[Lesly]

Hi all,

Long time since my last post, we have been very busy moving from Belgium to NZ. EOI has been selected on 1st September with no job offer, 105 points. We arrived in NZ on 10 November. After 2 weeks, husband had 4 joboffers and chose the job with the accredited employer, here in Auckland.
With the EOI process still running, we don't really know what to do now.
We have applied for a work to residence now and also asked NZIS to update the EOI with the accredited employer's joboffer.
Probably the work to residence will go faster than the EOI process, but how certain can we be about the Permanent residence after 24 months???
Do we have to apply for residence after 24 months working with the accredited employer, or do we automatically gain the PR?????
Lots of questions but very confused about this.

Thanks to everyone,
Cheers, Lesly. :P

[markkellaway]

Hi Lesly,

If it was me I'd continue down the PR route, with the job offer you're pretty sure to get PR and you won't have the uncertainty for 2 years. PR will also give you more freedom if he decides he doesn't want to stick with that job/career after a while. :nice1

Cheers,

Mark.

[Lesly]

Thanks Mark, so as I understand it, PR will not be certain after 2 years of work to residence?

Lesly

[sarahw]

I'd go for PR - now is a good time to go for it! :hopeso

[Lesly]

Yeah, I guess that will be the best thing to do. We have decided to arrange the work to residence for now so that hubby can start his job, but meanwhile we will keep the EOI process running too.

Thanks :P
Lesly

[Jo and Andy]

Great to hear that your husband got a job so quickly. Others on the site will be able to give you better advice on PR.

Just wondered what you plan of action had been, to see if it can help mine.

Did you apply for your EOI, and get selected, then just go on holiday, arranging interviews during your time there. Or did you get selected, and move with the idea that you would find a job within a few months.

Got to work out what to do, Also did you only look in Aukland or did you look elsewhere for jobs. We hope to move to Christchurch, and hopefully be mainly mortgage free.

Really good news for you and hope everyone goes brilliantly Leslie.

Have a good christmas too.

Josephine

[Lesly]

Hi Josephine,

I'll tell you about our history...

In November 2003, we finally made the decision to emigrate to New Zealand. We started to look around for information on the NZIS website and this forum (thanks to everyone for answerring my load of questions!! :nice1 ).

My husband worked in a big pharmaceutical company for 17 years, had a very successful career as a lab supervisor/analytical chemist/validation manager. I stayed home with the kids.

We noticed that we probably would have a problem doing our medicals. We have a 7 year old son with a few disabilities, he had an inflammation of the brain at the age of six months, result: braindamage, consequences: he cannot speak, and can hardly use his right arm, he's intelligent though, and a great kid, with a big future...at least if they give him the chance.

In January 2004, we put our house on the market, and meanwhile, we tried to find out about our chances to succeed in PR (with those bloody medicals in mind). I don't have to tell you that lots of people thought we were gone mad!! We had a big, beautiful house, happy family, lots of friends, but we kept on dreaming about New Zealand.

In the end, we didn't get an answer to our question about our chances for getting PR, we even asked the question to NZIS itself, we got nothing but a vague answer from them about the health regulations.

In August, we submitted our EOI, and house got sold.
On 1st September EOI got picked out of the pool with 105 points, no joboffer.
We bought tickets to New Zealand, got a 9 month visitor visa, sold stuff we didn't need anymore, sold cars, arranged examinations, transportation to NZ and quarantine for our dog.

We gave a big party for family and friends in Belgium, and off we were!!! We arrived in NZ as visitors on 10 November.
Crazy you think? :mrgreen:

In Belgium, my husband had arranged 5 interviews, not only in Auckland, one in Palmerston North too. He did most of his interviews in Auckland, because we were staying in Auckland for the first 30 days, just to be able to visit our dog every day here in quarantine, the poor animal is released on 4 December, she's doing fine now!!

Two weeks after arrival, husband got 4 joboffers. 1 joboffer was with an accredited employer in Auckland. Because of the 'medical problem', we preferred to take the offer with the accredited employer. Maybe NZIS will be not that picky with such a great joboffer. :hopeso
We applied for a Work to Residence now, but EOI is still running, still no decision successful. Medicals had to be done for the Work to Residence too, so we had them done about 2 weeks ago. We keep our fingers crossed. Maybe we will be refused for a Work to Residence, but if we make it, we probably will make it to PR too!

We keep on following the dream, we have never had any regrets of doing this. If I drop dead at this very moment, I will die as a happy person!!

