[Yoho]

The NZIS is efficient. I got the ITA in my email box today. This is fast and I'll have a busy time collecting all the documents.

One question though: my point is dropped from 135 to 120 because NZQA report is required to claim the 15 points for work experience in an area of absolute Skill shortage. Do I just need to prove the 120 points now (without getting the NZQA report) or do I still need to get the NZQA report to get the full 135 points? Since the cut off point is 110, I think if I can prove 120 points, I'll be OK. Could anyone please confirm? Thanks.

[rizjunior]

Well if INZ accepted your EOI on 120 and you tehy did not ask you to get NZQA assessment, then no point to take all the hassle for 15 points. Doublecheck with your case worker.

[np2nz]

My wife just called me to let me know that our ITA has arrived. I am at work, so I have not been able to look at it and find out what is in there. Two things I wish they have not asked for are NZQA report and IELTS for my wife. I will find that out this evening.

[JandM]

Fingers crossed...

[np2nz]

Thanks JandM. I am going over the ITA and cannot figure out if I need NZQA. There is 2-pages check list. One of the boxes says,

"Qualifications The originals or certified copies of your qualifications and transcripts must be supplied. If you have claimed points for a postgraduate qualification you must provide an original or a certified copy of the undergraduate qualification. If you do not have these items, you will need to have your qualification assessed by the NZQA prior to lodging your application. www.nzqa.govt.nz."

I did claim points for a postgraduate qualification (Master's) and I have my undergraduate qualification too. I did not know that one can get a postgraduate degree without an undergraduate degree.

Does this mean, I do not have to go through the NZQA hassle?

Another box says, English Language proficiency for all applicants aged 16 years and over. Does that mean me and my wife need to take IELTS?

Thanks for your time and help.

[JandM]

I did not know that one can get a postgraduate degree without an undergraduate degree. In certain circumstances, it's possible to be admitted to a postgraduate course on the basis of life/work experience, or academic qualifications other than a degree, or a first degree in a different subject area. I believe I remember seeing that for ITA, a postgraduate degree has to be 'paired' with a first degree in the same subject - that's what you'll need to look for in the notes. (I'm going from memory of other people's experience here - it may be notes supplied for filling in the EOI.)

As for English, if you can show you and your wife were raised speaking English and/or were educated through the medium of English, you don't have to have IELTS - again, the notes will have the details.

[np2nz]

Thanks JandM again.

I was told by some people on this forum (nothing against them) that when I receive my ITA, it will clearly tell me what I need and what I do not need. But my ITA checklist is a very generic one. I can tell for sure that it was NOT prepared for me. I think this is the checklist they send to everybody.

For English, I received my college degrees in the US, that should fulfill the English language requirement for me and for my wife I explained why she fulfills the requirement. How do I know if they accepted the explanation?

So, how do I make sure that I do not need NZQA and English test (IELTS)? Thanks.