[benandclare]

Hi All,
Silly question maybe but cant seem to find answer.
Undecided as to whether to use agency or not, bro in law did and recommends as they know all in the ins and outs and you onlly get one chance!!! or do you?? if we sent in our EOI and by some chance had cocked up an answer somewhere and they refused it, is that it??
Not going to apply until Clare has job and when she does that willl give us 190 points :yes :yes are we being too cautious??

Cheers in advance
Ben

[zardell]

Hi Ben and Claire.

First of all, let me say that I know a few people who have used agencies and although some have been satisfied there are lots who have not - do a search for a thread about agencies from a forumite called Matt.......that will open your eyes !!

However, whether you use an agency or not is a purely personal choice and also a matter of deciding whether or not that money could be used in a better way...........one way tickets to NZ maybe??

Completing the on-line EOI, though daunting to some, is not an impossible task and when you are chosen from the pool (and with 190 points, you will be !!) and are sent your ITA, it is only a paper copy of you EOI and all you have to do is supply to NZIS the evidence of your claimed points within the EOI - IE diplomas, city and guilds, proof of work experience claimed etc.

Now I know it sounds as though I am simplifying the process, but at the end of the day, no agent can supply the information needed for your EIO, nor supply the evidence needed to support it - you will have to supply it to him, so why not supply it to NZIS yourself and save yourself a few quid?

I also understand that maybe (particularly if your circumstances are not what you consider to be ' the norm' ) you will have a lot of unanswered questions and queries.

Two things to remember here. First of all NZIS are not ogres - they will help you with any queries you may have and guide you along the way. Secondly - so will we here on this forum !!

You wont be the first or the last to ask this question and no-one can decide for you, but personally, if I were you, I would go it alone. We, like loads of other did and we are now living in NZ , plus we have an extra few thousand pounds in our pockets and in my opinion thats better than being in an agents pocket.

Oh and no, apparently you do not get just the one chance, as you put it. I dont know their personal circimstances, but there are people on this forum that have appealed against decisions made by NZIS and are now living in NZ.

Good luck with your decision,

Julie

xx

[sizzlingbadger]

If your's is a straightforward case then it's easy to do yourselves and save the cash, agencies are really expensive and a waste of time unless you've got a complex case. They only form fill for you, you still have to supply them with information.

We spent about 3 weeks on and off filling in the EOI. Although in all we had spent about a day filling it in and making sure it was right, probably over kill on our part though :roll But kept going back to it and amending it, changing a few things. Just to make sure it was correct first time we put it in.

At the same time we were collecting evidence they needed for the ITA, like birth certificates, passports, marriage certificate, evidence of living together since we were married, school certificates, letters from employees of how long OH had worked for them. We left the medicals and police forms until we had the ITA in hand.

Have a look at the points calculator to see if you get 140 points without the job offer if you do put in the EOI now.

[jess]

I think an agency is unnecessary too.

When we first submitted our EOI, I had made a pretty fundamental mistake that would have made us ineligible. I won't bore you with details, but I got an email from NZIS saying that they way I had filled in the categories I would not qualify, but if I meant to put my skills under a different category it should be fine. I resubmitted following their advice and sailed through the process with no trouble after that. So I would say if you mess up that is not the end.

As others said you'll have to provide all the info and documentation even with an agency. Unless you have some complicated case that makes you think NZIS will have a problem with you (unlikely with the kind of points you're talking about), then I would think you'd be fine doing it yourself.

Best of luck. :)

[veronica]

perhaps its worth your while taking the time to pop down to london for the day and having a chat to the NZIS at new zealand house. Then when you fill it in you will have more information before you start. Personally can't see the point in using an agency and agree with the others that the money is better spent elsewhere.

[benandclare]

Cheers for all your replies , very helpful and will go it alone, but with the forum holding our hand :yes :yes
Ben

[The Hodges]

Hi guys

I just wanted to say good luck and I think that you're making the right decision. If you get stuck on the form, have a quick search or post the question and we'll try to answer it.

I'm glad you're deciding to take the plunge though. It'll be plain sailing compared to the wedding... :laugh

[marcia]

Cheers for all your replies , very helpful and will go it alone, but with the forum holding our hand :yes :yes
Ben

Don't worry the forum has many hands :clap and we don't mind helping and sharing our experiences. What makes the forum work so well is remembering to return the knowledge when you have been through the process yourself, helping other newbies just starting out - and believe me you will be able to!

Good luck - and just to add my bit - I would DIY and save the money to spend in NZ! :yes