[Janette&David]

I am currently a nurse awaiting to start my degree as a community specialist practictioner. I have been accepted to start in september 2005, and just 35 weeks later should have finished the course this I am doing so quickly to coincide with my daughter leaving high school.What I would like to know is, if I want to emigrate to NZ next september 2006 when is the best time to start the ball rolling.
Thank-you
Janette

[Diny]

This is abit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question - but maybe this will help.

It seems that no 2 applications take the same legnth of time, there are so many different reports on 'timing'. However, if you look at the 'Official Timings' thread on this forum, you'll be able to work out an average time.

I haven't applied for a work visa as we're heading over there on the Family/partnership scheme. We got our PR on Christmas Eve. We now have until the end of June to pay our migrant levy and get the actual stamps in our passports. After the passports have been stamped we have a further 12 months to make our first entry into NZ.

I'm not sure whether the migrant levy bit applies for those who are entering NZ on a work visa, but I think the 12 month period applies to everybody. There's dozens of people on here who will be able to give you more accurate info.

If you're planning on getting to NZ around September 2006, I would suggest that it may be a little early to start the ball rolling. If it were me I'd leave it a couple of months (but not too long).

Reading back this I don't know whether it'll be of much help to you.

All the best.

Diny

[Janette&David]

Thank -you for your advice, could I ask if anybody thinks it's worth using an emigration consultant or is it easy enough to do it yourself?

[veronica]

I would say that the general concensus is to do it yourself, most people have found that they can do better than the agents.

[Timbo]

I will second that. In fact there is a poll on here somewhere indicating just how few people have used an agent.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1001&highlight=used+agent


Not very conclusive I`m afraid, as only 17 people answered the poll :wah :wah

[Janette&David]

Thank-you Timbo
I am aware that these consultants can be quite expensive, An expense I am hoping I will be able to manage without.
I have only just joined and I am already finding that everyone is so helpful.