Stephen Jones

Hi Catch.
Thanks for this. That's what I am going to have to do.

Steve

Stephen Jones

Sorry, I hadn't looked closely enough.

Congratulations on your success. I hope it goes well.


Stephen

Stephen Jones

Mrs F: Re Job agencies - yes I have been in contact with a few now and they tell me that there is demand for my skills in NZ so hopefully that will translate into something positive soon although I have been applying for jobs in NZ (from the UK) for quite some time now and keep drawing blanks.

Everyone keeps telling me, you have to be on the ground, so we are planning a trip.

Steve

MrsFychan

My husband got a job as a CTO for a new start up company down in Wellington. He's a web designer by trade and has moved up into management due to redundancies back in UK so he had the history of running a Department but is still very hands on with the programming etc.

He arrived at the beginning of September last year, was working on a temp work visa within 2 weeks of being here. We immediately upgraded the EOI but just missed the pull so had to wait til the next one, submitted our ITA end of Oct and we got our Blueys in our passports 14th February. But we did transfer once the PR was granted from the UK to Wellington as myself and the kids had moved out to be with husband in January so thats why it took a little longer. I application hit all the deadlines, 3mths for ITA to go through, 2 weeks for the 2nd check.

janeyk

SMC can be done quicker, it depends on the situation, I have known friends have theirs issued in 3 weeks!

if like Mrs F you have a work visa issued there is no rush for NZIS to push through ours took a further 4 months but our work visa for 2 years took 1 week start to finish

moonie2011

Stephen Jones, we are looking at using an agent as we too have lots of experience but no qualifications
we are hoping he will help us transfer our skills into points.
We have had several phone interviews but no offers, it seems no visa no job, no job no visa.
We are now toying with the idea of going on a holiday and trying to get get jobs, but we both have good experience so both will be looking, so both have to go over and we have two young children. God it's so stressful!!

Stephen Jones

That's the trap I'm in too - no visa no job, no job no visa.
I completely understand what you mean about it being stressful.

S.

MrsFychan

the companies over here don't fully understand the procedures. its job offer first then visa. You just need to assure them that that is the way the visa system works.

Stephen Jones

I know, I know...but even NZ Immigration have stated how hard it is to get the NZ companies to take that idea on board.

BEVS

Uumm. That's not quite how it works. If you have qualifications you get points for that. If not, no points. You can't transfer your skill set to points as such.

If you are wanting to apply under the Skilled Migrant category AND you gain an NZ job offer , then you may substitute your experience and skill instead of formal or trade quals. It won't give you more points as such but it would allow you to apply under the SMC.

As I'm typing, I am wondering if you have training records, diploma's , course work certificates etc. If this were the case and you were looking to be employed in a certain occupation , it may be that NZQA could assess those bits of quals here and there to state whether they match the NZ standard for the occupation you are interested in. Is this what you meant?


I know it doesn't feel that way but that is actually very promising from where I'm sat. It shows there is interest in your skill set. Many NZ employers don't understand it is job offer first before a temporary work visa. Many kiwis think that you apply for residency , pay the money & just come in. They just don't know how the whole thing has to fit together.
You have to educate them how it works so they understand.

Very stressful, especially with 2 kids. Maybe one of you go and try to set up interviews prior to departure. Do look through the Accredited Employers list as they will understand better it is job offer first and then a visa.
State that you will apply for a temporary work visa to get you all here quickly and working. From that you may go onto apply for residency but please do make sure you are eligible to do so.

Stephen Jones

Bev...

Like the other poster I have had some interviews over the phone and had many chats with interested job agencies via Skype.
As I type this I am also discussing with my wife which airline who should use to come and visit NZ - LOOKING to book flights this coming week.

I am hoping that the said job agencies will arrange some interviews for the time of my visit but as per your earlier comment I will try and contact relevant NZ accredited employers.

Thanks for your advice

Stephen

rangioran

Have to agree here - however, I applied in 2001 aged 53, completed my own application with meticulous attention to detail. made an appointment with the immigration officer at NZ House in London. Went down there and spent an hour going over it to be absolutely sure it was correct. Got my Visa a little under one week later!
Believe me - if you have a genuine job offer, and can get your future employer to plead your case for you with the immigration people over here, it will really add weight to your application. Particularly if you're looking to come over to within commuting distance to Christchurch as, with the rebuild programme, they're looking for skilled migrants of pretty much any discipline.

Good luck!

moonie2011

update...after speaking with immigration lawyer Matt Gibbons from one step nz, who was so helpful, we have made the decision to apply for a LTBV visa and try and buy a small motel. The application is underway, we have seen several properties we like so are flying out to NZ on 31st may for 2 weeks. We are meeting people who we have met on here who have been so helpful. We are all very excited about this new challenge in our lives, bring it on

rangioran

Whereabouts are you looking to buy the motel?

MrsFychan

how exciting Good Luck, keep us updated