[LeeW]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum but I've been reading for a while, I'm hoping to make the move at the end of next year and was wondering the best way to go about it.

I have a house to sell, a job to jack, and a family to move. Although I have 'friends of friends' who live there, I've never actually been to New Zealand. Is it necessary to visit first? ie would I be foolish to rely on my research and gut feeling? Everything I have read or heard so far has been positive.... apart from the earthquake thing which was news to me but not really an issue.

Workwise, I am currently an IBM Mainframe Operator (IT) with 8yrs experience, before that (and to this day in my spare time) I was a carpet fitter so not shy of some hard work. I'm wondering which one will earn me more points although I would like to do something completely different from either.

I have aprrox £120k equity behind me - which may go up or down depending on the UK house market - so ultimately looking to buy rather than rent. Should I ebay all my stuff and buy new when I arrive or ship my gear over?

As for area, I'd like to be fairly central so started looking at Wellington if I were to continue in the IT industry. However, I'm not really striving for a big city lifestyle, I would much rather be part of a smaller community but at the end of the day, will do whatever it takes.

What sort of timescales should I allow for? When should I start the ball rolling and what do you reccomend I do first? Bearing in mind that I cannot move before September 2008.

Sorry for the extra long first post, I'll try and keep future ones shorter :o

[tigerlily]

Hi Lee. Welcome. Have you done the points calculator to see if you could qualify under the skilled migrant scheme? It and a load of other helpful stuff (such as how expensive this all is) is here:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/
If you find that you do qualify with enough points, it's not too early to do the expression of interest now. If you find that you would need a job offer to qualify, wait until you are a whole lot closer to start applying for jobs. Your IT specialty will help in finding something. I'd keep that as my best option to start with.

Best of luck to you and your family!

[Ana&Steve]

Workwise, I am currently an IBM Mainframe Operator (IT) with 8yrs experience
Is there any chance of you getting a transfer through IBM to the Wellington offices?

I have aprrox £120k equity behind me - which may go up or down depending on the UK house market - so ultimately looking to buy rather than rent. Should I ebay all my stuff and buy new when I arrive or ship my gear over? From what I've gathered if you can afford the container and you really like your stuff, it's better to bring it. Not only can it be a bit pricey to replace, you have to learn where to shop for new things in NZ while sorting everything else out when you first arrive.



What sort of timescales should I allow for? When should I start the ball rolling and what do you reccomend I do first? Bearing in mind that I cannot move before September 2008.
Probably NZQA assessments and the EOI. Check out and familiarize yourself with this site: www.immigration.govt.nz


Sorry for the extra long first post, I'll try and keep future ones shorter :o
Never be afraid to ask questions or seek knowledge!:p hope that helps a bit!
Ana

[Sam B]

I think quite a lot of people come here for good having never visited - we have. It's so expensive to travel, and visiting is not the same as living and working anyway. I found it really helpful to get a job first, and then do everything else - the process was much quicker because I had a job offer, although I haven't sold my house in the UK, I've rented it out. It was 5 months from the first idea of coming to arriving for us - (family of 4).

[Avalon]

Workwise, I am currently an IBM Mainframe Operator (IT) with 8yrs experience
Is there any chance of you getting a transfer through IBM to the Wellington offices?


That bit I now you cant do. From painful experience :wah

IBM Uk is a completely separate company from IBM NZ. Its a "multi" national company not an "inter"national company. (I guess MBM didnt have the same ring to it!)

I kid you not:laugh

Some IBMers have managed to get jobs in the US before leaving the UK company - but it would be highly unlikely that you could get a transfer here.

On the positive side - its well worth looking at whther you qualify for a "leave of absense" - sometimes paid at 1/4 salary. This way - you have a UK part income while you move over here and try and make your new life work. And if it doesnt work out - you have a job to go back to at the same salary level. Not a bad idea if you have not visited NZ before. You would need to ask your manager about it - and it does depend on how the company is performing as to whether they allow them or not.

Hubby did this and then took redundancy when it was offered 7 months later.

Looks like hes finally going back to Big Blue in a few weeks after a 2 yr break.

