[themilkybarkid]

I'm a well qualified and experienced Social Science (social work, social policy criminal justice) academic (my area is crime, drugs, alcohol, inequality) in the UK aged 50 and my wife (a Nursery teacher) and I are looking to emigrate to NZ. Any advice?

I've never contributed to this forum but I've learnt loads from this forum thank you all so much.

I'm just wondering where on earth to start making it happen - practically!

I found the New Life New Zealand web site helpful - but should I pay a company like them to help me through the process. Has anyone had any experience of companies that help you through the process?

I've got no problem paying if it really does help and makes for a better chance of getting into NZ.

Our two sons 22 & 23 would like to join us at a later date - any advice for them? Both have just completed uni and have degrees: one in graphic design, the other in Visual Communication.

many thanks all

:nice1

[JandM]

Hello.:) Welcome, and good luck.:nice1 I'm sure you'll get lots of advice as soon as NZ gets up.

[dusk]

hello :)

[Helsandfamily]

Hi Welcome to the forum.

You sound really well qualified and have lots of experience. My advice would be to go to the Immigration NZ website, and check the points calculator. If you have enough points, then it is unlikely that you need to go through an immigration consulant. They can be useful if the case is not straight forward, but I think most people on the forum would advise a DIY route.

We did it ourselves, and hit a few issues along the way, but nothing that couldn't be handled. Imho it doesn't sound like your sons would have any trouble either and you will certainly get the chance to put their names down on the EOI, which would make it easier for them anyway

Good luck

hels

[peebles16]

Hello and welcome from us too :D

Karen

[themilkybarkid]

can you give me any advice on completing an EOI?
e.g should I try and get a job before making EOI?

Being 50 I feel pressure is on to get it right as I am keen not to blow my chance.

[peebles16]

Give yourself more than the 2hrs they reccommend for a start-off :) When you complete it on-line you can save it and go back to it as often as you need to. We read all the guidance before we started and resisted the urge to jump right in :D From what I remember there's also a validate button on each section so you can check that you have input all the details at each stage. If you have specific questions about what to fill in etc I'm sure will be able to help you out here.
It is time consuming and you do feel under a heck of all of pressure but just have to give it a go - glass of vino might help :D

All the best
Karen

[themilkybarkid]

thanks Karen ... things seem to go smoothly for you two :o)
hope you are settling in NZ well
Julian

[themilkybarkid]

With family needs (eldery parents and recently graduating kids who need to find work in UK and settle) it is probably best if we moved out to NZ in about 18-24m time. But I am 50 and my wife 53.

Are we likely to find offers of work given our age (even though we have good CVs exp. etc) are employers and immigration likely to be negative because of our age? Anyone in their 50s any experience please?

Also if we intend moving in 18-24m time what should I be doing now?

Should I submit an EOI (I'm just getting used to all this jargon !!) or could it go against me in any way that I am not yet ready to move.

thanks

Julian

[Asli&Mark]

Hello Julian
welcome to the forum and good luck with the process :)

[Potato]

Our two sons 22 & 23 would like to join us at a later date - any advice for them? Both have just completed uni and have degrees: one in graphic design, the other in Visual Communication.


I am interested in this. Would you be able to sponsor them, or would they have to come in themselves, basically following the same process as you (in other words, getting job offers, medicals etc)?

[benandclare]

With family needs (eldery parents and recently graduating kids who need to find work in UK and settle) it is probably best if we moved out to NZ in about 18-24m time. But I am 50 and my wife 53.

Are we likely to find offers of work given our age (even though we have good CVs exp. etc) are employers and immigration likely to be negative because of our age? Anyone in their 50s any experience please?

Also if we intend moving in 18-24m time what should I be doing now?

Should I submit an EOI (I'm just getting used to all this jargon !!) or could it go against me in any way that I am not yet ready to move.

thanks

Julian

Welcome along Julian.

We are in our late 40's and took the view that we'd go for it rather than waiting just incase NZ changed the rules.
There is a drop off in points over 50 so this has to be considered.

We ideally would have stayed in UK longer to settled my daughter at uni and seen my Mum's 90th birthday and Clare's son through sixth form but there was for us no right time so my advice would be go for it.

Start the process now, it could take a while. Then you could always come over on a trip to activate your residence to delay your final emmigration.

Something to think about ?

