Luke Brown

Just thinking about my chances of getting a visa and slightly confused about what points I would get? Does it matter that my degree is not in accountancy?

Age - 28
Degree - Bachelors (3yr) Engineering from Manchester uni
Job - Management accountant (CIMA qualified)
Been working as an accountant for 4 yrs but only became CIMA qualified 1 yr ago.
No job offer or family in NZ

Partner - Has a Manchester uni bachelors (3yr) degree and a masters (1yr) degree in subjects unrelated to job
Partner age - 29
partner job - university admin

Luke Brown

bump.

If anybody could help would be greatly appreciated.

Stoof

i would say if you haven't already done it, get yourself logged on to the new zealand immigration website and fill in the points checker... www.immigration.govt.nz - they'll fast tell you what points you'll get

Stoof

dunno specifically about accountancy, but assuming that your degree is a 'recognised' qualification (ie it's of a level and from a 'recognised' uni, which i guess it will be, but you can check on the immi website) you should probs get 50 points for it...

is accountancy on the skills shortage lists? if it is then your 'professional' accountancy quals will probably be worth some points too

your partners degree (if of a level and from a 'recognised' uni will be worth 50 points, but less if you make a joint application - think it's 20 as a partner) your partners masters would need to be assessesd by the nzqa before knowing if it was 'worth' anything

erm

try the immigration website!

hope that's helpful enough to point you in the right direction

Stoof

oo - hang on a minute.... i am of course assuming that you're thinking about skilled migrant route... of course there's the workng visa for under 30 year olds which you would both qualify for, so that might be an easier way to go for you?! (dunno about that, what with not 'qualifying' for it!!!)

again - the info is on the immigration.govt.nz website

Luke Brown

Many thanks for the advice.

From the points calculator I get 125 points. Consdiering I have no job offer is it worth applying at this stage or would I really need the extra points of a job offer?

Also I have a question regarding the points for experience in an area of absolute skills shortage. Is this just for occupations on the long term list? My occupation is only on the short term list, so would these points not count (and hence I would have even less than 125!)

BEVS

See below.

Points for experience in an area of absolute skill shortage is only for those occupations on the Long Term Shortage List.

Immediate Shortage List
Accountant (Chartered - Senior positions only) (221111)

New Zealand Institute of Charted Accountants

There is a section on overseas trained accountants applying for NZ membership following the required courses on NZ taxation etc.

Using the points indicator with the info you gave, you seem to still have over the 100 threshold.