awillcock22

HI there

Is there anybody out there that has just gone to NZ on 6 month stay, got a job and stayed. We have got 105 points on the EOI and are just thinking of taking the risk and heading off next year. We have sold our house and have two boys aged 4 and 5. Wots the worst that can happen!!!! Any advice or info will be well appreciated.

bourbon-biscuit

The worst that can happen is that you let the hurdles get you down. If you're mentally well disposed to set backs and hiccups then it's a viable path and you're not the first family to arrive this way. Good luck to you all

Obviously on a visitor visa you couldn't put the kids in school and I'm not sure about the healthcare side of things either.

shirl

We came on a visa BUT we were in the process of being sponsored. We sold everything up and put our stuff in storage. It took 3 months for hubby to secure a job and once he had a permanent contract we were given a 2 year work permit and within 7 months our PR. Health care is probably the same as going anywhere on holiday, you pay for it and probably more than normal. Once you have a 2 year work permit then you can begin the PR route and ship your furniture etc. As BB said be prepared for setbacks and in the right mindset and you should be OK. The worst that can happen is 6 months come and go and you have not got a job and have to think about returning home. I believe you can get an extension on your visa for up to 9 months. Just make sure you have a return ticket preferably one valaid for up to 12 months.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

simonmarkellis

We did exactly what your contemplating... there are lot more hurdles and it is more expensive in the long run. I think success will depend alot on your opportunites of employment and the field you work in. If it's IT i don't think you'll have a problem as they are crying out up and down the country for IT.

What's the worse that can happen? Depends on your view point. We took the view that worse case scenario we were having a bloody long holiday and a hell of a time at that...

lardyl

As others have said it will be more expensive as you will have problems with schooling for the 5yr old if you don't have PR or a long term work visa. You won't be entitled to benefits such as free ECE and you will pay full whack at the doctors. I know people who have done it and its worked fine but no doubt therer are others that it did not work for.

You pays your money I suppose.........and it can be quite an expensive holiday, especially if you find out there is an unidentified medical issue that comes out when you do the PR or WTR or whatever applications - touch wood that its not the case but having two small kids ourselves (5 and 18 months when we came) that's the thing that would have put us off doing it on a visitor's visa.

kayos

Hi, my partner and I have just done this and got our work permits. We are just waiting to apply for residency. We sold our house in the UK and arrived in NZ on a hol visa early September. It's abit scary doing it this way but as long as one of you has a job offer that allows you to stay in the country longer than 6 months (eg. a skilled worker) and you have no health issues - give it a go. My partner is an electrician and so on the skills shortage list. He had 4 job offers as soon as he got here and had been in contact with a couple of companies before we came. We had our medicals done here and then sat in the Christchurch immigration office for a few hours before he got his permit. There was a hiccup. My blood count on my medical was below average so they needed me to have further tests, then advised it would take approx 3 months for my permit as my case would have to be referred to Wellington. They have a medical facility there. That was scary. Anyway I had the tests done again and even though my blood count was still abit low, the doctor explained that it was because I was a vegetarian, they processed my application in 2 days! They didnt refer it in the end - thank god. I'm now searching for a job and we love it here. We don't have children, so don't know how things work with them going to school etc but the NZ immigration site should help. If you want further advice just let me know.
sorry forgot to mention. We felt it was actually cheaper doing it this way. Purely because the exchange rate was good as we paid for everything here. In the UK we were quoted alot more for our medicals, so having them done here after converting our spondoolies was alot cheaper. I can let you know exact prices for everything we have paid for so far to stay here if you want to compare.

kayos

sugar, i forgot something else! just thought I'ld mention that you can actually apply for residency at any time but it's wise to do so if you have alot of points. That way you automatically go through to the 'application to apply' stage and not in the pool which you may not get picked out of for awhile. You do not need a 2 yr permit, in fact because my partner only has a provisional electricians license until he does afew more courses here, he only has a 1 yr work permit. I have the same because I have come here as his partner. He can extend this permit once he's fully registered (as I would be able to mine off his application) but we hope to have residency before then. Because he's here and working in the skilled migrant category, he now has 180 points. hope all that helps...... I think I've finished

lardyl

as you said that would be OK if you are fine on the medical front, but if you need to get specialist advice or have a procedure to get the medical certificate then that is going to cost you. Again, if you are confident in your health then probably cheaper. Overseas fees for kids in school are expensive mind, unless you come over in the summer (December say) and get it all sorted by February when the new term starts - or you decide to keep the child off until they are 6, but bear in mind that is the cut-off date for compulsory education. Good luck.

kayos

totally agree, oops with Mr Lardyl's last post

bourbon-biscuit

I was going to mention that you could keep you child out of school- legally they need to be in school by the age of 6 here (unless you're homeschooling), but I doubt that applies to tourists on a visitor visa, which is what you'd be! Playcentre is a great way for your kids to socialise and for you to meet other parents, although kids over 5 will be thin on the ground.