Ben

[peebles16]

Not sure about your field Julian although am sure you'll be fine but there are constantly loads of nursery/early years centre jobs advertised in the press in Christchurch area. And not to put too fine a point on it the staff at some of the centres we visited and indeed the one that my youngest attends are a bit more mature shall we say :D OH is in his late 40s and really didn't feel it was an issue for us as Ben says may have an impact with points.. Have you had a look at www.seek.co.nz just to check out what opportunities are around?

Best of luck and yes we have settled in well thanks
Karenx

[themilkybarkid]

Thanks Karen and Ben much appreciated.

I take your point about waiting 'for the right time' which never really comes!

I think it's also a good point that 'the rules may change' - I've certainly learnt that in the UK - if something is offered that you want go for it (Because it may not be available later) - but count nothing until you've actually got it.

We certainly don't feel (or look I hope!!) 50ish and glad to hear employers don't appear to discount people in the 50+ and that web site is excellent THANX!

Two questions:
'Then you could always come over on a trip to activate your residence to delay your final emmigration.' What does this mean - what is the requirement?

Also it sounds like I must get on with an EOI but if I then had an ITA and successfully got through how soon would I have to go, is there a window period to emigrate ... does it expire?

Hope things makes sense I am learning and realise there is an awful lot of homework to do!

thanks again to this forum :clap - great culture here constructive, realistic and genuine!

Julian

[benandclare]

Thanks Karen and Ben much appreciated.

I take your point about waiting 'for the right time' which never really comes!

I think it's also a good point that 'the rules may change' - I've certainly learnt that in the UK - if something is offered that you want go for it (Because it may not be available later) - but count nothing until you've actually got it.

We certainly don't feel (or look I hope!!) 50ish and glad to hear employers don't appear to discount people in the 50+ and that web site is excellent THANX!

Two questions:
'Then you could always come over on a trip to activate your residence to delay your final emmigration.' What does this mean - what is the requirement?

Also it sounds like I must get on with an EOI but if I then had an ITA and successfully got through how soon would I have to go, is there a window period to emigrate ... does it expire?

Hope things makes sense I am learning and realise there is an awful lot of homework to do!

thanks again to this forum :clap - great culture here constructive, realistic and genuine!

Julian

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16590&highlight=activate

This thread explains in part some of the timelines involved.

We also reckon that you have 6 months to submit your ITA once you've recieved it, so using the maximum time for that and following the above thread you could have a minimum of 18 months and even up to 2 years from ITA.

Sorry if a bit rambley but the wrong side of several large glases of red or is that the right side, oh who knows it's the weekend :raebanana :raebanana

[zardell]

Hi Julian.

There is this thread too:-

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6142&highlight=juniper


I know it's an old thread, but I believe that as far as the time-lines are concerned, it still applies. Someone will soon be around to correct me if I'm wrong......:D

Good luck with your application - I'm sure you'll be fine.

:cheers

Julie

xx

[IanW99]

...
We also reckon that you have 6 months to submit your ITA once you've recieved it, so using the maximum time for that and following the above thread you could have a minimum of 18 months and even up to 2 years from ITA.
...


You have four months from the time the ITA is sent to you, till it must be submitted.

Ian

[Jane&Dom]

Hi Julian
I too am 50 and have an elderly parent here in the UK. I am feeling rather panicked about when I will be able to make the move - feel it needs to be asap because of my age but am worried about leaving Dad. I won't be in a position to apply to NZ anyway for another 12 months as I need to get my UK nursing registration back before I can apply for NZ registration. However I have already been in contact with an NZ nursing agency who stated categorically that my age would not be a problem. I suppose if you can offer skills they really need then age (as long as <55) isn't an issue, or maybe they are enlightened enough to recognise that it can actually be an advantage! Best of luck...

Hi Ben - I too am puzzled about 'Then you could always come over on a trip to activate your residence to delay your final emmigration.' Please will you explain a bit further? Are you actually in NZ now - I'd be v interested to hear how you dealt with leaving your elderly Mum and how she's coping etc. as leaving Dad is a real worry for me.
Jane

[benandclare]

Hi Ben - I too am puzzled about 'Then you could always come over on a trip to activate your residence to delay your final emmigration.' Please will you explain a bit further? Are you actually in NZ now - I'd be v interested to hear how you dealt with leaving your elderly Mum and how she's coping etc. as leaving Dad is a real worry for me.
Jane


Hi there Jane, Will not ramble on too much but if you've gone for PR and recieved your Blue Stickers you've a year to activate that PR, i.e. step foot in NZ and then to meet the requirements of a RRV you'd need to spend 185 days in NZ for the first year and 185 in second year, but AFAIK not all in one stint.
So theoretically you could delay your final move for around 18 months.