I made a website about our adventures, but unfortunately it's in Flemish. It has had about over 1000 visitors since day 1 in October 04. You could at least take a look at the pictures if you like (click on 'fotoalbum' in the main menu). Here's the link: www.wannabeekiwi.mysites.nl

I hope our story will help you in some way, if you have some more questions, just ask!!I wish you and your family all the best of luck in the world, and a merry Christmas.

Cheers Lesly. :P

[Jo and Andy]

Thanks for the information and the pictures.

My husband keeps thinking of just selling up and going on a visitor visa while EOI is in running, the idea scares me though.

Perhaps life is about taking chances though, regret is a horrible feeling.

My family think we are mad, especially as we have never been to NZ, even my brother in law (a Kiwi), says we should visit first, but he is behind us in going to see what it is like. If it does not work you come back, and with house prices rising as they are in NZ, we should not be that much worse off. But hopefully we will love it and our daughter will have a choice of more places to live her life in.

This site is so useful and getting your worries out, making you think.

Thanks again for your information, How are you finding the standard of living change, a lot of people say that actually living costs are higher than you expect?

Merry Christmas

[markkellaway]

Lesly,

Yours is a great story, for the chances you've taken you really deserve success, I sincerely hope that your son's disability doesn't affect your, and his, chances in NZ. :nice1

Jo,

I don't think it should affect your decision but bear in mind that the housing market in NZ has probably peaked. Interest rates have risen a fair few times this year and the market has cooled considerably. I think next year will be a good time to buy there, not because prices are going to go up significantly but because there will be a good choice at decent prices, that's my hope anyway!! :hopeso

Good luck to all of you!!

Mark. :P

[Jo and Andy]

Mark

Been stuck in negative equity before, so not too worried about it because we stuck it out and ended up keeping the negative equity house in Hedge End, So'ton, which and having to stump up for another mortgage with family help in B'ham.

House in Hedge End, is now either our penson or our new house in NZ, as it is sooo no longer negative.

house prices go up and down all over the world, pitty we didn't go sooner to take advantage of the lower prices, but then, I have had some good times in the UK, and hope to have good ones over there. Will have to make sure I have Central heating though, (only like cold when I have ski's on). Hopefully due to the weather in ChCH area some will have Central heating.

thanks for your help though.

Jo :cheers

[markkellaway]

Jo,

I'm sure the house in Hedge End will give a VERY nice pension!! Hedge End is just up the road from Poole, what prompted the move to Birmingham?

We're up to B'ham in January, having our medicals up there.

When are you hoping to move and what made you choose Christchurch? We were over there in May and loved it, although it did take a little getting used to. What about work, will you be going with or without jobs?

Mark. :P

[westie]

Jo and Andy

Maybe you are a little mad but join the club. We have never been to NZ. we were going to save up to take a holiday visiting friends and then decided to just go instead and we are due over on the 8th Jan. Some anxieties but lots of hopes. Our friends have helped us to rent a lovely house in whenuapai with the water at the bottom of the garden. I keep looking at the pictures of the water view from our bedroom balcony to be and thinking 'how mad can it be to want that'.

Maria

[Jo and Andy]

To Mark

Yes the pension will be good as will the endowment in 12 years if we can still pay in on NZ wages. Might sell it in order to get a mortgage free life.

It was my husbands idea to move in the first place and he is the one that is passionate about it, I am the one that worries but does the most looking around for stuff.

We read the book "Get a new life" and the bloke who wrote it mentioned Christchurch as being a placed he could easily have settled in instead of Tauranga.

First choice I suppose would be to have a really nice beach nearby warm enough to swim in. But Andy must get a job as a Sales Manager in order for us to go, and having experience in Construction and Office Refurbs, a City is where he is likely to get a good job. Aukland will have the possibilities for jobs, but I am pretty sure we would not be able to be mortgage free and therefore, a better country but not necessarily a better life.

The Emigration consultant we spoke to talked to us about Wellington and Christchurch and on looking into the weather, life style, schooling etc, it looked the best place.

I also read on a site how friendly Christchurch in particular was, that you really felt your kids were safe walking to school etc (yes I know you still get kiddi feelers over there, so have to be careful but not as bad as here I hope). Longer summers, winters (I do like winter) and we do all like skiing, so even if we could not afford holidays abroad we could go skiing at weekends in the winter. I know from my brother in law that saving for holiday on NZ wages is more difficult than here as the prices of holidays are equiv to UK ones but on NZ wages, (does that make sense).

