[helen coutts]

Hi, This is my first time on the forum so please bear with me. My husband has just recieved a job offer from a teleco company in NZ Auckland and we have not even started the Immergration process yet. We do not know if to use a agent or DIY? if we go down the DIY route what process do we need to follow, the idea would be for my husband to go out first and we would follow on later.

Hope you can help

H

[vixxann]

Hi Helen , welcome to forum, congrats on job offer :raebanana

There'll be lots more answers along shortly I'm sure but I'll try and start you off...

I really wouldn't recommend using an agent, they are costly and do nothing that you couldn't do yourself (especially with lots of help from this forum)

Have you started by having a look at the NZIS website
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

With a job offer you'll most likely have enough points to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) they then will hopefully pick you out of the pool fairly promptly and invite you to apply (ITA) when you send in all your paperwork and sort medicals etc etc. Alternatively with a job offer you could apply for a work permit of varying lengths, all depends how soon your hubbie (and you) want to get to NZ really.

If you've any more questions just put them on here and you'll be answered by some fab people :D

[Mickstim]

Hi Helen. Welcome to the forum!

[kzn2nz]

Hi and welcome! For us, the agent just represented another link in a chain where it wasn't needed. You can ask and get advice on this forum, and generally will be able to find your way quite easily. The NZIS are not out to trick you or to make it difficult.

My advice (from a South African perspective) is to get your documentation together immediately. Identity, qualifications, military records if your husband has any, everything like that, and keep it all in one folder. Apply ASAP for your police clearance certificate, unabridged birth certificates for the entire family, get a list of all relatives details (mum, dad, siblings and kids). When you send stuff (for qualifications assessment, etc) send EVERYTHING they ask for, just as they ask for it. That makes things go smoothly, and you save a stack of time and money by avoiding sending things to and fro twice. Use couriers to save time. It is a bit more expensive but can save a week over regular airmail.

Good luck, keep calm and enjoy the ride!

[hammadkkhan]

Hello There,
About two months back i received a job offer too from a Tel co Company in Wellington. The company was sponsoring and applying for my 3 year work visa (they have an immigration consultant for this).

OPTIONS Available:
The following were my two options:

1). Apply for a company sponsored 3 year work visa. I had to get my complete medical done as i was planning to stay in NZ for more than two years and also was asked to get a police report. I got all the documentation and submitted my application on August 27th. Received a response from my case officer on September 22nd that my Liver Function Test was abnormal and she was required to forward my case to the NZ Medical Assessor. She said that its going to take at least 3 more weeks. SO, i am in a waiting state at the moment and utilizing this time to get the visa application (open work visa for OH and visit for small one again sponsored by company) completed. The plan. similar to yours, is that i leave and then family follows after 4-6 months.

2). Second option is to apply for an EOI and hope:
a). That you get to complete it in about 2 weeks (no exaggeration) instead of 2 hours as INZ web site suggests and that also with the help of all our good friends on the forum.
b). That you manage to get more than 140 points and therefore are sure of getting selected in the very next fortnightly selection.
c). That INZ quickly notice that you have a job offer and send you the ITA soon (in 4-6 weeks as a normal practice; there are exceptions)
d). That you have everything ready to submit your ITA within a week or so (normal time for submitting an ITA if you have all paperwork, police cert, and medical in hand;there are exceptions)
e). That your ITA gets approved within the next 3-4 weeks (there are exceptions)

SUGGESTION:
Now i will suggest you the same thing that i did:

I applied for a 3 year general work visa for myself on August 27th, 2007. Got an email from case officer that my LFT is abnormal (as i said, there are exceptions) and i am referred to NZ Assessor. Now i am utilizing that time to prepare documentation for my family and hoping that all 3 of our visas get accepted together.
ALSO. on September the 14th, i submitted my EOI with 220 points (only claimed for myself, claimed nothing for OH) and it got selected in the very next selection (September 26th). I am now waiting to receive my ITA and keeping my fingers crossed that i get my ITA before i fly to NZ. And even if i do get to fly to NZ, it will work to my advantage as the fee is a lot less in NZ.

Now there is a third option available too: Work to Residence visa, but i did'nt elect for that because:
1). It takes a long time to get the decision as compared to general work.
2). My company sponsored a general work visa only.

