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Our EOI was selected on 9th May after only being submitted for a few days. Great, or so we thought......

Now nearly five months later it still hasn't changed to 'successful':(

We had 125 points and claimed 15 bonus points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage and obviously no job offer.

I'm getting worried, and yes paranoia is setting in. We have phoned the London branch helpline 3 times (and the last time they did take our reference number) only to be told that there is a backlog. However at what point do we need to start faxing them and chasing this up. I'm aware that it's not a good idea to annoy the very people we need help from so that's why we have held back so far, but is it possible to be forgotten about?!

Any help, reassurance would be welcome guys, as at the moment drink seems to be the only other option:wah

Either way we are determined to get to NZ. Our house is on the market with 2 buyers ready to go as soon as one of them sells their own house. If need be once the house sells we can get a job offer to boost the process along but it would be so much easier with PR in place before we go.

Thanks again in advance.

Helen

[peebles16]

Helen
Not sure if this helps but we submitted EOI with job offer and expectations of much shorter timescales. We knew of others being given decisions and ITAs before us so after phoning helpline we did fax through our query on their advice and ITA appeared in a day or so. NZIS helpline advised us to fax and stated they would reply within 7 days and given your timescale I think it would be fair enough and by no means harrassing them.
Good luck

[Silverwing86]

Hi Helen,

Sorry to hear of your trouble, can so imagine your frustration !

Five months is, IMO, indeed a very long time. On the Skilled Migrant Processing times page for the London Branch on the INZ site (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/londonbranchhome/tipsandprocessingtimes/skilledmigrantprocessingtimes.htm) it states that your EOI should be assessed within three months:

"Your Expression of Interest (EOI) will be assessed within three months of being selected from the pool. We will then contact you, either inviting you to apply for residence or requesting further information."

I would think chasing it up in written form would be more than fair considering the above. It's so easy for them to talk about a backlog on the phone, but I guess you won't know for sure if you are indeed (heaven forbid :eek: !) 'lost', until they actually look up your EOI. Perhaps you could quote the paragraph above when you make your enquiry on paper/by E-mail ?

Will keep fingers and toes crossed that you get some positive news soon, good luck !

Silver

[Myrkk]

Our EOI was selected at the same time as yours with the same points and we got our ITA on the 15th June, the day after our status changed on the website. So, no, I don't think it would be unreasonable to query what is going on.

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Thanks for your help and advice, you pretty much enforced what we thought. Fax will be sent this week and we'll see what happens. Can't be any worse than waiting!

Helen

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Just received an email from London branch saying that the case officer who was allocated our file is on leave. We will be allocated a new case officer and they will be in touch. I'll still feel much better when the ITA arrives though!!!

Thanks again folks for the help, now we just need to sell our house.......

Helen