Then all the talk of Christchurch on this site is so possitive and friendly, how could you not want to go there. My brother in law's family are in Aukland but he has friends in Christchurch, so we will have some body (apart from everyone on here) to turn to.

Jobs, hope to put in our EOI in Jan (though agency) and when accepted work out to go for interviews April May. THen for a quick move.

Scarry, I keep looking into applying and look positively to the move, but the actually doing it is scary.

Let us know when you are in Brum, if you need any help etc, let me know.

Maria

Good luck in Jan, I think that is what my husband would like to do, sell up and move then get a job, but that is way to scarry. I can see his point, the cost of flights for us to go for interviews could be a couple of months rent.

Got to try it, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you made the wrong decision, or that it was not for you, and come home. Hopefully it is going to be the right one, but you have to try. That is my philisophy.

To have a life where my child can play outside, go to the beach or go skiing, have better schooling and more opportunities of where to live when she grows up. That is what a parent should give.

Well that is enough waffle.

[markkellaway]

Yes the pension will be good as will the endowment in 12 years if we can still pay in on NZ wages. Might sell it in order to get a mortgage free life.


A mortgage free life will certainly take the pressure off. One of the attractions of the move to us is the ability to have a much lower mortgage, with the houses we are looking at we'll probably borrow about $120k and still have a bit put by.


It was my husbands idea to move in the first place and he is the one that is passionate about it, I am the one that worries but does the most looking around for stuff.


Neither one of us have really been what I would call passionate about the move, we just both got the idea about the same time after some friends moved. We aren't what I would call unhappy in the UK, we just see that life could be so much better with reduced financial pressure and a better future for our son Andrew.


First choice I suppose would be to have a really nice beach nearby warm enough to swim in. But Andy must get a job as a Sales Manager in order for us to go, and having experience in Construction and Office Refurbs, a City is where he is likely to get a good job. Aukland will have the possibilities for jobs, but I am pretty sure we would not be able to be mortgage free and therefore, a better country but not necessarily a better life.


We will be going to Christchurch for a number of reasons. It has all the facilties you could want but has a small town feel. It seems to be clean and safe and the housing seems affordable. Anne isn't interested at all in the north island and there is no way I would want to live in a big city like Auckland, with all the big city "issues" that would entail.


I also read on a site how friendly Christchurch in particular was, that you really felt your kids were safe walking to school etc (yes I know you still get kiddi feelers over there, so have to be careful but not as bad as here I hope). Longer summers, winters (I do like winter) and we do all like skiing, so even if we could not afford holidays abroad we could go skiing at weekends in the winter. I know from my brother in law that saving for holiday on NZ wages is more difficult than here as the prices of holidays are equiv to UK ones but on NZ wages, (does that make sense).


Christchurch is very nice and no matter who you ask there seem to be more nice areas than not, by quite a large margin. It's an easy city to get around and you are right, the people we spoke to are VERY friendly. Contrary to lots you read, on this forum as well as others, we found the choice of goods and the quality to be absolutely fine. Maybe that's because we don't shop in M & S all the time here. ;)


Jobs, hope to put in our EOI in Jan (though agency) and when accepted work out to go for interviews April May. Then for a quick move.


We will be putting our application in after the medicals in January, hoping to get PR Feb/March at which point we will put the house on the market and I'll start applying for jobs in earnest. If I don't get a job we'll go without one and chance it, I've spent my whole life being careful, life's just too short.

If you haven't already committed I would download the EOI form and take a look at it, it really isn't that difficult and you'll save yourself a whole lot of money doing it yourself. I nearly went the agent route myself but after seeing how difficult it is (NOT!) I am so glad we saved the money.


Scarry, I keep looking into applying and look positively to the move, but the actually doing it is scary.

Let us know when you are in Brum, if you need any help etc, let me know.


Scary is not the word for it, I know exactly how you feel. We are not so mad about this that we are completely driven to it, we feel after getting this far that if we don't try it we'll always say "what if".

Take care,

Mark. :nice1

[Lesly]

Hi guys, just to let you all know that husband and I got workpermits today :nice1 , oldest son got his studypermit :nice1 , but the medicals of the youngest son went to a consultant physician of NZIS for further consideration :( , our case officer told us that they are just being cautious. Now we are spooked!!! :wah :hopeso
If you don't know what I'm talking about, then read our history I posted above.

