[Belmont Babes]

:confused: Please could someone clarify which rules changed Dec 2006. Does everyone's profession now need assessment with NZAQ? Is it enough to just send original certificates to them or do they also need letters from past employers with details about positions held and dates? Very stressed and confused. Before submitting EOI we were under impression that we wouldn't need NZQA but now we have received ITA they are asking for it. :roll :wah

[CjChris]

Here's an excerpt from INZ regarding the new rule about full assessment that went into place Dec. 06:

"If you have claimed bonus points for a qualification and or work experience in an area of absolute shortage and have not sent your full NZQA assessment with your application [ITA], INZ will not accept the application for processing. This is because you will not have met the mandatory lodgement requirements which are detailed in our Operational Manual (R2.40 (a) (viii)."

So, if your EOI was drawn after Dec. 06, and the primary applicant claimed
bonus points for his qualification (degree)
and/or work experience (number of years in that job)

for a job in area of absolute skills shortage, you will need a full NZQA assessment regardless of whether it is on the recognized list of qualifications.

You will find the NZQA application link on the left of this page:
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-international/qual-eval/index.html

If you want more information about lodging your ITA, there is a document from NZIS that details requirements. PM me your email address and I will attach it and forward to you.

As for requirements for full assessment, NZQA wants copies of all degrees, transcripts (secondary school degree included), any proof of employment years you've claimed on EOI: prove this with a letter on company letter head from each employer worked for, stating exact dates of employment, hours worked per week (to show full or part time), duties of that job, and job title you held. You may also want to send additional proof of employment, such as pay stubs, tax documents, employment contracts, etc. The more proof, the merrier.

I hope this helps!! It's a wildly confusing process at first, but I made notes, lists, charts, what have you, while I read, researched, gathered documentation in order to keep it all straight.

It can be done...get on it fast, though!!

[CjChris]

P.S. You can pay extra for a FAST TRACK on your NZQA. If you already have the ITA in hand, you really need to take this option. If there's any way you can get letters/proof and transcripts in person rather than waiting for them to be mailed to you, it is worth the effort to take a day off work and go gather these documents. Call people you will be getting this info from now, tell them exactly what you will need, then arrange to get it. If that is not possible, in your letters of request for this info, tell them that you are on strict time limitations and would appreciate speedy response.

[Belmont Babes]

Will get on it...Have to contact 3 employers for years claimed. Have not got last years school info. Don't know where it has gone it's such a long time ago. Do you think it will be ok just to list quals and explain that?

[CjChris]

You must provide info. You will have to show that you've exhausted means to find info (in cases where school has closed or business has ceased to exist). This will be accepted in some circumstances, but my guess is you should try to find whatever you can.

Having that qualification listed but not showing any proof of it could mean that you are assessed at a lower level and will get paid, forever and ever in NZ, at a lower level! Wages are low enough without throwing away money on a non-proven qualification.

For example, I am a teacher, and my qualification level is Master Degree with 10 years experience...so, I got a level 9 from NZQA, which means I'll get paid near the top of the pay scale as a teacher in NZ. This rating is based on all my qualifications, which added to my work experience means I'll get paid thousands more per year than had I not been able to prove all that I listed on my application.

My OH has a PhD in chemistry with 15 years experience. He is level 10, the highest, and will get paid right near the top of the payscale for his profession, too. Thankfully, we were able to prove all work and degrees we had listed on our EOI.

So, as much as it seems like a lot of work, you'll get rewarded in $$$ when it counts later.

Additionally, you need this proof for your ITA as well (not just NZQA) so get three copies of everything right up front--one copy for NZQA, one copy for ITA, and a copy to open (if envelope is sealed, say for transcripts) to make copies of to include in NZQA and ITA---because they request a photo copy of everything you send!

Is that clear as mud? :confused: :laugh

[Belmont Babes]

You have been a wealth of information thank you. I am feeling very daunted and stressed. Big pity that the UK aren't as fussy with regard to immigration. If they were I probably wouldn't feel the need to emigrate. I only hope we survive this process. It doesn't help that we have a house to finish off renovating and sell. Hubby is tiling as I type :wah

[CjChris]

You are most welcome. I'm just returning the favor that so many offered forth to me. Now that all my applications are in, I have some sanity to offer assistance to others. I did also feel quite daunted by the whole thing, but the more I realized it had to get done sooner rather than later, the better able I was to start marking things off the list. So, make a list of who you need to contact, and just do it. Most people will be quite compliant, but if you don't give them specific requirements and deadlines, they'll take too long to get back to you. So, ask with a smile but be firm!

Anything else you need, just let me know. If I can't help, then surely some of the other nice folks on here can.

Christine

[Belmont Babes]

Dear Christine
I am most envious of your sanity. I have made a list of who we need to contact and have been searching directories for one important company/contact that no longer exists. I will have to make alot of phone calls tomorrow but will be working all day so not sure how I will fit it all in. :wah I don't know what we will do if we cannot find them. We need them to confirm that Hubby worked for them and that they were a registered company when he completed his apprenticeship.:uhoh

[Malay-Coopers]

Do you need to send a transcript from high school? Is that what secondary school is? Can you tell I'm from the USA? :)

[CjChris]

Yes, you will need transcript from high school (and a copy of your diploma if you have it). I thought it was so silly to get that after having my masters degree!!!! And I graduated high school in 1983, so my transcript looked ancient (small town and before computer technology).

Good luck

[jess]

Yes, you will need transcript from high school (and a copy of your diploma if you have it). Wow, we didn't have to send in anything from high school (or at least we didn't and no one ever asked for it), but that was in early 2005, and NZIS requirements change all the time. Glad I got through without having to track that down! My old high school hasn't been a high school for years. :exit

[CjChris]

Jess, did you do NZQA full assessment? That is where it is required. ITA doesn't specify, I don't think, but NZQA does.

[jess]

Jess, did you do NZQA full assessment? That is where it is required. ITA doesn't specify, I don't think, but NZQA does.Ahh... no I didn't have to do NZQA. So many more people are faced with that since the recent December changes to the requirements! I wasn't doubting you. :p Just amazed at how many more hoops seem to have been added to the skilled migrant category since I went through. :no

Thanks for clarifying. :)

[CjChris]

:laugh ...no, glad you asked, because I looked back at the previous posts to make sure I hadn't misunderstood what was being asked about with transcripts-ITA or NZQA. So, you made me check my facts! It is really easy to get confused on all this stuff, and then they throw in a new rule!! :wah I'm still feeling quite lost on a few things, but somehow I'll get through!

If I recall, you've helped me on many, many occassions, Jess! I owe you dinner when we get to NZ! Hopefully, we'll be there in September!:clap

[Malay-Coopers]

My high school transcript is also ancient. I think it was copied with carbon paper and a typewriter! I lost my diploma a long time ago! (I graduated in 1984, from a small, rural town close to WV border, just outside of Youngstown,Ohio. When I called to get the transcript my old Earth Science teacher answered! He's now the guidance counselor!)

I thought I avoided the NZQA mess because my PR came through in 2005, but since we are now just leaving for NZ, my recruiter thought I should get the full assessment done so employers trust my qualification in social work. She said they had some nasty cases of people being grossly underqualified.

Thanks for the help. Now to dig out that transcript. Does it have to be notarized or have a seal?

[CjChris]

Mine had a raised seal (and looked very much like what you described--carbon paper...Ha!). I added a letter of explanation with mine saying I lost my diploma but the high school transcript shows that I had X number of credits and graduated as number X out of XYZ students, blah blah blah. I figured they might appreciate the "translation" since it was so horridly copied by my guidance dept.:uhoh