lardyl

yeah, but you'd think that kids aged 5 would be like rocking horse do-do in playcenters, unless their parents are addicted to looking after other folks's snotty yung uns???

bourbon-biscuit

I think it depends. The playcentre I took my littlest to had a couple of days that were all babies and little uns but on two of the days there were more bigger kids (mostly 3+4 yr olds) and a 5 year old and she really enjoyed that.

ziggi

Can I ask what you did about proof of work related qualifications? I mean such as Certificates etc, I have my deeds of Apprenticeship and if I carry them in they are just going to guess and I'm worried they would refuse entry.
I only ask as we are thinking of doing the same thing in Nov' this year, I thought if they were needed I'd get them posted over.
Did you get the job offers through a agent? I'm a Metal Fabricator / Welder by trade and my girlfriend is a Chef, so were hoping to head to Christchurch area and do what you did.

Thanks

Ziggi

kayos

Hi Ziggy,

we did bring all my partners qualifications, however, he got these checked beforehand with the board which deals with electricians in NZ. I can't remember off hand what they are called. Anyway, may be worth while checking whether your qualifications stack up here. Being an electrician he had to show so many years experience and sent references to (NWRB, that name now rings a bell!) etc. Then when they approved, he booked himself onto the one day health and safety course in Christchurch. He couldn't start work without getting this certificate. He now has a provisional license to work as an electrician here until he passes further exams that he is doing this week in Christchurch.

Also as you are not married, and if you are the main applicant and your girlfriend intends to get a work permit under the 'family policy' you need to bring evidence that you have been in a secure relationship for 2 yrs or more and will continue to be so.

We had joint bank statements, tenancy agreements, mortgage papers, a letter from both parents explaining when we met and that they confirm we are in a relationship. My partner also had to take a form into the Christchurch police station. Do not take it to a solicitor - we tried they hadn't a clue what to do but the officer on duty in the police station was brilliant and verified the document for us within 2 minutes. Also you will also need to write a letter confirming your relationship. It's alot of evidence but well worth it. The forms you need can be printed from the immigration website. See links and form names below.

Also don't forget to have your medicals done, you can do this in Christchurch at Moorhouse Medical Centre, off Moorhouse Lane. I can get the full address if you need it. We booked ourselves in as soon as we got there.

Health forms on page http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...hcharacter.htm

form nos 1133 / 1121 / 1007

work permit forms on http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...uides/work.htm

form no.s 1015 / 1016 / 1146

Please make sure you do your homework as I may have missed something out. However you can always call immigration and double check you have everything.

We brought a laptop with us and put the papers in with that along with other stuff. We got through fine but got rushed through immigration because our flights were delayed and we had to go through to the domestic terminal at Auckland airport to get to Christchurch. However the last time we came on holiday here. They did ask loads of questions. At the end of the day you are on holiday and the advice we had from people was that if my partner got a job and stayed, so what, if you do it legally and get permits, there isnt a problem. One definate word of warning though is get a return ticket! They WILL not let you in without it and it has to take you back to the UK. Even if it's via Austrailia or wherever it HAS to have a UK return destination on it. We got an open ticket and will now change our return ticket date. We are planning on using it to go home and visit our families and then getting a one way ticket back once we have got residency.

Please make sure you check everything on the immigration forms. If you are not classed as a skilled migrant then you may not be able to get a 2 year work permit, you may get a 6 months one. Also there are other work permits which if I remember rightly are age related. One last thing. My partner while still in the UK emailed companies and electricians here before we came and they helped a hell of a lot. Maybe you could look on yellow.co.nz and find some companies. Lots of people do what we did and it hasn't been an issue.

Nearly forgot, we didn't use an agent for anything. You can contact companies yourself and also arrange immigration yourself. We didn't mind doing this as we had loads of help from others who had done the same. If you don't want to bring all your paperwork with you, then just get it sent over at a later stage. We didnt want to wait and got our permits as soon as we could because we wanted to send for our pet as soon as possible (sad I know - but we lover her) Jeeze, soz thats a lot of info, hope it all makes sense. If you've further questions, I'm happy to help, in the meantime good luck!

ziggi

Thank you Kayos, that's a great help.

Both my girlfriend and I are on the skill shortage list, but as a Chef I think Em' will be better placed than I.

You raise a good point. We've been together 11 years now, and it's just 'dawned' on me that we have not real proof of that time; the only joint account we have is our Westpac in NZ from last year. Guess I'll have to go visit the Council Tax office and see if they have anything, morgage and bills etc I always paid; Em likes shopping too much to be bothered with that 'important' stuff

You may regret the offer of assistance by the end of this BUT we'll buy you a drink when we hit Christchurch as a thankyou.

Ziggi