Lesly

[Jo and Andy]

Leslie

Good luck, my fingers are crossed for you, I am sure they just want to tick all the boxes.


Mark

Have you already done your EOI then, if not surely you should not be doing your medicals yet. The agency said to wait for those until you have your ITA(I think), same with police checks and they all have a time limit.
The agency idea was so that we would have someone who knows what they are doing and will ensure we have our points calculated correctly (not made a mistake) and when we if / when Andy gets a job, they can use their contacts to help get the PR or Work Permit through quicker.

The other idea was that they have someone out there to help you find a house and stuff, but then again, we have so many contacts here, I sure that would not be a problem.

A teanage on this site was telling me that Pananui was very nice with good primary school and high school, tree lined roads, very family orientated. Might look into it.

Just hope the weather is better, sounds, very weired at the moment.

I am a bit like you in I love this country but not sure if it is the best place for Rhiannon (7),

You have been out to NZ already haven't you, I have not so that is probably why I am a bit more scared and why family think we are mad.

See ya

[markkellaway]

Hi Jo,


Have you already done your EOI then, if not surely you should not be doing your medicals yet. The agency said to wait for those until you have your ITA(I think), same with police checks and they all have a time limit.
The agency idea was so that we would have someone who knows what they are doing and will ensure we have our points calculated correctly (not made a mistake) and when we if / when Andy gets a job, they can use their contacts to help get the PR or Work Permit through quicker.


We've submitted the EOI and were invited to apply (ITA) in November. We're just waiting for the medicals now to submit our application, which we hope to do before the end of January.

With regards to the agencies many people have found that the agents in fact do not know what they are doing any more than you or I, making sure the points are correct is really not hard and if there is any confusion there are loads of people on this forum that will be more than happy to help. If you feel strongly that you should go that way then that's great, I really would download the form, or do it online, you can save it and edit as you go before submitting, before you commit to the agents.

For finding houses there are people here who can help in this regard, and there are agencies that will do just that too. Kiwi provides this service and has helped many Christchurch bound people already, why not drop her a line?


You have been out to NZ already haven't you, I have not so that is probably why I am a bit more scared and why family think we are mad.


Yes we have been over, mainly because I am mr. safe, we have friends that moved there in February this year having never been and they love it though. You have to bear in mind that there is always a risk, I really believe that if you are personable, happy to work hard and go in with your eyes open then you'll be OK. I also believe that you've got to commit to at least 6 months there before deciding it's not for you. There are people on this forum who've had AWFUL home sickness but have stuck it out and now love it there. It's also a state of mind thing, to me 24 hours on a plane isn't a big deal so I don't feel that far away, to others going to the US on a plane is a huge deal, it's all so subjective.

The upshot is that life is short and you need to grab it while you can!! :nice1

Take care, and good luck with the decision making. If you have questions regarding the EOI that for any reason you don't want to post on the forum, or if you just want to chat about the process, feel free to PM me and I'll let you have the phone number.

Mark. :P

[Jo and Andy]

Thanks Mark.

I keep dithering about the Agent, It is about £3,000 that could be wellused else where, will have a big rethink.

I want to go and NZ but will combine it with Interviews, that way if we definately don't like it at least we will have been to NZ, and also if we do then hopefully Andy will get a job.

I am looking at sticking it out still citizenship if I don't like it. I am sure I will, but then Rhiannon has choices.

What line of work are you in?

[westie]

Lesly
Have my fingers, legs and eyes crossed for all of you that your sons medical will be OK. :hopeso
Maria

[markkellaway]

Jo,

I'm in IT, actually a product manager for a software development company dealing with IP (as in TCP/IP). I'm not stuck on being a product manager in NZ though, I don't mind what I do as long as it gets us enough money. That is assuming I get PR and not just a work permit, which means I'll have to stick in IT.

How about you?

Good move on the EOI, the offer of help was genuine as well if you feel you need it, which I'm sure you won't. ;)

Mark. :P

[Jo and Andy]

Hi Mark

Andy is a Sales Manager in Office Refurbishment, and has to get a job as a Sales Manager or above for our PR.

The agent said you get the job, stick at it for a least 3 months, to secure the PR and then change if you don't like it.

So need to be in a city really, think Christchurch will be fine, but looking at living just outside town as well, Rangiora looks nice, with good High school.

After christmas I will really try and get stuck into applying.

:P
Bye Jo