[mel&nigel]

Hello!

We're new, and i've never done this before, so bear with me.

I'm Melanie, OH is Nigel, and we have two daughters - Meg's 4 and Maddy's 16 months.

We want to leave Tandragee (a little town in Northern Ireland) for the Bay of Plenty:) and have just posted a cheque for nearly £2k to an immigration company to get the ball rolling.

The big problem is we're going to have to just go and hope I get a job. I've been a journalist for nearly 11 years, but have no formal qualifications, just A levels. And he's an aftersales manager in a car dealership (parts and service), again with no formal quals. So we don't have enough points to lodge an EOI, and I'm really worried it'll all go pear shaped.

House is on market, have to sell it obviously to go, but we hope to be away by end of year.

Anyone else been in the same boat re not having a job? I know we'll get 6 months, but the thought of having to come home again and start from scratch really freaks me out.

I would appreciate some help and reassurance!

[dharder]

Hi Mel, welcome to the forum :)

I have unfortunately no idea how to go about the job/visa situation, as I'm going as the partner of an NZ citizen.

Just wondering, though, was does an immigration company do? And what do they need the £2000 for? That seems like a lot of money!

Anyway, I wish you good luck with the process and I'm sure that you'll get lots of helpful responses from this forum :)

Daniela

[mudlae]

Hey Mel&Nigel
I'm only 23 and my Boyfriend's 25! But we're on the Same boat! Just going to NZ hoping to get a Job! Since we're from Switzerland we can not get a Work and Travel Visa! So we just give up everything here in Switzerland for a new Life in NZ. I hopr it works out. We would have enough Point for the whole Immigration, but it won't work out without a Job, anyway! My Flight is leaving on Aug. 21st and I CAN'T WAIIIIT!:clap
Where are you going to live in NZ?

[liamnrach]

Welcome to the forum peeps!:D

Don't really know the answers, but the following threads should be of some use to you:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11347&highlight=offer

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7513&highlight=visitors+visas

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11930&highlight=offer

Might not cover everything that you need, but I'm sure someone will be able to give you the advice that you need; they are a good bunch on ere!!:yes
Alternatively you can use the search facility (type in No Job Offer or Holiday/visitor visa etc)

Good luck with everything:nice1

Liam n Rach

[mel&nigel]

The £2k's only half - another £2k on completion!

Good grief, have we been had????

Apparently they'll do all the form filling etc, will have EOI ready to lodge once I have a job and Temp Work Permit etc. On saying that, loads of forms arrived this morning to be filled in - haven't a clue where to start TBH.

I want to live in Papamoa, Tauranga, but BOP itself as a region looks good to us. Whereever the work is I suppose - I've been looking at papers and magazines in the area, so I'll have to chance it :confused:

[mel&nigel]

Welcome to the forum peeps!:D

Don't really know the answers, but the following threads should be of some use to you:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11347&highlight=offer

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7513&highlight=visitors+visas

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11930&highlight=offer

Might not cover everything that you need, but I'm sure someone will be able to give you the advice that you need; they are a good bunch on ere!!:yes
Alternatively you can use the search facility (type in No Job Offer or Holiday/visitor visa etc)

Good luck with everything:nice1

Liam n Rach

thank you! it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the info, but this site's great - been looking at it for ages before joining the forum.

:nice1

[dharder]

The £2k's only half - another £2k on completion!

Wow, that does seem a lot! Any chance of working your way through this forum and the NZIS immigration website before parting with all that money?

I honestly cannot imagine what they do for that amount. You will still have to give them all your information, and it doesn't seem to be any less involved to give your details to an immigration consultant than to the immigration people directly.

I'm sure others here will be more qualified to comment on using a company, but I get the impression that most people here try it without a consultant.

Good luck,

Daniela

[mudlae]

I'm going with an immigration officer as well! he's doing GREAT work! I just had to send in all my german Documents..hey came bak translated and he allready filled out all the forms. My first NZQA gave me Level 4 (which is ridiculous!!)
Now I'm waiting for the 2nd result! He's doing just a great job answering all my questions and replying to all phone calls (I never calles him, he's allways calling me, wich saves me a lot of money!)
I'm verry happy with hom doing all the stuff for us!

[dharder]

I'm going with an immigration officer as well! he's doing GREAT work! I just had to send in all my german Documents..hey came bak translated and he allready filled out all the forms. My first NZQA gave me Level 4 (which is ridiculous!!)]...]I'm verry happy with hom doing all the stuff for us!

Ah. Bit of a cross post, didn't see Mudlae's post before I posted my question. I guess that answers part of my question of what an immigration consultant actually does, at least where translations are involved.

Daniela

[kanatakiwi]

Hi,
about the immigration company..

when my kiwi husband was immigrating to Canada, we were advised against using immigration consultants, as it immediately flags to the immigration department that there must be something complicated about your application. We were told if its a straightforward application there is no need for a consultant to get involved and it can slow the process down for reason above.

However, time is very valuable, and if you are the kind of folks that don't want the hassle and frustration of filling out the forms and chasing around for medicals and police clearances etc, then maybe there is good value in hiring someone to do this for you. (But they are charing a huge amount, in my opinion.

Now having just gone through the immigration process to come to NZ, I found it pretty straightforward apart from a few glitches with my medical clearance. (although I think you still have to do the medical clearance yourself, no one can do that for you!). the Immigration guide written by NZ governement is very straightforward and user friendly.Plus NZ immigration officers I have dealt with have all been very helpful and understanding!

So yes it does seem like a LOT of money to pay someone, especially since there are so many helpful people here to assist with any glitches you might find while filing your papers.

As to the job situation, I know lots of people come here on a visitors permit and then find a job and submit their residence application then. I'm sure you can find a job here, as a writer you coudl probably make some money freelancing, and at least here in Auckland there seem to be hundreds of car dealerships.
good luck
G

[Bruckner]

Welcome to the forum Mel and Nigel. Neither of us have jobs there but we're getting on a plane next month regardless.

Emily

[mel&nigel]

Good to know someone's in the same boat! Thank you

[steviec]

£4000 is better in your pocket than immigration consultant. They do no more than you can do yourself. It might take you longer to understand forms and procedure but with time and using this forum you can get answers to your questions.
£4000 will more than cover your shipping costs ( unless you want to import half of NI!) or pay for flights and insurance etc.
Everyone on this forum has either made the move, or in the process, and their circumstances will all be different in some way.
Wecome to the forum and ask away.