AGENTS: Do You Need Them???
Last but not the least, i have NEVER used an agent. My case was straight forward and i filled each and every form by myself, gathered all required documentation and applied for the work visa and submitted the EOI all by myself BUT of course with the help of everyone around here. Everyone is always willing to help (sometimes it seems as if some are getting paid by INZ to help the most talented get through to NZ safe and sound and without a hassle ;) )
Feel free to get back if you have any question or require any more help.
Good Luck:nice1

[Perksy]

I agree re not going with agent agent. I had an agent do a free initial assessment and they said I wouldn't be eligible. I did an EOI anyway on exactly the same info and got picked out in the first round.

[holland]

Hi Helen,

You seem to have got lots of advice already, so just wanted to say Hi and Welcome!

j and G xx

[peebles16]

HI Helen
And welcome from us too. We had job offer and basically followed guidance from NZIS and asked questions on this wonderful site - didn't use agent and our application is all going well. I think a lot of folks use agents to secure employment as well as the immigration stuff. I think if we don't fall over when you see the amount of paperwork and plan carefully it's very do-able without an agent. Think what you could do with the money you'll save!

[helen coutts]

Thanks everyone, the information and advice you have given us is just what we needed. We feel excited but also very scared of the move and find the paper work and procedures daunting

The company want my husband to start in late November which does not give us much time. The company is accredited with the immigration service (I believe they give him a letter to give the immigration dept, which smoothes the way apparently). Bearing in mind the comments made already, it sounds he would be better off applying for a temp work permit and then apply for PR? If so does any one know which forms etc we need to start off with? Also has any body got any idea if this is achievable in the time frame?

Another area of concern will be the medical; my husband has had high Liver function test results in the past. He has been to the hospital and had several tests including ultra sound and the consultant seems to think it might be fatty liver. The results do vary depending on how much weight he puts on or takes off. 43inch waist at the moment and a BMI of 33!! Because of the time scales involved if he gets knocked back with the medical I think this could effect his start date and he might lose the job offer. Any advice would be appreciated.

Helen

[vixxann]

Helen

the info on this page should help and also links to the form you need for a temp. work permit.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/howdoiapply/generalwork/
Personally I'd definately go for this route for him now to get him in country and taking up job offer - if you go for a work visa of less than one year you won't need medicals either so you can reach that bridge when you come to it (presumably when you apply for PR once in NZ)
HTH:)

[ciscodave]

Thanks Vicky,

Do you know that if he gets the general work visa, can I and the kids go out on that as well or do we have to have the PR sorted? I have also heard that applying for a PR in New Zealand can be a very long process?

All the best

Helen

[helen coutts]

Sorry Vicki,

DOH!! just realised i was logged on with my husbands username when I posted my last reply.

[vixxann]

Just want to say I'm no expert - I'm still in UK planning our escape!

I think if you look on that last link it says about a form for family of someone with a work permit. You can certainly go without PR as you can go on visitor visa for up to 6 mths, but you need to apply for your own visa if you want to work too.

The PR in NZ thing, well.. I don't think anyone can say how long it will take but if he's in work with accredited employer and you get all the medical things sorted then there shouldn't be a hold up. Maybe you should start applying for your police records now to take with you (they last up to 6mths from date of issue) also get together all birth, marriage certificates needed etc. Best bet is to read through the EOI form on NZIS.

good luck :D

[jewelsvani]

Hi

We are going through this now as well, I have just printed off all the forms, i think we are going to do the work permit for one year and do the medicals and police checks once we are in NZ. As soon as we land and are set up I will submit a EOI and start that rolling.

Bare in mind that if he applies for a work permit you will have to wait for him to be approved and you will have to apply seperatly for a work permit. you have to show you have been in a relationship for at least 12 months and therefore defacto married, if youer not married that is, but even so you have to prove your married if you are.
Russ and Jewels

[Lara Croft]

Hi Helen, good luck, whichever option you choose.

As for the medical, my advice would be to put your hubby on a Strict Diet right away! Mine is a bit overweight, and managed to lose half a stone in a week - his BMI was fine. His waist measurement was still over the limit though, but we are hopeful that the extra blood test will come back ok.

- low fat diet
- exercise daily - 15-20 minutes on the bike (sit ups / side twists are good for whittling away the tummy)
- no alcohol
- no bread
- drinking plenty of water

It can only help.... :)