[Danlondono]

I began to look into relocating to NZ a year ago, when I was 29.

Although I live in the USA I am not a US citizen (but the citizenship documents are underway, should have them by next year). My country of citizenship has no work holiday agreements with NZ.

Also I do not have a 4 year degree as there is no degree in the USA that is related to my field (travel industry). I have a high school diploma (american diploma) and i've completed only 2 years of basic college (Associates in Arts degree..which really means I just have the pre-requisites completed for any 4 year degree I wish to go into)

I am in relative good health.. only have hereditary high blood pressure (slightly high) and high levels of triglycerides.. both have been successfully controlled for 5 years with minimal medication so I'm not a health risk factor.

Languages I speak are English and Spanish fluently and been learning Japanese (basic level now).

In the NZ points calculator, I get a score of 100 *IF* I have a job offer in NZ. I have received numerous positive replies to my resume/CV but cannot secure the employment due to the fact that I need a work visa first.. and I need a job offer first to get a work visa (WTF?).

I know this score is the minimum and its likely never to get accepted and I do want to increase my score. However the only way to do that is get a 4 year degree (score jumps to 150) or have some work/study experience in NZ (score would be 120 and i'd be in NZ already).

So here's my dilemma:

-My work experience is Travel Consultant (Senior / Team Leader). I don't think NZ has a shortage of people answering the phone to provide tech support for computers to go into the country as 'IT'

-The 4 year degree is too long a wait for me and the money that'd go into it would leave me broke for whatever relocation i'd have to go to NZ; not to mention any degree I get would be in a field that i'm not interested in at all.

-I'm already 30 yrs old and I will probably not get my US citizenship before the year ends so I wont be able to use the working holiday program to up my point for having skilled employment in NZ

-I could go to NZ as a student where I can take up to a 2 year course for a level 5 diploma.

The courses are:

2 year course:

International Diploma in Tourism & Travel Management

National Diploma in Tourism Level 5
IATA/UFTAA Consultants Diploma
National Certificate in Travel & Tourism Core Skills
National Certificate in Travel Level 3
National Certificate in Travel Level 4
National Certificate in Computing Level 3
Microsoft or University of Cambridge elective qualifications
International Flight Attending Diploma

-Or-

24 week course:

Certificate in International Travel, Tourism & IT

* National Certificate in Travel Level 4
* National Certificate in Computing Level 3
* Microsoft or University of Cambridge elective qualifications


My idea is to take the 24 week course first as it gets me a level 4 and 3 certification in IT and Travel both at once and then apply for immigration... but it'd be a heavy strain on my pocket since I cannot work part-time unless im taking a 2 year degree... but my goal is to continue towards the 2 year degree once i'm in. This is the field I like and NZ HAS a degree for it unlike the USA where theres NONE for travel agents.

or take the 2 year degree and work part time and HOPE I get accepted afterwards..if not i'll be dead broke :(


Finally, I do not know where I stand as far as my qualifications and if my job is listed in the skills shortage list. Travel Consultant are listed on the short term list however every travel agency I applied to in NZ have been telling me the positions have been open for months without being filled up and that they'd LOVE me in their company (but I need the work visa ARGH).

I've contacted the NZ embassy in the USA for some information but I get nothing from them other than obtuse answers and a lot of talk and well wishes but no actual help or information!

*****Is there any office in NZ immigration that someone can call and speak with an immigration officer and tell them : 'hey this is my situation, this is what I plan to do, let me know where I stand on the point indicator score so I know if I can apply for residence/work visa or not' . ?


Suggestions?

(thanks for reading this far, I know its long and rant-like.. i'm at my wit's end with this).

oh..and im single, male, never married, no dependents.

[JandM]

I don't know, but wish you well.

[Potato]

Hi, a few things:

When it comes to getting a job without a work permit/visa, it's sometimes easy, sometimes not. You have not found it easy, and I think this may be because you are abroad. Lots of people (myself included) got a job offer without a work permit because we were in NZ at the time. It seems like this is the best way. Basically, this means that you would have to cough up to go out there and take a risk. You also are not supposed to enter NZ on a visitors visa with the intent of looking for work and then applying for a work permit. However, I think lots of people actually do this. (For me, I was on a WHV, not a visitor visa).
On the otherhand, you may be able to seal a job by phone interview. Keep plugging away.

It then comes down to what visa to go for. I am not familiar with all the types.

General Work Visa - For this you would have to prove that there is no available NZ'er who can do the job you've been offered. You said yourself this is fairly unlikely (if I understood you correctly).
Work Visa with Accredited Employer - For this, your employer must be "accredited" by NZIS, and you have to earn more than $50k.

There are probably more, but I don't know them.

On Residency, just be aware that 100 points even with a job offer might see you languishing in the pool for a fair while, and then of course you have to wait again for the ITA.

When it comes to contacting NZIS.......

They don't have an unlimited number of actual immigration officers (those with warrants to decide cases). Hence I somewhat understand why they keep them "hidden" until they are actually your own case officer.
You have to phone the helpdesk, which according to some is helpful, according to others is not.
The other option is email. You can find this on their site. This is their preferred method. It is worth a shot because you can explain your whole situation much easier in text I think. I would say though, be prepared to receive a fairly standard "robot text" response, which may or may not be helpful.

Good luck :)

[skibumwa]

This is actually NOT true. I told the NZ customs officer at AKL airport I was there to interview for jobs (interviews already lined up), scout around for a new home for 3 weeks then go back to Seattle. I showed him my return ticket to the Seattle and he said "good luck", smiled & let me in. Basically if you land a good job while on vacation then apply for a work permit legally.. then you have done nothing wrong in the eyes of NZIS or NZ Customs as I was told by a few customs officers.

They (NZ Customs) only care that your intention is to return home and NOT work while you are there on holiday or stay illegally past your 3 months alloted. They, NZ Customs and NZIS, know people will not or cannot just move across the world to NZ without having a job lined up - or usually so. Once you get a work permit from NZIS, then you are fine.

My advice is to go on a reccy trip (interviewing vacation) as I and many others did. Be prepared to go spend about $2500+ USD over 3 - 4 weeks for your trip (including airfare, buses, lodging/hostels, food, cel phone and internet costs).

Heres a link from a post about my reccy that trip that might give you some help or some ideas. What you want will take A LOT of work and sacrifice just to let you know. No sugar coating it here...it's a pain in the ass getting a job you want, going through all the NZ Immigration stuff and moving, but at the end of the day when you are here living in NZ, it is soooo worth the effort and expenses! :nice1

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12190

It's old (the post) but it could help you...

Best of luck my friend!

-John



Hi, a few things:
You also are not supposed to enter NZ on a visitors visa with the intent of looking for work and then applying for a work permit. However, I think lots of people actually do this.

[Danlondono]

Thank you for the replies, this is useful information. :cheers

I'll try and see if I can do an interview holiday after I get my US citizenship. I think my only real advantage is that i'm already 100% ready to move.. I don't own anything I cannot pack in a backpack and 4 large boxes so the relocation for me is pretty painless and cheap considering. :D

[Potato]

I don't own anything I cannot pack in a backpack and 4 large boxes so the relocation for me is pretty painless and cheap considering. :D

Yes, it makes it heaps easier. One less thing to worry about. :)