[lizzyplop]

First time on the forum, but what an amazing source of information.
We are in the initial stages of our dream to move to NZ. after two holidays in NZ over the past 3 years we have finally decided this is what we want to do.

I am a graphic designer (age 35) with a HND and BA (hons) degree in graphic design from the university of East Anglia and over 10 year experience.

My husband (age 39) is an electrical engineer with a HNC in electrical engineering together with a BA in social history and an MA in history from the university of Leicester - over 10 years experience in electrical engineering with experience in high and low voltage generators and the relevant qualifications.

My question is can we claim the points for all theses qualifications or just those relevant to our careers?, what points would this give us? who we be the main applicant? is it worth applying?

Look forward to hearing your responses and thanks to everyone for making the forum such an invaluable resource for the likes of me!

Liz & Tony

[5kings]

Hi Liz

My husband is a Graphic Designer too, and we are thinking of having him as the main applicant for us. We are also in very early planning stage.
Have you tried the EOI points calculator on the New Zealand immigration government website? It should give you an idea!

I think Graphic Artist/Designer is on the immediate skills shortage list, and I am pretty sure the HND is a recognised qualification, as should be the BA (hons)

As a newbie, I wont have any good advice, we are off to the London Expo in April, to hopefully find out more, and this forum is excellent too!

Good luck!

Helen

[lizzyplop]

Thanks Helen
We are going to the Expo in Leeds to hopefully try and find some answers but its all very confusing at the early stages. We have tried the points calculator and if we can use all our qualifications my husband will get 150 points! great.... but I want to be sure that his MA and BA can be used to claim the extra points needed.
Keep in touch, let us know how things go
Liz

[5kings]

Liz,

How about you going as main applicant? I think (and I may be wrong) that you can't use qualifications if they are not linked to your career and work experience.
In your case, you have 10 years experience and the qualifications to match.

Like I say I am not sure about this may be worth checking though.

So many questions at this stage aren't there? I confuse myself sometimes!

Helen

[lizzyplop]

Hi
We have been down that route and I get a total of 125 points as graphic design I think is in the identified future growth area category, I think we need to read into it further although the more you read the more confused you get!
How many points does your husband get?, where are planning on going to live?

Thanks

[5kings]

I think we got 130 points with no job offer, so we might chance it and see!

To be honest don't fancy spending £200 on EOI if they turn us down!

I have no idea where we'd like to live, do you? If we can get PR without a job offer, we might hire a camper van, and have a few weeks travelling and job hunting at the same time. We'd have to fit it round the kids to an extent though, do you have children?

Helen

[lizzyplop]

No children, so I suppose it does make it slightly easier, we have no idea where we want to go to yet although the South Island but be our preference if the job situation is good for us both, I agree we don't want to pay the £200 pounds if we have no chance of being accepted. That's why we want to try and get the strongest application we can before we start the process.

I don't think we will start the ball rolling until after the Expo, you never know I could change my mind!!!!!

Have you been to NZ
Liz

[5kings]

Only when I was a kid, had 6 months out there, but can't remember too much to be honest, Christmas on the beach that sort of thing!

We have been trying to raise funds to go over for a 2 week holiday, but with three kids it costs way out of our price range, and remortgaging seems a bit silly if we want to give it a go regardless, we could use all the money we can get for the move.

I know it seems a bit crazy, but if we think we can afford it we will go. We've told our families we are thinking of going for it, and my parents have been supportive, apparently they nearly moved over there after my childhood trip.
If by some miracle we win the lottery (or someone offers to babysit for 2 weeks, more likely to win lottery!) we will go over for a reccy, if not, it'll be one big adventure.

Helen

[lizzyplop]

Hell, why not, thats what we are saying. We both loved it and after our first trip we came home thinking we would give it a go, but the idea got taken over by so many other things in life, we moved into a new house this time last year and I thought I would settle and the idea of moving to NZ would just drift away, but its done the opposite and now I want to go more than ever.

We have said we would love to go back just once more to make sure, but now I am totally committed to the idea I don't see the point in spending the money on the flights just to confirm what we already know, it may as well go towards the application and moving costs.

The families have no idea as yet although I don't think it will be a surprise to many as most keep asking when are we moving over there?

Just seems such a mine field at the moment and I want to be as prepared as we can be to make such a huge decision.

Liz

[river11]

Hi
We have been down that route and I get a total of 125 points as graphic design I think is in the identified future growth area category, I think we need to read into it further although the more you read the more confused you get!
How many points does your husband get?, where are planning on going to live?

Thanks

Lizzyplop, welcome to the forum. I'm no expert but your situation is similar to my own, although I'm a tiny bit older.

Graphic design is on the ISSL but it is not a future growth area so you will not get any points for it being on the ISSL or future growth area. You can only claim points in that category if you have work experience in new zealand also (I Initially made that assumption). You'll get 20 points for your OHs qualification or yours depending who's the main applicant. He can't use his BA in history also as it would need to be linked to his job. It's worth triple checking the info.

5kings, the EOI worked out at £114.91 (just got the credit card bill).

[lizzyplop]

Thanks for that, now I even more confused than ever, just been on the points calculator and that means I only get 95 points but from calculating the points for my husband he will get 135, which puts him in a better position to be the main applicant, does that sound about right?
Liz

[5kings]

Thanks for that £114 is a lot better than £200 I expected. Also thanks about the info re: graphic design, think I will have to recheck the points calculator thing, as I assumed it was a future growth area, being creatve and all!

Thaks for clarifying,

Helen

[lizzyplop]

Hi Helen
Turns out that being a graphic designer is not all that creative!!!!
I have re checked the calculator time and time again just hoping for a few more points in my favour but it looks like I will have to rely the points from 'him in doors'!!!!, let me know how you get on
Liz

[5kings]

Oh no! I am already relying on him indoors! I am definitely seeking further advice about this at the Expo.
I feel a bit deflated now. Not to mention confused! I thought design was listed as a future growth area, didn't know about needing to be employed already.

Never mind, I'm sure we'll find a way somehow. I don't think you can get a work visa without a job offer can you? It's a bit confusing.

Helen

[river11]

Liz, you'll have 125 points no problem as you can use his qual to claim 20pts. And vice versa. If your OHs gets 130pts use him as main applicant.

[lizzyplop]

I think I may have finally got it!
Thanks for that River11!

helen don't worry I am sure there are ways and means of getting the points you need, keep your chin up!
Keep us posted on how you get on
Liz

[river11]

Helen you can go the wtr route and you don't need a job offer.
I applied when the threshold was 110 points, I may still only be offered a wtr not PR, I just need an understanding case officer and a convincing story.
With wtr if you get 9 months to get a job, you can then immediately go for PR which should be plain sailing after that.