[LeeW]

Hello everyone, thanks for your replies. I have visited the links above and done the points thing as a 'skilled migrant'. I score 115 points which apparently is suffice, however, I'm unsure as to the qualification side of things. Although I would class myself as more than competent at either of my lines of work, I have never actually gained any real documented qualifications. I have certificates for the the courses that my IT employer has sent me on but nothing that I would consider a recognised qualy. I have ticked the box for basic qualification gained but not sure if this is bending the truth or not. I have several GCSEs and a national certificate in IT from college, don't want to start things off on the wrong foot and end up with egg on my face if challenged. [Also, I should say that I don't actually work for IBM, I just work for an IT centre that has four mainframes.]

I have noticed that in Wellington, on the skills shortage list is floorlayer. I would much rather go down this line of work as I'd like to be getting out and about and meeting people. However, once again, its talking about a National Certificate in floorlaying (?). As far as I'm aware, there is no such qualification in the UK. Is this something I could do once in NZ as a condition of employment if necessary?

Oh yeah, and as a kind of side topic, the in-laws would be very interested in coming over too but they are getting to the end of their working life. They have plenty of cash to bring with them (approx £300k) so will be financially secure. Will they have any problems gaining residency if they don't come with the intention of gaining employment?

Thanks in advance :yes

[Moorf]

Oh yeah, and as a kind of side topic, the in-laws would be very interested in coming over too but they are getting to the end of their working life. They have plenty of cash to bring with them (approx £300k) so will be financially secure. Will they have any problems gaining residency if they don't come with the intention of gaining employment?

Unfortunately they can't come here purely to retire unless they are sponsored by you guys or can come in under the investor category (need around NZ$5 million I believe).

We are in the same position and as my parents are nearing retirement they will need to be sponsored by me, and this can only be done because I only have one brother and he's in UK, had I had 2 siblings in the UK I would not be able to sponsor them over.....

There is a "family quota" draw but I have been advised that this has been cancelled this year as they don't have spaces... apparently it "may" resume again in 2008.

[Ana&Steve]

That bit I now you cant do. From painful experience :wah

IBM Uk is a completely separate company from IBM NZ. Its a "multi" national company not an "inter"national company.
I did not know that. Sorry you found out the hard way:(
Ana

[barryp]

Although I would class myself as more than competent at either of my lines of work, I have never actually gained any real documented qualifications. I have certificates for the the courses that my IT employer has sent me on but nothing that I would consider a recognised qualy. I have ticked the box for basic qualification gained but not sure if this is bending the truth or not. I have several GCSEs and a national certificate in IT from college, don't want to start things off on the wrong foot and end up with egg on my face if challenged.

No way round it - the NZIS process is heavy on formal qualifications, so there is risk for you. There is no risk, from what I can see, arising from getting egg on your face... so long as you're explicit and honest about what you're doing, they can choose to recognise your quals or not. There is no punishment for you if they disagree (except, of course, loss of points).

One other thing to note is that, if you apply for and receive PR as opposed to a work permit, is that there is no requirement that you accept gainful employment in the field that got you PR in the first place. So if you get PR for your mainframe skills and decide to work as a floorlayer instead, that's just fine with NZIS. (The reverse is as well.)

As a fellow oldster of IT, I should mention that the demand for mainframe operators in Wellington is pretty limited, and within four years there will be literally a dozen such jobs remaining in the entire city....

[LeeW]

Thanks for that info Barry, I always said if I left my current job I wouldn't worry if I never worked in IT again so that's not the worst news you could have given me ;)

However, the info that Moorf gave about the in-laws may deal a bit of a blow to the plan. It's taken me a long time to get the wife on board with the idea of emmigrating and I'm not sure how she would cope without her dear old ma. She is one of three children too so the sponsorship thing would not be applicable but just out of interest what does that entail?

Thanks in advance.

[Trigirl]

She is one of three children too so the sponsorship thing would not be applicable but just out of interest what does that entail?
Once you have lived in NZ as a resident for 3 years (ie with PR not a work permit) your parents can apply for residence via the family stream. You agree to sponsor them for 2 years after they arrive – ie they are not entitled to benefits for that time. They are required to pass the same medical and character requirements as if they were applying for residence via the skilled migrant category.