Leaving Mum was hard. We talk at least twice a week and I have 2 brothers and their families back in UK to ease her sense of loss.
But she only wants us to be happy and that we are .

Ben x

[Jane&Dom]

Thanks Ben - hadn't occurred to me that I might be able to buy some time in this way - definitely food for thought. Glad your Mum's ok and its all worked out well for you.
Jane

[themilkybarkid]

thanks everyone for the very informative and helpful response.
all seeming a lot clearer.

I too am worried about leaving our eldery mums behind. thankfully they do have other family here in UK - even so very sad to leave them. As I've so often read each person is different and has to work out what suits is best for them.

My thinking at the mo' is that the window of opportunity will only be available for a few years (given my age) and I am coming for a new adventure/life/chapter - not just for myself and wife but also opening the door to a new adventure for our two adult sons and any other friends and relatives.

As I see it the future in UK/USA Europe don't look too bright - MacDonaldisation/Globalisation/Ramphant capatism/consumersim/Peddling Fear risk,Terror and responding with greater surveillance intrusions, its congested overcrowded and beginning to creak/fail to work etc (although I appreciate this is my perspective view on the world and dont expect it be shared by all). But NZ offers a different lifestyle, a breath of fresh air, a country that does things differently -and it beautiful and not overcrowded. That to me sounds like an exciting opportunity and at the moment I'm thinking (albeit clinically and pragmatically) that it wouldn't make sense to say no to the move and all it's opportunities for us and others by staying put in the UK because our mums are elderly.

I do love them both and will miss them loads - it'll be hard I'm sure. But we can chat very regularly via Skype, go on web cams and chat (My 78 year old mum is a silver surfer who uses MSN Messenger:nice1 ), and we can return if finances allow -we can make that a priority.

Obviously it's a huge decision, will need loadsa homework, preparation and I'm just thinking aloud. But that's where I'm at.

But as I say each person is free and need to be respected to see the world differently and come to different views decisions.

Good luck Jane

Julian

[JandM]

Julian, there's also the possibility that you could sponsor the Mums to join you once you've been three years in NZ, if you/they wanted to. My big regret is that our family's NZ connection arrived too late in our Mums' lives for this to work - we're both only children, and in their current state of health, we can't contemplate leaving them behind for the three years it would take for us to qualify, even assuming they could then pass a medical.

[benandclare]

You have four months from the time the ITA is sent to you, till it must be submitted.

Ian


I stand corrected, or rather sit down as at computer:laugh .

[IanW99]

I stand corrected, or rather sit down as at computer:laugh .

You'll need to sit down again :yes

Hi there Jane, Will not ramble on too much but if you've gone for PR and recieved your Blue Stickers you've a year to activate that PR, i.e. step foot in NZ and then to meet the requirements of a RRV you'd need to spend 185 days in NZ for the first year and 185 in second year, but AFAIK not all in one stint.
So theoretically you could delay your final move for around 18 months.

It is actually "184 days or more in every year for the past two years" :exit

:laugh

Ian

[benandclare]

Doh......... blame it on a very fine Merlot :laugh :laugh

[themilkybarkid]

The idea of free flowing fine Merlot makes NZ even more attractive!! :cheers

But seriously... if I moved to NZ with a job offer and was 53 and may wife was 56 how would she be able to join me??

we are 50 & 53 at the moment and I'm trying to work out whether we have to make a move more immediately because of my wife's age rather than mine - even though she would ideally be looking for a p/t job.

She is a qualified teacher -and would get points for that but does she have to take a job in teaching and does she have to take a f/t job.

thanks everyone for all your kind and well informed advice
Julian

[dusk]

I *think* if you have a job offer and you put your partner down on your EOI/ITA as a partner applicant then the only thing she needs to do is pass the medical and have a clean police certificate. I'm sure someone will jump ion and correct me if I'm wrong...

[Moorf]

I *think* if you have a job offer and you put your partner down on your EOI/ITA as a partner applicant then the only thing she needs to do is pass the medical and have a clean police certificate. I'm sure someone will jump ion and correct me if I'm wrong...

I'll jump on you because you're right ;)

[dusk]

*grins* I'm right, but I don't spell check enough :D

[CJ22]

Also, if you get PR and claim points for a job offer in doing so, the main applicant needs to remain in that job for 3 months after arrival, after which, you're free to do as you will.