Savlegs

I have read a number of posts which have been really useful but looking for some pointers and advice on my particular situation please.
My family and I are keen to Live and work in NZ having visted a number of times. We realise holidays and actually working are different so we are going with our eyes open. For me the uncertainty is the costs involved, the reality of the disruption but also the prospects of getting a job.
We are a family of 4 (2 young children) and a pet dog. We are all English and so have no New Zealand blood or relatives we can use to add to the residency. I believe I am on the skills shortage list but finding it difficult to get commitments from Companies with so much still needed to do to enable us to move i.e. sell house, pack house get flights etc.
We have come to the conclusion we should show our commitment by selling up and moving out on a 6 month holiday visa.
The complexities are the schooling and the reality of then getting a job in Auckland in that 6 month period.
Any advice welcome.

MrsFychan

No don't sell up and come its too risky. whoever would be the principal applicant could come over for a "holiday" and get themselves out and about looking for work. If you secure one whilst here then you can always go to the local immigration office in NZ and get a works visa if they wish you to start immediately, that's how we got out.

What do you do? and are you set on Auckland, you get points on the EOI not going there

Synky

That is sound advice.

I'm going to try and get a job before going out, can't jack it all in and go.

Savlegs

I work in IT and specialise is Testing. We are set on Auckland as we have friends there and somewhere to stay whilst we settle down.
There seems to be work but by not being there is making it difficult to get a role as we have a fair lead time to sell up and relocate hence the get there and then look. My work as a consultant tends to be quick turn around i.e. interview one day start the next. I also don't want to go without the family. One of the main reasons for leaving is my work tends to be in London so I work away and don't see the family - not an ideal life for any of us.
As we are selling up we will have some cash in the bank so should we not find any work then it could have just been a long holiday (depending on how long we give it).
The complexity is the schools and how long do the kids stay out of school and can they go to school on a holiday visa ?

Pollyana

What do you plan to do at the end of the 6 months if you don't have a job?

Savlegs

Good question. The plan is I will get a job in IT and after talking to agents that seems highly likely. However, if not, there is a possibility of working for a friend but it would need the business to grow to pay me a wage. Something I maybe able to help with.
If neither of the above become reality then we can move back. If we haven't bought somewhere in NZ and live with friends until we do get work then we have not eaten into our capital and could treat it as a long holiday. Not ideal but is the fall back option.

Synky

If you plan for not getting a job then you can only move up!

BEVS

Your children will not be attending school whilst on a visitors visa . A visitors visa is for those intended to holiday only.

You may not work at all whilst on a visitors visa. You would need to apply for and uplift a work permit for that & would require the employer to provide a letter or contract stating hours, conditions and rate of pay.

Savlegs

Have been reading up and it looks like you can send kids to school but you have to pay as if a foreign student.
Does this seem like I have read this correctly ? There never seems to be the FAQs or scenarios that quite match your own when looking on the web. Does anybody know if this is an option ?
Thanks

Catchafire

Yes you will have to pay fees, contact the school directly to see if they will accept a foriegn student.

Work visa holders, student visa holders and residents children are all treated as domestic students.

http://www.dol.govt.nz/immigration/k...base/item/1035

simonmarkellis

If you have a job in the offering and are just waiting for visa's to come through, some schools will accept your kids without you paying huge international student fees. This happened to some friends of our's. We had to wait till our's could be accepted...

MrsFychan

We were given 2 weeks leeway but had shown that we had been accepted, it was just our file was being transferred over from UK to NZ to have the Blueys put in. But Head did check with the School authority that she was allowed too

chris the property man

Have you contacted any schools by email yet, asking what their policy is for getting the kids in? Obviously, to do that you would need to know what suburb you are looking at moving to and see what schools it is zoned for (if any). Which suburb do your friends live in where you might stay initially?