[Tentun]

Hi everyone

bit of advice.

I've claimed work experience under the general work experience bit of 4-6 years. The work was skilled definitely so I'm pretty sure it will be recognised and I have all the necessary letters from employers etc but I've just realised that I don't have the right qualification (according to what NZ require) so in their eyes I may have done the work but I didn't have the qualifications to back it up. Now I know that when I'm claiming points for an area of absolute skills shortage I need to have the correct quals to back it up but this is just general work experience I'm claiming - ie. I haven't claimed bonus points for it. Do you think it will matter that I wasn't properly qualified in terms of what NZ say you need to do the job??

Thanks for the help

[IanW99]

From NZIS, it looks like your thoughts are the wrong way around? It would appear that if you are claiming experience in an area of absolute skills shortage then the qualification doesn't matter.

For example, from NZIS

the principal applicant* is suitably qualified by training and/or experience to undertake that work (including any specific requirements set out on the Long Term Skill Shortage List).

and

Where the Long Term Skill Shortage List specifies that occupational registration is required for a listed occupation, principal applicants must demonstrate that they held occupational registration while undertaking the work experience, if occupational registration is required in the country in which the work occurred.

But no mention of qualifications?

For general work experience, the following appears to be relevant:-

Work experience is recognised and qualifies for points if it meets the requirements set out at (a) and (b) below:
a. A visa or immigration officer must be satisfied that work experience is:
i relevant to the principal applicant’s* current skilled employment in New Zealand or offer of skilled employment in New Zealand (see SM7); or
ii relevant to the principal applicant’s* recognised qualification (see SM14), or
iii skilled, because it required, or enabled the principal applicant* to gain, considerable specialist, technical or management expertise.

So, does i or iii apply, otherwise it does appear that qualifications will matter here?

HTH
Ian