[Vision]

I want to submit an EIO but I need an answer quickly from someone who knows.

I am waiting for NZQA to reply but wants to submit an EOI without further delay. I need to claim points for experience in an area of absolute skills shortage to be above the required 100. I definitely have more that 20 years of experience in the area of absolute skills shortage (ICT Programmer/Project Managers). It could well be the case that I only get a level 6 rating for my qualifications in which case I can not claim points for a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage. Will they still recognize my claim of points for experience in an area of absolute skills shortage or will a level 6 rating nullify the validity of such a claim?

Regards

[Lara Croft]

Hi.
I was in a similar position last September. My BSc (Open University) was only recognised as a Level 6 qualification. Although I could claim for 10 years valid work experience, without a level 7 Qual, I could not claim any Bonus points at all.... The only way we could proceed was to get a job offer.

Sorry, this might not be what you want to hear...

Jane

[Vision]

Thanks for your reply Jane - certainly not what I wanted to hear though:(

Let me just see if I can get something straight here. The "bonus points" issue, is that the points you claim on the points calculator under "Relevant Work Experience" and then under "absolute skills shortage"?. Under "Number of years of relevant work experience (anywhere)" I can claim 10 years and under area of "absolute skills shortage" I claim "6 years or more". Is the latter one in actual fact "bonus points" and I am only entitled to it if I have a level 7?
If you look at the latest draw results (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/eoiselection.htm) you will see that people claiming for work experience in the absolute skill shortage category were drawn separately from people claiming for having a qualification in the absolute skill shortage. If the ones claiming for experience had to have a qualification on level 7 and up, then they would fall in the category of people claiming for having a qualification in the absolute skill shortage category. How come people gets drawn on experience then?.
Only explanation I can think of is that those people do have a qualification but it is not in an area of absolute skill shortage, but they do have an x amount of experience in and area of absolute skill shortage and claiming for it. In such a case you do not need the level 7 because you are not claiming for it and you can still claim for the experience. I should also be able to scrape my 100 + points together then if that is the case.

I hope what I am trying to explain is making a bit of sense !!

Leon

[pinkpiggy]

Hi Leon

Can't answer your question but wanted to check that you are still claiming points for having a "basic recognized qualification". This should still give you 50 points and it has nothing to do with being related to your work experience.

[Vision]

PinkPiggy

I am claiming for the basic qualification but I want to claim for the experience in an area of absolute skills shortage also. That will see me thru.

Very frustrating not being sure if I can go for it or not. If I don't have an answer by the end of this weekend I will try and find out from NZ Emigration on Monday.

I see you are from Hamilton - we kinda hope to go to Hamilton also. Someone told me that it's cold and "foggy" all winter though. Is it true?. I can live with the fog and a bit of cold just as long as it's not like minus 3 to minus 8 degrees Celsius. That is what we have here during winter and I am trying to get away from it.

Leon

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

PinkPiggy


I see you are from Hamilton - we kinda hope to go to Hamilton also. Someone told me that it's cold and "foggy" all winter though. Is it true?. I can live with the fog and a bit of cold just as long as it's not like minus 3 to minus 8 degrees Celsius. That is what we have here during winter and I am trying to get away from it.

Leon

Hi Vision PP's OH here (I don't get on here much nowadays, PP is the forum rep in this house!)

Anyway, Hamilton doesn't get below 0 for more than the odd hour overnight and then, at worst -1, maybe -2 on a really cold night.

We've been here through one winter and kept getting told about the fog, but didn't see much of it, although if you listen to the locals there is usually more of it, usually in the mornings. We found the winter really very mild to be honest. Of course it's hard to be accurate on one single experience.

A for the EOI thing, I was in a similar position. I had a qualification that allowed me to claim 50 points against the basic education level. I then claimed over 10 years experience in a skill shortage area (IT of course). I made no attempt to link the qual to the experience - I don't recall having to be qualified to be able to claim experience, I certainly wasn't. This gave me 130 points. Enough to apply, but not enough for auto selection. We then got selected because of the experience.

Hope that helps, on both fronts. Feel free to PM if you want more info.

[Vision]

BaldyBeardyBloke

Thanks for the positive information I it really gives met the motivation to go on and do this EOI thing without a job offer. I want to get into the system as soon as possible and work my position up to a point where we have at least an ITA when we get to the NZ emigration Expo in Johannesburg during July. I believe if I am in such a position then it will be much easier to find an offer from NZ.

As for Hamilton, well, it is the first place me and the OH decided on and we are sticking to it. I will not be too choosy when it comes to suitable employment but Hamilton will always be our place of preference. I am an aviation enthusiast and Hamilton has a lot of aviation related activities which really draws me as well.

I am going to PM you sometime in future if I need more information

Regards

Leon