[cpgrant]

Hello All,

For several years now, on and off, I've been lurking on the forum. A few weeks back, I finally made the decision and on April 30th, I submitted my EOI in the skilled migrant category. In my e-mail on May 8th a message awaited which informed me that my EOI has been selected. I was surprised at how rapidly that happened... maybe even caught a bit off-guard. Things have moved quickly from the rather abstract to the substantially more real. So, it seems a good time to introduce myself.

I am a software developer based in Chicago. I'm 45 years old and have been in the software business for more than 20 years. My dream would be to essentially move my software consultancy in NZ and add some NZ programmers while maintaining most of my US clients. With today's global economy and the internet, this seems entirely feasible, but I am uncertain as to the details of setting up a small business in NZ. So, for now, I will proceed as a skilled migrant.

My concerns about emigration have less to do with finances but more to do with social aspects. It will be interesting building a new social network of friends and acquaintances in a new country. Certainly, the prospect is a bit intimidating but I'm looking forward to it all the same. Just another wonderful adventure in life's amazing journey.

Thanks for the very useful forum.

-CP

[dilanium]

Hello and welcome!

[Leanne]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your EOI!!! :raebanana

[dusk]

hello CP :) welcome aboard. I think perhaps that you might be adding immigrant IT people rather than NZ IT people as there seems to be such a demand for us all over there! :D

other than that sounds like a fine plan :)

[JandM]

Hello, and good luck with the whole process.:)

[cpgrant]

hello CP :) welcome aboard. I think perhaps that you might be adding immigrant IT people rather than NZ IT people as there seems to be such a demand for us all over there! :D

other than that sounds like a fine plan :)

Immigrant, or NZ IT people matters not.

Is there really such demand for IT in NZ? I know there's pretty high demand for IT workers in the US also. The thing is that the US has a huge IT market and one that should be easy for NZ based companies to gain entry. It's just a matter of choosing a niche, and going for it. :)

[cpgrant]

Hello and welcome!

Thanks! How're things in Cleveland? Hopefully not as rainy and dreary as things are here a couple lakes to the west :)

[cpgrant]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your EOI!!! :raebanana

Thanks for the welcome - I admit that when I got the e-mail indicated the EOI was accepted, I was pretty thrilled.

[cpgrant]

Hello, and good luck with the whole process.:)

I am hoping the whole process won't be too bad! Perhaps I'm just being naive :)

[shakyle2906]

Welcome to the forum!

Sharon
x

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome. Congratulations on obtaining your EOI. Good luck with the rest of the process.

Suzanne.

[dusk]

Immigrant, or NZ IT people matters not.

Is there really such demand for IT in NZ? I know there's pretty high demand for IT workers in the US also. The thing is that the US has a huge IT market and one that should be easy for NZ based companies to gain entry. It's just a matter of choosing a niche, and going for it. :)
well no, as long as they know what they are doing, was just a bit of a heads up, in case it mattered in terms of the business application :)

there seems to be huge demand, based on the number of job adverts and people on this forum seeking/getting IT work - can't say I've looked into it any further than that..

good luck with the plans

[slider]

Hello, and welcome to the forum :)

[urban78]

Welcome to ENZ :)

Whereabouts in Chicago are you from? My mom is from there, and most of my immediate family lives in the western suburbs.

Good lck with the migration process :yes

Jen :D

[cpgrant]

Welcome to ENZ :)

Whereabouts in Chicago are you from? My mom is from there, and most of my immediate family lives in the western suburbs.

Good lck with the migration process :yes

Jen :D

Over the years, I've lived from the Southside to the Northside and even drifted off into Evanston for a while. I was in a far, far, far, far western suburb called Montana for a few years :) But now, I'm back in the downtown region - just across the river in what is know as 'River West'.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Hello and welcome.

The dynamics of setting up a business aren't too difficult here (I managed it), but I would recommend using an accountant to do it which will make the whole process very simple indeed, and you'll need an accountant anyway.

You will probably find if employing developers here that the majority will be immigrants too. Not that that's a problem.

[tebling]

Welcome, and you and I are in vaguely similar situations. I have a job offer as in independent software contractor in Wellington, and if all goes well will be in NZ by August.

We should probably compare notes at some point - right now I'm struggling through the various ramifications to my US tax filing... mostly by staring at IRS publication 54 until my eyes turn red. Oh joy :)

[urban78]

Over the years, I've lived from the Southside to the Northside and even drifted off into Evanston for a while. I was in a far, far, far, far western suburb called Montana for a few years :) But now, I'm back in the downtown region - just across the river in what is know as 'River West'.

Most of my immediate family live in Aurora and Wheaton. Chicago is an awesome city, I have really good memories of the place :)

[calixfornia]

Hello from Illinois and best of luck to you!
(IT geek here too)