[everythingevans]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping to be submitting my EOI soon (just waiting for my little lads passport to come through), and was wondering how careful people have been with claiming points.

Depending on how strict I am with the criteria I can vary it by about 20points. If I'm really mean I'm pretty sure I get over 100, but I don't know what I should put in for. Try to claim the lot (125 + possible extra 20 for my partner), and have some knocked back, or be mean (110) and risk sitting in the pool forever? What happens if your points are reduced by the NZIS?

By the way I'm not claiming for being a doctor when I'm not, its that my current job (Design Engineer) is on the Long-Term Shortage List, so I would claim points for over 6 years experience in it (15 points), but they put extra conditions (I think) like having very specific degrees or chartered membership on claiming you are a design engineer (yet every job I've done for the last 10 years is as a design engineer)

Thanks

[holm188]

If you qualification does not exactly match what is on the LTSL then you cannot claim the points for it and also not for the associated work experience.

I'm engineer and claimed points for it under LTSL. I do not have a Washington accord degree that was required (although my degree is comparable to one). They took of my points. Luckily there were enough left.

If you include it in your EOI, NZIS will throw them out and if the remaining points are sufficient for being selected on your selection date then you stay in otherwise it is back to the pool.

Hope that helps,
Holm

[everythingevans]

Thanks for the reply. It seems quite restrictive as others seem to have been able to qualify. I was looking for points only on work experience not qualifications as you can't claim points for qualifications in a an area of skill shortage unless you have a job offer. You can claim points for work experience though.

Others seem to have been able to claim points so we'll probably try anyway. I've looked into the criteria for claiming points as an engineer and it's really stacked against you. If you don't have a Washington Accord Degree then you need to be chartered. The Washington Accord was signed in the late 80's (I think) so that wipes out a load of older engineers. If you apply for membership of the International Engineers Register, you're only remaining option, they won't accept people who are Chartered in the UK through the competency route, which you guessed it means people without Washington Accord Accredited Degrees! Double Whammy, for any older experience Engineers!

It is possible for some, but it's virtually impossible for people who have retrained and gained experience in the field.

Thanks anyway, I'm glad to hear someone's experience in a similar position. Did you have enough points through a Job Offer then?