[D&D]

I've done it! I've applied! I am so so excited.

We claimed only 105 points- using my qualification in a skill shortage area - creative arts. Hopefully this will do the trick - otherwise we could claim my OH's work experience. But if we can get in on fewer things all the better as far as the time it would take to verify everything.

We would love to go this summer. We'll be done our Masters degrees this June. Our condo (back in Canada) has been on the market for months and no nibbles - but we'll let that sort itself out.

Can anyone tell me when I should start getting the FBI checks and Canadian Police checks? How long do they take to get and how long are they valid for?

Can't wait for the next draw - we want to be fished out!

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Heya! I'll join you in the deep end, we just submitted our EOI today as well! I had to post cos you're from New York - I went to university at NYU (the School of Journalism to be precise) and I lived in the East Village for five years before I left for New Zealand and then the UK. What part of the city are you from??

We were in a similar situation as you, low points with a degree in creative arts (I'm the principal applicant) so we're just crossing our fingers and hoping that NZIS sees through the whole points thing and recognises just how much we could contribute to the country. Good luck to you!

[SNK05]

Can't help with the questions I'm afraid as from the UK......just wanted to wish you both Good Luck and welcome you to the rollercoaster ride!

Sue n Kev
xx

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Sorry, just noticed that you actually asked a question. :laugh I can't say anything about Canadian police checks, but I believe FBI reports should be valid for 6 months. So I wouldn't bother requesting one until your EOI is at least initially accepted.

[rizjunior]

Police checks are required when lodging ITA, if you are sure for selection, start it now. NZ accepts these certificates valid for a period of six months, so the day when they receive your ITA, police certificate should be valid. Not sure about the time duration for FBI checks, but UK takes upto 40 days for subject access report, although they have started a premium service as well which takes few days.

Welcome in the pool, its not that deep but freezing....

[JandM]

Welcome and good luck. :)

[D&D]

hi BadlyDrawnGirl, we're living in Park Slope Brooklyn. Our roommate is doing journalism at NYU.
I think I'll get on the FBI checks pretty quickly - it looks like it just costs $18.00 per person. (Unless the fingerprinting costs a lot - I haven't looked into that yet.)
Good luck to you too. It's a funny place to be in- at the beginning of the whole journey.I'd love to have a crystal ball to see if it will all go smoothly...
fingers crossed

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Oh how cool, Park Slope is a lovely neighborhood...expensive, but lovely, hehe. The NYU J-School programme seems to be really popular, I've actually met people all around the world who studied in that department!

I too wish that we could just fast forward and get the whole thing over with so we could at least have an answer one way or the other. We're so desperate to finally settle down, wherever we end up...I guess traveling and being on the road constantly for three years makes you feel that way...

[Mrs Pony]

I would hold off on the police certificates until you get selected from the pool. We got ours done in May and they expired Nov 3rd! (So close!) However we had some issues with our EOI...

[catt]

good luck :nice1

[BkyMonster]

Our fingerprints cost $10 each (not finger! person :p), but your local police may charge differently.

Good luck.

[D&D]

I am feeling a little intimidated about walking into a NYC police station and asking them to fingerprint us. I've never been in an American police station...and a NYC police station could be a little disorderly. eek

[BkyMonster]

They may have something on their website.
I think nurses in the US need finger printing and where I got mine done you also needed them for a concealed weapon permit so they had regular evenings to do it and it was very organized.

[D&D]

Ahh that sounds better - thanks
I'll give them a call

[np2nz]

I am swimiing in the pool as of this afternoon and good luck to all of you who are swimming. I hope that they NZIS computer system will be able to see us swimming in the pool and pull us out of it.

[Toonster]

I've just donned my swimming costume and goggles - if the website stops crashing for long enough to let my payment go through! :D

[np2nz]

I've just donned my swimming costume and goggles - if the website stops crashing for long enough to let my payment go through! :D

It crashed several times when I was about to enter my credit card number. Eventually, I was able to enter the number and submit. As soon as I submitted, the wesbite crashed again and gave me some phone numbers to call, but I did not call. I checked the status after lunch, it says "payment received".

[Toonster]

Well, it took an hour of waiting, and trying to find some information; it crashed after I hit submit on the payment, then came up "Payment Pending" on the status - when I searched for info on that, the only help topic said that if there was an error (and I couldn't pay again - at least they stop you from paying twice by accident!), I had to fax the NZ number (the contact details for the London office didn't come up as it was crashing, too!). I don't have a fax machine (hey, I don't even have a landline...), so spent the hour trying to find an electronic fax company that would let me fax to NZ without charging a fortune. At quarter past midnight, I gave up, and had one final check on the NZIS website, and it told me that my payment had been processed :nice1

So, hopefully I've got in in time for the draw on the 3rd (though with 115 points, I'm not holding my breath on being drawn straight back out...)

Don't think I'll break the news to friends/family yet, though, given that our timetable had already been to start the process in Feb 09... :exit