Psychopandy

Hello everybody, this is my first post. Been plucking up the courage to dive in and join you all. I hope the waters warm.
My family and I are going to London next week, Friday 28th. We plan to take our ITA with us. We have everything in it - medicals, police checks, who we are, what we are, proof of job offer etc. To avoid missing anything blindingly obvious i was wondering if you helpful people could offer any advise before we head down there and still have a few days to sort anything out. Such as should/could we make an appointment to see someone when we hand it in? Any times to avoid? What system do they have in place for receiving this stuff? Is it an enourmous queueing system?
So many questions.....???
Please help if you can, thanks in advance
Psychopandy x

Reylan

Hi There

I asked this question last week as we took ours down on the 21st. We arrived about 10.45 (they open at 10.00), took a ticket and only had to wait about 35 minutes. We were seen then by a really nice lady in a booth, who went through all our paperwork to check everything was there and registered receipt of the ITA while we were with her. We then paid our fee and went off to have the rest of the day in London. Hope that helps!

A

Psychopandy

Thanks Reylan
I was hoping you'd come through for me, i read your thread the other week but for the life of me couldnt find it today when i wanted it.
Everyone on this site is so helpful. When are you hoping to be off? Wherabouts to?
We are heading to Hamilton/Cambridge area. Will have to be asking questions about that later!
Thanks again
Psychopandy x

Reylan

Hi Psychopandy

We are hoping to go as soon as we are able but not sure when that may be, depends on immigration and the type of visa we may get (hopefully we'll be lucky enough to get a PR). We are looking towards the Bay of Plenty area but that really depends on the work available. It's amazing how many questions you can think of isn't it? You are right though, this site has proved a real God send for us and everyone is so helpful - and knowledgeable. Good luck on Friday - enjoy the day!

Reylan

Psychopandy

Thanks - good luck to you also. Will follow your story avidly
We have been lucky enough for the OH to get a job offer. Heading to Hamilton hopefully. Still got to get those magic stickers though.
Thanks for the reply

j19fmm

Lucky people, good luck on Friday. What job has OH landed? (sorry, very nosy )

MnB

hi and welcome
good luck on Friday .... hopefully going to hand my app for spouse visa in soon so replies to your post really helpful for me too ...thanks!
B x

Psychopandy

Hi, thanks for the good wishes,
He's got an IT engineering job thingy -not going to try and pretend what it is exactly - man with a spanner in a van.
Hes a very clever chap and was hoping for a computer programming job as thats what he mostly does now whilst running his own company. But hes very bendable
I suppose in the market that there is, its what is going to get us there .. being a bit bendy!!
Fortunately he has a qualification in engineering and getting the job in Hamilton rather than Auckland got us extra points on the EOI as well, so that was a bonus.
Am i right in thinking from another thread that its electrical work you are after?
p.s. The nosey is good - thats why we are here xx

Psychopandy

Thanks for the welcome B
I have appreciated people being so welcome. It seemed like a dumb question, but its the kind of info you cant get anywhere else. If you call NZ immigration they are hardly going to tell you you could be waiting hours to be seen! hopefully we shouldnt be there long - will have very impatient children with us!
Looking forward to handing the whole thing back to NZ immigration for them to do their bit - there are so many hoops to jump through i need a lie down
Thanks again x

j19fmm

I wish! I'm a Primary school teacher and OH is a Plumber (but not gas) but is working as a Civil Enforcement Officer as well at the moment - needs must!

MnB

Yeah that one of the brilliant things about this forum ....other posters will often ask ??'s you had never thought of (or thought were too dumb to ask)but the answers are often so helpful to others.

Good luck with all the 'hoops' ...it sounds as though you've done really well so far!!
B x

Bo-Jangles

Good job description! Sounds a bit like my DP, no idea what he does really.

We delivered our ITA in person too and it's a nice feeling to know that you've seen it in their hands after all the effort of collecting it together. If you put all the stuff in the same order as the checklist and make it easy for them, you get extra brownie points, but you must not bind it or put it in a fancy folder or anything. I think I checked ours about fifty times before handing it in.

Good luck and you must go to the Kiwifruits shop behind NZ house when you are done, for some celebratory Kiwi goodies. http://www.kiwifruitsnzshop.com/

2poor4this

We took ours down in person too, missed our slot as little un needed the loo as they doo still didnt have long to wait and we got them to stamp all our evidence photocopies so we could take all the originals back with us

Good luck for friday.

lardyl

ditto to both.
twas the best way to do it for us as I had to put in a work permit application at the same time as delivering the PR stuff - long story but hey we are here and its "all good".

Psychopandy

Is it really difficult getting primary school jobs at the moment, is it the catch 22? plenty of jobs to be had but only if you are there - cant get there without the job!!!
I'm hoping not to have to work when we get there, im no specialist at anything but can turn my hand to most anything if i have to. We have 2 boys age 8 and 11 and they are my primary concern. i want to make sure they are settled properly before jobs are an issue.
I know in the past i have found that if someone offers you a job you end up agreeing to work hours you rather wouldnt and days you probably cant just to get it and then think about the consequences later.
Your husband sounds quite 'bendy' im sure he will adapt to the market as it is - and surely it cant be that bad forever!!!