[cathgates]

Hi, originally, my oh and myself were planning to come to NZ around about May/June next year. My oh children and my eldest are all grown up and have their own lives. My 2 youngest live with their Dad under a voluntary agreement (Tom 12 and Danny 10). They have been told of our plans more or less from the start. They were told they could come with us if they wanted, it was their choice. They both said no, and have contiunued to feel that way, that is untill last night, when Danny said on the phone that He wants to know more about NZ when they come at the weekend. So, I now want to ask a few questions, I know that I can find the info if I scour these boards, or if I dig around on the gov website, but we are still trying to finish the house for selling!!
We will be coming over on a tourist visa, looking for jobs then applying through the temp work visa route to eventual pr.
Will we get 'free' schooling for Danny on a temp work visa, if He does eventually decide to come with us?
As we will both be arriving with no job, we will be staying in a holiday park to save money untill we find work, so I am thinking that it would be best for Danny to arrive once we have jobs and somewhere permanent to live. Does anyone know the policy of any airlines with regard to a child travelling alone? I know this may sound odd to some of you, and I would most likely meet him in the stopover country but as a return flight to fetch him would be very expensive, especially to have time off so soon after starting a new job, I can't think of any other way to do it? I know we could bring him with us from the start, but having him out of school, trying to arrange interviews and visa applications, childcare and living in a chalet at the same time, I feel may not be fair on him?
I'm sure that some of you may have your own personal views on our decisions, but I hope you are happy to give us the practical advice we need.
Thanks
Cath X

[Bergita]

Hi
The NZ immigration website says : A dependent child of someone who holds a New Zealand work permit will be regarded as a domestic student for primary and secondary school, so will not need to pay international fees. For tertiary education, however, your child will need to meet our general requirements as an international student, including paying foreign student fees.

Most airlines have policies in place regarding children travelling alone - its like an extra service you pay for, having a minder take your child through the whole process. I'm sure if you phone the airline you're interested in, they would be able to help.

Good luck!

[Jo Jo]

Singapore Air has information about unaccompanied minors here (http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/travelfaq/general.jsp#Header3).

[Familyofmonkeys]

Make sure you get work visa of minimum of 2 years otherwise you and family will not qualify for the free medical care. I think this is the minimum requirement for paying domestic school fees as apposed to internations school fees too.

[mgf]

So if I have Work Visa for 30 month I will have access to Health? I thought I had to get Residency for that. Will my daughters age 16 and 15 be included in that as well?

Mike

[IanW99]

So if I have Work Visa for 30 month I will have access to Health? I thought I had to get Residency for that. Will my daughters age 16 and 15 be included in that as well?

Mike

Yes, you will have access to health care and so will your children

See Am I Eligible (http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/eligibility-amieligible-workpermitholders) for more details.

Ian

[veronica]

Our foster daughters little'un has flown between here and the UK on his own 3 times, first time aged 12 with emirates and at 13 and 14 with singapore air and its been great.

In your situation I would bring him out with me at the beginning so he can share in it all, as well as have some time off with you finding out about the place at the same time as you do.

[cathgates]

Thanks for all your advice and help.
They are both coming down after school as usual for the weekend, so hopefully we can all have a good talk about the pros and cons with Danny without sounding like we are trying to be biased in any way.
The main reason we are considering waiting to have Danny join uis, is because we will both be looking for jobs and want to be able to say yes to any interview time put to either of us. I know people move with their children in tow all the time, but I'm sure, if they were able, they would take advantage of getting jobs, house, childcare and schools in place first, or maybe I am wrong.
Anyway, will let you know if we are closer to knowing if Danny wants to come or not by the end of the weekend
Cath X

[Nick88]

I would take him with you as well. It doesn't take as long as you might think to get the WP, so he wouldn't miss that much school.

[SarahEDH]

Hello Cath -- just a quick comment on the issue of kids traveling alone, should things work out that way for your son. Hopefully there will be no issues with Singapore Air or your carrier of choice, but . . . be sure he knows how to phone you from an int'l airport if something goes sideways and he misses a connecting flight or gets separated from the airline employee who's supposed to look after him. My daughter flew unaccompanied from the U.S. to Switzerland at age 14. When she arrived at her port of entry (France), she was left to her own devices completely because the carrier, Air France, did not consider her to be a minor according to their guidelines. They did not meet her as she got off her flight and did not provide gate-to-gate custody even though I had paid for this and they knew they were supposed to do it. Not trying to scare you, just wanted to point out the need to have a back-up plan in case things don't go as expected. My daughter carried a mobile at the time but didn't know how to dial home from an int'l location -- huge oversight on my part. She did make her connecting flight, but only thanks to an American family who helped her find her gate -- the airline clerks couldn't be bothered.

Again, hope I haven't scared you -- and good luck with your next steps.

Sarah

[cathgates]

Hi Sarah, thanks for that, it's all the little things that you don't think about
Cath X