[Tentun]

Hi everyone

Need a bit of encouragement or some home truths! What do you think?

In a nutshell, we already applied to NZ last year, and didn't submit ITA because OH was a Secondary school Teacher but didn't get the right level of NZQA assessment for this occupation so lost points for qualification and experience in absolute skills shortage - so eventually didn't have enough points to even submit EOI and so pulled out because told we would fail if we submitted ITA.

Now situation is different - OH is main applicant and has a new job in Environmental Science (with quals at correct level to match) and our points look like this (already filled in electronic EOI but not submitted yet)
Age: 25
Qualifications: 60 (50 points for qualification plus 10 points for qualification in area of absolute skills shortage (environ science)
Partner points: 20

So according to the EOI website thingy, we have 105 points plus 10 points for a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage and we stand a chance at being picked.

Should we go for it despite our past issues with NZIS? Just teetering over the edge a bit, should we? Shouldn't we? Thinking about the feeling of intense disappointment we would feel if we were chucked out again!! Then, it would really be it for us and goodbye New Zealand dream forever because I don't know how much longer we can keep holding onto this dream.

Our concerns are:

1) OH's degree not matching the EXACT wording of the degree required for the occupation of Environmental Science (He has BSc Hons in Environmental Science instead of Bsc in Environmental Studies)
2) Them looking back on our application from last time and realising that he has changed careers and that he used to be a Teacher and this somehow working against us
3) the fact that OH only has 3 months recent work experience in environmental science

Well - should I close my eyes and press the submit button or should not?

[Mels]

Not sure about ths one but would it be an idea to get his degree checked so you know exactly how many points you'll get.

Mels

[Tentun]

Hi Mels

thanks for your reply.

Yes, we have had all of his qualifications assessed by NZQA because of our previous application - the main focus of that assessment was teacher-related though so they went into great depth about his teaching qual and said very little about his other degree at all - all they said about his degree was that it was level 8. So we do know the level, it's just the wording we are worried about.

[Mels]

If your degree has already been checked to a level 8, I would think that the slightly different phrase is a bit picky as even if the degree had the same name, course content is what is important.
Maybe someone will come on line and know if you can talk directly with NZIS to get their feedback first.

good luck

Mels

[TheNaylors]

Hiya,

we can't answer all of your questions but we may be able to help with your first question re the course title. Both OH and myself have a BSc Hons in Marine Biology and much of our course content had an environmental focus. Since this was the case, and OH had work experience in the area, we emailed NZIS with a list of our course modules to see if we could claim points for having a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage despite it not being exactly "Environmental Studies"...

This is what they said..."You can only claim points for qualifications that are in the area that you wish to work in once you come to New Zealand (or have a job offer for if this is already arranged). Therefore, you can claim the additional points and put your qualification under the category of Environmental Studies as long as this matches the position you will obtain once you come to New Zealand"...which is exactly what we would like to do and I expect your OH would be happy to do too in an ideal world.

If you are at all unsure, just email NZIS. You may not get a reply for a few days but at least you will get a reply back in black and white.


Hope this helps a little,
Jules x