[foolsgold99]

Not sure if it justifies a new thread, but sod it I'm doing one anyway.

Just got a e-mail from the NZIS informing me that we have been granted PR !!

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

[Bubbles]

Congratulations. :clap :clap

When are you heading out then ?

:cheers

[foolsgold99]

Hope to head out around June.

Cheaper flights that time of year, and gives us time to sell the house, and finish off some medical treatment here

[Bubbles]

Great news and GOOD luck

See ya on the other side sometime

[RoadRunner]

That's wonderful! Good luck! :cheers

[xanctus]

congratsssssss.... :cheers :cheers

[markkellaway]

That is great news, and with no conditions attached? Things really are looking up for all us "no job yet" people.

Well done,

Mark. :P

[jesselyn]

brilliant news! :clap

cheers,
jes

[SoCal Gal]

Happiness all around today! Very great news, congrats!! :cool

[dmc]

That is fantastic. Congratulations!

[foolsgold99]

There was no mention of 18A conditions, although I can't be sure until I get the passports back. They said that the process for putting visas into passports is a bit backed up just now, and that I can take up to 4 weeks.

On a side note, there was no contact with previous or current employers.

I'd kept old business cards for all my recent jobs, and attached one to each ref letter. Dunno if it helped, but I did it to add weight that I really worked there.

Process was really quick, only 1 week from submission to AIP.

[leslie]

makes you feeled wanted...

[Ria]

WOW - Congratulations (sorry I don't know how to produce a dancing banana - but dancing fruit and veg all round).

I can't believe it only took a week from submission to approval! I know this may sound mad, but I was hoping it would take them about 4 months to process our ITA (only claiming for qualifications and work experience).

When you get PR, is the visa dated from the date of the AIP or the date they stamp your passport?

If successful, I'm hoping the date will be August/Sept 2005 so that I have until Sept 2006 to enter NZ. (Plan is to leave plenty of time to sell house, save a bit of money (ha, ha) go see some overseas rellies and then be able to look forward to a Kiwi summer - Oh, and of course have the zillion conversations with myself on whether I'm really doing the right thing).

I know others on this forum are desperate to be in NZ like yesterday, so I'm sure they would like NZIS to apply this speed to everyone.

Any clues as to how/why it seems to have been so fast - if you don't mind me asking?

[pleccy2000]

I remmeber that, it was like passing my driving test.

[foolsgold99]

I don't see why it should take them a long time to process it. All the inital work should have been done at the EOI stage, it's just a matter of checking some docs.

Having said that, the checks they do, don't appear to be as through as those carried out by other countries.

When we went through the US immigration process in '99 the checks were more detailed. We required to provide transcripts for both our degrees,a nd have them assesed by a university in new york, we also used a lawyer to file paperwork. It took about 3 months to get the H1B's and that was with a job offer.

A friend recently moved to Oz, it took her 2 years to complete the visa process.

NZ seem to need people quickly, so they are putting easy cases through quickly. Although I'm on both the OSL and the LTSS, so that may have helped.

[leslie]

the americans are lethal! its the one thing that worries us about a post 9/11 stopover in LA - apparently its getting worse all the time.

mostly think nz process is fine and timelines are quite good. the experience would be 100% were nzis to send out monthly batch emails to keep people updated. a wise man is a patient man... there is nothing quite like cashing in your chips and having nowhere to go.