[Nolan]

Hello and great to find this Forum. :cheers

Hopefully my quest to bring the family to NZ will be a somewhat smoother ride with the help of this Forum. Who knows we may make a friend or two or even a new neighnor in NZ someday. Nelson area?

Quick question: How valuable is the service provided a by an immigration specialist? (any NZ referals?) I gather the ratio is close to 50% of immigrants complete the process themselves?

Any other Americans to add on this thread?

I hear Haloween is getting more popular...:nice1

[Mrs Pony]

well hello there from the east coast!

I think most people on here have done everything themselves...saves money but takes a bit of time... There is PLENTY of info on here to help you with everything!

Good luck with everything!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Yep, mostly DIYers on here. There is nothing an agent can do that you can't do yourself. You just need lots and lots of patience.

Good luck

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.:)

[TheNaylors]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Many people from what I have heard manage to go through the whole process themselves...saving themselves a whole lotta money by doing so. Personally, we are using agents and we are pleased with our decision to do so and so far they have been very helpful and have been worth their weight in gold already.

I think the decision to whether to make the large financial commitment to an agent is definitely one that depends on your personal situation (i.e. whether you think your application is straightforward enough), finances, etc etc.

If you do decide to use an agent DEFINITLY shop around as costs can vary greatly...there was an agent in the UK that would have charged us £12000 including a successful job search (without fees I may add) :eek:!!! The ones we signed up for have the right credentials and were substantially cheaper for the cost of exactly the same services and also DID included fees to NZIS, NZQA etc.

If you think you can do it yourself...go for it, there are so many helpful people on this forum that will happily answer your questions (more so than other forums I have found ;);))

Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

Best of luck
Julie

[Bruckner]

We did it ourselves and except for a few hiccups it went well. Happy to answer any questions you have. And welcome to the forum.

Emily

[DanFromCali]

DIY here... never even considered an agent.

Redondo Beach -> Scotts Landing/Snells Beach this past July.

best of luck

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome.

[pinkpiggy]

Hi and welcome from another DIYer.

[Nolan]

Thanks and I appreciate ALL the replys. Feels like a very geniune and helpful membership within this unique Forum. :nice1

Like many of you, I will likely join the DIY group. Currently in the process of completing my on-line EOI and have a few questions to post in the other threads.

A already have air tickets to visit friends :cheersin NZ in January and February and bring the wife for the first time leaving the kids at home with their aunt. We intend to check North Auckland out and the Nelson area. It has been 20 years since my visit to NZ when I sailed into the Bay of Islands from Fiji and then down the coast to Auckland and the Mount.

Cheers,

Nolan (my sons name)

[BodaciousBean]

Hi there from a USA'er and also a DIY'er! :yes

Good luck with your plans. :nice1

[M-Squared]

Definitely don't waste your money on an agent. :) (me = another DIYer)

Great that you're visiting first, it's expensive but SO worth it! :nice1

[mgf]

Welcome to the forum :raebanana We completed all the paper work ourselves takes sometime and can be quite frustrating at times but nothing you can't do yourselves