the rules and become a lot stricter in their interpretation of policy. Therefore you need to show the Business Migration Unit that you are serious and in my opinion a visit to NZ to meet with various businesses and professionals is essential.
I decided to buy into a franchise as I felt this would be the easiest route to start a business in NZ and also because NZIS told me that the BMU look favourably on franchises as they have a greater chance of success. I'm not quite sure if this is the case though as I've since been told by an Immigration Agency that they won't touch applications based on franchises as many are rejected. (Maybe Jamie can comment?) I went out to NZ and met with the franchisees of the couple of businesses I had narrowed my selection down to. As a result of this I decided on the Web Based Training franchise and then met with them at length to discuss the details and territories, etc. I was quite lucky in that it was quite a new operation and they were willing to let me pay a (refundable) deposit to reserve a territory while I waited for the visa. I also took the opportunity to meet with a franchise solicitor, bank manager, make contact with various business organisations, look at property, and get a feel for my territory - all good supporting evidence for the LTBV application.
The biggest problem for me was the business plan as my knowledge of the NZ market was quite weak but the franchisee was able to provide a lot of facts and figures. In the end, after struggling with the business plan for weeks, I paid for some specialist help although I was lucky in that one of the franchise partners writes BP's for a living and was therefore in an ideal position to help me. Then it was just a matter of putting together all the documentation required to accompany the application and lodge it with NZIS. I was expecting to receive a long list of questions from them but all they asked for was a copy of my title deeds to prove that I own my property, as I am using the equity in my property as settlement funds, and a solicitors letter to prove that my ex-wife has no further claim on my assets. I sent these off and a few weeks later got the letter of approval!
This all makes it sound very straightforward but the whole experience has been fairly stressful, not to mention expensive but as there is no way I would ever have qualified under General Skills, (qualifications not being relevant to work experience), it was my only option. Luckily as I have management experience, run my own company and intended to start a business in NZ I had the necessary criteria to apply for this type of visa.
I guess the bottom line is that the results make it all worth while. I'm now in the process of sorting out my affairs in the UK and am looking forward to starting my new life in NZ in September.
Hope this helps but if you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask.
Ben
The thing to bear in mind is that the LTBV is no longer the back door route to NZ residency. As part of the policy change last November, NZIS have tightened up the rules and become a lot stricter in their interpretation of policy. Therefore you need to show the Business Migration Unit that you are serious and in my opinion a visit to NZ to meet with various businesses and professionals is essential.
I decided to buy into a franchise as I felt this would be the easiest route to start a business in NZ and also because NZIS told me that the BMU look favourably on franchises as they have a greater chance of success. I'm not quite sure if this is the case though as I've since been told by an Immigration Agency that they won't touch applications based on franchises as many are rejected. (Maybe Jamie can comment?) I went out to NZ and met with the franchisees of the couple of businesses I had narrowed my selection down to. As a result of this I decided on the Web Based Training franchise and then met with them at length to discuss the details and territories, etc. I was quite lucky in that it was quite a new operation and they were willing to let me pay a (refundable) deposit to reserve a territory while I waited for the visa. I also took the opportunity to meet with a franchise solicitor, bank manager, make contact with various business organisations, look at property, and get a feel for my territory - all good supporting evidence for the LTBV application.
The biggest problem for me was the business plan as my knowledge of the NZ market was quite weak but the franchisee was able to provide a lot of facts and figures. In the end, after struggling with the business plan for weeks, I paid for some specialist help although I was lucky in that one of the franchise partners writes BP's for a living and was therefore in an ideal position to help me. Then it was just a matter of putting together all the documentation required to accompany the application and lodge it with NZIS. I was expecting to receive a long list of questions from them but all they asked for was a copy of my title deeds to prove that I own my property, as I am using the equity in my property as settlement funds, and a solicitors letter to prove that my ex-wife has no further claim on my assets. I sent these off and a few weeks later got the letter of approval!
This all makes it sound very straightforward but the whole experience has been fairly stressful, not to mention expensive but as there is no way I would ever have qualified under General Skills, (qualifications not being relevant to work experience), it was my only option. Luckily as I have management experience, run my own company and intended to start a business in NZ I had the necessary criteria to apply for this type of visa.
I guess the bottom line is that the results make it all worth while. I'm now in the process of sorting out my affairs in the UK and am looking forward to starting my new life in NZ in September.
Hope this helps but if you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask.
Ben
Jul 14th 2003, 1:59 am
#19
Free at last!
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 424
Re: Newbie - ltbv applicant
Originally posted by theguitardoctor
Hi Gra,
I saw the programme with the other LTBV applicant - re: Get a New Life - wonder if the BBC helped push their application through at all?
I'm a luthier as it happens - very unusual - I build and repair stringed instruments - mainly guitars. The wife has a degree in European languages (German & Spanish, though she speaks French too !!), so we were a couple of points out on the General skills assessment. I was already self employed (since April 01), thus we thought the LTBV might be a quicker route. I've had loads of positive feedback from the music stores in NZ, so I just hope we get the ok sooner rather then later........
Fingers crossed......
Rich
Hi Gra,
I saw the programme with the other LTBV applicant - re: Get a New Life - wonder if the BBC helped push their application through at all?
I'm a luthier as it happens - very unusual - I build and repair stringed instruments - mainly guitars. The wife has a degree in European languages (German & Spanish, though she speaks French too !!), so we were a couple of points out on the General skills assessment. I was already self employed (since April 01), thus we thought the LTBV might be a quicker route. I've had loads of positive feedback from the music stores in NZ, so I just hope we get the ok sooner rather then later........
Fingers crossed......
Rich
Jul 14th 2003, 4:15 am
#20
Life's next chapter is?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: NW England...for now.
Posts: 942
Re: Newbie - ltbv applicant
Originally posted by Houdini
Hey Rich, any chance of building me a Les Paul Custom (preferably Jimmy Page) for under a grand?
Hey Rich, any chance of building me a Les Paul Custom (preferably Jimmy Page) for under a grand?
For under £1000 it would have to be an assembly rather than a hanbuild I'm afraid. You'd be looking at something like www.warmoth.com as a source for the basic parts. It works out cheaper to buy all the bits at once through these guys.....they are a good name - even Fender use them for high end bodies.
The Les Paul custom Warmoth (more of a Joe Perry model) I built for a customer cost approx £1200 all in, but then it was an expensive body.........flame maple and all that........however - it was a bolt on neck.
Might be worth modding a stock Gibson if you are on a budget....
see www.theguitardoctor.co.uk for details.
