Dennis

I have a question about, how work experience is explained in the
immigration procedure of New Zealand.
I got my bachelor's degree in June 2000, before that I have had my own
company since 1997.
Lets say that I worked in my company for 10 hours per week. This was
during my study period. Before that
I worked for half a year fulltime as an IT consultant, after finishing
another Administration/IT study (lower level).

My question is:
My immigration consultant said that I currently have officially 2,5
year working experience (since june 2000 - on Bachelor's Degree
level).
I am not allowed to add the other years of experience (which would add
another year approximately, which would give
me in June 2003, 4 years of work experience). How would NZ immigration
explain/understand this situation?

Greetings,

Dennis.

lizzie

I guess your Immigration Consultant means work experience that is relevant to your qualification (Bachelors Degree). Were you in a different profession prior to your degree?

Lizzie

Dennis

Yes, I had an IT job for half a year and worked as an practice student
on IT for half a year. Besides that I have my own company since 1997
where I work for uptill March 2000 for +/- 10 hours a week. After that
date I worked 40 hours or more per week.

lizzie

I'm afraid they are probably right then. The NZIS website states that you cam claim points for work experience if:

- the claimed work experience has been lawfully obtained; and
- it is relevant to the qualification(s) for which you have obtained points

If you were to get a job offer as part of application you could then claim points for the work experience that is non-relevant to qqualifications (although you would probably not need it then).

Sorry this may not be the news you wish to hear.

Lizzie

Don

It means in practice that if you are claiming points for a degree level qualification, you won't normally be able to claim work experience points for work carried out before you received your qualification.

Don