[mgbridges]

Hi folks,

I'm getting a little frustrated with the Immigration Service, so I wonder if anyone can help (or at least sympathise!).

I submitted my EOI claiming bonus points for work experience in an area of Absolute Skills Shortage as I have 10 years experience in IT Project Management. It got knocked back because my original degree (which I finished 15 years ago) is in Electronic Engineering, not Computer Science. This seems an amazingly short-sighted and pedantic view, as I know loads of Project Managers in the UK who don't have a Computer Science degree.

Does anyone know if it's possible to get around this, or do I just have to sit there with my 115 points and hope for the best? I'm going out to Auckland for a week in April to make myself available for face-to-face interviews, but it would be good to have the insurance of residency without having to get a job offer first.

Many thanks,

Martin

[Angie and Mick]

Hi MArtin

Sorry to hear about your trouble but unfortuantly I believe there is not a lot you can do. I am in a similar boat but with 110 pts.

Good luck with the job hunting, if you get a job then that should take you over 140 and automatic selection.:)

[Trigirl]

Sorry – the rules on bonus points for skills shortage areas are very very specific (there’s been a lot of discussion about them on here!) Sounds like a job might be your best bet.

[Ana&Steve]

We're in the same boat, we're going for the job offer route (also going to NZ in April) but we got knocked down to 95:no Good luck with everything, it can be done!
Ana

[Helsandfamily]

Hi Martin,

We were in the same boat with hubbies degree ( Physics not IT) although he has been in IT for over 10 years and it is a crazy situation. NZIS told us that we could get the extra bonus pooints if there was enough IT componants within his degree, and advised us to get transcrips of the degrees.

Don't know if this helps at all but good luck!

Hels

[KerryS]

If you get a job offer you will be above the 140 threshold, so will be automatically accepted.
The IT market is pretty bouyant at the moment, so there is plenty of opportunity for skilled workers to gain employment.

[southparkers]

Hi Martin

I wouldnt worry about it to much, we got residency with 115 points and no job offer,I think if they know that you are very likely to get a job once your here they take that into consideration, as most employers are not intersted until you are actually in the country or have residency

[Trigirl]

I think if they know that you are very likely to get a job once your here they take that into consideration

they really don't i'm afraid. it is worked out on pure number of people applying. first yuo have those with 140points or a job offer. then if they dont have enough applications for that selection they go to those with points for work exp in a skills shortage area, then those with points for quals in a skills shortage are. finally if they still dont have enough applications they start working their way down the applications with none of those things - in points order.

In the whole of last year there were 4 selections that took people with no skills shortage points. of those 3 got down as far as 115 points. so it is possible that you'll get in with 115 points if you just put in your EOI and sit tight - it only has to happen once in 6 months.

[mgbridges]

We were in the same boat with hubbies degree ( Physics not IT) although he has been in IT for over 10 years and it is a crazy situation. NZIS told us that we could get the extra bonus pooints if there was enough IT componants within his degree, and advised us to get transcrips of the degrees.


Yeah, I got a transcript of my degree, but it didn't help. However, since it's an Electronics degree I've managed to get the bonus points for qualifications under the Electronics Project Manager category. I'm not going to be one, but I'm not going to turn down the points! However, can't persuade them to accept my work experience, despite the fact that the last few years have all been with a Telecoms company.

Ah well.

Martin

[Angelonthemove]

Oh we know the feeling. My OH has an IT degree but the transcript says his first year he did not have IT as they made him do maths and his other chosen subject was psychology in the first year then yrs 2 & 3 were also in IT. So as it a Bachelor of Science they say he did not major in IT but in Psychology so it does not count!!!! So like you he can not claim for the degree or the skills shortage points. He has a contract job here in IT and 30 years experience.

We have sent additional copies to prove he has a history of contracting. I don't think they read the documents properly as he has 6 years covered for contracting but still they want more evidence. So writting all over the scanned copies to point out it was a contract.

Now the guy has gone on holiday so we are waiting to find our if he has enough points with extra documents.

So get a full time role first in IT so you automatically get your 50 points.

Projects are due to start around April when local governments get their budgets.